Mack calls for 5-year audit of tax assessors' office

GAINESVILLE - Hall County Commissioner Deborah Mack Thursday night called for a "ramping up" of the investigation of the troubled tax assessor's board and an increase in the number of board members.

Mack wants an additional investigation into how Chairman Emory Martin Jr. was able to draw per diem pay he allegedly did not earn.

"I want the (state) Attorney General to help us to identify an investigator that could come in and do a complete audit of the tax assessor's office dating back five years," Mack said.

Mack also wants two additional board members to bring the total to five, and a close look at how those members are paid.

Hall County District Attorney Lee Darragh confirmed earlier Thursday the Georgia Bureau of Investigation is investigating allegations by two former employees of the tax assessors' office that Martin got paid thousands of dollars he did not earn over a four-year period. (See separate story).

Last month, Martin agreed to take a leave of absence within 30 days of the submission of this year's tax digest until the investigation is finished.