Athens-Clarke County Archives

Athens’ Homeless Problem Could Lower University of Georgia’s Enrollment Numbers, One Resident Says

March 5, 2022March 4, 2022 Chris Butler

Athens-Clarke County officials use taxpayer money to lure in greater and greater numbers of homeless people from around Georgia, but the consequences to the county and to the University of Georgia (UGA) are too great to ignore. This, according to two Athens residents who said they have observed the city’s homeless epidemic up close.

Georgia District Attorney Disparages Conservative Oconee County Constituents as White Supremacists

January 18, 2022January 17, 2022 Chris Butler

The district attorney for Georgia’s Western Judicial Circuit last month compared her constituents in Oconee County to white supremacists, and she said they wish to do her harm. That woman, Deborah Gonzalez, represents a district that includes not only Oconee but Athens-Clarke counties. Athens-Clarke County’s political climate is strongly liberal. Oconee County’s political climate, meanwhile, is very conservative, according to BestPlaces.net

Proposal to Double Athens-Clarke County Commissioners’ Salaries Could Backfire on Community, Commissioner Says

December 31, 2021December 30, 2021 Chris Butler

A proposal to more than double Athens-Clarke County commissioners’ salaries from $15,000 per year to $31,000 could discourage good candidates — especially those who are not wealthy — from seeking that office. This, according to County Commissioner Allison Wright.

Part-Time Athens-Clarke County Commissioners Want to More Than Double Their Salaries

December 29, 2021December 28, 2021 Chris Butler

Six of the 10 Athens-Clarke County (ACC), Georgia commissioners have proposed an ordinance that, if enacted into law, would more than double their salaries from $15,000 per year to $31,000. County Mayor Kelly Girtz, under this proposal, would enjoy a pay increase as well, but only a small one, from $57,399 to $62,000.

Georgia Bill Would Restrict Local Government’s Power to Defund the Police

February 17, 2021February 16, 2021 Chris Butler

Six members of the Georgia House of Representatives have responded to the “Defund the Police” movement and filed a bill that would prohibit local governments in the state from cutting more than 5 percent of their police budgets. State Rep. Houston Gaines (R-Athens), the bill’s primary sponsor, said Tuesday that his legislation would, if enacted into law, exempt local governments that lose more than 5 percent of their budget revenues.

New Georgia Bill Addresses Political Candidates Who Die but Still Win the Election

February 12, 2021February 11, 2021 Chris Butler

In Georgia, the political candidate who gets the most votes is not always the person who gets sworn into office. Sometimes the candidate who got the least number of votes is the one who ultimately prevails.