Finance Committee Meeting

FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES Commission Chamber Tuesday, May 09, 2023 1:15 PM FINANCE PRESENT Mayor Garnett Johnson Commissioner Jordan Johnson Commissioner Wayne Guilfoyle Commissioner Francine Scott Commissioner Stacy Pulliam 1. Presentation by Rev. Melvin Ivey of Greater St. John Baptist Church regarding taxes for property at 1953 Ellis Street (Solid Waste Collection Fee). Motion to approve exempting the fee for solid waste collection. Motion made by Guilfoyle, Seconded by Scott. Voting Yea: Johnson, Guilfoyle, Scott, Pulliam Motion carries 4-0. 2. Consider a request from Ms. Ernesia Wright of the Georgia Soul Organization to discuss partnership opportunities and financial support options from the City of Augusta. Motion to approve allowing the Administrator to bring back recommendations for funding sources for the request of this organization for funding in the amount of $250,000. Motion made by Scott, Seconded by Pulliam. Voting Yea: Johnson, Scott, Pulliam Voting Nay: Guilfoyle Motion carries 3-1. 3. Motion to approve recommended SPLOST 8 projects to receive bond funding. Motion to approve. Motion made by Guilfoyle, Seconded by Scott. Voting Yea: Johnson, Guilfoyle, Scott, Pulliam Motion carries 4-0. 4. Presentation of the March 31, 2023 preliminary financial reports.  Motion to approve. Motion made by Pulliam, Seconded by Scott. Voting Yea: Johnson, Guilfoyle, Scott, Pulliam Motion carries 4-0. 5. Receive a report/recommendation from the Administrator/staff regarding payments from the Augusta Library. (Referred from April 25 Finance Committee) Motion to approve the development of a plan regarding the reduction of the deficit of $1.3 million dollars of the Augusta Library with the division of this amount in half with $650,000 each to the Library and Augusta and a further division into two cash payments on the Library side of $325,000 each with one received by Augusta in FY2023 and one in FY2024. On Augusta's side the $650,000 will be divided in half with $325,000 added as an increased funding level to the Library's FY2024 budget and the second payment of $325,000 will be added as an increased funding level to the Library's FY2025 budget with the total plan to be subject to a review by the Law Department. Motion made by Pulliam, Seconded by Scott. Substitute motion to refer this item back to the committee. Motion made by Guilfoyle, dies for lack of a second. (Vote on the original motion) Voting Yea: Johnson, Scott, Pulliam Voting Nay: Guilfoyle Motion carries 3-1. 6. Motion to approve the minutes of the Finance Committee held on April 25, 2023. Motion to approve. Motion made by Pulliam, Seconded by Scott. Voting Yea: Johnson, Guilfoyle, Scott, Pulliam Motion carries 4-0.