By Chris OrletRecord Managing EditorThe final bill for the audit of the city of Warrenton by the Missouri State Auditor is in.Total amount due: $38,737.The city is responsible for paying for the audit, said Regina Pruitt, director of audits for the Missouri State Auditor.And on Tuesday, the Warrenton Board of Aldermen voted to pay the bill in full.“It’s less than we thought,” said Mayor Jerry Dyer. “At first the state auditor’s office thought it would be as high as $65,000, then they said $45,000.”The request for the audit stemmed from some residents’ concerns over two employee contracts that were provided to Warrenton Police Chief Greg Houdyshell and Director of Operations/Finance Officer Terri Thorn by the Warrenton Board of Aldermen at the request of outgoing Mayor Greg Costello in April 2012.One of the organizers of the petition campaign was Stan Shelton. On Wednesday Shelton said the audit was a bargain and that the citizens learned a great deal for $38,737.“In my opinion the audit was not a ‘waste of time’ or money,” said Shelton. “The audit tells the city officials that the citizens are always watching.”The results of the audit were released Oct. 8. The city of Warrenton received a “good” rating from the Missouri State Auditor.State Auditor Thomas Schweich said that in the areas audited, the overall performance of the city was good meaning that the audit results indicate the city is “well managed and well run with a few problems.”Added Schweich: “I usually find a lot more problems than I found here.”The few problem areas uncovered in the audit included real estate acquisition and planning, health insurance procurement, and restricted funds.In those areas, the state found “deficiencies in internal controls, noncompliance with legal provisions, and the need for improvement in management practices and procedures.”The Warrenton Board of Aldermen disputed a few of the report’s findings, particularly in regard to the health insurance bidding process, but said that most or all recommendations have already been, or will be, implemented.The scope of the audit was limited to the year ended June 30, 2012.Schweich said the auditors looked into several other issues brought up by the petitioners, including employee contracts and tourism funds, but found only minor discrepancies.Final bill for city audit arrives