City Commission hires internal auditor, approves contract with residency and notice conditions

The Daytona Beach City Commission approved hiring an internal auditor July 16, voting 6-0 to accept a contract offered to the candidate. The commission agreed the auditor must be a Daytona Beach resident and must provide a 30-working-day notice if resigning. The commission approved the contract after human resources staff presented terms aligned to a Volusia County comparator. Jim Sexton, the city's human resources director, said the salary and benefits package in the contract was drawn from the county auditor—omparison and confirmed with the county's human resources office. Sexton said the confirmed base salary is $159,671 and that health insurance will be provided on the same terms as other city employees. "Everything that's in here is exactly as if he was gonna go work for the county," Sexton told commissioners, summarizing earlier negotiations. The candidate participating by phone said he was comfortable with the terms after the commission requested the residency requirement and a longer notice period. Why it matters: the auditor position will carry responsibility for internal financial and performance reviews and the hiring follows a months-long recruitment and negotiation process in which commissioners and staff adjusted contract language on notice, severance and residency. Key terms and conditions: the approved package includes a base salary of $159,671 (per county HR confirmation), health insurance under city plans at employee cost-sharing levels, and an automobile allowance consistent with the county comparator (presented as $3,600 annually). The contract also includes a severance provision matching other department managers (30 days after one year of service, 60 days after two years), and the commission explicitly required that the auditor live within Daytona Beach and give 30 working days' notice before departure. Formal action and next steps: commissioners made a motion to hire the finalist, held a roll-call vote and approved the appointment by a 6-0 vote (Commissioners Reid, Perez, Strickland, May, Cantu and Mayor Henry recorded yes). Human resources and the new auditor will begin onboarding steps immediately; Sexton said staff would reach out to start the process. Discussion points: commissioners asked for a longer notice period than the county practice and for a residency requirement so the auditor would be locally available. Sexton explained a modest severance was retained (the county auditor is not eligible for severance) and that the contract includes customary city benefits. Commissioner discussion focused on operational concerns such as transition time and local residency rather than pay levels. Ending: With the vote, the city moved from recruitment to onboarding; staff said they will complete hiring formalities and begin transition work ahead of the anticipated September 1 start date.