In the run-up to last week’s election, Glendale’s mayoral and council candidates were in sync: The cash-strapped city faced with more than a billion dollars in debt needs an independent, detailed audit to clarify its financial footing.
That may happen as even some current council members are calling for an audit in the wake of recent findings, The Arizona Republic reports.
Mayor-elect Jerry Weiers has hesitated to call for a forensic audit, which he has said would imply possible criminal wrongdoing, but he said “we may be getting pretty close in some areas.”
An outside review could fall within the purview of the County Attorney’s Office or the state Attorney General’s Office. The state Auditor General’s Office also could conduct an audit and refer the matter to the county attorney or attorney general.
Jerry Cobb, a spokesman for the County Attorney’s Office, said that, in general, they are not an investigative agency, but law-enforcement agencies have authority to conduct investigations into white-collar crimes. The county could then review an investigation and recommend charges.
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