Ventura audit finds minor problems with meal, travel expenses but no smoking gun
An independent audit has found that 5% of credit card, reimbursements and other transactions by Ventura employees and officials in a 36-month period likely didn't follow city protocols.
The review was conducted after community members raised concerns about credit card spending by former city manager Alex McIntyre.
The audit looked at 5,265 transactions made from October 2019 to September 2022 and identified 283 that had "possible exceptions" to city policies, a staff report showed. Eide Bailly, a CPA firm headquartered in North Dakota with offices in Pasadena, was hired to perform the review.
Auditors found 109 instances in which submitted receipts for meals and hotels were not itemized. Lack of itemized receipts was the most common policy violation, according to a summary. The review focused on meal, travel, expense reimbursement and card transactions.
On Monday, the Ventura City Council will discuss the audit during its regular meeting at 6 p.m. in City Hall council chambers, 501 Poli St.
"I’m looking forward to changing our policies and procedures so we don’t have to go through this again," Councilman Mike Johnson said Thursday. "It’s about making sure when we have violations, we have a strong process to remedy them."
There was no evidence of any wrongdoing, intentional or unintentional, the staff report said, and no evidence of management override of internal controls.
The audit doesn't name employees, titles or other identifiable information.
Wine, big tip spurred review
In September, the council ordered a review of city expenses after it was revealed McIntyre had left an excessive tip and purchased wine with a state-issued credit card on a 2021 trip when he paid for a meal for eight in Sacramento. He spent $323 for the meal, $115 for a bottle of wine and left a $234.60 tip. The total, with taxes, was about $711.
McIntyre apologized and explained he overtipped because he didn't realize the tip was already included. He later told the council he reimbursed the city for the wine and tip.
McIntyre ultimately resigned on Dec. 12.
On Friday, Mayor Joe Schroeder said he was confident the policy violations were handled internally and didn't need to identify employees.
"As mayor, do I need to know the name of the 45 people over the last three years that left a tip that was too large?" Schroeder said in an email. "I do know that the former city manager made a mistake not realizing that a tip was automatically placed on a dinner."
The audit found that 2% of meal transactions included a tip that exceeded 20%, which city policy generally prohibits.
Eide Bailly recommended the city train employees on allowable expenses and required documentation.
Wes Woods II covers West County for the Ventura County Star. Reach him at wesley.woodsii@vcstar.com, 805-437-0262 or @JournoWes.
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Ventura audit finds minor issues with some city staff expenses
