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State auditor investigates Gonzales city finances, mayor's billboards following anonymous tip
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GONZALES — The Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s Office is conducting an investigative audit into the city of Gonzales’ finances, scrutinizing municipal credit card transactions, facility rentals and usage agreements.
Gonzales Chief of Staff Wade Petite said that state auditors showed up at City Hall "unannounced" several weeks ago, though local officials were already aware an inquiry was being opened.
"Our information was that the auditor had received an anonymous tip to its hotline, triggering an obligation for its examination," Petite said.
According to Petite, many of the files auditors requested are "eerily similar" to records released through recent public records requests.
Petite said the person who lodged the complaint is a "paid agitator" hired by people who lost the election to come after the Riley administration. He also said the complaints are not tied to the current administration and happened before Riley took office, but welcomes anyone who wants to come look can see for themselves.
"We welcome scrutiny," Petite said. "Anybody who wants to look at any paper, you're welcome to it."
The audit comes amid heightened scrutiny on social media. Since Sept. 30, an anonymous Facebook page named Pelican Roast—which has amassed more than 1,000 followers—has shared public records including city permits, invoices and credit card receipts, specifically targeting Mayor Riley’s compensation and spending habits.
Among the disclosures highlighted on the page is a $155.20 receipt from Texas Roadhouse dated Saturday, Jan. 3 at 7:41 p.m., showing five meals alongside a handwritten note reading: "Meeting mayor planning and zoning meeting."
When asked about restaurant spending, Petite said it's typical for governments to pay for lunch meetings; he also said the current administration spends around half of what the previous administration spent on lunch meetings.
Other published invoices detail taxpayer-funded promotional campaigns featuring Riley’s likeness and name. The records show the city spent $500 on a digital billboard in May 2026, followed by a $6,000, 12-month contract that took effect in June 2026 for a billboard reading: "Mayor Timothy ‘Tim’ Riley invites you to come again," The Advocate reported.
Under Louisiana law, public funds are prohibited from being used to pay for advertisements that include the name of an elected or appointed official.
Petite also discussed a charge to Under Amour, saying the anonymous poster claimed that Riley had spent $450 on UA, but it was from the former community events manager who bought community basketball uniforms.
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