WARREN DDA TRANSPARENTLY RELEASES ALL FINANCIAL RECORDS

Warren DDA Transparently Releases All Financial Records – Shows Calls for “Forensic Audit” Are Nothing More than Political Sideshow
Mayor James Fouts Urges Council to Focus on Serving the Residents, Not Their Own Political Games

Recently, a group of four members of the Warren City Council have repeatedly tried to stop any progress in the city by engaging in baseless political attacks on Mayor James Fouts and his administration. The latest was suggesting financial wrong doing at the Warren Downtown Development Authority and demanding a “forensic audit.” In response to this baseless attack, today the Warren Downtown Development Authority publicly and transparently released all financial records for FY 2021-2022 which shows clearly the council’s effort is nothing more than a political sideshow.

The DDA’s attorney, Lawrence T. Garcia, today sent a letter to city council along with all financial records. Both the letter and financial records are attached.

“Four members of the Warren City Council see the Mayor as a rival, and they would like to assassinate his character in order to damage him as a political figure,” said DDA Attorney Lawrence Garcia. “Instead of focusing on bigger matters of public concern, these members have repeatedly upbraided the Mayor with subjective criticisms, disapproving him because he allowed the grass along a service drive to get too tall or because the tone of his voice is supposedly too harsh… Through many overt and covert attempts to harm the Mayor politically, these members have revealed the true motivation behind their actions relative to the DDA is their hostility toward the Mayor as political competition.

“The Mayor instituted a lawsuit in February to have the courts determine whether the Council has the authority to unilaterally amend the Mayor’s proposed budget over the Mayor’s objection. The matter is currently before the Court of Appeals. The enclosed records reveal there is no evidence of “statutory violation” to be found in the DDA’s finances. All money flowing into and out of the DDA during FY 2021-2022 is reflected in the enclosed financial summary and records, prepared by Warren City Controller Rick Fox, and there is no legitimate reason for an audit,” Garcia concluded.

“My administration has had enough of the political games played by the Gang of Four on the Warren City Council,” said Warren Mayor James Fouts. “We operate in transparency and focus entirely on what is best of the residents of this great community. Unfortunately, by focusing solely on political games, the Gang of Four holds back progress in our community. I commend the DDA for the complete transparency they have provided in this matter and urge the Gang of Four to change their focus away from petty political attacks. There is much to be done in the challenging economic times our residents face and I urge the council to focus on serving the residents, not their own political games.”

Proposal on Forensic Audit of Warren DDA

DDA Contractual Service & Community Promotion Check Listing with descriptions