The city of Mesa’s former clerk-treasurer spent more than $12,000 of the city’s tax dollars on personal expenses, even after she was fired, according to a state auditor’s investigation. 

Auditors found evidence of the alleged fraud while conducting a routine audit in 2024, according to the investigation’s findings. Charmain Halvorsen, who was clerk-treasurer during the time of the investigation, was arrested on charges related to the embezzled funds around that same time. 

Halvorsen was hired in late 2022 after the prior clerk-treasurer, Danni Speelman, was arrested for allegedly stealing from the city.  

Halvorsen was fired in October 2023 for not working consistent hours, resulting in the closure of Mesa’s city hall for several weeks, according to investigation documents. 

Auditors say the clerk-treasurer exploited a lack of financial oversight in the city government to use her city-issued debit card to spend $9,228 in personal purchases for groceries, decorations, vehicle loan payments, personal utility payments, storage unit fees, tires and online vendor purchases, with $323 spent after she was fired. 

Auditors say the clerk-treasurer also inappropriately spent $3,431 via an online clothing vendor between April and October 2023.  

An additional $9,913 in questionable debit card purchases was also found but auditors were unable to determine whether those expenses were appropriate due to a lack of documentation. 

City officials, in their response within the audit report, said they “are working toward a better system for reconciliation along with more involvement from the mayor and council to make sure the finances are not misappropriated. There will be some new daily reconciliation reports. We are working to improve the accounts payable process.” 

“Establishing proper financial controls can be challenging, but it’s not nearly as hard as explaining to your neighbors how their hard-earned tax dollars were lost. No matter how small your government is, there are ways to protect your finances,” said state Auditor Pat McCarthy in a release.