THE NEXT 15 MINUTES. ALL RIGHT, MARK, THANK YOU. A STATE SENATOR IS CALLING FOR A STATE AUDIT OF DAYTONA BEACH. HE’S RAISING SERIOUS QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW THE CITY IS HANDLING PUBLIC MONEY. WESH TWO PAMELA COMME BREAKS DOWN WHAT’S IN THE LETTER. A NEW LETTER, JUST ONE PAGE IS PUTTING PRESSURE ON DAYTONA BEACH CITY LEADERS SIGNED BY STATE SENATOR TOM WRIGHT LAYS OUT CONCERNS ABOUT HOW THE CITY’S HANDLING PUBLIC MONEY AND IT COULD TRIGGER A STATE AUDIT. THE STATE WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO AUDIT ANY AND ALL AREAS THAT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH TAXPAYER DOLLARS. IN HIS LETTER, STATE SENATOR WRIGHT SAYS, QUOTE, OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, MULTIPLE ISSUES HAVE SURFACED REGARDING THE CITY’S HANDLING OF PUBLIC FUNDS. HE SAYS THE CITY HAS AMASSED MILLIONS IN BUILDING PERMIT REVENUES, AND WHEN THEY WERE SUBPOENAED BY THE STATE TO EXPLAIN IT, WRIGHT SAYS THE RESPONSE WASN’T WHAT HE EXPECTED. NO, NO ADDITIONAL INFORMATION WAS SHARED WITH US AND WHAT WAS SHARED THAT DAY WAS WAS VERY, VERY VAGUE AND ARGUMENTATIVE, IF YOU WILL, WRIGHT SAYS. IF THE JOINT LEGISLATIVE AUDITING COMMITTEE VOTES TO LAUNCH THIS AUDIT, THEY’LL LIKELY START WITH THE PERMITTING FEES, THEN MOVE ON TO THE CITY’S CREDIT CARD PROGRAM. IT’S IT’S LIKE ANY AUDIT THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE WITH THE IRS IF IF THEY START FINDING PROBLEMS IN ONE AREA, THEY’LL JUST KEEP ON DIGGING. WRIGHT SAYS HE’S ALREADY BEEN IN TOUCH WITH CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER BLAISE INGOGLIA, WHO TOLD HIM HE WOULD PURSUE THIS AUDIT QUICKLY. IF IT’S APPROVED. AND WRIGHT SAYS THE FINDINGS WILL DETERMINE WHAT COMES NEXT, THE AUDIT WILL BE THE DETERMINING FACTOR AS TO WHAT, IF ANYTHING, IS GOING ON. AND I DON’T KNOW, YOU KNOW, IF IT’S REALLY BAD, THE GOVERNOR COULD STEP IN. COVERING VOLUSIA COUNTY IN DAYTONA BEACH, PAMELA COMME WESH TWO NEWS. THE JOINT LEGISLATIVE AUDITING COMMITTEE WILL MEE
State Sen. Tom Wright questions Daytona Beach finances, pushes for audit
A newly released one-page letter from state Sen. Tom Wright is putting fresh pressure on Daytona Beach city leaders and could lead to a sweeping state audit of the city’s finances.Wright, who represents District 8 in Brevard and Volusia counties, outlined what he described as long-standing concerns about the city’s handling of public money. In the letter, he wrote that over the past several years, multiple issues have surfaced regarding the city’s handling of public funds.Wright said the state would have wide authority if an audit moves forward.”The state will have the opportunity to audit any and all areas that have anything to do with taxpayer dollars,” Wright said.According to Wright, one major issue involves the millions of dollars the city has accumulated in building permit revenues. When state officials subpoenaed the city for an explanation, he said the response fell short.”Additional information was shared with us in what was shared that day. It was very, very vague and argumentative, if you will,” Wright said.If the Joint Legislative Auditing Committee votes to initiate the review, auditors are expected to begin by examining the permitting fees before shifting to the city’s credit card program.”It is like any audit you might have with the IRS. If they start finding problems in one area, they will just keep on digging,” Wright said.Wright said he has already communicated with Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia, who indicated he would move quickly to pursue the audit if it is approved.The outcome of the review, Wright added, will guide any potential next steps.”The audit will be the determining factor as to what, if anything, is going on. And I do not know. If it is really bad, the governor could step in,” he said.
A newly released one-page letter from state Sen. Tom Wright is putting fresh pressure on Daytona Beach city leaders and could lead to a sweeping state audit of the city’s finances.
Wright, who represents District 8 in Brevard and Volusia counties, outlined what he described as long-standing concerns about the city’s handling of public money. In the letter, he wrote that over the past several years, multiple issues have surfaced regarding the city’s handling of public funds.
Wright said the state would have wide authority if an audit moves forward.
“The state will have the opportunity to audit any and all areas that have anything to do with taxpayer dollars,” Wright said.
According to Wright, one major issue involves the millions of dollars the city has accumulated in building permit revenues. When state officials subpoenaed the city for an explanation, he said the response fell short.
“Additional information was shared with us in what was shared that day. It was very, very vague and argumentative, if you will,” Wright said.
If the Joint Legislative Auditing Committee votes to initiate the review, auditors are expected to begin by examining the permitting fees before shifting to the city’s credit card program.
“It is like any audit you might have with the IRS. If they start finding problems in one area, they will just keep on digging,” Wright said.
Wright said he has already communicated with Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia, who indicated he would move quickly to pursue the audit if it is approved.
The outcome of the review, Wright added, will guide any potential next steps.
“The audit will be the determining factor as to what, if anything, is going on. And I do not know. If it is really bad, the governor could step in,” he said.