Local

$200M Unaccounted for in East Point

July 4th, 2013

The Mayor of East Point says a recent audit of city finances has turned up $200 million unaccounted for.

But at least one city council member has questions about the findings.

Mayor Earnestine Pittman says the audit findings show, from 2000 to 2012, $200 million was spent on invoices that did not have accompanying purchase orders.

“I find that mind-boggling,” Pittman told WABE. “I mean, you have to account and be able to account at all times for public expenditures.”

Just as mind-boggling to City Council member Lance Rhodes is that he has not been able to see the audit. He says the mayor would not give him a copy. So he filed an Open Records Request with the City Clerk’s Office only to be told it didn’t have a copy.

Rhodes is dubious about what Mayor Pittman says are the findings. “If there is something questionable or improper that’s been done, then certainly we’ll hold anyone accountable that needs to be held accountable,” said Rhodes. “But I just don’t believe minds of residents in making these claims that there’s $200 million missing. I simply do not believe that. “

Mayor Pittman believes the audit findings show more than just impropriety, saying “I feel that there were criminal behavior in what was going on.”

She says the Fulton County District Attorney is investigating. The D.A.’s office says it has received information about what it calls “one specific incident” but would not elaborate or confirm it is conducting an investigation.