The embattled head of the Fulton County Health Department will step down three months sooner than expected.
In August, Dr. Patrice Harris announced she would resign at the end of the year. But on Tuesday, she informed her staff she will step down at the end of this month instead. In an email to employees, she said the recent hiring of senior department administrators had given her confidence she can leave sooner.
Harris declined to comment Tuesday, except to refer to the e-mail. County Commission Chairman John Eaves acknowledged she’s leaving early but declined to comment further.
Harris has been under fire for months after Fulton County was forced to return nearly $9 million in federal HIV grant funding because it failed to meet spending deadlines. The county later received about $3.4 million of the money back.
The misstep drew sharp rebukes from county commissioners in June. At the time, Eaves called the it “inexcusable.” Harris announced in August she would retire, saying new responsibilities as chair-elect of the American Medical Association would consume an enormous amount of her time.
The revelation about the HIV grant led Fulton officials to request an audit of the health department. The results are expected to be released soon.
