Augusta, GA
Ahead of work session, Augusta Mayor sees opportunities, priorities following billion-dollar budget proposal
AUGUSTA, Ga. –
City leaders plan to meet Thursday for a budget work session following the 1.15 billion-dollar budget proposal they heard last week. FOX54’S Lauren Young spoke with the mayor who says the 5.5% increase to the budget is the opposite of what he asked department heads to model.
We first spoke with Augusta Mayor Garnett Johnson several weeks ago about expenditures of the county’s departments and what he expected to be done to address increasing costs. Now, he says this billion-dollar-government—certainly isn’t functioning like one. “I asked my colleagues to consider asking department heads to model a five and a ten percent budget reduction,” said Mayor Johnson.
Local businessman-turned-mayor, Johnson, says he hoped this request would help decision-makers identify inefficiencies and soften the blow of the ever-increasing costs of doing business for the taxpayer. When it came up for action on the floor, the mayor says his colleagues on the commission did not ask departments to take on the request. “They said ‘thanks but no thanks.’ They received it as information. As you know, we’re a mayor/commission form of government where six votes gets anything done,” said Mayor Johnson.
The mayor still without a vote on the commission’s decisions, and thus, without a say, has only the ability to make suggestions.
Still, this businessman believes over a billion dollars for one year of operation of the Richmond County government is.
“It’s still too big for the city of Augusta. Until we deliver on some of the most basic, foundational purposes, we owe it to the taxpayers—fiscal accountability and responsibility—I will always lead an effort to create opportunities to save money for our taxpayers,” said Mayor Johnson.
Just last week, interim city administrator Takiyah Douse told FOX54, “There are some areas where currently our expenses outweigh our revenues.”
Taxpayers in other Georgia municipalities are footing the bill for much less costly local governments. Slightly larger Columbus-Muscogee County spent about a third of Augusta-Richmond County’s budget in 2023. Athens-Clarke County over the last two years, is also a fraction of Augusta’s. Savannah comes in at under half of Augusta’s budgeted expenses.
Augusta-Richmond County, over a year and a half into its search for a city administrator, has this line in the job advertisement, identifying a billion-dollar budget.
“People are fixated on saying Augusta now has a billion-dollar budget. In my opinion, that’s not anything to brag about,” said Mayor Johnson.
For Mayor Garnett Johnson, claiming leadership of a billion-dollar government should not be a point of pride considering the condition of the county.
“I would be one of the first champions here saying, ‘hoorah, hoorah, we have a billion-dollar government. The streets are paved, we have lights that work.’ Right now, we don’t have that in Augusta-Richmond County. We have challenges,” said Mayor Johnson.
Some of those shortcomings the mayor says he sees are in safety, upkeep, and cleanliness of Augusta-Richmond County. He tells me he’s pleased with increases to the sheriff’s budget to promote hiring and retention of deputies, but he says his administration has quite a way to go before he’ll be proud to represent a billion-dollar government.
The Major Rager has announced the artist lineup for its 11th annual event, set to take place in Augusta, GA on April 12th, 2025 during The Masters. The long-running event takes its name from the professional golf tournament with which it coincides—one of four tournaments known collectively as “the majors.”
Jamgrass favorites Greensky Bluegrass will headline the 2025 edition of The Major Rager. The single-day event, produced by Friends With Benefits Productions, will also feature performances by ever-rising jam quartet Eggy and Charleston, SC-native rock outfit Easy Honey. Tickets for The Major Rager 2025 are now on sale here.
On Tour With Eggy: Waiting Game [Feature]
Greensky Bluegrass’ Major Rager headlining slow will follow an extensive run of early-2025 headlining tour dates across the country. Find a full list of upcoming Greensky Bluegrass tour dates here. Eggy, still riding the momentum of the band’s long-awaited sophomore album, 2024’s Waiting Game, will arrive in Augusta on April 12th fresh off a run of spring festival appearances at Live Oak, FL’s Suwannee Amp Jam #1, Phoenix, AZ’s M3F, Miramar Beach, FL’s My Morning Jacket-hosted One Big Holiday, and Atlanta, GA’s Mental Awakening Festival. Find a full list of upcoming Eggy tour dates here. For Easy Honey, the Major Rager marks the first announced date on the band’s 2025 tour schedule. Find a full list of upcoming Easy Honey tour dates here.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The Richmond County Coroner has identified two victims after two related shooting incidents in Augusta, we learned on Friday.
The Richmond County Coroner’s Office responded to Wellstar/MCG about a shooting death.
Jeremy Dontavious McGahee, 34, of Augsuta was transported to Wellstar/MCG by EMS from the 2100 block of C Street with at least one gunshot wound, Coroner Mark Bowen said.
He was pronounced dead at 8:28 p.m., Bowen says. An autopsy has been scheduled.
The Coroner’s Office also responded to the 2100 block of C Street about a possible suicide.
Zyquan Jamarcus Franklin, 32, of Augusta, was found inside a residence with at least one gunshot wound and pronounced dead on the scene at 12:15 a.m. Bowen said. An autopsy has been scheduled.
Bowen says these cases are connected and in the early stages of investigation. Once the next of kin has been notified, the victim’s identification will be released.
The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office says deputies responded to C Street around 9:34 p.m. about shots fired with two people down.
Deputies say upon arrival, they located one male and one female subject who had been shot at least one time.
Both victims were transported to a local hospital for treatment, where the male victim succumbed to his injuries.
The sheriff’s office says investigators are still on scene as of 11 p.m.
Also on Thursday, 50-year-old Chavious Kimmerlin was shot dead in his home on Highland Avenue.
The shooting comes amid a two-year outbreak of violent crime that’s claimed more than 180 lives across the CSRA.
Cities large and small have been affected on both sides of the Savannah River. But as the largest community in the region, Augusta has been hit especially hard.
Authorities have blamed much of the problem on gangs.
Copyright 2024 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – One person has died and another has been injured after a shooting on the 2100 block of C Street on Thursday night.
The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office says deputies responded to C Street around 9:34 p.m. in reference to shots fired with two people down.
Deputies says upon arrival, they located one male and one female subject had been shot at least one time.
Both victims were transported to a local hospital for treatment, where the male victim succumbed to his injuries.
The sheriff’s office says investigators are still on scene as of 11 p.m.
Also on Thursday, 50-year-old Chavious Kimmerlin was shot dead in his home on Highland Avenue.
The shooting comes amid a two-year outbreak of violent crime that’s claimed more than 180 lives across the CSRA.
Cities large and small have been affected on both sides of the Savannah River. But as the largest community in the region, Augusta has been hit especially hard.
Authorities have blamed much of the problem on gangs.
Copyright 2024 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
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