Pittman, Walker decline to support Dawson’s $8 monthly fire charge

DAWSON — Dawson utility customers will pay an additional $8 per month to support the city fire department after the City Council approved a new fire service district charge amid questions about unfinished audits, a proposed budget deficit and how the money will be tracked.

Council members Iri Pittman and Sondra Walker did not vote to approve the charge.

The charge will apply to residential and commercial utility accounts within the Dawson city limits. Based on approximately 1,800 accounts, city officials estimate it will generate about $172,800 annually.

Officials said the revenue will be placed in the city’s general fund but tracked through a separate line item designated for fire department expenses.

The council discussed beginning collection in January and reviewing the charge after six months or one year. The ordinance and final billing schedule will determine the effective date and collection procedures.

The fire department operates on an annual budget of approximately $1 million, making it one of Dawson’s largest municipal expenses. Officials said the $8 charge will not fully fund the department but will reduce the amount required from other general-fund revenue.

Completely shifting the department’s cost from the general fund would require a charge of approximately $50 per account, according to figures discussed during the meeting.

Council members previously considered monthly charges ranging from $8 to $15. At $10 per account, the city could generate approximately $216,000 annually. A $15 charge could produce about $324,000.

Mayor Robert Aaron presented the charge as an alternative to increasing the city’s property tax rate.

“We need money just to provide services,” Aaron said. “How do we do it — this way or raise taxes?”

The approval came during a lengthy debate over whether the city has provided enough financial information to justify adding another charge to residents’ utility bills.

Dawson remains behind on its Fiscal 2023, 2024 and 2025 audits. The delinquent audits also have prevented the city from drawing additional money from Georgia Environmental Finance Authority loans associated with its water and wastewater projects.

Walker questioned how the city could assure residents that the fire revenue would be properly accounted for while three annual audits remain unfinished.

“How can we tell the citizens that these funds are going to be accounted for when we can’t even get three years of audits?” she asked.

She also requested records showing the fire department’s actual expenditures and asked what corrective measures the city was implementing beyond adding a new charge.

City officials said the audit delays are largely connected to problems created when Dawson converted its financial records from the Harris Computer system to Tyler Technologies software. Some information was duplicated, failed to transfer or did not match the trial balance, they said.

The city is working with outside accounting assistance to prepare the information CPA firm Mauldin & Jenkins needs to complete the audits.

Officials also said Dawson’s financial problems stem partly from revenue that was included in a previous budget but was never collected. The city nevertheless remained responsible for salary increases, equipment repairs, vehicle maintenance and other expenses approved under that spending plan.

The fire department also has faced costs for equipment upgrades and hazardous-material response capabilities.

Supporters acknowledged that the charge will create an additional burden but said the city cannot continue spending more than it collects.

“The city is a business,” Councilwoman Melissa Marshall said. “They’ve got to operate it.”

The charge is not automatically permanent. City officials said a future council could reduce or repeal it by adopting another ordinance.

Several details were not clearly established during the public discussion, including whether failure to pay the fire charge could result in water service disconnection, when billing will begin and whether every dollar collected is legally restricted to fire services or merely tracked through a designated general-fund account.