Springfield City Council members hope to have their annual audit in hand soon after choosing a Statesboro firm to perform the work.

Council members agreed to an engagement letter with Thigpen, Lanier, Westerfield and Deal for no more than $25,000 to conduct the city’s financial audit.

“They are very well-qualified, and they have plenty of staff,” said city manager Brett Bennett.

Bennett said the firm is ready to begin work on the audit.

“They are going to jump on it right away,” he said.

The city’s audit was due June 30, but Springfield filed for an extension, which is an automatic six months of additional time, Bennett explained. Springfield’s fiscal year runs from Jan. 1-Dec. 31, so its audit is regularly due at the end of June.

Council members could have the audit back in their hands by Aug. 30.

Council members also set qualifying dates and fees for the upcoming city election. Qualifying will be held Aug. 26-30 from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. The fee to run for mayor is $35, and the fee to run for a council post is $25.

Council seats up for election this year include those held by Charles Hinely, Kenny Usher and Katherine Pridgeon. Hinely and Usher were first elected to city council in 2005 and are its longest-serving members. Pridgeon was appointed to serve the unexpired term of Jeff Ambrose, who resigned from city council once he moved outside the city limits.

Barton Alderman, who served as mayor from 2003-09, was re-appointed last year to the seat.

Candidates for office must be at least 21 years old, a resident of the city for at least a year, be a qualified voter and must be eligible to hold office.