DOCO budget approval pending; recent issues not expected to have an impact

ALBANY, Ga. – Amidst the turmoil in recent weeks, the Dougherty County Commission faces yet another hurdle, the upcoming approval of the next year’s budget.

District Three Commissioner, Clinton Johnson says that recent shakeups, like the recent termination of former county administrator, Michael McCoy will not have an impact on any decisions for the county’s 90 million dollar budget.

“We’re actually on the downside of the budget. We had our public hearing today, and we’ll be voting on the budget very soon. Our budget has remained about the same, a very conservative budget. Our department heads have maintained that conservativeness as well as battling wage inflation,” said Clinton Johnson, Finance Chairman, Dougherty County Commission.

We caught up with the county’s financial director, Martha Hendley who says that the recent rumblings in the county will not impact the county’s decision on the budget.

“We as the staff and management will do as we’ve done in the past. We will do our best for the citizens of Dougherty county. We work for them. They are our bosses,” said Martha Hendley, Financial Director, Dougherty County.

And, rest assured that despite the recent controversy, the county is going to move forward for the sake of Dougherty’s residents.

“I think what the people of Dougherty county and the surrounding counties will seek to understand is that Dougherty county is stable, and that we will continue to serve and offer our services in a very very professional manner, and without any interruptions, sir,” said Clinton Johnson, Finance Chairman, Dougherty County Commission.

Despite the recent turmoil, Dougherty County appears to be moving forward with no further impediments to the county budget.

According to the proposed budget, forty six percent of the general fund will be going to public safety.

Brian Roche reporting.

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