Columbia County highlights 26-year finance streak, AAA bond rating and awards for Hurricane Helene response
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Summary
County Manager Scott Johnson used the County Compass podcast to spotlight Columbia County’s consecutive finance honors, national and state emergency-management awards after Hurricane Helene, a AAA credit rating and an estimated FEMA reimbursement tied to recovery work.
County Manager Scott Johnson told listeners on the County Compass podcast that Columbia County’s finance division has earned the Government Finance Officers Association’s Certificate of Achievement for financial reporting for 26 consecutive years, crediting Financial Services Director and Chief Financial Officer Leanne Reese for long-term leadership.
“Twenty-six years of doing things perfectly,” Johnson said, calling the awards evidence that residents’ tax dollars are being handled with “total transparency.” He also said the county recently won a Distinguished Budget Presentation award and national procurement recognition for two consecutive years.
Johnson emphasized the county’s AAA bond rating from the three major municipal rating agencies as further evidence of strong fiscal management and said it reduces the county’s borrowing costs. He tied the county’s fiscal discipline and awards to its ability to respond to emergencies.
Highlighting emergency response, Johnson said Columbia County Emergency Management Agency was named the 2025 EMA of the Year by its state association for its work after Hurricane Helene, including opening shelters and clearing more than 800 miles of road. He added the Georgia City-County Management Association will recognize the county’s Helene response with a top program award.
Johnson said Columbia County expects roughly $80,000,000 in FEMA reimbursement related to Hurricane Helene recovery efforts and attributed that anticipated recoverable amount to thorough record-keeping during response operations. He framed the reimbursement estimate as contingent on the reimbursement process: “hopefully when everything’s said and done with the reimbursement, dollars $80,000,000 of FEMA reimbursement,” he said.
Johnson noted local emergency communications and infrastructure as integral to that performance, saying the county operates its own broadband network, towers and radio systems to support response work.
The episode provided no new county budget ordinance or vote; Johnson framed the achievements as background on county operations and financial health and invited listeners to review county financial reports and budget documents for more detail.