Augusta Commission denies stormwater audit, opponents call it 'disservice to government'

The Augusta Commission rejected approval of an audit of the city's stormwater program on Tuesday.

Commissioner John Clarke requested the audit to "establish accountability where the taxpayers' money is going," identifying individuals or business who have failed to pay stormwater fees and answering calls from constituents confused by the purpose of these fees.

The proposed audit would explores the program's financial aspects, including collections, salaries and pay outs along with projects funded by stormwater fees that have been completed and those ongoing with costs; and it would look at all of this data from the last five years.

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Clarke also wanted to ensure it is conducted by a firm with whom  they had not conducted business. 

However, the motion failed by a 6-3 vote. Commissioner Alvin Mason was not present.

Commissioner Ben Hasan believed such an audit was not only unnecessary but would also be a slap in the face to local companies and officials.

"I think it's a disservice to the government, I really do, unless you have something that'd be more precise and more accurate to what you're looking for," Hasan said.

Mayor Hardie Davis commented that Clarke could just ask the Engineering Department for the data and it would not require an audit, but Clarke would not budge.

Commissioner Catherine Smith McKnight echoed one of Clarke's points, saying "There are a lot of people in Augusta, Ga., wondering why they're paying what they're paying for stormwater and not getting anything from it."

Davis counter-proposed educating the public on this topic by creating and distributing a fact sheet in residents' water bills that would provide information about storm water service and how those fees are used. 

The mayor further explained that, in local government, "All too often, we have these red herrings because a couple of folks have an itch that needs to be scratched" and that distributing a fact sheet would be "a very noble approach as opposed to this idea around 'Well we need an audit.'"

McKnight laughed at the idea, and Clarke was also not a fan, calling it a "song and dance."

Commissioner Sean Frantom expressed concern over whether or not this kind of audit would shut down the stormwater procurement process or any of its projects, though Clark disagrees that that would ever happen.

When asked about these possibilities, the commission's general counsel attorney Wayne Brown said he could only comment that such an audit has traditionally been time-consuming and would require the personal involvement of  multiple high-level employees. 

After the meeting, Clarke commented that "The citizens of Augusta, Ga., are not dumb. They know that something is not quite right. This will set it right."

For more information on stormwater, including fees, projects and other details of the program, go to augustaga.gov.