Update to an earlier report: This article includes new information about a story we previously covered. Read our earlier report.
By News Now Georgia
Augusta’s Public Services Committee approved a motion to begin seeking a broker to help sell six city parks. The motion does not authorize a sale or park closure, and the full Commission must give it final approval next week.
The motion leaves A.L. Williams Park, Doughty Park and Vernon Forrest Park out of the original list of nine parks.
City Administrator Tameka Allen is set to retire effective June 30, 2027. Her retirement agreement provides 10 additional years of retirement service credit and one year of salary continuation.
Allen’s proposed 2027 budget totals $1.26 billion. It combines a two-mill property tax increase with a 2.6-mill sales tax rollback. Allen said the proposal remains balanced and does not increase the budget’s overall total despite adjustments. The full Commission is scheduled to vote on it Nov. 17.
Restoring transit service eliminated in 2026 was discussed, but commissioners made no final decision. Allen said bringing back second-route service on Routes 5, 6 and 7 would cost about $385,000 in 2027. That funding is not in the proposed budget.
Other requests headed to the full Commission next week include $113,000 in additional funding for Reeves Construction’s Jones Alley project, which had an earlier contract of about $1.82 million. Augusta’s Housing and Community Development Department is also seeking approval to redirect more than $611,000 in federal COVID relief money to expenses including sanitation services, equipment and program administration.
Victoria Sterling
News Now Georgia
