Board approves CliftonLarsonAllen engagement to assess Auditor‑Treasurer operations and provide staff support

County administration presented two proposals to provide consulting and interim staff support to the Auditor‑Treasurer’s Office following a vacancy and longstanding audit findings. The board voted to contract with CliftonLarsonAllen (CLA) for an operational assessment and limited staff support rather than accept a larger interim‑director proposal from another consultant.

County staff said CLA’s approach combines an assessment (estimated at about $34,000) with on‑demand staff assistance; the administrator described CLA’s proposal as materially less costly than an alternative interim director model and said CLA has personnel with Minnesota county and IFS experience. The board approved contracting with CLA to start the assessment and to provide staffing support to meet immediate deadlines and to prepare recommendations on staff structure, account reconciliation and use of the IFS accounting system.

The administrator said the county aims to reduce reliance on the state for preparation of financial statements and to correct long‑standing reconciliation and reporting issues identified in audit reports going back several years. Staff emphasized the effort would include a survey of staff, review of current accounts and bank reconciliations, and recommendations on staffing levels and organization (including whether to separate finance functions into a finance director/CFO role). The board approved CLA’s engagement and directed that the general government committee serve as the sounding board for updates and preliminary reports.