Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the County Budget And Procurement topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Tift County approves FY26 budget and contracts; Animal Control truck purchase draws local-buying objection
Summary
The Tift County Board of Commissioners approved Resolution No. 2025-16 (FY26 budget) and several contracts and licenses on June 9, and separately approved a $42,690 Animal Control pickup after Commissioner Stan Stalnaker raised concerns about not buying locally. Multiple items were adopted on the consent agenda; the truck vote was 4-1.
The Tift County Board of Commissioners on June 9 approved its fiscal year 2026 budget and a package of contracts and licenses, and narrowly approved a pickup truck purchase for Animal Control after a commissioner objected to buying outside the county.
The board adopted Resolution No. 2025-16 (FY26 budget) and approved a batch of consent items that included vehicle purchases, vendor agreements, a hazard mitigation plan update and several retail alcohol licenses. The consent motion—excluding one purchase later pulled for separate consideration—carried 5-0.
Among consent items listed by the chairman were: a $44,700 Ford F-150 for Public Works (Griffin Ford); a lawn-care agreement with Service Living LLC for $116,893.20; 20 sets of personal protective equipment from Bennett Fire Products Co. Inc. for $69,261.40 (to be funded from special tax district funds); a $28,000 hazard mitigation plan update with Aulick Engineering LLC (grant funds and general fund); lease renewal with the State Properties Commission for the Department of Driver Services facility; and Resolution No. 2025-16 (FY26 budget) and Ordinance No. 2025-01 (commemorative road naming application fee).
Commissioner Stan Stalnaker asked that Item 7.1 be removed from the consent agenda for separate discussion. Item 7.1 proposed purchasing a 2025 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 from the low bidder, Dale Earnhardt Jr Chevrolet, for $42,690 to be funded from the general fund for use by Animal Control. "Commissioner Stan Stalnaker expressed his concerns about not purchasing locally," the minutes record.
Commissioner Melissa Hughes moved to purchase the Silverado from the low bidder; Commissioner Greg Wood seconded. The board voted 4-1 to approve the purchase, with Stalnaker the lone dissenting vote. Recorded yes votes were Chairman Tony McBrayer, Greg Wood, Donnie Hester and Melissa Hughes; Stan Stalnaker voted no.
The board took no additional public comment on the vehicle purchase during the meeting. The consent approvals put the FY26 budget and listed contracts on the board's record; further implementation steps for individual contracts were not specified in the meeting minutes.
The meeting adjourned after routine commissioner remarks and a recognition by the county manager.
