PEMBROKE PARK, Fla. — A Pembroke Park commissioner is raising new concerns about the town’s financial oversight following a Local 10 News investigation into an interest-free, taxpayer-funded loan issued to a sitting commissioner.

In a letter to the town attorney Sunday, Commissioner Ashira Mohammed asked for a formal review of the town’s auditing process and guidance on whether changes are needed to ensure proper oversight moving forward.

Her request comes days after a Local 10 News investigation revealed that Commissioner William Hodgkin received a $64,000 loan funded with taxpayer money. The loan carried no interest and was facilitated by Town Manager David Lynch, who also extended the opportunity to other commissioners.

Mohammed makes clear that her request is separate from a previously requested special audit. However, she says recent findings have raised serious questions about how certain financial transactions were handled and whether they were properly reviewed.

According to the letter, payments dating back to 2024 appear to have been issued without a clear policy, formal authorization, or documented internal controls. Mohammed notes that these types of transactions are not routine and should have been evaluated as part of the town’s annual financial audit.

She is now asking the town attorney for a legal opinion on whether Pembroke Park can terminate or choose not to renew its current auditing firm after the completion of the town’s upcoming financial report, known as the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, which is due in June.

In addition, Mohammed is seeking guidance on how to procure a new independent auditor with strong experience in governmental accounting and internal control practices.

A central question raised in the letter is whether the transactions should have been identified and reported by the town’s auditor. Mohammed asks whether the payments should have been disclosed in financial reports, and whether any corrections or restatements may now be necessary.

She also questions whether the transactions should have been flagged as deficiencies in internal controls. In auditing terms, those could include findings classified as significant deficiencies or material weaknesses, which indicate problems in how financial oversight is carried out.

Mohammed is also requesting that the town’s independent auditor appear before the Town Commission to present findings and answer questions publicly. She says this step is important to ensure transparency and accountability.

Finally, the commissioner is asking whether any previous financial reports need to be amended or supplemented based on the newly identified concerns.

While the town’s current audit is expected to be completed on schedule to maintain compliance with reporting requirements, Mohammed’s letter signals a broader concern about the effectiveness of the town’s financial oversight systems.

The concerns outlined in the letter stem directly from issues brought to light by Local 10 News, which first reported on the $64,000 interest-free loan and the lack of clear policy or public approval surrounding it.

At the center of the issue is whether proper safeguards were in place when the payments were issued, whether the Town Commission was appropriately involved, and whether existing audit procedures were sufficient to detect and report the transactions.

The outcome of the legal review could determine whether the town moves forward with its current auditor or seeks new oversight, as well as whether additional disclosures or corrective actions are required.

For residents, the issue ultimately raises questions about transparency, accountability and how public funds are managed.

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