Audit Resources
Audit Fees Paid by Units
The spreadsheet linked below provides information on contracted audit fee amounts for units of local government and public authorities for the fiscal years indicated. The information is current as of the date of the spreadsheet. Please note that the amounts shown do not necessarily represent all fees that a unit has paid or will pay for its annual audit. If a unit is not listed in the spreadsheet, no audit contract has been received and approved by the staff of the LGC for the fiscal years indicated.
The spreadsheet includes separate columns for audit (attest) fees, financial statement preparation fees, and, where applicable, major program attest services. Financial statement preparation is a non-attest service but is included because it is commonly part of audit engagements and has been consistently captured across reporting periods.
Other non-attest services and incidental expenses may also be included in audit contracts; however, those amounts are not presented in the spreadsheet. Due to differences in how these costs were identified and reported in prior years, they cannot be consistently compared across reporting periods.
The audit fee presented may not include fees associated with major program attest services, which are shown separately. When applicable, a portion of the “total amount not to exceed” is expected to include the estimated fees for those major program services in addition to the audit fee.
The “total amount not to exceed” is presented as a separate column and represents the maximum amount payable under the audit contract. This amount is expected to be at least equal to the sum of the audit fee and financial statement preparation fee and may also include major program attest services, other permissible non-audit services, and incidental expenses not separately shown in the spreadsheet.
Though housing authorities are required to file their annual audit reports with the Secretary of the LGC, they are not required to have their audit contracts or invoices approved by the Secretary; as a result, audit contract fee amounts for housing authorities are not included in the spreadsheet.
Not all hospitals are required to file audit contracts with the Secretary of the LGC. Only those hospitals that meet the definition of a “public hospital” under G.S. 159-39 are required to do so and are therefore included in the spreadsheet.
Inclusion on this spreadsheet does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by the LGC or the State and Local Government Finance Division of a firm or its services. The information contained in the spreadsheet is accurate to the best of our knowledge. If discrepancies are identified or corrections are needed, please contact SLGFD@nctreasurer.com.
Sample RFP for Audit Services
Two sample RFPs for audit services are provided below. Please review the contents of the samples carefully to ensure they meet the needs and circumstances of your unit. The samples are for informational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice.
Please note: If your unit requires language in the RFP related to third-party preparation of financial statements, please refer to the City of Dogwood sample for suggested language. If your unit prepares its own financial statements, please use the Carolina County sample for suggested language regarding financial statement preparation.
| Carolina County sample | City of Dogwood sample |
|---|---|
The Carolina County sample is appropriate for units that require a Yellow Book or single audit. | The City of Dogwood sample is appropriate for units that require a Yellow Book audit but do not require a single audit. |
Please note: The State and Local Government Finance Division no longer maintains an audit firm list as of December 18, 2025