Friday, August 24, 2001
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Friday, August 24, 2001 |
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County has problem with water board's budget By JOHN
THOMPSON
The new North Georgia Water District Board is causing consternation for the Coweta County Commissioners. The board was created by Gov. Roy Barnes this year to try and address the water needs of the fast-growing Atlanta area on a regional basis. But Commission Chairman Robert Wood, who represents the county's interest on the board, said the board is currently balking about the budget for the new agency. Wood said the board was initially funded with $1 million from the state and the counties participating must pony up another million. Wood said one of the possibilities is assessing the county $1 for every resident. Coweta County would then have to pay about $90,000 to the agency, which Wood deemed unfair. Instead, Wood said the board needs to take into account what each county is currently doing to plan for future water needs. "We've committed millions of dollars to being a regional water source, while other counties have done nothing. I'm going to be forced to vote against it," said Commissioner Vernon "Mutt" Hunter. The county recently sold $40 million in bonds to cover the county's future water needs and the County Commission wants this taken into account when dues start being assessed for the organization. "I have been the voice that has kept this budget from being crammed down our throats," said Wood. Wood said another meeting of the board was set for this week and he would keep the board updated on the budget negotiations.
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