[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-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],{"_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",6484059,"mediaKeyId","5476475-d6fa76b8881b33905245211fd5deb606","parentId",5476475,"title","Commission approves month-to-month extension of inmate medical contract while RFP review continues","audioSeconds",119,"startMs",4275000,"endMs",4394000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5476475-d6fa76b8881b33905245211fd5deb606&start=4275&end=4394","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5476475-d6fa76b8881b33905245211fd5deb606/thumbnail_4275000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6484059/Chatham-County/Georgia/Commission-approves-month-to-month-extension-of-inmate-medical-contract-while-RFP-review-continues","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6484059-4c78402893e7d5a35101967bba182b94/orig.mp4?Expires=1775415330&Signature=fjaP9G8NmQYWbDaLE6AFTYfSwCBHiGkG-aotIygjlm1xunwt55Qtuq3ieZevezzD0j0o8oFLkrJIwefBf4K9CHVJiCqHVC5KE89C~kiI~QTbI7QRVekzJpx5bHHHryAdKI8pstYk7Iyrs40CzU7TZ8867yPBxadAGtGzhTn5KPFiu~1phbZochHthtj~El0LMSk6hu5TPXIsukoyKhlFemM-mqqF2~aQKYEXzzKhqw57BWfNnKxmVyCZjU~~VO2BKTu8C6z9Ix4w7vMb-3csGohprDwbWCBy07kOInvYAOGFu6-ksAhGvx7SFABWiWVVhEeus1DjjmSJ7~jXi4Z4RQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Chatham County ","date","2025-07-24T20:38:47.747Z","article","The Chatham County Board of Commissioners approved a month-to-month contract extension with Correct Health Chatham County LLC for inmate medical services so the county remains covered while a competitive procurement is finalized.

County staff told the commission the existing contract with the vendor dated to 2016 and expired June 30; the vendor agreed to continue services on a month-to-month basis with a minor increase while a request for proposals is reviewed. Staff reported three proposals were received and a review committee is evaluating them with a recommendation expected in September.

A county staff member explained the procurement timeline to the board: the county issued the RFP in April, multiple vendor questions required staff responses, and the evaluation committee hopes to recommend an award next month. Commissioners asked for clarity about the “month-to-month” arrangement and the expected timing; staff said the temporary extension was intended only to bridge the gap until a new contract is awarded.

The commission moved and seconded the month-to-month extension and took a vote; the motion passed. County staff said the procurement evaluation would continue and that staff will return with a formal contract recommendation once the review is complete.

The board’s action preserves continuity of inmate medical coverage while staff completes the formal procurement process.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Special Called Meeting Chatham County Commission Meeting: July 24","oneSentenceSummary","The commission approved a month-to-month contract extension with Correct Health Chatham County LLC for inmate medical services after the previous agreement expired June 30; county staff said three proposals are under review and a new contract is expected in September.","taxTitle","Chatham County, Georgia","taxId",2956,"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},6484064,"Chatham County adopts 0.94 mill CAT tax after debate over service equity and ferry funding",4278,1108000,5386000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5476475-d6fa76b8881b33905245211fd5deb606&start=1108&end=5386","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5476475-d6fa76b8881b33905245211fd5deb606/thumbnail_1108000.jpg","/articles/6484064/Chatham-County/Georgia/Chatham-County-adopts-094-mill-CAT-tax-after-debate-over-service-equity-and-ferry-funding","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6484064-cb7b043bae171605d2482aff05b79235/orig.mp4?Expires=1775415330&Signature=jmmS1gZV3byVXDKPuTb9JuXJEM-OoDkaw0z65uTXjCf5eTzjJ3RkPLoafnxwUJ-bA322P8v13Qak6S1iwZkz4MHWdzkGWMV2ZyfGjrJoFtsrbvmbwcBolm0pxC4FgYInru3P91glppp3QEKIGpR675y12VtojQd9PjLudnv~J-L3NXOUwOM-7BHQl0FcwCNTOZDjvc2k3w298jE-XNVK8G1hcury84M8IEkSgbRMTsd-38fEZMNUPHmR~knZMjZY-Ta416E-pWcsX5SF2g~U81rEnuPfsESC31BnKdd5lSP2-nnG33AGxrviidy8yyeJBgn6w-pkR4QW-N9FXjQEKQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Chatham County commissioners voted to adopt a 0.94 mill tax rate for the Chatham Area Transit Authority for tax year 2025 during a special-call meeting, approving the county submission forms required by the Georgia Department of Revenue.

The vote followed more than two hours of discussion about areas of the county that pay the transit millage but have had services reduced or cut, the structure of CAT's district and enabling legislation, and a multi-year shortfall in ferry operating subsidies historically expected from tourism stakeholders. Supporters of the 0.94 millage framed it as a compromise to avoid an estimated multimillion-dollar shortfall while seeking commitments from other funders to “true up” ferry and service costs.

Chairman Chester A. Ellis read the board request and resolution language, asking the commission to “adopt the tax year 2025 millage rate resolution for the Chatham Area Transit Authority pursuant to OCGA 48-5-32.1 and board approval of submittal of the tax year 2025 property tax digest” and identified the required state forms PT-35 and PT-32-1.

Commissioners pressed staff and a Chatham Area Transit representative for dollar impacts. The transit representative said cutting the millage to the figure first proposed by one commissioner would “cut in half the anticipated revenue,” and county finance staff reported the advertised figures: at a 1.056 mill rate CAT would levy about $17.6 million; a rollback rate of 1.021 would generate about $16.5 million; and the 0.94 mill rate the board adopted would reduce taxable levies by about $1.94 million compared with the 1.056 figure. County finance staff summarized the 0.94 figure as producing a taxable levy value of roughly $15,709,009 and described that as “close to the $2 million” reduction several commissioners requested.

Debate focused on three themes: (1) residents in unincorporated Chatham County who continue to pay the transit millage despite service cuts there; (2) municipalities that have opted out of the taxing district or receive discounted services; and (3) ferry operations that were intended to be funded by a tourism group known in the meeting as the “Sammy” arrangement. Several commissioners and staff said that city and private partners historically agreed to subsidize ferry operations but that the true-up has not been completed since at least 2021.

Commissioner Dean Kicklighter and others described how portions of the county have been opted out of the CAT district and how those service decisions can shift costs back to unincorporated taxpayers. County counsel (Attorney Martin) explained that counties have supplemental authority over public transportation under the Georgia Constitution and that the Chatham Area Transit enabling act describes CAT’s structure and board composition; he said the local act does not supersede the county’s supplemental powers.

Commissioners discussed remedies short of reducing the county’s overall contribution, including instructing CAT to provide service throughout the established transit district, seeking a legal opinion about whether the county or the state must act to change district boundaries or taxing jurisdictions, and pursuing a written intergovernmental agreement (IGA) to require more complete monthly or bimonthly reporting from CAT. Several commissioners said they will press CAT and tourism stakeholders to “true up” ferry funding so the county is not left covering the operating gap.

After discussion, a motion to adopt a reduced millage of 0.94 mills was moved, seconded and adopted. The board directed staff to submit the certified forms (PT-35 and PT-32-1) and asked the county attorney and manager to provide further legal and budgetary information about the taxing district, municipal opt-outs, and the mechanics of any required true-ups.

The commission’s action references OCGA 48-5-32.1 and the county’s required forms for state approval of millage rates and rollbacks. Commissioners said they expect follow-up reporting from CAT and noted the deadline to submit millage certification paperwork to the Georgia Department of Revenue.

Commissioners and staff said further steps could include additional budget amendments or future action if municipal or tourism stakeholders do not provide the expected funding adjustments.

The adopted resolution, related forms and follow-up legal analysis will be filed with the county clerk and submitted to the Georgia Department of Revenue as required.

","The Chatham County Board of Commissioners approved a 0.94 mill rate for the Chatham Area Transit (CAT) tax for tax year 2025 after extended debate about unincorporated residents paying for services they do not receive and unresolved ferry funding from tourism stakeholders.","actionData","errors"]

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Commission approves month-to-month extension of inmate medical contract while RFP review continues

Chatham County adopts 0.94 mill CAT tax after debate over service equity and ferry funding