South Fulton council tables revised purchasing‑card policy and Southwest Arts Center use policy for retreat review

At the Dec. 9 session councilmembers unanimously moved to pull and further review two administrative policies: a revised purchasing (P‑card) and credit‑card policy and a proposed Southwest Arts Center (SWAC) campus‑use policy.

Members said they had not been given adequate time to review the updates and expressed operational concerns, including the practicality of new documentation requirements and how the city will reconcile card transactions and reimbursements. Councilwoman Helen Z. Willis asked that the P‑card policy be discussed at a retreat before the body takes any action. Several members urged that staff provide a marked‑up version showing changes and that finance produce reconciliation templates to help elected officials and staff implement the rules.

Council also objected to the SWAC policy’s short circulation window and to provisions that some members said would limit council access to a public, city‑owned arts facility. Staff said the policies were intended to improve fiscal controls, align purchasing with Georgia law and increase event revenue opportunities at the SWAC, but council repeatedly asked that final policy language be driven by elected officials rather than solely by administration. The body voted to table both policies for comprehensive review at the January retreat and to return them to council in February.