Transparency & Accountability in City Spending

As your mayor, I strive to operate with the utmost commitment to accountability and transparency. These values are fundamental to earning and maintaining your trust. With great reluctance, I feel compelled to share an ongoing concern regarding the lack of detail in invoices submitted by our city attorney’s office, an issue I have been working diligently to address internally over the past three months.

Despite my repeated efforts to resolve this matter in collaboration with my colleagues, city leadership, and the city attorney, a satisfactory resolution has not been reached. The most recent invoices submitted for November 2024, December 2024, January 2025, and February 2025, totaling nearly $300,000, fail to meet the professional standards of clarity and detail required for proper review and accountability. Yet, even after I raised my concerns, they were authorized to be paid. 

Specifically, they lack critical information, including descriptions of the tasks performed, identification of the individuals performing the work, and sufficient rate details.

From my professional experience as an attorney, I know the duty to provide clients with clear, detailed bills that allow them to understand the services provided by their counsel. Prior to November 2024, our bills from the city attorney’s office met this standard. Unfortunately, they have not since.

After careful consideration, I decided to bring this issue to your attention. My intention is not to blame any individual but to continue advocating for the responsible stewardship of taxpayer funds. 

At its core, this is a matter of simple common sense. No one would pay bills in their personal life without understanding the charges. When it comes to public funds, the standard for accountability should be even higher. Transparency in government spending is a shared responsibility among elected officials, and it is essential to maintaining the trust and well-being of our community. That’s why we have to get this right.

Moving forward, I will continue to advocate for solutions that ensure all city contracts and expenditures meet professional and ethical standards. I remain open to dialogue and collaboration with all involved parties to resolve this issue promptly on behalf of the residents who trust us to serve them.

College Park, thank you for your understanding as we work together to uphold the principles of good governance.