When it came to auditing the county’s funds for the next three years, the Barton County Commission went with a local firm, not the lowest bid. 

It approved a proposal from Adams, Brown, Beran and Ball for $102,000 to provide audit service proposal for the county for calendar years 2018 (done for $33,000), 2019 ($33,990) and 2020 ($35,010) until Sept. 5, 2018. All county funds, including grants, state pass-through funds, and general obligation bonds, are to be audited each period, Finance Officer Matt Patzner said.  

It was noted that the cost ABBB to do the 2017 audit was $39,000. The lower rate was due in part to the work done by the Patzner, commission Chairman Jennifer Schartz said.

Patzner said there were two bids. The other came from Mize Houser of Lawrence at a total three-year cost of $98,005.