Prichard Mayor Denies Claims of Missing Financial Reports, Says City Council Received Documents Months Ago

PRICHARD, Ala. (BuzzReport) — Tensions over the financial transparency of city government continued this week in the City of Prichard after Mayor Carletta Davis issued a formal statement disputing claims that financial reports have not been provided to the City Council.

The statement comes in response to a special council meeting held Tuesday, March 10, where several members of the Prichard City Council raised concerns that key financial documents had not been delivered, prompting public criticism and increased scrutiny of the city’s finances.

In her statement, Davis firmly rejected the allegations, saying the reports in question had already been delivered to council members months earlier.

“I wholly deny the claims that financial reports have not been provided to the City Council,” Davis said. “Records confirm that my Finance Director provided comprehensive financial reports in both December 2025 and January 2026.”

According to the mayor, the submitted documents included detailed receipt reports, check registers, and monthly fixed expenditure reports outlining the city’s financial obligations, which she said total $1,097,952.84 in monthly expenses.

Davis also pointed to a formal presentation made by the city’s finance department on January 15, 2026. She said the presentation outlining the financial reports was recorded and remains publicly available on the city’s official YouTube channel.

The mayor encouraged residents and members of the media to review the presentation themselves.

Under Alabama Code 11-43C, mayors in certain municipal government structures are required to provide monthly reports detailing city revenue, expenditures, and the overall financial condition of the municipality.

Davis said her administration has complied with that requirement and plans to present an updated financial report during the city’s regularly scheduled council meeting on Thursday, March 12.

“My administration has done exactly that and remains fully committed to this legal and ethical obligation,” Davis said.

The mayor also addressed concerns surrounding the city’s financial reporting system, noting that the administration is currently transitioning from QuickBooks to AccountMate, a municipal accounting platform recommended by independent auditors.

According to Davis, auditors have raised concerns for several years about the city using QuickBooks, which she described as software “not commonly used by municipalities.” The transition to the new system, she said, has created additional work for the finance department as staff verify and transfer financial data.

Her Finance Director has informed the council multiple times that the transition requires additional time to compile accurate financial records, Davis said.

“This internal process is not an attempt to withhold information,” Davis explained. “Rather, it is a necessary step to ensure that accurate information is presented to the Council in a clear and concise manner.”

Davis also referenced her recent “Traveling City Hall” series, which took place from February 23 through March 6 and included meetings across all five districts of the city. During those community forums, she emphasized her administration’s commitment to transparency but said she would not present incomplete financial data.

“What I will not do is present reports that are incomplete,” Davis said during those meetings.

The dispute over financial reporting has become the latest flashpoint in ongoing tensions between the mayor’s office and members of the city council, with some council members insisting they are still awaiting detailed financial documentation regarding the city’s finances.

Despite the disagreement, Davis said her administration remains focused on transparency and moving the city forward.

“My administration strives to be the most transparent in Prichard’s history,” Davis said. “Our city has bright days ahead, but we must resist the urge to fall back into practices that are not conducive to growth and unity.”

Thursday’s city council meeting is expected to include the presentation of updated financial information and could provide further clarity on the dispute that has drawn attention from residents and local media.