Florida state auditors to begin investigation of Daytona Beach finances
WHEN I SEE YOU COMING UP AT 618, BREAKING TONIGHT, LAWMAKERS IN TALLAHASSEE JUST VOTED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A FULL STATE AUDIT OF DAYTONA BEACH’S FINANCES. THE DECISION COMES AFTER WEEKS OF QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW THE CITY IS SPENDING TAXPAYER DOLLARS. WESH TWO SPENCER TRACY EXPLAINS WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT. SHALL FINALIZE THE SCOPE OF THE AUDIT DURING THE COURSE OF THE AUDIT, PROVIDING THAT THE AUDIT RELATED CONCERNS OF SENATOR WRIGHT ARE CONSIDERED. THE JOINT LEGISLATIVE AUDITING COMMITTEE APPROVED SENATOR TOM WRIGHT’S REQUEST AND VOTED UNANIMOUSLY. WRIGHT SAYS THERE HAD BEEN TOO MANY QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER DAYTONA BEACH HAS MISMANAGED PUBLIC MONEY, AND A BIG REASON WHY SOME OF THE SPENDING WE REPORTED ON CITY CREDIT CARDS USED FOR HOTELS, EXPENSIVE DINNERS AND CELL PHONES. AUDITORS WILL ALSO DIG INTO MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN BUILDING PERMIT REVENUE. IT IS MONEY WRIGHT BELIEVES FAR EXCEEDS WHAT STATE LAW ALLOWS THE CITY TO COLLECT. WRIGHT SAYS WITH THIS VOTE, THEY’LL LIKELY START WITH THE PERMITTING FEES AND THEN MOVE ON TO THE CITY’S CREDIT CARD PROGRAM, WHICH HAS RECENTLY RAISED SOME CONCERNS. I BELIEVE AN AUDIT IS GOING TO FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THAT’S GOING TO REALLY SURPRISE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY. I AM RECEIVING TEXT MESSAGES, PHONE CALLS AND EVEN EMAILS FROM EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY THAT ARE SAYING, THANK YOU, SENATOR WRIGHT, FOR DOING THIS. SO I THINK THERE’S REAL, REAL CONCERN IN THE COMMUNITY AS TO WHAT’S GOING ON AND WHY IS IT GOING ON? SENATOR WRIGHT SAYS THE LAST TIME DAYTONA BEACH DID AN AUDIT WAS 34 YEARS AGO. IT’S ONE OF THE REASONS THE COMMITTEE AGREED THAT THE STATE NEEDS TO STEP IN. WRIGHT SAYS NOW THAT THE AUDIT HAS BEEN APPROVED, HE’S ALREADY BEEN IN TOUCH WITH CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER BLAISE INGOGLIA, WHO TOLD HIM HE WOULD PURSUE THIS AUDIT QUICKLY. COVERING VOLUSIA COUNTY IN DAYTONA BEACH, SPENCER TRACY, WESH TWO NEWS. WE HAVE REACHED OUT T
Florida state auditors to begin investigation of Daytona Beach finances
Updated: 2:11 PM EST Feb 9, 2026
Florida state auditors are expected to begin their investigation into Daytona Beach’s finances by early March. This follows a request from Sen. Tom Wright regarding concerns about the city’s handling of public money. >>> Video above: Previous coverageThe main issues involve the millions of dollars the city has accumulated in building permit revenues. There are also newer issues involving recent audits into the city’s credit card and car allowance spending. The state audit is expected to be completed by December.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. —
Florida state auditors are expected to begin their investigation into Daytona Beach’s finances by early March.
This follows a request from Senator Tom Wright regarding concerns about the city’s handling of public money.
>>> Video above: Previous coverage
The main issues involve the millions of dollars the city has accumulated in building permit revenues.
There are also newer issues involving recent audits into the city’s credit card and car allowance spending.
The state audit is expected to be completed by December.