City chief overspends by nearly $100,000, gets relieved of duties

Topline: Aretha Ferrell-Benavides — the disgraced former city manager of Martinsville, Va. — spent $96,613 on her city credit card without proper approval, according to an independent audit released this April. Several purchases ignored city spending limits on meals and hotels.

The City Manager’s Office also took money from another department to fund Ferrell-Benades’ travel and a pay raise without approval from the city council, according to the audit.

Key facts: Ferrell-Benavides...