Tip claims Daytona Beach employee used city credit card for trips with lover

Daytona Beach’s city auditor criticized top leadership during Wednesday’s commission meeting, saying his ongoing spending audits have raised concerns about transparency and accountability.

“You have accountability. You have people pushing back with elected officials,” City Auditor Abinet Belachew said during the meeting.

Mayor Derrick Henry pushed back, arguing that the auditor was venturing outside the scope of his job.

“Your audit is not about the relationship between the commission and the staff,” Henry said. “Your audit, sir, is about the travel audit, not about staff relationships.”

Belachew continued outlining findings from his travel audit before revealing a tip he said he had received — one that surprised commissioners. According to the auditor, a tipster alleged that a city em