Benton Harbor City Commissioners have voted to seek a forensic audit over issues found with use of the city’s credit cards.
When commissioners heard the annual audit presentation from auditing firm Rehmann last month, they were told some receipts related to the use of city credit cards weren’t available and that some policies on the cards hadn’t been followed. While the auditors gave the city a clean and unmodified audit, noting no major issues, Commissioner Ethel Clark-Griffin said this week she wants more information, proposing a motion.
“To call for a forensic audit due to the credit card discrepancy and not to exclude the money and financial discrepancies,” Clark-Griffin said.
City Manager Alex Little said the city’s regular audit cost around $60,000, and he imagines a forensic audit would cost even more. But Clark-Griffin said issues need to be explored.
“We had items made, transactions with no pre-approval. We had missing receipts, purchases made with no receipts. We had some names on the card that was not supposed to be the names on it as far he policy states.”
City attorney Sara Senica said a forensic audit would likely be expensive.
Clark-Griffin’s motion to seek the new audit was approved with votes of no from Mayor Marcus Muhammad and Commissioners SaTanna Warren, Edward Isom, and Sharon Henderson.
