East Point City Council: Greed and Theft
I have lived in East Point since September 1973. In all the time since then, I had never witnessed such naked greed and outright theft as I have seen in the past six years until now. The Mayor and Council Members have budgets. The money allocated in all of their budgets is to be used for the following reasons ONLY:
The Mayor’s Budget covers the expenses of the Mayor’s Office that includes:
- Salaries and benefits for the Mayor and an Executive Assistant
- General Office supplies and furnishing and equipment
- Money for Professional Dues
- Car Allowance
- Expenditures associated with Georgia Municipal Association (GMA)Conference; National League of Cities (NCL) Conference ; South Fulton Municipal Association (SFMA) Calendar Dinner Meetings (Travel and Education)
- Council Ward Expense Account
- All expenditures have to be in keeping with the Georgia Gratuity Statute
Council Members’ Budgets cover the following allowable Expenses:
- Salaries and benefits
- Expenditures associated with Georgia Municipal Association (GMA) Annual Conference; National League of Cities (NCL) Annual Conference ; South Fulton Municipal Association (SFMA) Calendar Dinner Meetings (Travel and Education)
- Council Ward Expense Account
- All expenditures have to be in keeping with the Georgia Gratuity Statute
The Mayor and each Council Member in accordance with Sec. 2-2002 Rules of Council are entitled to any two (2) of the following city-issued electronic communication devices, including use of the city’s subscription to cellular and internet service for the conduct of city business: cellular phone; laptop computer or tablet.
To review the City’s Resolution for spending money in the Council Ward Expense Account CLICK HERE: 022-09_Resolution for the Adoption if Council Guidelines for the use of Council Ward Expense Account Funds
The State of Georgia Gratuity Statute is very clear. Elected officials cannot spend taxpayers’ money for anything that does not provide a tangible benefit to the City period. Likewise, the receipts for the expenditure of taxpayers’ money is a matter of open records and should be provided in keeping with the above Resolution and other adopted City policies covering travel and education.
What you are about to see are the City Bank Statements for the City Credit Cards issued to the Mayor and each Council Member from June 2019 to March 2020. Pay close attention to the itemized expenditures and you will see why I am accusing the Mayor and Council Members of Greed and Theft. I am in the process of seeking legal counsel against the Mayor and Council Members for the restitution of the money that they illegally spent as well as sanctions against the most blatant and abusive users or whatever the legal process allows.
East Point residents can continue to bury their heads in the sand and fail to hold the Mayor and the Council Members accountable for misappropriation of funds. It is not alright to call Impeached President Trump out for crimes against the citizens and allow your local elected officials to do some of the same things and say nothing. You cannot hide from the truth. Here it is. Click Here:.Council Bank Statements ,June 2019-Marc 2020
