City Controller Annise Parker has directed controller's office auditors to perform an in-depth review of city expenditures for hotel accommodations in the days immediately following Hurricane Ike.  The move follows the discovery of approximately $750,000 worth of purchases for room and board for municipal volunteers who traveled to Houston from other Texas cities to help with the recovery effort.  For example, $163,000 was paid to Hotel Za Za and another $170,000 went to the Hilton Americas Hotel. 

“We've uncovered some red flags,” said Controller Parker.  “Now we are going back to dig deeper.  This has nothing to do with whether or not we needed help after the hurricane.  Of course, we needed help.  I just want to make sure all the charges were legitimate and reasonable”

Specifically, auditors will be reviewing purchases made with city credit cards that are normally used for small purchases that do not require formal bids and approval by City Council.  Purchases made with these cards are not supposed to exceed $5,000 per month.  “It is understandable that city policy might not be strictly adhered to in the heat of an emergency,” Parker said.  “However, an emergency does not relieve the city of commonsense or its responsibility to be accountable to the taxpayers.”  The audit will cover the period from September 14 to November 15, 2008.

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