Two Bibb County Commissioners say they want a forensic audit conducted on all Bibb County finances. This comes after Mayor Robert Reichert's proposed budget showed that the county is heading towards a projected $16 million deficit next year.
Commissioners Joe Allen and Elaine Lucas say they want to know exactly where the county's money is going. After raising property taxes three mills last year, they want to know why the county keeps running deficits.
“We are concerned that we don’t know where the money for Macon-Bibb has gone,” says Lucas.
Lucas says something has to change.
“It’s a shock when you’re sitting here and you’re expected to approve a budget, but the numbers keep changing and they’re not going in a positive direction,” says Lucas.
Tuesday, Lucas and Allen say they found out next year's budget is projected to have a $16 million deficit. They say that number is $6 million higher than what they thought just the day before.
“We'll do whatever we can to protect the people of Bibb County,” says Allen.
That is why they say they are asking the other commissioners to support conducting a forensic audit on all Bibb County finances.
Mayor Robert Reichert calls their request a political stunt.
“To suggests or infer or allege that there’s been criminal wrong doing, I find reprehensible,” says Reichert.
Reichert says they should have known about the $16 million.
“For two of our senior commissioners to profess ignorance about what’s going on financially here,” says Reichert.
But Allen and Lucas say they are not saying anyone did anything wrong. They just want a better understanding of where all the moneys gone.
“Give us a blue print going forward,” says Lucas.
Neither Lucas or Allen knew how much this audit would cost, but they say it is well worth the cost.
County Spokesman Chris Floore says over the last three years, the county’s audits have ranged from $115,000 to $125,000.
If commissioners do not approve the resolution, Allen and Lucas say they will request the district attorney to convene a grand jury.