Episode Details

Daytona Beach’s City Auditor Abinet Belachew is stepping down after just over a year on the job, despite bringing two decades of financial expertise. His resignation, effective October 15, 2026, arrives amid a state investigation into questionable city spending—including P-card misuse, unaccounted permit funds, and suspicious vehicle purchases. An internal audit revealed $500K+ in unauthorized fuel and repair charges for fire department vehicles, 14 employees driving personal cars without logs, and hundreds of fast-food receipts missing. Yet Belachew highlights key wins: establishing a professional audit framework, launching risk-based audits, and earning praise from city staff and residents. In his farewell, he urges leaders to preserve the auditor’s independence as vital to accountability and good governance, promising a smooth transition before he leaves.

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This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.
Sources:
https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2026/09/15/daytona-beach-city-auditor-resigns-amid-state-investigation-into-questionable-spending/

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