Fort Lauderdale launches "new era of accountability" after PECARD audit; staffing, limits and suspensions announced

The Fort Lauderdale City Commission on June 16 received a sweeping plan to tighten controls after an internal audit found long‑standing weaknesses in the city's purchasing‑card (PECARD) program.

City Manager Raquel Williams said the audit covered PECARD activity through December 2024 and described changes already in motion: digital bank statements from the bank, a requirement that receipts be attached to close transactions, scheduled monthly sampling audits by Finance, upgraded monitoring software for fraud detection, reductions in PECARD holders (a 25% minimum reduction target by July) and updated policy and training. Williams told the commission the city has imposed several unpaid suspensions and is moving to what she called "a new era of accountability." "A lot of the weaknesses in our PECARD program were identified in a 2019 audit," Williams said, "and it's really disturbing that they persisted."

Commissioners asked for clearer discipline and earlier detection. Commissioner Herbs said retroactive contract approvals and repeated PECARD issues indicate failures in project and contract oversight; he pressed staff to tighten change‑order and timeline monitoring. Commissioner Glman urged more frequent audits to avoid multi‑year gaps between reviews. Williams said she is balancing organizational stability with necessary enforcement, noting some missteps predated her April 2025 arrival and stressing that further personnel actions remain possible as investigations continue.

City staff outlined specific operational steps: reducing card limits by employee role, removing the ability to modify posted transaction information, notifying department directors monthly of transactions by PECARD holders, and implementing property‑control and disposal updates tied to purchases. The city will increase PECARD training, with a refresher course planned for August and monthly departmental reviews starting in June.

The commission did not vote on a new ordinance but asked staff to return with progress updates and recommended follow‑up audits. Williams said she welcomed the public's concern and pledged to keep the commission informed as reforms are implemented.