State auditors have spent several weeks digging through Gonzales city hall records, examining credit card transactions, facility rentals and usage agreements as part of an investigative audit triggered by an anonymous tip. The probe has put a spotlight on city spending that includes two billboard advertisements featuring Mayor Timothy “Tim” Riley, one of which cost taxpayers $6,000 for a full year on display.
Auditors Confirm Investigation, Keep Scope Under Wraps
The Louisiana Legislative Auditor's Office has been conducting an investigative audit of Gonzales' finances for several weeks, according to The Advocate. State Legislative Auditor Michael Waguespack confirmed the audit is investigative in nature but declined to discuss its scope further, the paper reported. Gonzales Chief of Staff Wade Petite said auditors arrived unannounced at city hall several weeks before the story published, according to WBRZ, though he said local officials already knew an inquiry would be opened.
Petite said the city understood that an anonymous tip to the auditor's hotline triggered the obligation to conduct an examination. Per the same account, Petite said many of the records being requested were “eerily similar” to those the city had already turned over in response to recent public-records requests. He described the unnamed complainant as a paid agitator hired by people who lost the election to target the Riley administration, telling WBRZ the underlying complaints predated Riley taking office and were not tied to the current administration.
Anonymous Facebook Page Has Been Posting City Records Since Late September
An anonymous Facebook page called Pelican Roast has amassed more than 1,000 followers and has frequently posted city records since around Sept. 30, 2026, per the article from WBRZ. The page has targeted Mayor Riley's compensation and spending habits, including a Texas Roadhouse receipt from Jan. 3, 2026 showing $155.20 for five meals with a handwritten note referencing a mayor planning and zoning meeting. Petite said paying for lunch meetings is a typical government practice and noted the current administration spends around half as much on such meetings as the previous one.
Pelican Roast also flagged a claim that Riley spent $450 on Under Armour merchandise, Petite said that charge actually covered community basketball uniforms purchased by the former community events manager, not the mayor personally.
Billboard Ads Naming the Mayor Draw Scrutiny
Records examined by The Advocate show the city spent $500 in May 2026 on a digital billboard advertisement, and a separate $6,000 invoice covered a 12-month billboard contract that began in June 2026. One billboard message read: “Mayor Timothy ‘Tim’ Riley invites you to come again.” Louisiana law generally prohibits using public funds to pay for an advertisement that includes the name of an elected or appointed public official, according to the Louisiana State Legislature.
Petite said Gonzales welcomes scrutiny from legitimate agencies, calling it an opportunity to shore up the city's books. “We welcome scrutiny from legitimate agencies, which will assist this administration in introducing sound accounting principles and establishing fiscally responsible practices for the city,” he said, according to The Advocate.
Past Audits and Salary Questions Add Context
The current investigative audit follows an independent financial audit of Gonzales' fiscal year ended May 31, 2024, which gave an unmodified opinion on the city's financial statements but also disclosed one instance of noncompliance material to those statements, identified as a Louisiana Budget Law finding, according to the Louisiana Legislative Auditor. That same 2024 report showed a $5,670,779 decrease in the city's governmental fund balances from the prior year. Those findings predate the current investigation and do not establish its outcome.
Mayor Riley's compensation has also drawn attention before this audit. A prior report found his salary climbed from about $125,590 to $134,035 over 15 months, according to a separate WBRZ report. Whatever the current investigative audit ultimately finds, city officials say they intend to keep their books open to state examiners in the meantime.
