Three firms vie for North Las Vegas auditing job

Diana Sahagun

Tuesday, Feb. 29, 2000 | 10:25 a.m.

North Las Vegas is looking to hire a new auditor to examine the financial aspects of the city at a cost of $39,000 to $56,000 for the first year.

The city's previous auditor, DeLoitte & Touche, has completed its five-year contract.

At a meeting Wednesday prior to the regular City Council meeting, council members will hear presentations from the three auditors who have applied: Piercy, Bowler, Taylor & Kern; McGladrey & Pullen; and Kafoury, Armstrong & Co.

The council will select one of the three during its regular meeting.

City Finance Director Vytas Vaitkus said the audit will determine whether the city's financial statements are accurate and reliable.

The financial audit, which is required by law, is different from the operational audits of the police department, detention center and city, which examine procedures and organizational structure.

Piercy, Bowler, Taylor & Kern has conducted similar audits on Silver State Disposal, as well as McCarran International Airport and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.

The group says the cost will be $39,500 to conduct the first audit, which examines fiscal year July 1, 1999, to June 30, 2000.

The contract is for fiscal years 2001 and 2002 and may be renewed for 2003 and 2004.

McGladrey & Pullen asks for $45,000 for the first year. The accounting firm was in the news in early February when it resigned from its position with NevStar Gaming & Entertainment Corp. for unspecified reasons.

McGladrey & Pullen has also conducted audits for the Clark County Sanitation District and the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District.

The final applicant, Kafoury, Armstrong & Co., has been previously hired by the Clark County School District and the cities of Reno and Ely. The group is asking for $56,000 for the first year.

"We prefer to have an auditor who has done this type of audit before," Vaitkus said. "Each of the firms is capable, each has a good staff, each have done similar types of audits, and I can work with any of the three."