AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – Auditors looked at 20,000 transactions in the Recreation & Parks Department over three years, starting in 2021. They found plenty of accounting mistakes, but to the city’s relief, nothing criminal.“Oh most definitely. I think our governing body, as well as our constituents, we’re happy to see no fraudulent activity, said Tameka Allen, the City Administrator.The audit was approved after the forced resignation of former Director Maurice McDowell and while finding no fraud, it does reveal financial errors, omissions a lack of policies and procedures when it came to department spending under the former director.Commissioner Catherine Smith Rice said after seeing the findings, she would now like to see other departments spending examined.“It’s good to do these audits to see if there is fraud. Glad that there is not fraud however, we need to stay on top of it,” said Commissioner Rice.One of the area commissioners wanted examined is the city’s Candlelight Music series.Auditors finding that the over three-year period, $30,000 more were taken in than was deposited in the bank.
“Anytime you’re dealing with cash, there’s an opportunity that something may not balance out and reconcile as it should, so I think we’re looking at different ways to start approaching that,” said Allen.The audit contains more than 20 recommendations for the city to follow in the future.“So now we have a foundation that tells us the issues that we are facing over in the Recreation Department. We hired a new director who is already addressing those, who’s looking over those policies to make sure we got solutions in place,” said Allen. Augusta has its Parks department audit, and some commissioners said it should not be the last one…