AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Auditors say they can’t fully verify how millions in federal pandemic dollars sent to Augusta were spent.

City leaders have approved an Office of Inspector General investigation into the Housing and Community Development Department.

Augusta’s housing department received about $26 million in emergency rental assistance funds during the pandemic.

Auditors verified roughly $13.3 million was spent properly, most of it through payments to United Way. About $6.2 million was returned to the federal government because it went unused.

But auditors could not confirm how $6.8 million was used.

Audit reveals mismanagement

Auditors said money was mixed with other accounts, transactions were recorded inconsistently, and there was not a clear paper trail to track where specific dollars went.

Auditors said that made it difficult to know how the money was spent.

Emails obtained show City Administrator Tameka Allen asked auditors whether this was mismanagement and whether federal money was used for other expenses.

Auditors responded their findings pointed to mismanagement but said determining criminal wrongdoing was outside their role.

“It kind of felt like a hit in the stomach because our goal is to find out what is truly happening,” Allen said. “And unfortunately, they could not even provide us that information based on their expertise in the auditing field. So it goes to show that there’s a lot for us to do, a lot of things for us to correct.”

City leaders approved two outside groups to help them get back on track with their finances. Commissioners approved $32,500 a month for CKH Consulting Services to help with the finance department and $8,750 a month for BluLynx Solutions to help with Housing and Community Development.

Commissioners also voted to bring in the Office of Inspector General to look into the Housing and Community Development Department.

“The thing that I would like to stress to the community is that the governing body is being proactive and trying to make sure they do everything within the legal realms to come up with a solution as to what is actually going on in our Housing Community Development and what is necessary to actually earn the trust back from our constituents,” Allen said.

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Carrie J. Mays was a trailblazer for Black women across the South.

Born in 1928, Mays became the first woman ever elected to the Augusta City Council in 1970, just a couple years after the Civil Rights Movement. She was also the first Black woman elected to city council in the Southeast.

“She was a trailblazer,” said John Hayes, associate professor of history at Augusta University.

Breaking race and gender barriers

Mays broke both a race and gender barrier by getting elected. She defeated both a white businessman and a prominent Black minister in her race for city council.

Hayes said one of her biggest accomplishments was her role in creating a human relations commission.

The commission got legitimate funding and subpoena power. It opened new economic doors in terms of job opportunities and promotions for Augusta’s Black citizens, Hayes said.

Role in 1970 riot

Right before being elected to city council, Mays also played a role in the 1970 riot.

As a mortician, she sounded the alarm, disputing what authorities said happened to Charles Oatman.

“She’s in the crowd there and is demanding basically truth and justice holding white authorities to account,” Hayes said.

Lasting legacy

Mays went on to become secretary of the Georgia Democratic Party and a presidential elector.

Her legacy still lives on through the Carrie J. Mays Community Center, continuing to impact Augusta more than 30 years after her passing.

“She was a great person for Augusta, for Georgia, and for the United States,” Hayes said.

The Mays family can be found all over Augusta. Willie Mays the Third was the first Black mayor of the consolidated Augusta-Richmond County. Mays Mortuary has stood for about a century.

Mays Mortuary is one of just a few buildings left in what was the Black business district during the era of segregation.

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – Augusta early voters are finding out that doing your homework goes along way.

“Well, my wife printed out the ballot for me, so I knew who I was going to vote for,” said Berley Green.

Whether Augusta voters select a Democrat primary ballot, Republican, or non-partisan, there are a lot of choices to make.

There is the mayor’s race, five commission races and two sales tax questions.

“This is probably the longest ballot we’re had in Richmond County in the 30 years that I’ve been here. I’ve never seen a ballot quite this long with so many candidates,” said Travis Doss, Elections Director

Doss recommends voters get a sample ballot and study it before heading to the polls. It paid off for some early voters.

“It was a huge ballot, but if you prepare ahead of time and kind of print your ballot out and go over it kind of vet the candidates beforehand, it kind of goes smooth,” said Nicole Floyd

Augusta voters are familiar with the SPLOST question on the ballot, but they may need to go read up on the half-penny FLOST tax for property tax relief.

“No, we’ve never had that before. That was due to a law change a couple of years ago that allowed counties to opt in or opt out as far as giving tax relief,” said Doss.

So, voters have a decision about Augusta having another sales tax.

“Do your homework on that, because it’s going to affect your pocketbook,” said Floyd.

“Enough taxes, enough taxes,” said Green.

“You’re not a supporter?”

No,” said Green.

Early voting continues until May 15th, so there is time to get up to speed on this sizable ballot.