Richmond County, Georgia
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Richmond County is one of 159 counties in Georgia. Its county seat is Augusta. It is one of the original counties of Georgia, created February 5, 1777. As of 2000, the population was 199,775. The 2007 Census Estimate showed a population of 199,486.
Following an election in 1995, the city of Augusta (the county seat) consolidated governments with Richmond County. The consolidated entity is known as Augusta-Richmond County, or simply Augusta. The cities of Hephzibah and Blythe in southern Richmond County voted to remain separate and not consolidate.
[edit] Evaluation of website
In 2011 Richmond County earned a Sunny Award for having a perfect website transparency score.
- Main article: Evaluation of Georgia county websites
This site was last evaluated Jan. 19, 2012.
[edit] The good
- Budgets are available from 2006 up to the present.[1]
- Commissioners' contact information is listed. [2]
- Administrative contacts are available. [3]
- The Planning and Zoning section of the site has helpful information. [4] Information on permits[5].
- Audits are available from 2003 up to the present.[6]
- Local tax information is available.[7] [8]
- Meeting minutes, agendas and times are on the website, though can be hard to navigate.[9][10]
- Bidding information and contracts are posted.[11]
- Information is posted on how to file for a public records.[12]
[edit] The bad
- Discloses membership to the Association of County Commissioners of Georgia, a taxpayer-funded lobbying association,[13] but does not provide information on lobbying by the county.
[edit] County Commission
Augusta-Richmond County, Georgia operates under a Mayor / Commission / Administrator form of government. The Mayor is the Chief Executive of Augusta-Richmond County, Georgia. The Mayor is elected on a county-wide basis by the electors of the entire county in a non-partisan general election. Each mayor serves a four-year term and is eligible to serve two consecutive four-year terms.[14]
The Mayor possesses and exercises the following executive and administrative powers and duties:[14]
- Presiding at all meetings of the Commission
- Serving as the official head of Richmond County and the City of Augusta for the service of process and for ceremonial purposes
- Administering oaths and to take affidavits
- Signing all written contracts entered into by the Commission on behalf of Richmond County Georgia and the City of Augusta and other contracts and instruments executed by the county and city which by law are required to be in writing
- Ensuring that all laws, ordinances, and resolutions of Richmond County and the City of Augusta are faithfully executed
- Exercising such other powers and perform such other duties as may be required by ordinance or resolution of the Commission.
View additional responsibilities of the Mayor's Office.
| District | Title | Name | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| At-Large | Mayor | Deke S. Copenhaver | 2011 - 2014 |
| District 1 | Commissioner | Matt Aitken | 2010 - 2012 |
| District 2 | Commissioner | Corey Johnson | 2011-2014 |
| District 3 | Commissioner Mayor Pro Tem | Joe Bowles | 2010 - 2012 |
| District 4 | Commissioner | Alvin Mason | 2011 - 2014 |
| District 5 | Commissioner | Bill Lockett | 2010 - 2012 |
| District 6 | Commissioner | Joe Jackson | 2011 - 2014 |
| District 7 | Commissioner | Jerry Brigham | 2010 - 2012 |
| District 8 | Commissioner | Wayne Guilfoyle | 2011 - 2014 |
| District 9 | Commissioner | J. R. Hatney | 2010 - 2012 |
| District 10 | Commissioner | Grady Smith | 2011 - 2014 |
[edit] County Administrator
The Administrator presides over the daily operation and administration of the local government within the guidelines of Augusta-Richmond County ordinances, policies, and procedures; state and federal laws; and implements directives from the Mayor and Augusta-Richmond County Commission.[15] The Administrator reports to the Mayor and Augusta-Richmond County Commission.
Primary Responsibilities:[15]
- Executes all lawful orders, directions, instructions, ordinances, resolutions, and regulations adopted by the Augusta-Richmond County Commission
- Manages and directs the activities of all departments by planning, organizing, staffing, directing, and controlling the staff and other resources
- Advises Mayor and Augusta-Richmond County Commission on financial conditions and future needs of local government; makes recommendation on county affairs; informs Mayor of significant controversial issues involving government, its services, policies and employees
- Prepares, submits, and executes a proposed annual budget
- Provides necessary documentation for the Mayor and Clerk of Commission to prepare the agenda for all Commission meetings and attends all Commission meetings
[edit] Budget
Expenditures
| 2009 Actuals | 2010 Budget | 2011 Budget | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal Services & Employee Benefits | $40,085,208 | $39,856,620 | $42,391,955 |
| Purchased/Contracted Services | 11,356,500 | 12,390,128 | 12,769,413 |
| Supplies | 6,526,284 | 7,578,710 | 8,639,914 |
| Capital Outlay | 209,849 | 16,000 | - |
| Interfund/Interdepartmental | 1,623,751 | 1,771,920 | 1,756,080 |
| Other Costs | 7,261,229 | 7,340,602 | 6,914,480 |
| Debt Service | 330,556 | - | - |
| Cost Reimbursement | (246,149) | (116,000) | (158,900) |
| Non-Departmental | 3,914 | (500,770) | (868,797) |
| Total | 67,151,142 | 68,337,210 | 71,444,145 |
| Transfers Out | 2,390,898 | 9,816,996 | 6,322,975 |
| Total Expenditures | $69,542,040 | $78,154,206 | $77,767,120 |
[edit] Taxes
The Tax Commissioner webpage has information on local taxes, including rates, how taxes are used, and how to pay.[16]
[edit] Public records
In April of 2010, Augusta adopted a more open policy for public records requests. An 8 month old policy that required FOIA requests be reviewed by the city's legal department.
The new policy was drafted by Interim General Counsel Andrew MacKenzie and gives discretion to department heads to handle requests on their own, asking them to seek legal advice only when they believe it is appropriate. The new policy overturns the former General Counsel Chiquita Johnson who'd enforced the measure. Johnson's tenure as chief legal adviser ended in January with a forced resignation over several performance issues.[17]
[edit] External links
- Augusta - Richmond County website
- Richmond County School System
- Augusta - Richmond County on E-Reference
- Augusta Public Library
- Richmond County on Georgia.gov
- Richmond County Free Public Records Directory
[edit] References
- ↑ Budgets
- ↑ Augusta-Richmond County Commission
- ↑ Administrator's Office
- ↑ Planning and Zoning Division
- ↑ Permit Information
- ↑ Financial Statements
- ↑ Tax Commissioner
- ↑ Tax Bill Search Instructions
- ↑ Meeting minutes
- ↑ Standing meetings
- ↑ Procurement
- ↑ FAQ
- ↑ Affiliations
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 About the Mayor
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 County Administrator
- ↑ Tax Commissioner
- ↑ Augusta Chronicle, Augusta alters records request policy, April 30, 2010
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