Augusta-Richmond County commissioners met Dec. 13 in a special session to refine a proposed SPLOST 9 (special local option sales tax) package and to weigh competing priorities including engineering backlog, road resurfacing, sewer infrastructure, parks projects, a juvenile justice center and detention-center capacity.

Administrator Miss Allen presented two draft lists: an earlier compilation she said totaled about $463 million and a narrowed proposal she described as roughly $275 million that would focus on public safety and quality-of-life projects and could be collected in about four to four-and-a-half years. She listed sample allocations including $10 million for engineering, $2 million for central services, $18 million for convention-center expansion and $6 million for utilities.

The narrower option prompted pushback from several commissioners and department leaders who said the engineering allocation is insufficient to finish carryover work from prior SPLOST cycles. Dr. Malik, who spoke for the engineering department, told the commission that “$10,000,000 is not a start for engineering,” noting the department manages a maintenance workforce and many carryover projects such as East Augusta, Wilkinson/Wilkes Gardens and Rocky Creek. He estimated roughly $20 million would be needed to finish several of those carryover projects and said prior SPLOST blocks still have about $75 million in obligated funding tied up in ongoing work.

Commissioners urged clearer, firmer estimates and a firm cap for the overall package. “If we don't put a cap on this, we're gonna end up back at that $463 million,” Commissioner Don Clark said, urging the body to pick a target and hold to it. Discussion centered on two collection-period options presented by staff: capping the SPLOST at about $3.25 per $100 of sales (estimated to raise funds over roughly five years) or a $3.50 cap with different timeline implications. Administrator Allen said she will circulate an updated list reflecting the commission's priorities; she reminded the board of a Jan. 6 deadline to vote on whether to place a SPLOST question on the ballot.

Public-safety items drew sustained attention. Chief Blanchard described a public-safety request that included vehicle replacements and detention-center renovations and explained staff reduced an earlier pre-fabricated jail plan from an initial $100 million concept to about $70 million by shifting to modular pods. He said two pods would add about 288 beds (144 per pod) and argued additional capacity helps the jail separate violent offenders. The sheriff and chief also warned that the current detention center is overcrowded (they said about 300 inmates over capacity) and that housing detainees elsewhere would cost the county an estimated $8 million to $10 million per year.

That contention — whether more jail capacity reduces crime — surfaced repeatedly. Chief Blanchard said a place to house violent offenders can be a deterrent; Judge Baez, the chief juvenile court judge, said building more jail beds alone does not reduce crime and emphasized investment in evidence-based juvenile programming. Judge Baez described a juvenile justice center proposal that initially sought $46 million and has been scaled down to $20 million by phasing and narrowing scope. She said a consolidated facility would co-locate hearings, therapists and services, reduce operating rent paid to private landlords, improve case processing and expand prevention programming that can lower recidivism.

Other departments outlined priorities and constraints. Director Bynes described utility needs including bulkhead/flood-control gates for downtown and South Augusta sewer expansion, noting that many GDOT/TIA road projects require supplemental utility funding so new roads are not built over old infrastructure. Parks-and-recreation staff described agreements with local NGOs at facilities such as Augusta Soccer Park and said many courts and facilities need resurfacing and accessibility improvements.

On financing, commissioners debated whether to focus the package on two priorities — public safety and quality of life — or to add infrastructure as a third priority. Multiple commissioners argued for increasing engineering and utilities funding to address recurring complaints about roads, drainage and sewer service, especially in South Augusta. Administrator Allen said that if the commission agrees on a collection target (the commission discussed $3.25 as a likely five-year option), staff would rework allocations and return a revised list for final consideration.

The administrator summarized tentative consensus items for the next draft — adding $2 million to juvenile court (bringing the recommendation closer to the $20 million the judge requested), restoring $1 million for the Augusta Canal Authority, providing modest capital to Daniel Field and Augusta Regional Airport projects and directing $20 million to utilities to prioritize sewer projects — but she stressed the list will be updated and circulated and that the governing body must reach final consensus before placing the measure on the ballot.

Mayor Johnson closed the special meeting after law enforcement reiterated concerns about jail overcrowding and the fiscal cost of housing inmates out of county. The commission did not take a formal vote at the Dec. 13 session; staff said an updated proposal will be circulated ahead of the Jan. 6 deadline when the board must decide whether to put a SPLOST question to voters.