A coalition called White Rock Lake Accountability formed in 2026 and is raising concerns about the nonprofit White Rock Boathouse, Inc., including its finances and public access. Members say their complaints are not new. Paula Miltenberger and Tamber Johnson want the group to receive a full audit, with a third-party accountant verifying its numbers, rather than compilation reports alone. Boathouse Board President Sue Ellen Chambers said financial audits have been completed since 2023.
Public tax filings show the nonprofit collected about $1.2 million in revenue in 2024 and recorded a deficit against about $1.35 million in expenses. About 69.5% of revenue came from rowing-related program services, and almost 25% came from building leasing, particularly The Filter Building. Johnson said in an interview this summer that the building is booked year-round and that the money is under the nonprofit's control. She said the group does not turn in audited financials as its contract with the City requires, and that the City is not holding it accountable.
In 2019, Dallas's interim City auditor issued a report on oversight of the boathouse. It said the Park and Recreation Department's maintenance division did not have formal written policies for monitoring boathouse contracts. The report also said the boathouse lacked adequate internal controls over expenses and did not obtain external assurances that its financial data was complete and accurate. The report found six instances of contract noncompliance.