AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – The financial mess at Augusta’s Housing and Community Development Department was on the agenda, but public discussions do not go forward.“I’m frustrated beyond belief. We’ve talked about it, it’s time, take it out of our hands and let the FBI do their job,” said Commissioner Catherine Smith Rice.Last week, commissioners directed city attorneys to contact the Federal Inspector General’s Office about the almost $7 million auditors could not account for at HCD.
On Tuesday, commissioners scheduled hold a public meeting on the issues, but the meeting was cancelled, putting all the discussion behind closed doors in legal session.
The mayor said he wants to see an investigation.“There’s been innuendos that crimes have been committed. I don’t know if they have been, but in the least case we own the taxpayers and the citizens of Augusta-Richmond County to know where those dollars were spent,” said Mayor Garnett Johnson.Commissioner Francine Scott also supports a deeper dive into HCD, as long as it’s done properly.“I don’t want this just to be a headline. I want this to be something that is going to put the citizens at rest of what happen or what did not happen,” said Commissioner Scott. But some commissioners say the full federal investigation is the best route.“I probably won’t get what I want. I have wanted to make that motion to have the FBI take over, and right now I don’t have the support,” said Commissioner Rice.‘Where is the money?’ is the question that city leaders shave yet to publicly answer…