Close call for Pablo Picasso art at a Texas museum

McALLEN, TX -- An audit of a South Texas museum has raised troubling questions about its governance and safeguarding of art.

The audit of McAllen's International Museum of Art and Science was requested by a city commissioner. It highlighted the failure to fix a leaky roof for 18 months that allowed water to seep through the art vault's ceiling and onto the floor yards from a Pablo Picasso painting valued at about $1.7 million.

The Monitor reports the city budgeted $751,000 for the museum in the current fiscal year. The audit took issue with the museum's board, which took over day-to-day operations after it executive director resigned.

The audit also raised ethical questions regarding a member of the board who asked staff to arrange discounts from artists doing business with the museum.