Columbia County manager explains county administration, 0-based budgeting and public records process

County Manager Scott Johnson described the structure and day-to-day responsibilities of Columbia County administration and urged residents to engage with county meetings and social media during a county video segment in the “A to Z in CC” series.

Johnson said county administration includes the county manager’s office, two deputy county managers who each “oversee kinda half of the house,” an assistant to the county manager who provides executive support and manages projects, and the county public relations team. "We have our county clerk and our deputy clerk who really support the commission more, but it's all part of county management," he said, naming Patrice Crawley as clerk of the Board of Commissioners and Renee Pellequin as deputy clerk.

The explanation matters because the clerk’s office handles public-facing records and the administrative steps that make commission action enforceable. Johnson said the clerk and deputy clerk "handle really all of the behind the scenes documents for the board of commissioners. So that means agendas. That means ... public records request[s]." He added they also post meeting minutes and ensure resolutions are codified so “nothing slips through the cracks.”

On the county’s budget, Johnson said Columbia County uses a 0-based budgeting method and begins the process each January. "We're required by code to present a balanced budget to the Board of Commissioners for their approval," Johnson said. He described the 0-based approach as starting each department at zero and building a request based on need rather than adjusting last year’s numbers. The county’s budget process, he said, typically takes about four to five months and involves department heads and elected officials reviewing needs and revenues before adjustments are made.

Johnson also discussed how county administration supports the part-time Board of Commissioners. "They're here to approve things, approve the budget, to set policy," he said, and county management is responsible for carrying out day-to-day operations, comparing the relationship to a board of directors and management team in a private organization.

On communications and public engagement, Johnson urged residents to "get engaged," noting meetings are live streamed and archived so residents who cannot attend can watch later. "Go back and watch those meetings. You guys do a great job of putting stuff out on social media," he said, advising residents to contact county staff directly when they need authoritative information.

Johnson described the county manager’s day-to-day work as unpredictable and requiring flexibility. "I never know what my day is gonna be," he said, adding that emergency responses — for example, a hurricane — can change priorities for extended periods. He also said one of his early priorities as county manager was setting and protecting an employee culture focused on serving citizens and meeting expectations.

The segment was produced by Cassidy Harris, public relations manager, and included reference to staff member Chris on the communications team. The video is part of Columbia County’s outreach to explain county operations and encourage public participation.