Fort Thomas council orders forensic audit after disputed pension payment and audit gaps

Fort Thomas City Council voted on Oct. 20, 2025, to seek a forensic audit and to issue requests for proposals after residents and council members raised concerns about pension payments and accounting discrepancies.

The vote followed public comments and an extended council discussion prompted by documents and FOIA requests a resident, Nicole Hutz, said she had reviewed. Hutz said she found a $277,721.51 payment posted to the Kentucky Public Pension Authority on Feb. 4, 2025, and a subsequent duplicate ledger entry in mid‑March; she and other speakers pressed council to investigate whether errors or mismanagement occurred. “I'm demanding a forensic accounting audit to be conducted immediately on this city,” Hutz told the council.

Council members and staff cited the city's recent fiscal‑year audit, which the finance committee reported contained a qualified opinion after the auditors could not account for $322,498 in cash balances. Finance Committee Chair Ben Pendry recommended publishing monthly financial reports on the city website and pursuing an independent forensic review to trace the flagged amounts.

The council approved a motion to direct staff to solicit proposals for a forensic accounting audit scoped to examine the…