[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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",[32,75,87],{"_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":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6554299,"mediaKeyId","5028491-50974ca8b5795976c3c379e56108a8a9","parentId",5028491,"title","Board extends North Fulton wastewater operations contract while county cancels and plans rebid after procurement review","audioSeconds",503,"startMs",4357000,"endMs",4860000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5028491-50974ca8b5795976c3c379e56108a8a9&start=4357&end=4860","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5028491-50974ca8b5795976c3c379e56108a8a9/thumbnail_4357000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6554299/Fulton-County/Georgia/Board-extends-North-Fulton-wastewater-operations-contract-while-county-cancels-and-plans-rebid-after-procurement-review","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6554299-691995ed2e5e2415798407d72360a3ba/orig.mp4?Expires=1770491061&Signature=V2i0uHGdHCGsjRHoJ3unGP5VhbKSb3RejXsaOu5-O4wMz0Zg51T7fTn9G2MIVOz3uC4U3uyR~gR6ZRsvCLTDeUVKC5u7fmaGfJ8GEuDdX7ils1ebfYRo~g0TSE5VBZkbw6b3ecxeewgN-XdDG~HubGdbsDOJ0f3A7NNkZXAVRNlQjLpGsPq0PlC3vyexYhqT7Jt5-3y1Dql4bCY8eCdQvRA1wcbtIPApMbvydP94W~wHGgngrv3PXs3cRgzMRdZeepvgPjBwCpezA8HypHRue468whkw4cKGzYkDJZ2mDT0rPCML-iOoA5zW9ZECr2u8SuN6yR4iYY3AfLTWFjaIrg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Fulton County Georgia ","date","2025-06-18T20:02:49.057Z","article","The Fulton County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved an extension for operation and maintenance services at North Fulton wastewater facilities and pump stations, authorizing spending up to $7,381,500.47 to keep the current operator in place while procurement issues are resolved.

The vote followed a longer public and internal debate over the competitive procurement for a new operator. Multiple bidders protested the initial award; county procurement staff later reviewed the process and concluded that certain aspects of the solicitation did not comply with state law. County legal staff advised that canceling the solicitation and rebidding the contract was the appropriate remedy. Because the procurement was canceled, any protests tied solely to that solicitation were rendered moot.

Commissioners were divided over the practical consequences. Some said rejecting the recommended bidder now would set a problematic precedent that allows losing firms to delay or derail awards by protesting; others said a rebid was necessary to protect the county from legal exposure and to ensure a fully compliant process. Procurement staff confirmed the county used the state temporary staffing contracts for other solicitations and that some bid protests are commonplace.

Chairman Rob Pitts said all three bidders were capable but acknowledged the procurement had become “messy.” County Attorney and the Purchasing Chief said the best course is to cancel and rebid to eliminate legal risk. The extension approved on June 18 keeps operations running while the county prepares a new solicitation.

Ending: County staff said the canceled solicitation will be reissued and the procurement protest(s) pertaining to the original solicitation will be mooted by that cancellation. The extension preserves continuity of service at North Fulton wastewater facilities while the county completes a new, state‑compliant procurement process.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Fulton County Board of Commissioners Meeting - June 18, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The commission approved a short extension of the existing wastewater operations and maintenance contract and then discussed a procurement irregularity that county lawyers say requires cancelling the previous solicitation and rebidding the work.","taxTitle","Fulton County, Georgia","taxId",2952,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6554304,"Fulton County extends Lifeline Animal Project contract amid public outcry, sets performance talks and KPIs",2225,3600000,5825000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5028491-50974ca8b5795976c3c379e56108a8a9&start=3600&end=5825","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5028491-50974ca8b5795976c3c379e56108a8a9/thumbnail_3600000.jpg","/articles/6554304/Fulton-County/Georgia/Fulton-County-extends-Lifeline-Animal-Project-contract-amid-public-outcry-sets-performance-talks-and-KPIs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6554304-e60e1162e68fa9aaf2fb5c21288b0e23/orig.mp4?Expires=1770491061&Signature=RHCbnqFtFeOm2bN~winjv2aBvZKpfGVQZKhCUGUnYmFamuIViAA5hF7fC2e565vV~17VfMN45LsRqF8HdP8qWfFWfDhBSlFAdtQn3f8ZsfPPhibS1yAbHHr3Jt9IeFBnaxcTYwp3iZrH5-WDATAWFv2giNPKMIAp3A88RQJb5SoN362WlVBz1V~R3S~MbUJ4rEBsSwwLR~fDddl2kQ5D7FVnBuQavVNlDaAc0vkM9MgzgN9uIi792bupn3r41LFceElL0bKbQ899jJyODKBqNLsosANxpDbNIZ4SvWE~32rN76c-pFwBXAIuDlBALU0XXvlGahDFWakGPBQhWR8q6A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Fulton County Board of Commissioners on June 18 approved an extension of the county’s existing animal services contract with Lifeline Animal Project in an amount not to exceed $4,540,000. The vote was unanimous.

The extension followed extensive public comment by volunteers, former staff and residents who alleged animal neglect, unsanitary conditions, staffing toxicity and conflicts of interest connected to fundraising and outside rescue placements. Speakers urged a forensic audit or a halt to the contract extension until the county completed a review. Multiple speakers also said they had reported concerns to county officials and law enforcement before coming to the commission.

County staff told the board the extension is paired with active negotiations to add explicit performance measures and public reporting. Mike Rawlicki of Strategy and Performance Management and other staff outlined a list of key performance indicators (KPI) the county intends to negotiate with Lifeline over the coming months. Those KPIs include a cap on shelter population aligned with facility capacity, a requirement that animals leaving the shelter be spayed or neutered when age‑appropriate, minimum staffing levels (targeted at 90% of required shelter and field staffing), improved preventive maintenance and work‑order reporting for the shelter facility, adoption and foster‑placement targets, and improved public‑facing data on intakes and outcomes.

Commissioners and county managers said the extension buys time to formalize those measures in a revised contract. County management said staff will monitor KPI performance and that the county has contract provisions allowing cancellation if performance obligations are not met.

Public speakers included a mix of volunteers and former Lifeline staff. Robbie Caban, who identified himself as a Fulton County taxpayer and homeowner, asked the board to “please heed the whistleblowers” and urged a forensic audit. Volunteer Katie Delgado described allegedly inhumane conditions she witnessed while volunteering. Several speakers asked the board to delay an extension until a full audit was completed; others said they were concerned about Lifeline’s relationships with national partner organizations.

County officials said they have been investigating complaints, meeting with Lifeline leadership and building a revised contract that would add the KPIs and require improved public reporting. If the negotiated KPIs are not met, county officials said they retain remedies under the contract, up to termination. The extension passed unanimously, and county staff will return with a revised contract incorporating the agreed KPIs and performance reporting schedule.

Ending: The extension allows Lifeline to continue operating Fulton County Animal Services while county staff works to codify performance obligations that officials say will address overcrowding, medical care, staffing and transparency concerns raised by community members.","The board unanimously approved a six‑month extension to the county’s animal services contract with Lifeline Animal Project while negotiating new performance metrics after months of public complaints and whistleblower allegations.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6554308,"Fulton County commissioners set proposed millage ceiling at 9.87 mills after heated debate",6195,715000,6910000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5028491-50974ca8b5795976c3c379e56108a8a9&start=715&end=6910","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5028491-50974ca8b5795976c3c379e56108a8a9/thumbnail_715000.jpg","/articles/6554308/Fulton-County/Georgia/Fulton-County-commissioners-set-proposed-millage-ceiling-at-987-mills-after-heated-debate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6554308-6a0f2ad534ff7f2df3264bbfdcd46b5a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770491061&Signature=aLEh4bRe~Vw~fdwWzXXN714drDpyOjqa-xGZD-YMBEritFFK2AWUVz~rUCEicOtuhLEvCO0SpSKydQuSnZyFfO5rkTZNNv9JDtkCZVY8uVvWFF2A8baXdVBPWJPEcy3UtDcwSojQlAlB3rWzk5eFES5~-xAMrSitXpO6ZbS5OTZ-IJG8Mr~GHjt5yaeSmeVcAj1l7Z5pHZEkpJolXU1Tlwdbg5cMm5C8CJ8FXmGJVxnZrAXN85Xo7jthcvd~qe-flYYtMs0bhO63mU9CEIYo12bp-Yk0wZ514eZVhn0VWeHTmN3WGdH~BtdvNFtxyDg2JWsHCyb5g7prQ1Qtit8Mlw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Fulton County Board of Commissioners voted 4–3 on June 18 to advertise a proposed 2025 general‑fund millage ceiling of 9.87 mills, setting a higher limit than the county finance staff recommended and triggering required public hearings before a final vote on Aug. 6.

County Chief Financial Officer staff told commissioners the recommended rate of 8.87 mills was calculated to match the revenue assumptions in the adopted 2025 budget. The CFO’s analysis used the digest numbers the county received, estimated $38,000,000 in appeals that would not be billed, and showed that one-tenth of a mill in Fulton County is worth about $7,900,000. The CFO said keeping the 8.87 figure would “maintain our program expenditures for fiscal year 2025,” while the statutory rollback rate (8.774) would generate roughly $7.3 million less than the budgeted amount.

Commissioners who opposed the staff recommendation said the county needs more cushion to cover uncertain costs tied to the U.S. Justice Department consent order and other emerging needs. Commissioner Mo Ivory proposed advertising the higher ceiling, calling for “a cushion” so the board can restore funding to veterans, arts and youth programs if needed. Ivory said, “I would like to put a motion forward to raise the millage rate to 9.87, which would bring in an additional $7,890,000.” Commissioner Marvin Arrington Jr. and Commissioner Khadijah Abdul Rahman also pressed for extra capacity in the budget to address service gaps, while other commissioners urged fiscal restraint and emphasized the impact on taxpayers.

The board voted to advertise 9.87 mills as the ceiling. The county’s CFO explained the mechanics: because the advertised rate exceeds the statutory rollback rate, state law requires the county to advertise a property tax increase and hold three public hearings (two on July 9 and a final hearing in August). The CFO also noted that because the 8.87 rate had been certified earlier in the year as an estimated rollback under House Bill 581, the county would not be required to include the “property tax increase” language on tax bills if it advertised 8.87; that protection would not apply if the board ultimately adopted a higher final rate.

Commissioners who supported the higher ceiling cited multiple uncertainties: the final scope and cost of consent‑order compliance, possible federal funding changes that could shift responsibilities to the county, and service needs in senior, behavioral‑health and justice systems. Commissioner Arrington said keeping the 2025 program baseline “is completely unacceptable for me,” citing cuts to veterans, youth jobs and arts funding in the current budget.

Opponents warned that raising the ceiling would further increase property tax bills for residents whose assessments have already risen. Commissioner Bridget Thorne and Vice Chair Bob Ellis emphasized that the county’s year‑to‑date spending and reserves do not yet show a shortfall that would force an immediate increase. Ellis moved to advertise the CFO’s recommendation of 8.87 mills earlier in the meeting before the substitute motions.

What happens next: the board’s advertisement of 9.87 mills is the legal ceiling the county will publish. The CFO said one mill in Fulton County is about $78,900,000; the recommended 8.87 rate, when run through the county model, produced an estimated $699.7 million in current‑year property tax revenue and roughly a $700,000 margin relative to the county’s budget assumptions. The board must hold the advertised hearings and may adopt any final millage at or below the 9.87 ceiling at its Aug. 6 meeting.

The vote to advertise 9.87 mills passed 4 yeas, 3 nays.

Ending: The board’s decision to set a higher advertised ceiling gives commissioners more optionality at the mid‑year review but does not itself increase taxpayers’ 2025 bills. Staff said the board will consider mid‑year budget updates in August that could inform a lower final millage if the county’s revenue and expense trends are more favorable than some commissioners warned.","After hours of debate about budget risks and jail-related costs, the Fulton County Board of Commissioners voted 4–3 to advertise a proposed millage rate ceiling of 9.87 mills. The county will hold required public hearings before adopting a final rate on Aug. 6.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board extends North Fulton wastewater operations contract while county cancels and plans rebid after procurement review

Fulton County extends Lifeline Animal Project contract amid public outcry, sets performance talks and KPIs

Fulton County commissioners set proposed millage ceiling at 9.87 mills after heated debate