UPDATE: August 6, 2015 (WXIA-TV) -- Mike Bowers sent a letter to DeKalb County CEO Lee May today, telling May that May was wrong to say that the final report would be ready in three weeks; Bowers said he thought May knew that it would be ready on October 6, 2015. Here is the text of the letter:
"Dear Mr. May, I have seen reports in the local media quoting you, stating that our investigative report would be delivered to you in three weeks. That is contrary to my notes of our discussion yesterday. It was clear to me and Mr. Hyde that we were all in agreement that the report would be completed and presented publicly to you and the Commission on October 6, 2015. Please make all efforts to correct this misimpression and inaccuracy as soon as possible. Sincerely, (signed) Michael Bowers."
DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. August 5, 2015 (WXIA-TV) -- Two independent investigators, hired by DeKalb County earlier this year to audit county government and identify problems and possible corruption, have concluded that county government is "rotten to the core."
Their full report is expected by the end of August. [Ed. Note: See the Update, at the top of the article, regarding the delivery date.]
And in an overview letter Wednesday to DeKalb Interim CEO Lee May, they summarized the status of their investigation, which prompted May to lash back, criticizing the letter as nothing more than "salacious -- but vague -- innuendo."
Each DeKalb County commissioner received a copy of the letter on Wednesday.
"It's a very disheartening letter to read," said Commissioner Nancy Jester. Jester's conclusion -- the letter is on the right track, and the investigation is just what the county needs to clean up its act.
The investigators hired by the county are former Georgia Attorney General Mike Bowers, and his long-time associate, Richard Hyde. Bowers and Hyde, along with former DeKalb District Attorney Bob Wilson, led the investigation into the Atlanta Public Schools cheating scandal that resulted in indictments and convictions.
Then DeKalb hired them to investigate county government.
Bowers and Hyde wrote, in their progress report, about rampant fraud, waste and theft of taxpayer money.
"What we have found is stunning.... The DeKalb County government we have found is rotten to the core. The misconduct starts at the top and has infected nearly every department we have looked at."
Bowers and Hyde wrote that even though some department heads are refusing to cooperate with the investigation, the final report will reveal rampant illegalities.
For example, they say they've uncovered a bribery scheme in a major county department.
They say purchase-cards abuse is "astounding." In one case, a county employee took a cruise to the Bahamas and charged it to the taxpayers.
Among the other findings, according to the letter:
- Departments are overspending their budgets and no one is stopping them
- The county is awarding sole-source contracts -- instead of using competitive bidding to save money
- There was no discipline for an employee who drove drunk and wrecked a county car
- Thefts of county property are covered up
Commissioner Jester applauds the investigation, so far.
"It's desperately needed in DeKalb. If we cannot find out who did what, when, where, how and why, then we're never going to fix the corruption in DeKalb. People are going to continue to abuse the taxpayers."
May would have preferred that Bowers and Hyde had not written the letter but had waited until they were ready to release a final report, naming names and getting specific about the findings.
"We were aware of the underlying issues mentioned in Mr. Bowers' letter. That is why we hired him," May wrote in an emailed statement. "It appears the only thing we have to show for [their investigation, so far] is a two-page letter full of salacious, but vague, innuendo."
May went on to write that he expects their final report will "provide me with a road map to reduce our risk exposure to waste, fraud and abuse."
Jester said when the full report is complete, she'll be ready to call for arrests and prosecutions, if necessary.
"If people have stolen from the taxpayer, they need to be held to account. If they're an employee or if they're an elected official, they have got to be prosecuted for that crime."
Bowers told 11Alive News that he is allowing the letter to stand on its own; he will not comment further to anyone about what he and Hyde are finding in DeKalb County government, or about what sort of bombshell their final report might be when they finish it, possibly in about three weeks. [Ed. Note: See Update, at the top of article, regarding the delivery date.]
Here is the full statement from DeKalb Interim CEO Lee May:
"I wholeheartedly disagree with the opinion that DeKalb County is rotten to the core. The overwhelming majority of DeKalb County employees are honest, decent, hard-working, and committed to public service.
We were aware of the underlying issues mentioned in Mr. Bowers' letter. That is why we hired him to conduct a comprehensive review of county government operations to identify corruption, fraud, criminal activity, conflicts of interest, or abuse; with a report in 120 days.
The 120 days has come and gone, and it appears the only thing we have to show for it is a 2-page letter full of salacious - but vague – innuendo.
I was informed by Mr. Bowers today that a detailed report will be issued in 3 weeks that will provide me with a road map to reduce our risk exposure to waste, fraud and abuse."
