Atlanta Investigation Into City Payments Faced Delays
The city inspector general faces obstruction while probing payments made to a former municipal clerk.
Updated on Oct. 7, 2026 in Corruption
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An Atlanta investigation into consulting fees paid to former Municipal Clerk Foris Webb III has encountered significant delays. Officials reported that city employees are withholding documents and refusing to cooperate with interview requests.
Why it matters
The probe examines whether taxpayer funds were appropriately used for consulting work tied to a halted public safety training center referendum. The lack of cooperation from city staff has stalled the inspector general's efforts to complete a final report.
The investigation remains active despite significant resistance from city officials. Key figures include $910,000 in total payments to Foris Webb III and a $35,000 monthly consulting fee rate.
The players
Foris Webb III
He is the former Municipal Clerk of Atlanta who received consulting payments from the city.
The details
Foris Webb III received $910,000 over two years to oversee a public safety training center referendum that was eventually blocked by the courts. City employees are now citing attorney-client privilege and other protections to avoid providing records and testimony to the inspector general.
Timeline
February 2024: The inspector general released an initial report detailing obstruction by city officials.
October 6, 2026: The interim inspector general provided an update on the ongoing investigation.
Legal Context
This probe follows a pattern of local governance friction centered on the 2023 Atlanta public safety training center referendum legal challenge. The investigation highlights the broader difficulty in achieving transparency when city officials invoke privilege to block internal audits.
Residents may see continued delays in government accountability as officials withhold records from the inspector general. This creates uncertainty regarding the proper management of municipal tax dollars.
The takeaway
Taxpayers should monitor the inspector general office for future findings regarding the $910,000 expenditure. Transparency in municipal consulting contracts remains a key area for civic oversight.
Further reading
For more information on oversight efforts, see the latest updates on Corruption.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
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