8/9/2019 Government Oversight Falls Short Again in DeKalb

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Government oversight falls short again in DeKalbPosted: 6:15 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2015

By Mark Niesse- The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

DeKalb Countys elected leaders again failed to act Tuesday on a proposal to hire a watchdog over

taxpayer money, despite recommendations from citizen groups pushing for clean government.

The effort to bring oversight to county government finances stalled amid several commissioners

concerns that the position wouldnt be truly independent from the government officials its meant to

police.

The internal auditor would be tasked with finding fraud and improving government efficiency. If the

stalemate among DeKalb commissioners continues, the Georgia General Assembly could be forced to

intervene.

The DeKalb Commission voted 4-1 to defer the creation of the internal auditor position,which has

been debated for years without results.

Calls for action have been mounting since Commissioner Elaine Boyer pleaded guilty in September

to bilking taxpayers of $93,000. Four remaining commissioners stand accused in complaints to the

DeKalb Board of Ethics that theyve misused their government charge cards for personal purposes.

In some cases, commissioners spent public money on gift cards, printers, steak dinners and plane

flights.

We dont know where the money is going. Theres no transparency, said Gil Turman, a former

DeKalb school principal and a member of Blueprint DeKalb, a citizen group pushing for reforms.

We need to know whats going on. We need somebody from the outside to control the situation

and not be controlled by anyone.

Commissioner Sharon Barnes Sutton said the internal auditor position shouldnt have been delayed

Tuesday.

Sutton said that even though a committee appointed by the commission would handle the hiring

process, the auditor would then be independent and able to investigate both commissioners and the

administration of Interim DeKalb CEO Lee May. A task force formed by May also has suggested

hiring an auditor who can hold government accountable.

Im appalled that commissioners who always talk about the need for an internal auditor are refusing

to take action, Sutton said. This is about real governance for DeKalb.

8/9/2019 Government Oversight Falls Short Again in DeKalb

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But Commissioner Kathie Gannon said for the auditor position to be truly autonomous, it shouldnt

be chosen by a hand-picked committee.

When we select and choose ourselves it still is not arms length removed from us who have

control of their budget and staff, Gannon said.

Shed prefer that an outside group of professionals who are knowledgeable in the area of

performance auditing recommend auditor candidates to the commissions committee. Her proposed

five-person Internal Audit Oversight Committee appointed by the commission, the CEO and state

lawmakers would be responsible providing direction, review and budget recommendations for the

auditors office.

Legislation intended to safeguard the auditors independence will be proposed soon, said Rep. MaryMargaret Oliver, D-Decatur. She said the Georgia General Assembly needs to step in because the

commission isnt moving forward.

I have lost confidence that the Board of Commissioners with define an internal auditor in a way that

DeKalb citizens will have confidence in, Oliver said. The Legislature has to act.

The DeKalb Commission first approved creating an Office of Internal Audit in 2010, but no one was

ever hired. Then last year, commissioners approved a budget that called for three auditor positions,

but those jobs werent filled.

May said he hopes commissioners can find a compromise, but it will be difficult to remove thementirely from the auditors hiring process.

There should be independence that protects the auditor from being pressured by me or the

commission, May said.