El Paso city manager to oversee use of city-issued gas cards for representatives
Published: Wed, 04/26/23
El Paso city manager to oversee use of city-issued gas cards for representatives
CBS4 News
by Lianna Golden
EL PASO, Texas (CBS4) — It appeared some El Paso City Council members at Tuesday's meeting were concerned over the use of gas cards among representatives.
Gas cards used by city staff are funded by the city and taxpayers. They are intended for work use only.
City Council members should be using gas cards to get to and from district and committee meetings, events in the community and other city functions.
Rep. Art Fierro demanded more transparency to show how gas cards are being used.
"I turn in my receipt and it’s documented," Fierro, for District 6, said.
Fierro believes some previous council members have not provided proof of how they used their gas card.
"I had asked for some gas receipts from a previous representative and they were unable to be produced for over 90 days. To me, there’s an issue there and that’s what this issue is about," Fierro said.
Fierro authored two items on Tuesday's city council agenda related to the use of staff’s gas cards and how they’re tracked
Items, 22 and 23 passed unanimously Tuesday with Rep. Cassandra Hernandez not present.
The items direct the city manager to give each representative a monthly report on the city-issued funds for the transparent use of tax dollars and financial management.
Cary Westin, interim city manager, said transparency is in the works.
"The CFO has already instructed the comptroller to put together an accounting report of the expenditures in each area and each of these areas and you all receive that monthly," Westin said.
Fierro agreed with the effort.
"We are elected officials. We have responsibility to our constituents, responsibility to our taxpayers, we have a responsibility to the people who voted us in," Fierro said.
KFOX14 asked if anybody on the current city council was misusing their gas card.
Fierro said, "To the best of my knowledge, I just know what I use my gas card for and that’s how I hope everyone’s using that same standard."
Council members also discussed that there is no current limit on city-issued gas cards.
Mayor Oscar Leeser said it used to be at $100 a month – and now it’s unlimited.
No one among council, including the mayor and City Manager, were able to recall who made the change to unlimited and when.
Leeser requested that information be part of the at internal audit underway on behalf of the City Manager's office as well.