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Council debates proposed communications team amid transparency concerns
Summary
Council members debated a proposed communications function funded in the draft budget; proponents said a dedicated team of seven would improve transparency, while skeptics questioned the cost and whether the city’s tax base could sustain the proposed level of spending.
Council member Warmoth urged the council to fund a communications capability to restore trust and improve transparency, citing comparators and a roster of activities the function would perform. "Strengthening communication, transparency, and public engagement" was listed among the seven strategic initiatives in the staff presentation, Warmoth said during discussion.
Warmoth cited figures for nearby cities — saying Carrollton spends roughly $482,392 on communications and Douglasville spends more — as a way to justify the city investing in communications staff and tools. Other council members said they were not opposed to better engagement but voiced concern about the 'sticker price' and the city's smaller tax base. Staff clarified that the communications work described in the presentation is handled by a team of seven (an external/contracted firm), not a single individual, and that the council could remove the item if citizens conclude it does not provide value.
Council did not vote on the communications proposal; council members asked for more detail and said they would continue the discussion before final adoption of the budget.
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