IT'S OUR MONEY: CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE PARKING GARAGE NEEDS TIGHTER CONTROLS OVER CASH RECEIPTS

It’s our money.

As I told St. Augustine City Commissioners last night, our City needs tighter controls over cash received at the Historic Downtown Parking Garage. (I reckon it is the downtown that is historic, not the parking garage, which is a $25 million white elephant and a millstone around our necks, too big and too costly).

Sunday we paid $7 cash to park in the garage for the St. Augustine Greek Holy Trinity Orthodox Church’s annual Greek Festival. During special events, it is customary for the City to take cash to avoid backups. This is understandable.

But no receipts were provided automatically to those paying $7 to park for a few hours. I asked for a receipt, and the attendant looked at me with a quizzical expression, as if I had just asked him for a dog. He consulted his colleagues, one of whom hand-wrote an (unsigned) receipt.

Receipts must be provided with all cash payments to our City of St. Augustine. Four accountants agree. They confirm this is required by GASB (Government Accounting standards Board). It’s our money.

We don’t want any money skimmed or stolen. The temptation is obvious. Embezzlements have often occurred where there is a lack of internal accouting controls amidst high-volume cash receipts (whether in mafia-controlled Las Vegas casinos or fluky houses of worship).

From this day forward, cash receipts will be provided to all customers paying cash to our City,as City of St. Augustine Comptroller Mark Litzinger assured me last night. That's a good thing. I appreciate the concern and swift response of Mr. Litzinger and City Manager John Regan. Our City is under new management and their constructive response is a breath of fresh air (compared to tatterdemalion ex-Manager WILLIAM B. HARRIS, who hated public participation with a passion, unless it was from wealthy hoteliers and other property owners).

It’s our money.

The next big special event in St. Augustine is the opening of our annual Nights of Life celebration. If you park in the Historic Downtown Parking Garage, please do make sure you are handed a receipt. It's our money.

If you are not automatically given a receipt at the Historic Downtown Parking Garage, will you please let me know, and inform the City Comptroller and City Manager?

It’s our money.