[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6236706,"mediaKeyId","3355584-59e31e9d48b82a492089d476e5308b7c","parentId",3355584,"title","Liberty County joins Long and McIntosh to form joint development authority; resolution approved","audioSeconds",563,"startMs",10034000,"endMs",10597000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3355584-59e31e9d48b82a492089d476e5308b7c&start=10034&end=10597","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3355584-59e31e9d48b82a492089d476e5308b7c/thumbnail_10034000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6236706/Liberty-County/Georgia/Liberty-County-joins-Long-and-McIntosh-to-form-joint-development-authority-resolution-approved","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6236706-72316d482f29670efc1b8851e0986bd9/orig.mp4?Expires=1770934605&Signature=YCVA1jKI6BexyPtten2TCfjgN1WD4fn8kEEKpGKwI3H8mifFPCKm6CYvkavHHkJHG6gKPPB2OY2nS5ZiIr6WAy45R7nPmNbcmzPo8A8uGXMaVBd5P5csfceXxi-CbLnaZ504EhS-4rYnMclK91dUB-2i40zIPu93wK718i0aRC4~NmOdakWtXkcsBP1fm~FKq8n3ZOf6c~nZW08gEw5st4RPcqtnLMh0r2rd0wNIAA7oQ791Hd3uvUOATiBmqwmxE6CPU0oxX3vwNmSi0sDiQa02jl3X3tPuCN322uLmZwmgdFq9XowYrBxUwVIpC9IWqg-Ze0-CiZ0vFV2Bjit4QA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-05-16T11:58:14Z","article","The Liberty County Board of Commissioners approved a resolution to activate a joint development authority (JDA) formed with Long and McIntosh counties to coordinate regional economic development efforts.

County legal counsel explained the JDA is a regional vehicle to pursue projects that a single county might not be able to undertake alone — including industrial park development and infrastructure that could attract large employment centers. Counsel said the JDA does not create any immediate financial obligation for Liberty County: any future funding commitments would require separate board action.

Long and McIntosh counties had already approved identical resolutions; Liberty County’s vote completes the initial three‑county formation. Under the JDA rules discussed, Liberty County will appoint three members to the authority: one member from the county’s Industrial Authority, the Industrial Authority’s chief executive, and one appointee designated by the board (the board may select a commissioner or another representative).

Commissioners noted the regional approach aligns with state and federal funding priorities and could strengthen Liberty County’s competitiveness for grants and large projects, particularly given recent and anticipated industrial development along regional corridors. The board voted to approve the resolution and authorized staff to coordinate appointments and next steps with the partner counties.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board of Commissioners - May 15, 2025 Mid-Month Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The board approved a resolution activating a joint development authority (JDA) with Long and McIntosh counties to pursue regional economic development projects; the authority is a planning vehicle and does not obligate Liberty County funds without later action.","taxTitle","Liberty County, Georgia","taxId",28538,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6236710,"Liberty County presents FY2026 budget and adopts five‑year CIP; commissioners keep millage decision for June",3854,4284000,8138000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3355584-59e31e9d48b82a492089d476e5308b7c&start=4284&end=8138","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3355584-59e31e9d48b82a492089d476e5308b7c/thumbnail_4284000.jpg","/articles/6236710/Liberty-County/Georgia/Liberty-County-presents-FY2026-budget-and-adopts-fiveyear-CIP-commissioners-keep-millage-decision-for-June","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6236710-afcf55d6608d5000f46c63af200814e5/orig.mp4?Expires=1770934605&Signature=DFXhejw3iX8efs2~xS-olyDR5EicIWdnqWnV7-vHwcHeCumBmn7MF9zbcJc12u3ALY2KJThV032MCgxzPwwQjXWVLo4x7hkvDNKnJz3rBEu37tZUeqlr4Xs-2N-XtqunJ9kUcAEcqJgQ1gfaQmMJfaEaRAMqTeYRrpbfAJyV0~fQwNW9qtx85lyK5yfbnPEILSVsdOdjgD~z~Ti5o3rapN9MNaYQwr5tNkAqwsBewWGj6Pw4WygI3UK1XNtsrFnn5QohdJQixTcGs6fPb~ju7r7LkEVHRBOC2lDQAmh4sQDwMVibnJYTTDt7PyBXTMIoP7qP48r5TeX5BpxHE5DWqA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Liberty County officials presented a proposed fiscal 2026 budget totaling about $65.6 million and highlighted a proposed 4.6% increase in payroll costs largely driven by a cost‑of‑living adjustment. Commissioners received the proposed budget during a public hearing and later adopted the county’s five‑year capital improvement plan (CIP) as a planning document.

Samantha Richardson, county finance, said the 2026 proposal reflects roughly $3.5 million in departmental reductions from an original $69.2 million request, bringing the draft to $65.6 million — about a 5.1% increase above FY2025’s $62.4 million. She said property taxes (ad valorem) are the single largest revenue source, projected to account for about 62% of total revenues, and cautioned the board that final adoption may change after the state tax digest is certified.

The budget proposal includes $1.17 million for new personnel and benefits, of which roughly $909,000 is for a county‑wide COLA to help employees with inflation and to keep pay competitive, Richardson said. Commissioners discussed timing for six new positions budgeted to start July 1; staff said hires were prioritized for critical needs but reminded the board the full budget will be revisited if the digest alters revenue projections.

Commissioners pressed finance staff for more detailed data on specific line items and raised several operational concerns during the hearing: Sheriff’s Office contract labor and electricity accounts were running ahead of plan, the jail’s food contract had increased, and one department’s contract labor line showed a sizable variance. Finance staff said some of those variances were timing issues or related to lump‑sum payments recorded in a given month.

Several members of the public used the hearing to raise local concerns about roads and T‑SPLOST allocations. One resident asked how the county handles road projects when a city lacks funds; commissioners and staff explained cities receive T‑SPLOST allotments based on population and may collaborate with county commissioners for projects, but the immediate responsibility for city streets rests with the city.

The board did not set final millage rates at the meeting — that decision remains scheduled for a later public hearing and vote (June 3) after the tax digest is published. Separately, the board voted to adopt the county’s five‑year CIP as a planning document; commissioners and staff stressed projects on the CIP list without identified funding would be pushed out in timing until funding sources are identified.

Staff also updated the board on county finance matters including March financials, SPLOST/TSPLOST collections, and project funding requests. The board approved some small budget adjustments (for example, to cover an overrun on a village project) and asked staff to return with more granular reporting on areas running ahead of budget.","County staff presented a proposed FY2026 general fund budget of approximately $65.6 million, proposed a 4.6% increase in salaries and benefits and new personnel November‑to‑July starts, and the board adopted a five‑year capital improvement plan while reserving final millage and budget adoption until after the tax digest.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6236715,"Liberty County to renegotiate Riceboro fire pact; board backs paid‑per‑call model and talks with city",1618,1848000,3466000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3355584-59e31e9d48b82a492089d476e5308b7c&start=1848&end=3466","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3355584-59e31e9d48b82a492089d476e5308b7c/thumbnail_1848000.jpg","/articles/6236715/Liberty-County/Georgia/Liberty-County-to-renegotiate-Riceboro-fire-pact-board-backs-paidpercall-model-and-talks-with-city","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6236715-5081222be46dc4f6c81d0e3b4a0c11a0/orig.mp4?Expires=1770934605&Signature=iBHGrae~3vnNwbF4-0pVC7Xa5xE4~SqbWOV65CTYfRTcdjeBbtGlH3owt7TJn5IjrwkLCoFgS9uj8LGw7Ti0AqkwViWBOFEKvVtAfSy6FqN5~IyxW3FoW-fdiO4elkSfxzLOhw7-rm6dfjkCudEkCq7PKf-a8I6xGW0CVS9w-Q9i8oX8y8DgL3G4CLWPchATEZzi8SFxg2XwMsOKB2Fwy-KgBNorDkuMaAI6ZLtSM2bi~JE0dlNpAl-2W0eTaThmDGiMCRP2AeXeSAYILMajHTDACnuf4Vj9OOItXjoV5kiyYqgEG0bT492~8J2hDhl3jHlbmVhCW4MefcZSBVDbzw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Liberty County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday directed county staff to renegotiate how the county compensates the City of Riceboro for fire and emergency response in an unincorporated area around Riceboro, seeking to shift from a fixed $16,000 annual payment to a pay‑per‑call arrangement.

The move follows lengthy discussion about Riceboro’s volunteer fire department’s staffing and missed or unanswered calls. Chief Brian (Liberty County Fire Department) told the commission that Riceboro is a volunteer agency and that “whether it is 1 call a year or a thousand calls a year, they get paid the $16,000.” He said dispatch protocol gives Riceboro two minutes to respond before calls are re‑toned to county stations.

The board’s review centered on two problems: the county often responds into Riceboro’s city limits when Riceboro volunteers do not answer, and the fixed payment does not reflect actual calls handled by the city. Commissioner Frazier said, “I’d rather us go back and look at this and go to a per call. And if they don’t show up, they don’t get paid.” Commissioner Walden and others pressed staff to seek options that would ensure reliable daytime and around‑the‑clock coverage.

Chief Brian described operational detail: Riceboro is dispatched first for incidents inside its district; if two minutes pass with no radio traffic indicating a response, dispatch moves to the county’s Miller Park station and, if needed, additional stations in a stair‑step. He said county crews sometimes decline to respond into other districts when doing so would leave county primary zones uncovered.

County staff told commissioners that the current annual agreement covers Riceboro’s response to unincorporated areas within Riceboro’s fire district and also helps lower ISO ratings for addresses inside that response district. The county’s fire chief and County Manager Moseley were instructed to meet with Riceboro officials and prepare a revised contract that shifts to a paid‑per‑call model, returns a comparison to the board, and seeks a short extension if needed so coverage continues without interruption when the existing contract expires on July 1.

Action taken: Commissioner Thrift moved and Commissioner Stevens seconded a motion directing staff to pursue a paid‑per‑call contract and to meet with Riceboro; the board voted to approve the direction and asked staff to return with recommended contract language and data on call volumes and costs.

The chief also warned the board that the county’s dispatch data platform has been unavailable since late 2024 or early 2025, limiting staff’s ability to produce current call‑volume statistics; staff said they are working with IT and Tyler Technologies to restore or replace reporting capability. Commissioners asked for an expedited set of options, including an interim extension of the current agreement if Riceboro and the county need more time to negotiate.","The Liberty County Board of Commissioners instructed staff to seek a pay‑per‑call revision to a $16,000 annual intergovernmental agreement with the City of Riceboro for fire protection in surrounding unincorporated areas and to meet with Riceboro officials about coverage and expectations.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Liberty County joins Long and McIntosh to form joint development authority; resolution approved

Liberty County presents FY2026 budget and adopts five‑year CIP; commissioners keep millage decision for June

Liberty County to renegotiate Riceboro fire pact; board backs paid‑per‑call model and talks with city