DeKalb taxpayer money spent on peanuts, consultants and charities
An investigation of DeKalb County government highlights spending of taxpayer money on everything from boiled peanuts to pricey consultants.
In all, the report questioned $537,239 worth of government spending dating back to 2008, most of it by county commissioners.
County employees used their budgets and government-issued charge cards for gift cards, meals, flowers, dance lessons, office supplies, charities and more.
Elected officials say their expenses served legitimate purposes, especially through their giving to nonprofit organizations that benefit the public good.
About the Author
Mark Niesse is an enterprise reporter and covers elections and Georgia government for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and is considered an expert on elections and voting. Before joining the AJC, he worked for The Associated Press in Atlanta, Honolulu and Montgomery, Alabama. He also reported for The Daily Report and The Santiago Times in Chile.
