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Commissioners say local school board will fund East Bluff election; chair authorized to sign agreement
Summary
After reviewing recent election costs, the Liberty County commission decided the Board of Education will fund 100% of an upcoming stand‑alone East Bluff election and authorized the chairman to execute an intergovernmental agreement that formalizes the arrangement.
The Liberty County Board of Commissioners voted to require the Liberty County Board of Education to fund 100% of an upcoming stand-alone East Bluff election and authorized the county chairman to sign an intergovernmental agreement reflecting that decision.
Elections staff told commissioners the most recent general election costs the county $200,105; a prior East Bluff election in 2021 cost roughly $95,540, and those expenses have previously been split. County attorneys and staff noted that the Georgia Attorney General’s opinion allows certain education boards to expend funds for election-related activities and that the legal framework for cost sharing should be memorialized in a written government agreement.
After discussion about budgeting timelines and the board’s inability to absorb an unbudgeted, stand-alone election this year, commissioners moved that the Board of Education cover 100% of the costs for the upcoming election. The board also voted to authorize the chairman to execute a standard-form intergovernmental agreement (MOU) with the Board of Education, with staff to include any required payment- or timeline-related language (for example, prepayment deadlines) before signature.
County elections and finance staff will finalize the agreement and coordinate any payment schedule with the Board of Education so election preparations can proceed on schedule.
