Oct 27, 2026 · Context

"This is not an audit": NewGen states the limits of the billing work the City and news coverage had called an audit

The June 23, 2026 council item that hired NewGen Strategies and Solutions was titled "Agreement for Utility Billing System Review," for "a review of the Utility Billing system data and processes." In June the mayor said the City needed "that external, third-party auditor or firm to be able to come in," and from June through October news coverage described the work as an "external audit," a "third-party audit" and a "utility audit"; in September the Globe-News reported the acting city manager telling the council the "$85,000 billing audit" would come on October 27. Opening his presentation that day, NewGen's presenter said the work was "an independent third-party review," that "this is not an audit," that he is not a CPA and is not qualified to give an audit opinion under Texas law, and that it was not an assessment of meter accuracy, which NewGen is not qualified to test. He said only 19% of the randomly sampled bills could be fully verified with the records provided, that NewGen and staff had gone back and forth on data requests, and that with more time and information he expected the rest could be proved out. Part of the work reached into an optional phase the City had not authorized, which NewGen covered within its basic fee; further optional phases, such as reviewing every account for missed credits, were not done.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6][7]}

Cole StanleyAndrew FreemanNewGen Strategies and Solutions

• Utility rates & billing
• Audits & oversight