Christmas has come and gone. Hopefully most got some of what they asked of Santa. Sadly, even the good taxpayers of Augusta did indeed find chunks of coal in their stockings.
The water and sewage bill is going up 4.5% and the Georgia Power bill is going up 3.5%. In true Augusta fashion the commission will not increase the tax millage rate, but the property assessor will reappraise your property at a higher value and your property taxes will increase. All the while they will shout “we didn’t raise your taxes.”
Now wait for it: since engineering never has enough money, the super talented misdirection director will try to come up with how to raise the stormwater fee by a $1. No matter how much you protest, your garbage bills are going to increase.
In the coming New Year, a keen eye and ear to the ground, or wall, may reveal some very startling Augusta-owned property land deals. I am told that the Land Bank will also be involved with a couple. If past performance is noted, then Augusta taxpayers will in no way benefit. Only the Land Bank coffers will.
It has been duly noted that many, many citizens have complaints about Augusta’s legal closed door sessions. This is the meeting where real estate, personnel and pending litigations are discussed, voted on and then quickly voted on publicly before committee meetings.
These meetings can be very interesting and intriguing. The meeting is supposed to be conducted without the public knowing what is being discussed. That’s not always the case with everyone in the room having their cellphones in their hand or on the table. Do leaks to the outside occur? Absolutely. Now, I am quite sure all will disagree that leaks ever happen. However, how can people waiting in the lobby area ask for explanations to some of the topics as the officials are going into chambers. How can interested parties to the closed door topics be in the lobby area waiting for a vote if all is so secret?
Should the topics in legal be discussed in open commission meetings? Why not? It does concern the taxpayers. If citizens will pay close attention to the number of lawsuit settlements and the amounts, they would be even more enraged. Many times, outside attorneys are retained to represent Augusta’s interests. Their job seems to be to negotiate the lowest settlement to a claim.
Now, while Augusta does have some talented attorneys on staff, a strong leader needs to be in place to guide the team. My personal belief would be for attorney Jim Plunkett and his firm to be contracted to direct all of Augusta’s legal business. I have known Plunkett for several years and have worked with him on getting a large Augusta project that was completed with success. I know him to be a person of great legal knowledge and integrity.
There is another real estate project being projected for the 1400 block of Broad Street. It is a four story, 52 unit low income house tax credit project for senior living. There has already been a $1 million loan of American Rescue Funds given to the project via the Housing Community Development Department.
There can be several red flags flown over this project. What are the plans and rules to keep it just senior living? Will grandma’s children move in as well? After all, they’re Grandma’s caregiver. And naturally they have to have their children with them? See where this is heading? There is already the Summit at the lower end of Broad Street. Money has been infused to that issue to no avail. Don’t create another same possible scenario on the upper end of Broad. Just my thought and opinion.
With the in-coming commissioners coronations being conducted, they will take their rightly won thrones upon the Augusta Commission. Will they rule with compassion, by laws, by party connection, self bias or will they rule with the entirety of the Augusta citizens in mind? With special leaning for the taxpayers ? We will have to wait and see. Will the missing in non-action Alvin Mason and Brandon Garrett make a return?
Personally, I am excited and looking forward to 2025. To see what will be accomplished. Or not accomplished. I don’t intentionally look for all of the bad things to write about, but, they are right there in front of most of us. People need to be informed. I appreciate all of the good people that read not only my column, but everyone’s columns in The Augusta Press.
Folks, as always, you just can’t make this stuff up.
