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

Bethel's Finance Committee will review a sole-source proposal Monday, Aug. 24, to hire an outside firm to audit local businesses for unpaid sales tax without competitive bidding. The city says the recovered tax should cover the cost.

A January 2025 request for proposals drew no qualified bidders, according to a June 23 memo from City Manager Lori Strickler. Finance Director Nella Poquette's department then contacted firms directly. Only Revenue Recovery Group of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, responded.

The $19,999 cap applies only to the consulting quote, which bills $350 an hour. A separate audit quote sets $85 an hour for a five-hour discovery review and $250 an hour after that, with no overall cap. Both quotes were tentative and expired Aug. 3.

City code bars sole-source purchases when a reasonable alternative exists and requires council approval before the contract takes effect, though it sets no dollar limit. Bethel's fiscal year 2026 sales tax came in 4.7% below budget, at about $8 million.