(This is NOT the official state petition. The official petition must be signed in person on the forms provided by the Missouri State Auditor’s Office. This citizen petition is based on their recommendation, “Our office would suggest pursuing a petition audit request.” Rebecca Adams will be collecting signatures starting today until December 31, 2025)

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For more than twenty years, the City of Marshall has collected over $2.1 million in Lodging Tax revenue—public money intended to support tourism, local businesses, and the community. Today, serious concerns have emerged about how this money has been managed, recorded, approved, and overseen.

This petition requests that the Missouri State Auditor conduct an independent, comprehensive audit of the City of Marshall, the Marshall Tourism Commission, Lodging Tax funds, and all related financial and administrative practices.

Citizens deserve transparency, accountability, and honest answers.

1. Delays and Problems With Public Records Requests
On November 2, 2025, the former Tourism Director submitted lawful Sunshine Law requests for Lodging Tax financial records, Tourism Commission documents, historical ledgers, and employment documentation.

Although the City acknowledged the requests, key financial records have still not been produced, even though the County provided its portion of the same records within 24 hours at no cost.

This raises concerns about:

Missing or incomplete records
Delayed disclosure
Recordkeeping practices
Possible violations of Missouri Sunshine Law

2. Sudden Termination After Requesting Financial Records
Only three weeks after requesting these documents—and shortly after receiving a significant raise for performance—the Tourism Director was abruptly terminated without a documented reason.

The decision was attributed to a vote by the Tourism Commission, yet:

No agenda
No meeting notice
No minutes
No documentation of any vote have been produced, as required by Missouri law.

This sequence raises legitimate concerns about retaliation.

3. Withholding Pay and Demanding Files
After requesting public records, the Tourism Director received demands from a Commission officer to immediately surrender all work files, documents, and passwords.

Following termination, she was informed she would not be paid unless she turned over “everything.”

Withholding wages as leverage is improper and raises serious ethical and legal concerns.

4. Questionable Employment Arrangement
Although the previous Tourism Director was classified as a W-2 employee, the new Director was treated as:

A 1099 contractor
Listed as a “temporary vendor” in City records
Given no formal contract
Expected to track hours like an employee
Required to buy work-related items with personal funds

City staff acknowledged this arrangement was unusual and potentially improper. A misclassification complaint was filed prior to termination.

5. Concerns About Lodging Tax Fund Management
Citizens have raised questions regarding:

A $25,000 payment the City made to itself from the Lodging Tax fund
A recurring annual “management fee” charged to the fund
Where interest earned on Lodging Tax accounts is deposited
Whether grant approvals and reimbursements follow a consistent process
Why historical financial records were stored in boxes rather than digitized
Whether complete documentation exists for grants awarded between 2004 and 2025
Why Lodging Tax funds were directed toward activities or organizations located outside the Marshall city limits, despite state law restricting Lodging Tax use to within the city

The public deserves to know whether these funds were managed properly and in accordance with Missouri statute.

6. Overlapping Leadership Roles and Potential Conflicts of Interest
For years, the same small group of individuals have rotated leadership roles across multiple organizations connected to tourism funding and economic development, including:

Two local nonprofits
The Chamber of Commerce
City departments that influence employment and tourism operations

These organizations have received City support or Lodging Tax funding.

When the same individuals serve in multiple decision-making positions—some approving funds while others lead the organizations receiving those funds—it creates structural conflicts of interest that require independent review.

7. Concerns About Local Nonprofit Funding
Recent payment requests submitted by a City supported local organization raised concerns because:

Requested reimbursement amounts did not match approved funding
Submitted receipts did not align with the claim
Supporting information contained inaccuracies
Any organization receiving public funds must provide clear documentation and accountability.

An audit can determine whether expenditures were appropriate and properly approved.

8. Broader Issues Affecting Public Trust
Additional concerns reported by community members include:

Lack of responsiveness from City leadership
Denial of basic tools needed to perform tourism work
Unclear financial procedures
Questions about procurement practices
Inconsistent or missing documentation
Decision-making processes that appear opaque rather than transparent

These issues extend beyond one department and suggest the need for a comprehensive review.

This petition is not about individuals or politics. It is about public trust and responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars.

Residents of Marshall deserve:

Transparent financial records
Lawful management of public funds
Proper oversight of commissions and nonprofits
Clear documentation of decisions
Fair and lawful employment practices
Confidence that Lodging Tax revenue—generated locally—benefits the community as intended
When basic financial questions cannot be answered, a state audit becomes necessary.

We Request a Full State Audit
We, the undersigned, respectfully request that the Missouri State Auditor investigate:

Lodging Tax revenues and expenditures from 2004 to present
Tourism Commission operations and decision-making
Sunshine Law compliance
Employment classification and payroll practices
Funding provided to external nonprofits
Use of Lodging Tax outside city limits
Procurement practices and approval procedures
Potential conflicts of interest
Administrative and governance practices

Marshall deserves transparency.
Marshall deserves accountability.
Marshall deserves the truth.

Please sign this petition requesting a State Audit of the City of Marshall.