SOUTH FULTON, GA — At this week’s (Tuesday) meeting of the City Council, the City accepted the findings of an independent forensic audit that examined the use of city-issued purchase cards by the Office of the Mayor. The audit, conducted over a 25-month period by the nationally recognized accounting firm Baker Tilly, uncovered more than $109,000 in mayoral P-Card charges, including approximately $70,000 in undocumented travel expenses by the mayor and $26,000 in unauthorized spending during the final quarter of 2024, part of which funded an international trip.

In response, District 2 Councilmember Carmalitha Gumbs, who has long prioritized ethics and accountability in local government, issued the following statement:

“As a public servant, I believe we must uphold the highest standards of integrity and stewardship when it comes to managing public funds. The audit findings are disturbing and have understandably shaken the trust of our residents.

Nearly $110,000 in charges, with a significant portion lacking documentation or justification, represents not only a breakdown in accountability — it’s a betrayal of public confidence.

I fully support efforts to recover any misused funds and urge the mayor to reimburse the City of South Fulton for every dollar that was not authorized or properly accounted.

Residents deserve to know that their elected officials are acting in the public’s best interest — not using taxpayer dollars for personal benefit.

I remain committed to a government that is ethical, fiscally responsible, and transparent. This moment must be a turning point. We owe our constituents nothing less.”