VIRGINIA BEACH — An audit of the city’s economic development department reveals new details about the spending habits of its former top leader and concludes he should reimburse the city $10,100 for improper expenses during a last-minute Las Vegas work trip as well as for time off that was not properly recorded.
The investigation comes on the heels of the departure of Chuck Rigney who resigned unexpectedly in July. The city audit reviewed more than $47,000 in credit card charges Rigney made since he began working for the city in 2023, according to a summary memo obtained by The Virginian-Pilot.
City Auditor Lyndon Remias’ memo concludes that Rigney took more than 120 hours of paid time off without submitting proper paperwork and was paid $8,226 for hours not worked. After reviewing $9,800 in charges submitted by Rigney and a coworker for a two-day work conference in Las Vegas, the auditor concluded Rigney should also pay back $1,872 in “unnecessary” charges for airline upgrades and some meals.