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SEBAST
HOME OF PELICAN ISLAND
CONTINUATION OF SERVICES
April 13, 2020
P. Ross Cotherman, CPA
Rehmann Robson LLC
5070 North Highway Al A, Suite 250
Vero Beach, FL 32963
Email: ross.cotherman@rehmann.com
SUBJECT: Continuation of Services for Financial Auditing Services
Dear Mr. Cotherman:
Administrative Services Department
Procurement Division
1225 Main Street
Sebastian, FL 32958
(772)388-8231
Fax: (772) 388-8248
This letter is to inform you that the City of Sebastian is requesting Rehmann Robson continue providing Financial Auditing
services for the year ending September 30, 2020. The City appreciates the collaboration and services you have provided
in the past.
In response to the uncertainty of recovery from COVID-19, it was in the City's best interest to cancel RFP #20-02
Financial Auditing Services and re -bid in the future.
We look forward to another year working with Rehmann Robson LLC. Please submit an Engagement Letter and we will
place it on an upcoming City Council meeting for their official approval.
Sincerely,
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Ann -Marie Fraser, CPPB, MBA
Procurement/Contracts Manager
aul E. Carlisle, City Manager
City of Sebastian
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P. Ross Cotherman, Principal
Rehmann Robson LLC
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Rebmann Robson
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Suite 250
Vero Beach, FL 32963
Ph: 772.234.8484
Fx: 772.234.8488
rehmann.com
April 13, 2020
The Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
City of Sebastian, Florida
1225 Main Street
Sebastian, Florida 32958
Enclosed is the engagement letter for the City of Sebastian, Florida for the year ended
September 30, 2020. Government Auditing Standards (as amended) require that we communicate,
during the planning stage of an audit, certain information to the City Council. This information includes
the auditors' responsibilities in a financial statement audit, including our responsibilities for testing
and reporting on compliance with laws and regulations and internal control over financial reporting.
The engagement letter includes the items which must be communicated to the City Council.
Therefore, please make copies of the attached engagement letter and forward the copies to the City
Council.
Please sign and return the enclosed copy of the attached engagement letter to us at your earliest
convenience.
Sincerely,
4L" rL"`, LLC
Enclosures
Rebmann is an independent member of Nexia International.
CPAs & Consultants Wealth Advisors Corporate Investigators
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Nmexia
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Rebmann Robson
m a n n
5070 Highway A1A,
Suite 250
Vero Beach, FL 32963
Ph: 772.234.8484
Fx: 772.234.8488
rehmann.com
April 13, 2020
The Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
City of Sebastian, Florida
1225 Main Street
Sebastian, Florida 32958
We are pleased to confirm our understanding of the services we are to provide the City of Sebastian,
Florida (the "City") for the year ended September 30, 2020.
We will audit the financial statements of the governmental activities, the business -type activities, the
aggregate discretely presented component units, each major fund, and the aggregate remaining fund
information, including the related notes to the financial statements, which collectively comprise the
basic financial statements of the City as of and for the year ended September 30, 2020. Accounting
standards generally accepted in the United States of America provide for certain required
supplementary information (RSI), such as management's discussion and analysis (MD&A), to supplement
the City's basic financial statements. Such information, although not a part of the basic financial
statements, is required by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board who considers it to be an
essential part of financial reporting for placing the basic financial statements in an appropriate
operational, economic, or historical context. As part of our engagement, we will apply certain limited
procedures to the City's RSI in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United
States of America. These limited procedures will consist of inquiries of management regarding the
methods of preparing the information and comparing the information for consistency with
management's responses to our inquiries, the basic financial statements, and other knowledge we
obtained during our audit of the basic financial statements. We will not express an opinion nor provide
any assurance on the information because the limited procedures do not provide us with sufficient
evidence to express an opinion or provide any assurance. The following RSI is required by generally
accepted accounting principles and will be subjected to certain limited procedures, but will not be
audited:
1. Management's Discussion and Analysis
2. Schedule Required by GASB 67 and 68 - Pension Plan
3. Schedule of Funding Progress and Employer Contributions - OPEB Plan
We have also been engaged to report on supplementary information other than RSI, such as combining
and individual fund financial statements, that accompanies the City's basic financial statements. We
will subject the following supplementary information to the auditing procedures applied in our audit of
the basic financial statements and certain additional procedures, including comparing and reconciling
such information directly to the underlying accounting and other records used to prepare the financial
statements or to the financial statements themselves and other additional procedures, in accordance
with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America and will provide an opinion
on it in relation to the financial statements as a whole.
Rebmann is an independent member of Nexia International.
CPAs & Consultants Wealth Advisors Corporate Investigators
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The Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
City of Sebastian, Florida
April 13, 2020
Page 2
The following other information accompanying the basic financial statements will not be subjected to
the auditing procedures applied in our audit of the financial statements, and for which our auditor's
report will disclaim an opinion:
1. Introductory section of the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report
2. Statistical section of the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report
Audit Objectives
The objective of our audit is the expression of opinions as to whether the City's financial statements
are fairly presented, in all material respects, in conformity with accounting principles generally
accepted in the United States of America and to report on the fairness of the supplementary
information referred to in the second paragraph when considered in relation to the basic financial
statements taken as a whole. Our audit of the City's financial statements does not relieve management
or those charged with governance of their responsibilities. The objective also includes reporting on -
• Internal control related to the financial statements and compliance with laws, regulations, and
the provisions of contracts or grant agreements, noncompliance with which could have a
material effect on the financial statements in accordance with Government Auditing
Standards.
Internal control related to major programs and an opinion (or disclaimer of opinion) on
compliance with laws, regulations, and the provisions of contracts or grant agreements that
could have a direct and material effect on each major program in accordance with the Single
Audit Act Amendments of 1996 and Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 200,
Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal
Awards (Uniform Guidance)
The reports on internal control and compliance will each include a paragraph that states that the
purpose of the report is solely to describe (1) the scope of testing of internal control over financial
reporting and compliance and the result of that testing and not to provide an opinion on the
effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting or on compliance, (2) the scope of testing
internal control over compliance for major programs and major program compliance and the result of
that testing and to provide an opinion on compliance but not to provide an opinion on the effectiveness
of internal control over compliance, and (3) that the report is an integral part of an audit performed in
accordance with Government Auditing Standards in considering internal control over financial
reporting and compliance and with the Uniform Guidance in considering internal control over
compliance and major program compliance. The paragraph will also state that the report is not
suitable for any other purpose.
Our audit will be conducted in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United
States of America; the standards for financial audits contained in Government Auditing Standards,
issued by the Comptroller General of the United States; the Single Audit Act Amendments of 1996; and
the provisions of the Uniform Guidance, and will include tests of accounting records, a determination
of major program(s) in accordance with the Uniform Guidance, and other procedures we consider
necessary to enable us to express such opinions and to render the required reports. We will issue a
written report upon completion of our audit of the City's financial statements. Our report will be
addressed to the City Council of the City. We cannot provide assurance that unmodified opinions will
be expressed. Circumstances may arise in which it is necessary for us to modify our opinions or add
emphasis -of -matter or other -matter paragraphs to our audit report. If our opinions on the financial
statements or the Single Audit compliance opinion are other than unmodified, we will discuss the
The Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
City of Sebastian, Florida
April 13, 2020
Page 3
reasons with management in advance. If circumstances occur and come to our attention related to the
condition of the City's records, the availability of sufficient, appropriate audit evidence, or the
existence of a significant risk of material misstatement of the financial statements caused by error,
fraudulent financial reporting, or misappropriation of assets, or we become aware that information
provided by the City is incorrect, incomplete, inconsistent, misleading, contains material omissions, or
is otherwise unsatisfactory which in our professional judgment prevent us from completing the audit or
forming an opinion on the financial statements, we retain the right to take any course of action
permitted by professional standards, including declining to express an opinion or issue a report, or
withdrawing from the engagement.
The concept of materiality is inherent in the work of an independent auditor. An independent auditor
places greater emphasis on those items that have, on a relative basis, more importance to the financial
statements and greater possibilities of material error than with those items of lesser importance or
those in which the possibility of material error is remote. For this purpose, materiality has been
defined as "the magnitude of an omission or misstatement of accounting and financial reporting
information that, in light of surrounding circumstances, makes it probable that the judgment of a
reasonable person relying on the information would have been changed or influenced by the omission
or misstatement."
Audit Procedures and Our Responsibilities —General
An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the
financial statements; therefore, our audit will involve judgment about the number of transactions to
be examined and the areas to be tested. An audit also includes evaluating the appropriateness of
accounting policies used and the reasonableness of significant accounting estimates made by
management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We will plan
and perform the audit to obtain reasonable rather than absolute assurance about whether the financial
statements are free of material misstatement, whether from (1) errors, (2) fraudulent financial
reporting, (3) misappropriation of assets, or (4) violations of laws or governmental regulations that are
attributable to the City or to acts by management or employees acting on behalf of the City. Because
the determination of abuse is subjective, Government Auditing Standards do not expect auditors to
provide reasonable assurance of detecting abuse.
Because of the inherent limitations of an audit, combined with the inherent limitations of internal
control, and because we will not perform a detailed examination of all transactions, there is a risk that
material misstatements may exist and not be detected by us, even though the audit is properly planned
and performed in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of
America and Government Auditing Standards. In addition, an audit is not designed to detect
immaterial misstatements or violations of laws or governmental regulations that do not have a direct
and material effect on the financial statements or major programs. However, we will inform the
appropriate level of management of any material errors, any fraudulent financial reporting, or
misappropriation of assets that comes to our attention. We will also inform the appropriate level of
management of any violations of laws or governmental regulations that come to our attention, unless
clearly inconsequential, and of any material abuse that comes to our attention. We will include such
matters in the reports required for a Single Audit. Our responsibility as auditors is limited to the period
covered by our audit and does not extend to any later periods for which we are not engaged as
auditors.
Our procedures will include tests of documentary evidence supporting the transactions recorded in the
accounts, and may include tests of the physical existence of inventories, [delete if no inventory] and
direct confirmation of receivables and certain other assets and liabilities by correspondence with
The Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
City of Sebastian, Florida
April 13, 2020
Page 4
selected individuals, creditors, and financial institutions. We may request written representations from
the City's attorneys as part of the engagement, and they may bill the City for responding to this
inquiry. At the conclusion of our audit, we will also require certain written representations from
management about the financial statements and related matters.
We have advised the City of the limitations of our audit regarding the detection of fraud and the
possible effect on the financial statements (including misappropriation of cash or other assets) not
withstanding our obligations per the Single Audit Amendments of 1996 and the Uniform Guidance. We
can, as a separate engagement, perform extended procedures specifically designed to potentially
detect defalcations. Management acknowledges that the City has not engaged us to do so and does not
wish us to do so at this time.
Management is responsible for the basic financial statements, schedule of expenditures of federal
awards, and all accompanying information as well as all representations contained therein.
Management is also responsible for identifying government award programs and understanding and
complying with the compliance requirements, and for preparation of the schedule of expenditures of
federal awards in accordance with the requirements of the Uniform Guidance. As part of the audit, we
will assist with preparation of the City's financial statements, schedule of expenditures of federal
awards, and related notes, as well as the data collection form. Management will be required to
acknowledge in the management representation letter our assistance with preparation of the financial
statements, the schedule of expenditures of federal awards, and the data collection form, and that
management has reviewed and approved the financial statements, schedule of expenditures of federal
awards, and related notes prior to their issuance and have accepted responsibility for them.
Management agrees to assume all management responsibilities for any nonaudit services we provide;
oversee the services by designating an individual, preferably from senior management, who possesses
suitable skill, knowledge, and/or experience; evaluate the adequacy and results of these or other
nonattest services performed by our Firm; and understand and accept responsibility for the results of
such services.
We, in our sole professional judgment, reserve the right to refuse to perform any procedure or take
any action that could be construed as assuming management functions or responsibilities.
Audit Procedures - Internal Controls
Our audit will include obtaining an understanding of the City and its business environment, including
internal control over financial reporting sufficient to assess the risks of material misstatement of the
financial statements and to design the nature, timing, and extent of further audit procedures that are
appropriate in the circumstances. Tests of controls may be performed to test the effectiveness of
certain controls that we consider relevant to preventing and detecting errors and fraud that are
material to the financial statements and to preventing and detecting misstatements resulting from
illegal acts and other noncompliance matters that have a direct and material effect on the financial
statements. Our tests, if performed, will be less in scope than would be necessary to render an opinion
on internal control and, accordingly, no opinion will be expressed in our report on internal control
issued pursuant to Government Auditing Standards.
As required by the Uniform Guidance, we will perform tests of controls over compliance to evaluate
the effectiveness of the design and operation of controls that we consider relevant to preventing or
detecting material noncompliance with compliance requirements applicable to each major federal
award program. However, our tests will be less in scope than would be necessary to render an opinion
on those controls and, accordingly, no opinion will be expressed in our report on internal control issued
pursuant to the Uniform Guidance.
The Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
City of Sebastian, Florida
April 13, 2020
Page 5
An audit is not designed to provide assurance on internal control, or to identify significant deficiencies
or material weaknesses in internal control, or to express an opinion on the effectiveness of internal
control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we will express no such opinion. However, during the
audit, we will communicate to the appropriate level of management and those charged with
governance internal control related matters that are required to be communicated under professional
standards, Government Auditing Standards and the Uniform Guidance. These matters refer to
significant matters related to the financial statement audit that are, in our professional judgment,
relevant to the responsibilities of those charged with governance in overseeing the City's financial
reporting process. When applicable, we are responsible for communicating certain matters required by
laws or regulations, or by additional requirements that may be applicable to this engagement. Auditing
standards generally accepted in the United States of America do not require the independent auditor
to design or perform procedures for the purpose of identifying other matters to communicate with
those charged with governance. Management is responsible for assessing the implications of and
correcting any internal control -related matters brought to the City's attention by us.
Audit Procedures - Compliance
As part of obtaining reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement, we will perform tests of the City's compliance with provisions of applicable laws and
regulations and the provisions of contracts and agreements, including grant agreements. However, the
objective of those procedures will not be to provide an opinion on overall compliance and we will not
express such an opinion in our report on compliance issued pursuant to Government Auditing
Standards.
The Uniform Guidance requires that we also plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance
about whether the auditee has complied with applicable laws and regulations and the provisions of
contracts and grant agreements applicable to major programs. Our procedures will consist of tests of
transactions and other applicable procedures described in the OMB Compliance Supplement for the
types of compliance requirements that could have a direct and material effect on each of the City's
major programs. The purpose of those procedures will be to express an opinion on the City's
compliance with requirements applicable to each of its major programs in our report on compliance
issued pursuant to the Uniform Guidance.
Management Responsibilities
Management is solely and completely responsible for designing, implementing, and maintaining
effective internal controls relevant to the preparation and fair presentation of financial statements
that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and internal control over
compliance, and for ongoing monitoring activities, to help ensure that appropriate goals and objectives
are met and that there is reasonable assurance that government programs are administered in
compliance with compliance requirements. Management is also responsible for the selection and
application of accounting principles; for the preparation and fair presentation of the financial
statements in conformity with an acceptable financial reporting framework, and for compliance with
applicable laws and regulations and the provisions of contracts and grant agreements. Management is
responsible for determining, and has determined, that the applicable and appropriate financial
reporting framework to be used in the preparation of the City's financial statements is accounting
principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP).
Management is also solely and completely responsible for making all financial records and related
information available to us, and for ensuring that financial information is reliable and properly
recorded. Management is also responsible for providing us with (1) access to all information of which
The Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
City of Sebastian, Florida
April 13, 2020
Page 6
management is aware that is relevant to the preparation and fair presentation of the financial
statements, (2) additional information that we may request from management for the purpose of the
audit, and (3) unrestricted access to persons within the City from whom we determine it necessary to
obtain audit evidence.
Management's responsibilities also include identifying significant vendor relationships in which the
vendor has the responsibility for program compliance and for the accuracy and completeness of that
information. Management's responsibilities include adjusting the financial statements to correct
material misstatements and for confirming to us in the written representation letter that the effects of
any uncorrected misstatements aggregated by us during the current engagement and pertaining to the
latest period presented are immaterial, both individually and in the aggregate, to the financial
statements taken as a whole.
We understand that management will provide us with such information required for our audit, including
a reasonably adjusted trial balance, and that management is responsible for the accuracy and
completeness of that information. Assistance provided by our Firm in the preparation of a reasonably
adjusted trial balance is considered an additional billable service.
We will advise management and the City Council about appropriate accounting principles and their
application and may assist in the preparation of the City's financial statements, but the ultimate
responsibility for the financial statements remains with management with oversight by those charged
with governance. As part of our engagement, we may propose standard, adjusting, or correcting
journal entries to the City's financial statements. Management is responsible for reviewing the entries,
understanding the nature of any proposed entries and the impact they have on the financial
statements, and the implications of such entries on the City's internal control over financial reporting.
Further, the City is responsible for designating a qualified management -level individual to be
responsible and accountable for overseeing these nonattest services.
Management is responsible for the design and implementation of programs and controls to prevent and
detect fraud, and for informing us about all known or suspected fraud affecting the government
involving (1) management, (2) employees who have significant roles in internal control, and (3) others
where the fraud could have a material effect on the financial statements. Management's
responsibilities include informing us of its knowledge of any allegations of fraud, suspected fraud or
illegal acts affecting the government received in communications from employees, former employees,
grantors, regulators, or others. In addition, management is responsible for identifying and ensuring that
the City complies with applicable laws, regulations, contracts, agreements, and grants. Additionally, as
required by the Uniform Guidance, it is management's responsibility to follow up and take corrective
action on reported audit findings and to prepare a summary schedule of prior audit findings and a
corrective action plan. The summary schedule of prior audit findings should be available for our review
at the conclusion of fieldwork.
Management is responsible for preparation of the schedule of expenditures of federal awards in
conformity with the Uniform Guidance. Management agrees to include our report on the schedule of
expenditures of federal awards in any document that contains and indicates that we reported on the
schedule of expenditures of federal awards. Management also agrees to include the audited financial
statements with any presentation of the schedule of expenditures of federal awards that includes our
report thereon OR make the audited financial statements readily available to intended users of the
schedule of expenditures of federal awards no later than the date the schedule of expenditures of
federal awards is issued with our report thereon. Management's responsibilities include acknowledging
to us in the representation letter that (a) management is responsible for presentation of the schedule
of expenditures of federal awards in accordance with the Uniform Guidance; (b) that management
The Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
City of Sebastian, Florida
April 13, 2020
Page 7
believes the schedule of expenditures of federal awards, including its form and content, is fairly
presented in accordance with the Uniform Guidance; (c) that the methods of measurement or
presentation have not changed from those used in the prior period (or, if they have changed, the
reasons for such changes); and (d) management has disclosed to us any significant assumptions or
interpretations underlying the measurement or presentation of the schedule of expenditures of federal
awards.
Management is also responsible for the preparation of the other supplementary information, which we
have been engaged to report on, that is presented fairly in relation to the basic financial statements.
Management agrees to include our report on the supplementary information in any document that
contains and indicates that we have reported on the supplementary information. Management also
agrees to include the audited financial statements with any presentation of the supplementary
information that includes our report thereon. Management's responsibilities include acknowledging to
us in the representation letter that (a) management is responsible for presentation of the
supplementary information in accordance with GAAP; (b) that management believes the supplementary
information, including its form and content, is fairly presented in accordance with GAAP; (c) that the
methods of measurement or presentation have not changed from those used in the prior period (or, if
they have changed, the reasons for such changes); and (d) management has disclosed to us any
significant assumptions or interpretations underlying the measurement or presentation of the
supplementary information.
Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining a process for tracking the status of audit
findings and recommendations. Management is also responsible for identifying for us previous financial
audits, attestation engagements, performance audits, or other studies related to the objectives
discussed in the Audit Objectives section of this letter. This responsibility includes relaying to us
corrective actions taken to address significant findings and recommendations resulting from those
audits, attestation engagements, performance audits, or studies. Management is also responsible for
providing management's views on our current findings, conclusions, and recommendations, as well as
management's planned corrective actions, for the report, and for the timing and format for providing
that information.
During the course of our engagement, we will request information and explanations from management
regarding the City's operations, internal control over financial reporting, various matters concerning
fraud risk, future plans, specific transactions, and accounting systems and procedures. At the
conclusion of our engagement, we will require, as a precondition to the issuance of our report, that
management provide certain representations in a written management representation letter.
We are not hosts for any City information. Management is expected to retain all financial and non-
financial information that management uploads to a portal (document sharing site), and management is
responsible for downloading and retaining in a timely manner anything we upload. Portals are meant as
a method only of transferring and sharing data, and are not intended for the storage of City
information, which may be deleted at any time. Management is expected to maintain control over the
City's accounting systems to include the licensing of applications and the hosting of said applications
and data. We do not provide electronic security or back-up services for any of the City's data or
records. Giving us access to the City's accounting system does not make us hosts of information
contained within.
The Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
City of Sebastian, Florida
April 13, 2020
Page 8
Fees
The not -to -exceed fee for the audit of the financial statements will charged at rates commensurate
with the value of our professional services rendered and are not expected to exceed $40,200. A
separate fee of $4,600 will be charged for the single audit.
Our invoices for these fees will be rendered each month as work progresses and are payable on
presentation.
This fee is based on the assumption that unexpected circumstances will not be encountered during the
audit. This fee is based on anticipated cooperation from the City's personnel, continued readiness and
proactive assistance on their part in providing us with complete and accurate information (whether
financial or nonfinancial in nature) considered necessary by us to form an appropriate opinion, and the
assumption that unexpected circumstances will not be encountered during the audit. Such
circumstances include, but are not necessarily limited to significant addition or deletion of funds,
component units or related entities and first-time application of significant new professional
accounting or auditing pronouncements. In addition, the fee above assumes management will analyze
and maintain appropriate support for significant valuation assertions embodied in the financial
statements including the valuation of investment securities, the actuarial methods and assumptions
used to calculate the net pension and other postemployment benefits liabilities, impairment of capital
assets including those held for sale, the valuation of inventories and land held for resale, allowances
for uncollectible receivables, and the estimate for incurred -but -not -reported self insurance claims. If
significant additional time is necessary, we will discuss the related circumstances with management
and arrive at a new fee estimate, which may or may not occur before we incur the additional time. In
these circumstances, we may also issue a change order form (an attached example is provided.)
Engagement Administration, and Other
Management shall discuss any independence matters with Rehmann that, in management's judgment,
could bear upon Rehmann's independence.
At the conclusion of the engagement, we will complete the appropriate sections of the Data Collection
Form that summarizes our audit findings. It is management's responsibility to submit the reporting
package (including financial statements, schedule of expenditures of federal awards, summary
schedule of prior audit findings, auditors' reports, and a corrective action plan) along with the Data
Collection Form to the federal audit clearinghouse. We will coordinate with management the
electronic submission and certification. If applicable, we will provide copies of our reports for the City
to include with the reporting package the City will submit to pass -through entities. The Data Collection
Form and the reporting package must be submitted within the earlier of 30 days after receipt of the
auditors' reports or nine months after the end of the audit period, unless a longer period is agreed to
in advance by the cognizant or oversight agency for audits.
The audit documentation for this engagement is the property of Rehmann and constitutes confidential
information. However, pursuant to authority given by law or regulation, we may be requested to make
certain audit documentation available to a cognizant or grantor agency for audit or its designee, a
federal agency providing direct or indirect funding, or the U.S. Government Accountability Office for
purposes of a quality review of the audit, to resolve audit findings, or to carry out oversight
responsibilities. We will notify management of any such request. If requested, access to such audit
documentation will be provided under the supervision of Rehmann personnel. Furthermore, upon
request, we may provide copies of selected audit documentation to the aforementioned parties. These
The Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
City of Sebastian, Florida
April 13, 2020
Page 9
parties may intend, or decide, to distribute the copies or information contained therein to others,
including other governmental agencies.
The audit documentation for this engagement will be retained for a minimum of five years after the
report release date or for any additional period requested by the cognizant agency, oversight agency
for audit, or pass -through City. If we are aware that a federal awarding agency, pass -through City, or
auditee is contesting an audit finding, we will contact the parties contesting the audit finding for
guidance prior to destroying the audit documentation.
Our audit engagement and our responsibility as auditors ends on delivery of our audit report to the City
Council at the Regular or Special Board meeting. Any follow-up services that might be required will be
part of a separate, new engagement. The terms and conditions of that new engagement will be
governed by a new, specific engagement letter for that service.
Government Auditing Standards require that we provide the City with a copy of our most recent
external peer review report and any subsequent peer review reports received during the period of the
contract. Our 2017 peer review report accompanies this letter.
This engagement letter, including the attached Rehmann Audit Engagement Letter Terms and
Conditions which are incorporated herein by reference as if set forth within the body of this
engagement letter in their entirety, reflect the entire understanding between us relating to the audit
services covered by this agreement. This agreement may not be amended or varied except by a written
document signed by both parties. It replaces and supersedes any previous proposals, correspondence,
and understandings, whether written or oral. The agreements of the City and Rehmann contained in
this document shall survive the completion or termination of this engagement. If any term hereof is
found unenforceable or invalid, this shall not affect the other terms hereof, all of which shall continue
in effect as if the stricken term had not been included.
We appreciate the opportunity to be of service to the City and believe the arrangements outlined
above and in the attached Rehmann Audit Engagement Letter Terms and Conditions accurately
summarize the significant terms of our engagement. If you have any questions, please let us know. If
you agree with the terms of our engagement, please sign the enclosed copy of this document and
return it to us.
4"- rL4)1_ LLC
P. Ross Cotherman, CPA
Principal
Executive responsible for supervising the
engagement and signing our report
The Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
City of Sebastian, Florida
April 13, 2020
Page 10
ACKNOWLEDGED AND ACCEPTED:
This letter correctly sets forth the understanding of City of Sebastian, Florida.
0ficer Si ature "
Printed Name
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Date
Rehmann Audit Engagement Letter Terms and Conditions
ADDITIONAL SERVICES - The City may request that we perform
additional services not addressed in this engagement letter. If this
occurs, we will communicate with management regarding the scope
of the additional services and the estimated separate fees. We also
may issue a change order form (an attached example is provided), or
a separate engagement letter covering the additional services. In the
absence of any other written communication from us documenting
such additional services, our attest services will continue to be
governed by the terms of this engagement letter.
CODE OF CONDUCT - Management is responsible for identifying any
violations by employees of the City's code of conduct.
CHANGES IN STANDARDS, LAWS AND REGULATIONS - We perform
services for the City based on present professional standards, laws
and regulations. While we may on occasion be able to communicate
with management with respect to changes in professional standards,
laws and regulations, as a general principle we cannot undertake with
clients to advise them of every change that may occur. The City can
always obtain reassurance in this regard by contacting us for an
updated review of the City's situation.
MANAGEMENT'S REPRESENTATIONS - The procedures we will
perform in our engagement and the conclusions we reach as a basis
for our report will be heavily influenced by the written and oral
representations that we receive from management. Accordingly,
false, misleading, incomplete, inconsistent, or omitted
representations could cause us to expend unnecessary efforts or could
cause material error or a fraud to go undetected by our procedures.
In view of the foregoing, the City agrees that we shall not be
responsible for any material misstatements in the City's financial
statements that we may fail to detect as a result of false, inaccurate,
incomplete, inconsistent, or misleading representations that are
made to us by management. In addition, the City further agrees to
indemnify and hold us harmless for any liability and all reasonable
costs, including legal fees, that we may incur as a result of the
services performed under this engagement in the event there are
false or misleading representations made to us by any member of the
City's management.
CLIENT ASSISTANCE - We understand that the City's employees will
prepare all cash, accounts receivable, and other confirmations we
request and will locate and refile any documents selected by us for
testing. In addition, management will provide us with copies of all
minutes and other documents that we believe may have a bearing on
our evaluation of the City's financial affairs.
WORK SPACE - The City shall provide reasonable work space for
Rehmann personnel at audit work sites, as well as occasional clerical
support services.
TIMELY DECISIONS AND APPROVALS - The City understands that
Rehmann's performance is dependent on the City's timely and
effective satisfaction of its own activities and responsibilities in
connection with this engagement, as well as timely decisions and
approvals by City personnel.
ACCURACY AND COMPLETENESS OF INFORMATION - Management
agrees to ensure that all information provided to us is accurate,
complete, and consistent in all material respects, contains no
material omissions and is updated on a prompt and continuous basis.
In addition, management will also be responsible for obtaining all
third -party consents, if any, required to enable Rehmann to access
and use any third -party products necessary to our performance.
EMAIL - The City acknowledges that (a) Rehmann, the City and
others, if any, participating in this engagement may correspond or
convey documentation via Internet e-mail unless the City expressly
requests otherwise, (b) no party has control over the performance,
reliability, availability, or security of Internet e-mail, and (c)
Rehmann shall not be liable for any loss, damage, expense, harm or
inconvenience resulting from the loss, delay, interception,
corruption, or alteration of any Internet e-mail due to any reason
beyond Rehmann's reasonable control.
OFFERS OF EMPLOYMENT - Professional standards require us to be
independent with respect to the City in the performance of our
services. Any discussions that management has with personnel of our
Firm regarding employment could pose a threat to our independence.
Therefore, we request that management inform us prior to any such
discussions so that we can implement appropriate safeguards to
maintain our independence.
Neither party shall, during the term of this engagement letter and for
one (1) year after its termination, solicit for hire as an employee,
consultant or otherwise any of the other party's personnel without
such other party's express written consent. If the City desires to offer
employment to a Rehmann associate and the associate is hired in any
capacity by the City, a market -driven compensation placement fee
may apply.
ADDITIONAL FEES AND BILLING POLICIES - It must be understood
that the nature of our engagement requires us to exercise our
independent professional judgment with respect to various auditing,
accounting and related issues. In reaching our conclusions, we must
retain the right to judge the nature and scope of the work required in
order to conform to professional standards, as well as the work we
deem necessary to enable us to reach the conclusions and form the
opinions required of us. If our judgment as to the scope of the work
required causes us to reassess our estimate of fees for this
engagement, we will so advise the City. We reserve the right to
refrain from performing additional work (and thereby incurring
additional time charges) unless and until the City has confirmed its
understanding of, and agreement to, any additional estimated
charges.
Our fee estimate is based upon our discussions with management, in
which management has disclosed no unusual problems or issues which
would require us to conduct an audit of unusual scope or otherwise
expend time and effort in excess of that normally anticipated in an
engagement of this type. The estimate also assumes that we will have
the full cooperation of City personnel, as required, and that there is a
reasonable continuity of City personnel familiar with the matters to
which our engagement relates. In addition, our fee is based on the
experience level of our personnel, at their respective standard hourly
rates, performing certain audit procedures at certain timeframes. If
we are caused to vary from that planning formula, additional fees will
need to be charged to allow for more experienced personnel
performing the work, reallocation of our client priority, overtime,
etc. Further, management will provide us with the schedules and
records that we request (which ordinarily are detailed in a request
list in advance of our fieldwork) and that all such schedules and
records will be provided to us timely in accordance with the
scheduled fieldwork dates, to be mutually agreed upon. If the
requested schedules and records are not provided to us in accordance
with the scheduled dates and we are unable to continue our work, we
will attempt to resume our work as soon as the schedules and records
are provided to us and our professionals assigned to the engagement
again become available.
As a result of well -publicized events, global economic convergence,
and the continued evolution of the accounting profession, accounting
and auditing standard setters and regulators are continually
evaluating the need for changes that may affect the City. Such
changes may result in changes in financial reporting and expanding
the nature, timing and scope of activities we are required to perform
to provide the services discussed in this letter. Proposed changes and
shortened deadlines could result in a reduction of the level of
assistance and preparedness the City is able to provide. We expect
that our clients may continue to look to us to assist them with these
changes. To the extent any changes require us to increase the time
required to provide the services described in this letter or to
complete new tasks required by such changes, we reserve the right to
adjust our fees appropriately. We will endeavor to advise the City of
anticipated changes to our fees on a timely basis.
In accordance with our Firm policies, work may be suspended if the
City's account becomes 30 days or more overdue and will not be
resumed until the account is paid in full or we have a definitive
payment agreement approved by our Firm administrator in Saginaw,
Michigan. If we elect to terminate our services for nonpayment, our
Rehmann Audit Engagement Letter Terms and Conditions
engagement will be deemed to have been completed even if we have
not issued our report. The City will be obligated to compensate us for
all time expended and to reimburse us for all out-of-pocket
expenditures through the date of termination.
Our terms and conditions impose a late charge of 1.5% per month,
which is an annual percentage rate of 18%. Balances not paid within
30 days of the receipt of invoice are past due and a late charge of
1.5% will be applied to the entire past due amount.
Rehmann now charges a 3% convenience fee on credit card payments.
CLAIMS - Because there are inherent difficulties in recalling or
preserving information as the period after an engagement increases,
the City agrees that, notwithstanding the statute of limitations of any
particular State or U.S. Territory, any claim based on the audit
engagement must be filed within 12 months after performance of our
service, unless management has previously provided us with a written
notice of a specific defect in our services that forms the basis of the
claim.
TERMINATION OF SERVICES - We reserve the right to suspend or
terminate services for reasonable cause such as failure to pay our
invoices on a timely basis or failure to provide adequate information
in response to our inquiries necessary for successful performance of
our audit services. Our engagement will be deemed to be completed
upon written notification of termination, even if we have not
completed the audit and issued our signed auditors' report. The City
is obligated to compensate us for the time expended to that point
and to reimburse us for all out-of-pocket expenditures through the
date of termination.
We acknowledge the City's right to terminate our services at any
time, and the City acknowledges our right to withdraw at any time,
including, but not limited to, for example, instances where, in our
judgment, (a) the conditions in the first paragraph of the Audit
Objectives section of this letter exist, (b) our independence has been
impaired, (c) we can no longer rely on the integrity of management,
(d) management (or the Audit Committee, if applicable) fails to
reasonably support our efforts to perform the engagement in
accordance with what we believe is necessary to comply with
professional standards, or (e) a lack of professionalism exhibited by
management appears to demonstrate a lack of respect for our
personnel such as that evidenced in inappropriate or threatening
language /emaiis, subject in either case to our right to payment for
charges incurred to the date of termination or our resignation.
In the event that we determine to resign, and the City seeks damages
allegedly resulting from such resignation, our maximum liability to
the City in the event we are held liable because of such resignation
shall be limited to the fees actually paid to us for current year audit
work performed up to the date of resignation.
INITIAL ISSUANCE OF OUR AUDIT REPORT ON FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS - If the City intends to publish or otherwise reproduce
our audit report on the financial statements and/or make reference
to our Firm name, such as for inclusion in an annual report (such as,
for example, in a CAFR), prospectus, official statement, or similar
disclosure document, including incorporation by reference thereto,
the City agrees to provide us with a copy of the final reproduced
document for our review and approval before it is distributed,
circulated or submitted. Additional fees for issuance or inclusion of
our audit report and/or any other reference to our Firm in such other
document, will be based on our standard hourly rates.
With regard to electronic dissemination of audited financial
statements, including financial statements published electronically on
the City's Internet Web site, the City understands that electronic
sites are a means to distribute information and, therefore, we are not
required to read the information contained in these sites or to
consider the consistency of other information in the electronic site
with the original document.
SUBSEQUENT REPRODUCTION OF OUR AUDIT REPORT ON FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS - If the City decides to include, publish or otherwise
reproduce our audit report on the financial statements at a date
subsequent to our original report issuance, such as for inclusion in a
Preliminary or Official Statement, an exempt offering in connection
with a sale of bonds or notes, or other securities, or in a similar
exempt offering or other disclosure document such as a prospectus,
official statement, etc. (hereinafter referred to as the "document"),
our Firm is presumed not to be associated with such document, and
we have no obligation to perform any procedures with respect to such
document. In these circumstances, the City agrees to include in such
document a statement that Rehmann has not been engaged to
perform and has not performed, since the date of our audit report
being reproduced, any procedures on the financial statements
contained in such document or on any unaudited financial or other
information contained in the document, or on the document itself. If,
however, management or the City's agent (such as an underwriter,
bond counsel, placement agent, financial advisor, broker -dealer,
etc.) requests our involvement, thereby causing us to be engaged to
or otherwise prepare a written acknowledgement (sometimes
referred to as a "consent" or "agree to include") letter prior to
including our audit report in such a document, or requests or engages
us to assist in preparing or reviewing financial or other information
contained in such document, or participate in related oral due
diligence meetings or offering discussions, our Firm then becomes
associated with the document. In this event, in accordance with
professional standards, we will be required to perform certain
subsequent events -based or other limited procedures with respect to
this or other unaudited information contained in the document
shortly before the initial and any subsequent distribution, circulation,
or submission. Fees for reissuance or inclusion of our audit report in
such a document will be based on our standard hourly rates. If the
City wishes to make reference in such a document to our Firm's role
in connection with the purpose and dissemination of the document,
the caption "Independent Auditors" may be used to title or label that
section of the document. In accordance with professional standards,
the caption "Experts" should not be used, nor should our Firm be
referred to as "Experts" anywhere in the document.
INFORMAL ADVICE - As part of our engagement we may provide
advice on operating, internal control over financial reporting and
other matters that come to our attention. Informal advice is not
considered to be a consulting service unless we have entered into a
separate engagement.
THIRD PARTY PROCEEDINGS - As a result of our prior or future
services to the City, we might be requested or subpoenaed to provide
information or documents to management, a court, a trier of fact, or
a third party in a legal, investigative, administrative, mediation, or
arbitration or similar proceeding in which we are not a party. If this
occurs, our efforts in complying with such requests will be billable to
the City as a separate engagement. We shall be entitled to
compensation for our time at our standard or special hourly rates and
reasonable reimbursement for our expenses (including our legal fees)
in complying with this request. For all such requests, we will observe
the confidentiality requirements of our profession and will notify
management promptly of the request. This paragraph will survive the
termination of this agreement for any reason, and will be binding
upon successors to the City.
PEER REVIEW - Our Firm, as well as other major accounting firms,
participates in a "peer review" program covering our audit and
accounting practices. This program requires that once every three
years we subject our quality assurance practices to an examination by
another accounting firm. As part of the process, the other firm will
review a sample of our work. It is possible that the work we perform
for the City may be selected by the other firm for their review. If it
is, the other firm is bound by professional standards to keep all
information confidential. If management objects to having the work
we perform for the City reviewed by our peer reviewer, please notify
us in writing.
PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS - The City consents to Rehmann's use of
your City name and a factual description of the services to be
performed by Rehmann under this agreement in Rehmann's
advertising and promotional materials and other proposal
opportunities.
Rehmann Audit Engagement Letter Terms and Conditions
MEDIATION - If any dispute arises among the parties hereto, the
parties agree first to try in good faith to settle the dispute by
mediation administered by the American Arbitration Association
under its Rules for Professional Accounting and Related Services
Disputes before resorting to binding arbitration or litigation. Costs of
any mediation proceeding shall be shared equally by all parties.
GOVERNING LAW - This Agreement shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Michigan,
without regard to the principles of conflicts of law thereof.
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EXAMPLE CHANGE ORDER
Client: City of Sebastian, Florida (the "City")
Date:
Project Description (and estimated completion date, if appropriate):
Estimated Additional Fees: $
We believe it is our responsibility to exceed the City's expectations. This Change Order is being
prepared because performance by us of the above project and/or additional service efforts was not
anticipated in our original Agreement dated . The estimated fees for the above
project have been mutually agreed upon by the City and Rehmann. It is our goal to ensure that the City
is never surprised by the price for any Rehmann service and, therefore, we have adopted the Change
Order Policy. The estimated additional amount above is due and payable upon completion of the
project described.
If management agrees with the above project description and the estimated fee amount, please
authorize and date the Change Order below. A copy is enclosed for the City's records. Thank you for
letting us serve the City.
Agreed to and accepted:
Officer Signature
Printed Name
Title
Date
j CliftonLarsonAllen LLP
r CLAconnect.com
Clifton Larson Allen
REPORT ON THE FIRM'S SYSTEM OF QUALITY CONTROL
To the Principals of Rehmann Robson LLC
The National Peer Review Committee
We have reviewed the system of quality control for the accounting and auditing practice of Rehmann
Robson LLC, a member of Rehmann, LLC (the Firm) applicable to engagements not subject to PCAOB
permanent inspection in effect for the year ended March 31, 2017. Our peer review was conducted in
accordance with the Standards for Performing and Reporting on Peer Reviews established by the Peer
Review Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (Standards).
A summary of the nature, objectives, scope, limitations of, and the procedures performed in a System
Review as described in the standards may be found at www.aicpa.om/orsummarv. The summary also
includes an explanation of how engagements identified as not performed or reported in conformity with
applicable professional standards, if any, are evaluated by a peer reviewer to determine a peer review
rating.
Firm's Responsibility
The Firm is responsible for designing a system of quality control and complying with it to provide the
Firm with reasonable assurance of performing and reporting in conformity with applicable professional
standards in all material respects. The Firm is also responsible for evaluating actions to promptly
remediate engagements deemed as not performed or reported in conformity with professional
standards, when appropriate, and for remediating weaknesses in its system of quality control, if any.
Peer Reviewer's Responsibility
Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the design of the system of quality control and the Firm's
compliance therewith based on our review.
Required Selections and Considerations
Engagements selected for review included engagements performed under Government Auditing
Standards (including compliance audits under the Single Audit Act), audits of employee benefit plans,
an audit performed under the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act (FDICIA) and
examinations of service organizations (SOC 1 and SOC 2 engagements).
As a part of our peer review, we considered reviews by regulatory entities as communicated by the
Firm in determining the nature and extent of our procedures.
�A member of
Nexia
International
Rehmann Robson LLC
Page 2
Opinion
In our opinion, the system of quality control for the accounting and auditing practice of Rehmann
Robson LLC applicable to engagements not subject to PCAOB permanent inspection in effect for the
year ended March 31, 2017, has been suitably designed and complied with to provide the Firm with
reasonable assurance of performing and reporting in conformity with applicable professional standards
in all material respects. Firms can receive a rating of pass, pass with deficiency(ies), or fail. Rehmann
Robson LLC has received a peer review rating of pass.
LLB
Clifton LarsonAllen LLP
Minneapolis, Minnesota
September 15, 2017