The San Francisco 49ers are responding to accusations the team is misusing public funds in the South Bay.
Santa Clara has said the team is not playing fair, citing an audit that appears to show the 49ers misusing public funds and potentially shorting the city. Mayor Lisa Gillmor last week said the city will take over management of Levi's Stadium if the 49ers do not comply with their current contract.
"We are absolutely complying with the auditing team," said Al Guido, 49ers president. "We've been complying for multiple years with the city."
Guido said it is unfortunate the 49ers and the city of Santa Clara have reached this point. The city is demanding budget docuements, and on Monday Guido said the team has supplied them and is working to compile the rest.
"If those bills have not been managed properly, then they need to send us a new invoice," Guido said. "Then we will pay it, just like we pay every other bill that comes to us."
The 49ers said the documents will be completed by Friday.
Guido is referring to the findings detailed in an independent audit presented to the city council last week. The auditor said it is possible taxpayer money was used to pay for public safety costs at NFL events, which is illegal under Santa Clara city law.
Sports
The audit also found the city may be eligible to recieve more revenue from events like the Taylor Swift concert.
"Is it supposed to be $2 million or should it be $10 million that the city of Santa Clara is receiving from the stadium," Gillmor said. "We don't know until we see the underlying financial documents that they have failed to produce for two days."
Gillmor said the city is prepared to take over management of Levi's Stadium if the 49ers and sporting authority do not hand over the budget documents.
"We are going to make sure we get the information, and our citizens and general fund gets what it deserves," Gillmor said.
