Dallas’ top watchdog has uncovered at least $1 million in losses and overpayments in city money, including the salary of an employee also working for Austin.
Dallas paid a vendor $227,000 more than was owed and paid $18,000 on a fraudulent invoice related to nonprofit spending, the city’s inspector general found.
The office of inspector general, which has been investigating potential cases of financial waste and fraud since January this year, is also reviewing additional cases in which the city may have overspent $1.7 million.
Dallas City Hall has been at the center of waste and corruption scandals involving city officials who took bribes to advance housing deals. Former council members have also been charged with embezzling funds and fraud.
It prompted city leaders to establish the inspector general office in 2022, and voters gave the office more independence two years later.
HOW TO SPOT A “RED FLAG” (THE BEHAVIORAL AUDIT)
Keep an eye out for these behavioral shifts in your staff:
Refusal to take leave: Afraid someone will find their “adjustments.”
Unexplained wealth: Buying luxury items that don’t match their known salary.
Working odd hours: Preferring to work alone late at night when no one is watching the system.
“Gatekeeper” behavior: Becoming overly defensive or angry when someone asks to see their records.