Bethel wants a Louisiana firm to audit local businesses for unpaid sales tax, without bidding

Bethel wants to hire a Louisiana firm to audit local businesses for unpaid sales tax, without putting the work out to bid. The city's Finance Committee takes it up Monday.

The city's sales tax came in 4.7 percent under budget last fiscal year, at about $8 million.

A January 2025 request for proposals drew no qualified bidders, City Manager Lori Strickler wrote in a June memo. Finance Director Nella Poquette's department then contacted firms directly. Revenue Recovery Group of Baton Rouge was the only one that answered.

The ceiling on the deal is $19,999, but it covers only part of the work. That cap applies to consulting, billed at $350 an hour. The audit itself is quoted separately at $85 an hour for a five-hour discovery review and $250 an hour after that, with no cap at all.

Both quotes were tentative, and both expired Aug. 3.

City code bars sole-source purchases when a reasonable alternative exists and requires council approval before a contract takes effect. It sets no dollar limit on what can be awarded that way.