"If former HART Executive Director Dan Grabauskas were still in charge, Young said, he would recommend a forensic audit or investigation be conducted either by prosecutors or police."  It's important to understand that forensic examinations should be done by people trained to do so.  Certified fraud examiners are often brought in to do such investigations.  

In addition, regular audits, including the one proposed by the council, are not designed to find fraud.  Many of the comments made by the city auditor point to the need for a forensic audit.  According to the ACFE, the median fraud lasts 18 months.  If collusion is involved, frauds may last longer, and losses are higher.  Weaknesses in internal controls often directly contribute to fraud.  This project is practically screaming for an investigation.