Audit findings spark heated debate during Daytona Beach city commission meeting

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - A contentious city commission meeting stretched for hours Tuesday night as officials debated findings from a recent audit of the city’s fire department that raised concerns about spending and oversight.

The audit identified what it described as improper use of city credit cards, along with undocumented use of take-home city vehicles and more than $500,000 in vehicle maintenance costs that lacked proper tracking of expenses or mileage.

The backstory:

Tensions flared as commissioners disagreed over the validity of the report, with one official questioning whether it should be presented at all, citing possible inconsistencies and calling for a third-party review. Others pushed back, saying concerns about inaccuracies should be backed by evidence.

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The audit also highlighted purchases that raised eyebrows, including spending on televisions, baby shower supplies and shoes, as well as more than $50,000 spent on fast food and restaurants over a five-year period.

Fire department representatives defended some of the expenditures, saying certain food purchases were tied to approved budget line items and documented for specific events. Officials said they plan to provide additional documentation to clarify how funds were used.

The discussion grew particularly heated over the use of city vehicles, including questions about employees taking vehicles home and whether some were improperly registered, which critics argued could amount to misuse of taxpayer dollars.

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City leaders said the purpose of the presentation was to inform commissioners of the audit’s findings, while acknowledging that further review may be needed.

What's next:

A separate state-level audit is expected to be completed later this year.