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Residents press La Marque council for forensic audit after alleged multimillion‑dollar shortfall
Summary
Multiple residents urged a forensic audit and outside review, alleging late audits and a multimillion‑dollar shortfall; the council engaged a consultant for a five‑year review and said staff will publish detailed reconciling documents in October.
At a packed special meeting on Sept. 25, dozens of La Marque residents told the City Council they want an independent forensic accounting of city finances after allegations that audits were late and funds cannot be accounted for.
Resident Brian Getchas told the council there was a large unexplained shortfall and urged a forensic audit: “If anyone in here doesn't think $4,000,000 shortfall deserves a forensic audit, what are we thinking?” His comment echoed other speakers who criticized the timing of the FY2024 audit and questioned the council’s earlier action on the tax increase while the audit was not publicly posted on time.
Another resident, who identified himself as Rokey of Newman Road, argued the city adopted a tax rate while out of compliance with statutory audit deadlines and said he had filed a complaint with the Texas Attorney General. “This means when you voted for the tax increase, you did so while the city was out of compliance with state law,” Rokey said during his remarks.
Legal counsel and staff responded that the new law (discussed in the meeting) ties enforcement to a specific Attorney General determination and that, as of the hearing, no AG finding asserting noncompliance had been made. The city’s legal representative told the council the statute becomes operative upon an AG determination and that the question of applicability remained a gray area during the meeting.
To address the concerns, the council engaged Worth Ferguson to perform a broader review. Ferguson described his audit background and said the review will be phased: he promised a public spreadsheet for the October meeting showing the funds reviewed, the amounts examined and broad findings to date. “I’ve conducted, when I was there, audits of the comptroller’s office, every major university in the state,” Ferguson told the council as he summarized his professional qualifications.
Several speakers urged outside law‑enforcement involvement. One resident asked the council to call the Texas Rangers and the FBI; councilmembers and staff did not adopt that recommendation during the meeting but acknowledged community fear and the need for transparent accounting.
Council and staff committed to delivering more frequent situational cash reports, to issuing a prioritized work plan for the forensic review, and to engaging bond counsel and finance partners to ensure the city can both secure short‑term financing and satisfy community demands for accountability. The consultant will present interim findings at the October agenda and staff said it will consider publicizing the audit progress materials.
