Upson County commissioners table plan to re‑establish communications position until November

The Upson County Board of Commissioners voted on Feb. 25 to table consideration of re‑establishing a county communications or community engagement position until the board’s November budget discussions.

County Manager said the recommendation was to reestablish the position with an effective date of Jan. 1, 2026 so there would be no 2025 budgetary impact. The manager told commissioners the job would cover computer, web and social media communication needs and recommended recruiting in the current fiscal year so a hire could begin in 2026.

The recommendation drew questions about when the county would be able to fund the new post. “We create position. If money comes available, I’m gonna come right back and say, hey, we need to move forward,” the County Manager said, noting the board can amend the budget during the year and receive periodic finance briefings to track whether hiring could occur sooner.

A commissioner pressing for better constituent communication said the county’s web and social media presence could improve and that a dedicated position was necessary. Another commissioner asked about the salary range; the County Manager said the job is classified as FA‑18 and that total compensation information would have to be checked against the pay scale.

After discussion, a motion to table the item until November carried. The motion recorded in the meeting directed that the item be brought back during the budget season so the board can determine whether funding is available.

The board did not adopt the position on Feb. 25; no salary or step rate was finalized and the effective date recommended by staff remained Jan. 1, 2026 pending future action.