AUGUSTA — State auditors have found that the City of Augusta in Woodruff County had given out no-bid contracts, wrote off utility bills for residents upon request from the mayor, and allowed the use of a credit card that could not be traced.
Those findings were from audits conducted between Jan. 1, 2020, and Dec. 31, 2022.
The city came under state attention back in August after allegations from some of the city’s council members that Mayor Jeff Collins had misappropriated public funds.
In the report, auditors found that Collins directed city staff to reduce or write off nearly $170,000 in utility bills for residents, including one for his daughter. The report also states the city issued nearly $10,000 in disbursements to officials, employees, and individuals without documentation.
