The forensic audit report for the Housing Authority of the City of Covington has been turned over to the Board of Commissioners of the Housing Authority; however it has not been released to the public.

Greg Williams, executive director of the housing authority, responded to an open records request from The Covington News Feb. 2 stating the report would be held for 10 days to “allow the board sufficient time to review and discuss the report.”

Williams cited O.C.G.A. 50-18-72(a)(8), which states: “Public disclosure shall not be required for records that are … consisting of materials obtained in investigations related to the suspension, firing or investigation of complaints against public officers or employers until 10 days after the same has been presented to the agency or an officers for action of the investigation is otherwise concluded or terminated, provided that this paragraph shall not be interpreted to make such investigatory records privileged.”

Williams said the report will be made available to the public no later than the close of business Feb. 9.

The housing authority initiated an audit of its financial department after a theft by an employee was suspected. Williams filed a report with the Covington Police Department (CPD) Oct. 26 stating the alleged theft occurred between January 2015 and September 2016.

The amount of missing funds had not been determined, according to the CPD report. The forensic audit, conducted by Yeager & Boyd, an accounting firm out of Birmingham, Alabama, was initiated to determine an exact total.