Dougherty Commission reviews government services contract process

ALBANY – The Dougherty County Commission is looking to revamp the way that the county funds organizations that provide government services, with an eye toward ensuring that expenditures are made legally.

“From time to time, we have organizations come up and make requests,” County Attorney Alex Shalishali told an Albany Herald reporter at the conclusion of the commission’s Monday work session. The commission is seeking “a formal process so some of our programs can request funds.”

Offering examples of organizations that receive county funds to provide services, the attorney pointed to the National Alliance on Mental Illness Albany and the Swim For Life program that teaches youngsters how to swim. The county can legally fund programs for various services, including preservation of cultural heritage, public safety, recreation, education and health, Shalishali said.

“We can only do it if an organization is providing a public service that the county can legally provide,” he said. “That’s why we wanted to set up this process (where it) creates a service agreement like any vendor would have.”

On Monday, the county attorney outlined changes to the Services Provider Program and Sponsorship policy to commissioners.

Under the county’s policy, the commission may provide funding through the yearly budget. It is also allowed to establish a community service program board to make recommendations on specific service agreements that meet established criteria to the commission.

One provision in the draft changes that brought comments from some commissioners was one that allows organizations already funded to be renewed for another year without review.

Commissioner Clinton Johnson suggested a “hard reset” and review of all organizations that have received money, even those who have long-standing ties to the commission. Commissioners Victor Edwards and Ed Newsome also said they agreed with having all groups go through the process.

“If you’re giving (to an) organization, it’s not out of bounds to ask these questions,” Commissioner Anthony Jones said. “It’s not tying anybody’s hands … but we want them to justify getting the money.”