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Conyers staff recommend $10,000 GMA audit of telecommunications franchise revenues
Summary
City staff recommended using a one‑year Georgia Municipal Association audit program to verify telecommunications franchise and right‑of‑way revenues; staff reported fiscal 25 gross utility receipts at roughly $1.9 million and recommended the $10,000 audit to identify inconsistencies.
City staff presented a proposed one‑year agreement with the Georgia Municipal Association (GMA) to audit telecommunications and right‑of‑way franchise revenues. The program, described as non‑renewing for the city unless it proves beneficial, would cost $10,000 for the audit.
Staff explained that utilities operating in the public right‑of‑way (fiber, data and power companies) pay franchise fees based on gross revenues under state law, and that auditing those payments requires specialized review of utility documents. The last audits of this type occurred in 2009 and 2013, staff said, and current gross revenue reporting shows fiscal 25 at approximately $1.9 million and fiscal 24 at about $1.7 million. Staff noted inconsistencies in reported revenues and cited a recent in‑person delivery of approximately $1.3 million from a utility representative as an example prompting further review.
Staff recommended approving the program and asked the council to approve a resolution (Resolution 769) authorizing the mayor to execute the agreement at the voting session; no resolution vote occurred during the work session.
Next steps: staff will place the GMA agreement and the authorizing resolution on the upcoming voting session agenda for council action.
