GALENA PARK, Texas – Galena Park police are investigating the disappearance of about $2,800 in cash from a city hall office. The money was collected for water bills and was supposed to be included in deposits made to the city's bank account June 23.
Galena Park's city secretary reported the money was missing in a letter to the mayor and commissioners July 17.
Galena Park Mayor Esmeralda Moya said she wants an independent audit of city accounts to determine if more money is missing.
"Money can't just go missing," Moya told Local 2 News. "We really need an audit and we really need to find out how money just goes missing."
But Galena Park city commissioners would have to approve the audit, and Moya isn't sure she has the votes on the commission to do it.
"I think it's a waste of money because we're audited every year by a very reputable firm," said City Administrator Robert Pruett.
Pruett said the missing money was discovered by an in-house book keeper and Galena Park police have an open investigation.
Pruett said the money was handled by three city employees and it's not clear if the cash was stolen or misplaced.
"If she thinks there's some kind of wrong-doing going on there and gets the rest of the commissioners to approve the expenditure, then that's fine," Pruett said.
The mayor's relationship with a majority of the commissioners has been contentious since she took office. In July, Moya changed the locks on doors at city hall without notice, and attempted to fire the city manager and city attorney, only to see them reinstated by the commissioners.
The mayor said only one of the four commissioners is currently on speaking terms with her.
Commissioner Lois Killough, who has opposed Moya on other issues, said she would be willing to approve a outside audit.
"I wouldn't have any problem with having an audit done. None at all," Killough said.
Commissioner Danny P. Simms indicated the city's regular auditor already does a more than adequate job.
"Belt and associates have done our book keeping. We get a high standard rating every year, like a AAA rating," he said.
Simms said he'd support making those records available to Moya, but the mayor said her verbal requests for city documents have been denied. Pruett disputes that.
The mayor has not formally asked the commissioners to approve an audit. The issue did not come up during the regular commissioners' meeting Tuesday night.