APD still sorting out unpaid bills

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Austin Police Department officers will provide security and traffic control for the Memorial Day Capital of Texas Triathalon even though event organizers could owe the city more than $26,000 for security and traffic control for events dating back to 2004.

The department recently changed its policy when it comes to providing security to events who have not paid their bills, but neither APD nor organizers for the triathlon can confirm if the money is owed.

"They've been working with us in good faith, so at this point what we're doing is working with our financial department trying to find the backup documents to make sure that - before we tell them- you need to pay this- that that debt actually exists," said Assistant Chief Raul Munguia.

The police department said the Capital of Texas Triathalon organizers have been in perfect standing with the department since 2008- paying all of their bills on time.

The three bills in question date back to 2004- when the department has on record that event organizers owe $15,042.60 for security and traffic control from the triathalon event on Memorial Day of that year. Problem is, the department has not been able to locate any documentation or invoices to substantiate the debt.

"What we want to see is the backup paperwork, the invoices and stuff so that's what we're trying to get a hold of," said Munguia.

The department also lists two unpaid bills totaling $11,177.95 from 2007, although there is no record of what those charges are for.   

"We are investigating the accuracy of the list," said Brad Davison, the Capital of Texas Triathalon organizer. "Everyone is still trying to find documentation about why we are on the list."

APD said despite a new policy of not granting permits to events with bills outstanding for more than 90 days, the Capital of Texas Triathalon is not in danger of losing its permit because they are working with the city and trying to determine the validity of the old charges.

A KXAN investigation uncovered more than $800,000 owed to APD by event organizers who had not paid for security and traffic control. The department quickly collected more than $300,000, but acknowledged their accounting practices prior to 2007 have created problems collecting old debt. They only moved to a computer database for accounting that year.