Daytona Beach Fire Department Audit Uncovers Over $500K in Questionable Spending

City commissioner calls findings 'extremely concerning' as audit reveals issues with P-card usage, take-home vehicles, and unexplained purchases.

Mar. 30, 2026 at 9:50pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a damaged fire department vehicle part, such as a broken siren or cracked dashboard, lit by a harsh, direct camera flash against a pitch-black background, conveying a stark, gritty, and investigative aesthetic.An internal audit uncovers questionable spending practices within the Daytona Beach Fire Department, raising concerns about financial oversight and accountability.Daytona Beach Today

An internal audit of the Daytona Beach Fire Department has uncovered over $500,000 in questionable spending, including improper use of purchasing cards, lack of mileage logs for take-home vehicles, and hundreds of purchases with missing receipts or unrelated to firefighting. The city's internal auditor launched the investigation after receiving whistleblower complaints, and the findings have been described as 'extremely concerning' by a city commissioner.

Why it matters

The audit raises serious questions about financial oversight and accountability within the Daytona Beach Fire Department, potentially indicating broader issues with how public funds are being managed. The findings could lead to policy changes, disciplinary actions, and increased scrutiny of other city departments.

The details

The audit found over $500,000 in questionable spending on the fire department's purchasing cards, including vehicle repairs, fuel, and other expenses that violated city rules. Auditors also identified 14 fire department employees with take-home cars but no mileage logs, making it impossible to determine if the expenses were for official business or personal use. Additionally, the audit uncovered more than $50,000 spent on food and drinks at local fast food restaurants by fire leadership, hundreds of purchases with missing receipts, and unusual purchases like 15 televisions, baby shower decorations, and a beer-can cooler.

  • The internal audit was launched in the fall of 2025 after several employee whistleblowers raised concerns.
  • The audit covered fire department spending from 2021 to 2025.
  • The auditor's findings were presented to the city commission on March 30, 2026.

The players

Daytona Beach Fire Department

The municipal fire department serving the city of Daytona Beach, Florida.

Stacy Cantu

A Daytona Beach city commissioner who has expressed serious concerns about the audit findings.

Dru Driscoll

The fire chief of the Daytona Beach Fire Department.

Daytona Beach City Manager

The city's top administrative official, who filed a written response to the audit report expressing support for the process.

Daytona Beach Internal Auditor

The city's internal auditor who launched the investigation and is expected to complete reviews of all city departments by the end of the year.

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What they’re saying

“There's no logs kept. That means... we were paying for their insurance, their gas, are we paying for that when they're not working?”

— Stacy Cantu, Daytona Beach City Commissioner

“The administration views this audit as part of an ongoing effort to continuously improve operations, enhance oversight, and ensure every dollar of public funds is used appropriately and effectively.”

— Daytona Beach City Manager

What’s next

The state is also conducting its own audit of the city, which is expected to be completed within the next few months. The city's internal auditor hopes to complete reviews of all city departments by the end of the year.

The takeaway

This audit uncovers significant financial oversight and accountability issues within the Daytona Beach Fire Department, raising concerns about how public funds are being managed across the city. The findings could lead to policy changes, disciplinary actions, and increased scrutiny of other municipal departments to ensure responsible use of taxpayer money.