A new audit states that Fulton County's information technology department has mismanaged millions of dollars in contracts.

The audit released Wednesday also found that the department violated numerous county rules involving contracts and ethics during a four-year span.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that the audit found the department improperly paid a vendor $14.6 million before it had done required work.

The internal county audit said the department also paid excessive salaries to some contract employees.

The newspaper reports that the county's IT Department disputes many of the findings and will respond in 30 days.

County Commissioners said they were angered by the findings and rejected requests to renew four IT contracts.

Commissioner Joan Garner, who requested the audit, called its findings "appalling."

Information from: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, http://www.ajc.com

Tags: fulton county government, audit of information technology, fulton county mismanaged contracts