An Augusta Commission committee voted Tuesday to recommend reimbursing Mayor Garnett Johnson for charges now totaling about $40,000.
After a 30-minute discussion wherein the mayor spoke his mind on the city’s current credit card policy, the committee also voted to recommend issuing the mayor a city credit card with daily and monthly limits allowed under current city policy while the administrator, procurement director and city attorney work to create a policy that would increase the mayor’s spending limits.
The full commission would have the final say on any proposed credit card policies.
The current policy limits single purchases to $500 and a monthly transaction total to $5,000. The mayor wants both increased with a monthly total being $15,000.
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Any proposed changes would require amendments to the city’s current procurement card, or P-card, and credit card procedures, said interim administrator Takiyah Douse.
Some commissioners voiced concern over changing the policy for the mayor only.
Commissioner Jordan Johnson said he had a problem with increasing the limit because he hadn’t heard that the limit had been an issue throughout the government.
“There’s already a policy in place that elected officials have to follow, and there’s already a provision within that policy that are carved out to allow for higher expenditures if it comes down to that,” Johnson said. “So, I just have reservations in making changes to the policy for one elected official because the policy doesn’t actually state their needs. That’s what policies are for. They don’t need to be changed because they don’t fit someone’s needs.”
Johnson then said, “I’m ready to put this thing to rest. I think we should determine what the credit limit should be.”
“I don’t disagree on trying to put this to bed,” said Commissioner Sean Frantom. “I just think he’s the mayor of Augusta, and I think that … I won’t say ‘playing politics.’ I don’t know what it is, but the $500 limit doesn’t fit, and we approve his budget, and he’s not superseding his budget. I don’t know why we’re so hung up on the $500. And frankly, hung up on the $10,000 (monthly total). If this body approves his budget, I don’t know why we’re so hung up on that.”
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Commissioner Tony Lewis asked Procurement Director Geri Sams whether the previous administration had any problems with the $500 per transaction limit.
“There have been some exceptions to it,” she said. “There are processes and procedures that address the exceptions where the department heads address them. They will call and request the increases. And I can’t recall denying any.”
“So, the policy adopted have worked even at the expense of making a phone call,” Lewis said.
Lewis then asked whether the mayor’s office had submitted any expenses since the last ones.
Mayor Johnson said he hadn’t, but the office had spent only about a thousand dollars.
“I would remind everybody that every penny that has been spent on behalf of the mayor’s budget has been for official mayor’s business,” he said. “There is not a mayor in the state of Georgia that has a $500 limit and has to ask a subordinate for approval.”
He also said his office used far less money from the budget that it was allotted and had returned 20% to the taxpayers and intended to do it again.
“I find it embarrassing to be continuing this process in this meeting to talk about how does the mayor conduct the business of this city and having to discuss … I mean this matter. It’s time to move on.
“We’re going to do the city’s business,” he continued. “We’re going to move forward. There is no policy that mandates that I have to take a credit card. Nor would I take one and have to ask for approval of $502. I wouldn’t do that. You mentioned Savannah. (Mayor) Van Johnson’s monthly budget is $50,000 as long as he’s within his budget. Look at South Fulton. They have a $10,000 a month limit.”
Lewis said the reason they were where they were and any embarrassment to the mayor and his office was because of his inability to follow procedures that are in place.
“So, if there’s any embarrassment it’s safe for me to say you caused the embarrassment to yourself,” Lewis said. “To say we embarrassed you is an overstatement. We’re just trying to get to a resolution.”
Commissioner Catherine McKnight said she was in total agreement with the mayor’s comments.
“I am embarrassed to be sitting up here talking about a measly $500 for our mayor when we are the second, third-largest city,” she said. “I remember sitting up here, and our former mayor pretty much got what he wanted. And I recall I pushed for an audit, and I didn’t get any support.”
Approving the motion to reimburse the mayor and seek a recommendation for increasing the limits to the mayor’s office were commissioners Jordan Johnson, Stacy Pullium and Francine Scott. Commissioner Wayne Guilfoyle was absent.
