Warbington addresses billing system, T-SPLOST

ALBANY — Sounding more like a mayoral candidate with each public appearance, businessman Chad Warbington took the opportunity Tuesday to address the Albany City Commission’s use of SPLOST VII funds to approve a $1.26 million contract with Tyler Technologies of Plano, Texas, to purchase a new utilities billing system.

Warbington questioned whether the use of the funding takes into account citizens’ “intent” when they passed the SPLOST referendum.

Warbington said that his comments were not meant to be adversarial but were instead a part of the give-and-take between citizens and elected officials that constitutes “good government.”

“Good local government requires the constant sharing of ideas between elected leaders and their constituents and challenging each other to fund projects in the proper way and with the desired priority of the citizens,” Warbington said. “SPLOST referendums, in my opinion, require even more sharing of ideas before the SPLOST projects are identified and as they are being funded and executed.

“The dialogue today about the utility billing software is an example of the dialogue that needs to happen every time a project is funded with SPLOST dollars. There should be an extra layer of scrutiny when officials dip into the SPLOST pot of money that citizens approved. Citizens should have a heighten awareness of what the SPLOST projects are to ensure elected officials execute the projects the way voters intended when the referendum was approved.”

The businessman asked officials if the money budgeted by the city’s Utilities Authority to fund its billing system would now go into utilities’ general fund and what would happen in three years when the contract with Tyler expires and more funding is needed to maintain the billing system.

“I’m committed to having those discussions regularly for the current SPLOST and for the potential new T-SPLOST that is on the ballot,” Warbington said. “I hope our elected officials desire the feedback and the dialogue as we strive to move our community forward with these SPLOST improvement projects.”

In a separate release, Warbington said he is in favor of passing the T-SPLOST referendum that will be voted on in the city and county Tuesday. Several citizens who asked the commission to rescind a rezoning request that will allow a liquor store to be built in their south Albany neighborhood were in the audience at Tuesday’s meeting holding “Vote No on T-SPLOST” signs.

“For the current T-SPLOST, I’m in favor of the majority of the projects identified and will be voting ‘yes,’” Warbington said. “These transportation items are essential to the safety, quality of life and economic environment our community desperately needs. There are no other funding sources for the large amount of decaying streets, broken sidewalks and unsafe and congested intersections. Those failing infrastructure items related to transportation need a shot in the arm, if not multiple shots in the arm.

“T-SPLOST is that shot in the arm. I’m committed, as well as many other involved citizens, to provide the feedback and accountability to ensure our roads, sidewalks and intersections are funded first and foremost before the other ‘nice-to-have’ items that are on the list.”