An outside audit has begun reviewing the last 10 years of DeKalb County commissioners’ spending.
The audit, which will cost the county $83,000 and be conducted by O. H. Plunkett & Co. accounting firm, will examine commissioners' spending on their charge cards as well as their expenses for travel, services and goods. All purchases will be reviewed for proof the spending was for county business.
The DeKalb County Commission unanimously approved the audit in April after an Atlanta Journal-Constitution investigation found Commissioner Elaine Boyer had put thousands of dollars in personal charges on her county-issued charge card. Later reports questioned the spending of Commissioners Larry Johnson, Sharon Barnes Sutton and Stan Watson.
Commissioner Kathie Gannon, who also faces a recent ethics complaint about her spending, said her budget will be the first one to be audited.
“Let me be clear: I am confident that all my budget expenditures are legitimate and in due time I will be vindicated,” said Gannon, who sought the audit.
The audit began July 7 and will take no longer than 90 days to complete.
Its results will be submitted to the county CEO, Board of Commissioners and Board of Ethics for review.
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