Des Plaines hires new auditor

The Des Plaines City Council this week authorized hiring the Oak Brook-based firm Crowe Horwath, LLP, as the city’s auditor for the next three years, with the option of extending the contract two more years.

The firm will audit the finances of the city, its public library and the Joint Emergency Telephone System Board for fiscal years 2011, 2012 and 2013 at a cost of $286,100.

Crowe Horwath serves more than 400 governmental organizations nationwide and several municipal clients in the Chicago metropolitan region, including Hoffman Estates and Glendale Heights.

State statute requires the city to have an annual audit of its financial statements conducted by a state-licensed certified public accounting firm.

Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, LLP, has been the city’s auditor for the past five years but its contract is up. The firm’s fee for the fiscal year ending December 2010 was $48,500.

“The GFOA (Government Finance Officers Association) typically recommends that you rotate auditors every five years” to bring in a fresh perspective to the processes, city Finance Director Dorothy Wisniewski said.

Officials sent out requests for proposals to eight auditing firms and received responses from four. City staff narrowed the list to three firms that were brought in for interviews, Wisniewski said.

While Baker Tilly was the lowest bidder, Crowe Horwath was chosen as the lowest responsible bidder. In its bid, Crowe Horwath offered better online service, which will make it easier for city staff to transfer information, Wisniewski said.