Some Augusta departments want commissioners to restore budget cuts

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – It’s been a long, hot, summer for Augusta’s Central Services Department. Air conditioner issues at city buildings has the department facing budget issues.

“Replaced four units at Eastview that was due to vandalism and theft so that cost us about $54,000 so you can see how fast that money gets eaten up,” said Ron Lampkin, Interim Central Services Director.

Central Services going before commissioners seeking to restore the one percent cut in this year’s budget, a little more than $66,000.

Superior Court is asking for its $100,000 cut be restored,

The museum wants $2,000 back.

“I think we need to come back to the table and give everybody who submitted that they need the one percent back. We need to do it. I don’t think we need to piecemeal it,” said Commissioner Francine Scott.

Commission committees are recommending the cuts be restored but the issue still must go before the full commission for final approval.

“Are we just going to do a pass through? If that’s the case, we should never have taken the one percent. I hope all of them will have representatives there to explain why they need the one percent and then we’ll have that dialogue on the floor next week,” said Commissioner Sean Frantom.

“I don’t knock the one percent cut of course all my expenses were emergencies so it was not accounted for if I had not had those emergencies we probably would not have come back and asked for the one percent,” said Lampkin.

Commissioners approved the one percent cut to hold the line on city spending, but now some departments are saying they no longer can cut it.

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