GALVESTON

The Galveston Park Board of Trustees misused hotel occupancy tax to lobby for three bills, including one that would have required all of the occupancy tax the city collects to go to the park board, according to a city audit presented last week.

Auditors also found park board employees misused hotel tax revenue to pay for luxury items such as business-class airfare, high-dollar rental cars and spa services.

The city was unsure how much spending was questionable because neither the park board nor its lobbyists kept detailed records, City Auditor Glenn Bulgherini said.

The city has contacted the state about the misused funds and was told the city wouldn’t face consequences, Bulgherini said.

New policies have limited what park board employees are allowed to buy on the organizati

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