Commissioners defer Rockdale County appropriations ordinance for more review; nonprofits seek small increases

The Rockdale County Board of Commissioners deferred consideration of an ordinance that would set county appropriations beginning in January after commissioners said several changes and amendments need more discussion.

A commissioner said the ordinance contains proposed changes and several amendments and moved to defer the item. "So I move that we defer this," the commissioner said; another commissioner seconded and the chair called the vote. The motion carried and the ordinance was set to return at a called meeting or the next regular board meeting.

During the discussion commissioners and staff flagged several potential reallocations. One commissioner proposed extending or expanding allocations to local service providers including Viewpoint Health, which had received an additional $50,000 in a recent budget action, and asked staff to clarify why that increase occurred. Commissioners also discussed a $5,000 request from CASA to support foster‑care mentoring services, and a $3,750 request from the Rockdale Coalition to support resource coordination for families.

Board members discussed options such as suspending or adjusting rent charged to a play‑therapy center and taking a more holistic view of allocations for children and families. The county clerk reminded the board that because this item was listed as unfinished business it will appear on the Dec. 9 agenda unless the board calls a special meeting. No formal appropriations vote was taken at this meeting; the board chose to gather more information and work toward compromise language before taking final action.