FORT SMITH, Ark. — The City of Fort Smith's Board of Directors decided there will be a third-party review of an audit of the Fort Smith Animal Haven.
After a lengthy discussion at the weekly meeting on Dec. 5, city directors decided to spend about $15,000 to finalize an audit of Animal Haven, which is the agency Fort Smith contracts with to take care of stray animals.
The original audit from June 2023 accuses Animal Haven of overcharging and incorrectly charging the city, going against proper euthanasia procedures, and even allowing a heartworm-positive animal to be in the shelter for eight months before receiving treatment.
Baker Tilly, an accounting firm based in Wisconsin, is the third party that will conduct the new audit. The firm will work with the city to plan, execute, and report the audit review.
"We won't get to that place until we have someone completely independent. Someone who's never been in this room, never been in this town, never will be in this town," Lavon Morton, board director of Fort Smith's Ward 3, said.
Some city officials believe hiring a third-party firm will help provide objectivity, while others say this audit should be up to the city.
"I think we can figure this out among ourselves to make a fair and equitable decision on what's what, you know, what money is owed, what money isn't owed, and be done with this and put this behind us and go on," George Catsavis, board director of Fort Smith's Ward 4, said.
There is no information yet on when the third-party audit will start and how long it will take, but Baker Tilly plans to work remotely.
Previous reports on Fort Smith Animal Haven:
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