City auditors released their deep-dive into the HEB Tennis Center’s finances and what they found worries city leaders, including Audit Committee Chairman and City Councilman Greg Smith.
""The city can – should – do better.," Smith tells 6 Investigates. "What we saw (in the audit) is unacceptable in contract management, in my opinion."
Read the audit report, below:
The audit came in response to 6 Investigate’s reporting earlier this year, when we found thousands of dollars coming into the center from big tournaments, was not being reported to the city, per contract requirements. Back then, Tennis Center Pro and Manager Gerald Tjon A Joe told us he had a "handshake agreement" with the city – a deal that preceeded even him – that allowed for the arrangement.
With the audit, though, things may change. Greg Smith tells us he believes he speaks for the entire council when he says that they are very concerned about what the audit uncovered. But the concern is not limited to the handshake deal. Smith says the city loses about a quarter-million-dollars a year on the H-E-B Tennis Center and the Al Kruse Tennis facility. He says he believes tighter controls are needed.
