City struggles to manage budget

I was out looking for a house for my daughter in law just yesterday. I was surprised at the number of Richmond County Cops that live just across the columbia county line. In a matter of six blocks there were eight Richmond county cop cars parked at their homes. Hey Ronnie, let them drive thier own cars across the county lines. I can understand if it helps deter crimes in the neighboorhood by having the cops drive the taxpayers cars home but not if they are in Columbia County. We sure could save alot of taxpayer money if the sheriff depatment would clamp down on some fuel waste.

RCSO understands the "indegenous population" of Richmond County - they know better than to try and raise their families there.

One of the purposes for taking patrol cars home - even across county lines - is to maintain readiness in case an incident occurs that requires multiple additional units (Cherry Tree Crossing is a recent example). In an instance like this, it is not feasible for off-duty deputies to have to report to a substation to pick up their vehicles and then respond to a mass incident. If there is a riot going on downtown or a school shooting incident where off-duty deputies may have to be called, an additional twenty minutes could be added to response time if a deputy has to pick up his car first. As a Columbia County deputy, and a Richmond County taxpayer, I have no problem with RCSO deputies taking their cars across county lines.

Leo, this story has nothing to do with Justin Elmore. News 12 and the chronicle are doing a great job of making most of you feel like Justin Elmore death was warranted. News 12 made him sound like Jesse James or Charles Manson. And look at how they have taken your minds off the facts of the case. Maybe News 12 and Augusta Chronicle staff need to take a closer look at their kids. I’ve seen it a hundred times they get their kids out of trouble and cover for them and they end up using drugs and overdosing. We all make mistakes as do our family members. The sad thing is that some of you claim to know God, but you show who and what you know on these posts. Luke 8:17 For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad. Genesis 50:20 And as for you, ye meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.

Augusta needs a good economy and low gasoline prices in order to stay afloat, according to Fred (What, me worry?) Russell. Well, one out of two ain't bad.

Imbrue, I was simply commenting on a previous comment (if you'll notice, I gave other examples, as well). Since you seem to know the facts of the Elmore case, I hope you have given a written statement to the GBI. And personally, I don't agree with your assessment of the news coverage. I think the local media has done more to stoke the flames of this incident - maybe for sensational motives. But you are correct in saying the story really has nothing to do with Justin Elmore.

LEO, you obviously think Deputies are sitting patiently by the phone 24 hours a day waiting for an Emergency so they can drive their cruisers. It don't work that way, unless the Deputies are being paid to stay at home. I have no problem with Deputies using the car as long as we are not paying for the gas and as long as the cars aren't being replaced on a mileage basis. I am sure that someone in the RCSD is tracking the cost of officers using the cars and collecting the cost from Deputies.

Do you suppose that the Augusta Chronicle could get the Augusta Commissioners, (RUSSELL) to release/print a "DETAILED" line item of the budget so the public could see where all the money is going. I do not mean a "rolled-up" line item but a detailed one. Exactly how much for trips and for whom and where, exactly how much for gas/diesel and for whose cars, how much for office supplies and which offices, unifor allowances and for whom. LIKE, where exactly is ALL the money going. I know Russel is able to hide a lot in the various line items, and so too the department heads. We are being ripped off folks and all of us sheep just sit back and take it.

I almost forgot, the budget Fred proposed (the one funding non-profit private clubs) was based on a gasoline cost of $2.50 a gallon. Obviously we are at less than 60% of that figure now and will be for the for the near future, who wants to bet Fred comes out in a couple of months with more funding for non-city organizations and restores their funding while leaving the fired city workers in the street. Further, we will have money for the Masters week regardless of who has to go to pay for it.

Mr. Russell and our illustrious comissioners better get used to living with what they have and maybe less. I do not know what makes them think the RC taxpayers have more money to give them to waste. In fact, our taxes should be going DOWN. We currently have DEFLATION. Everything is costing less than what it was last year. And if our taxes are based on the REAL VALUE of our property, then our taxes should go down about 20 percent or so. Fuel is costing WAY LESS, so what we are being strong armed for GARBAGE collection should also go WAY DOWN. Everything should be DOWN this year but especially the waste and fraud that goes on with our local contracting office. School taxes should go down also because of the lower fuel costs for the buses. And if we would start sending our students to their nearest schools the cost of busing would go down even more.

disssman, I have to inform you that you are mistaken when you imply that there is hardly a chance a deputy will get called in on his/her off days to assist with some large scale emergency. We have extensive training for those scenarios every year, alongside other local public safety agencies. Remember the tornado that hit Hephzibah a few years back, I was working for RCSO at the time and had to come in, though I was scheduled to be off. Not to mention the numerous SWAT incidents that occur in RC that don't even get media coverage. What I'm saying, is that incidents do occur where quick response of extra units is necessary and I have no problem with the RCSO maintaining readiness. (And just to add, deputies are not allowed to take their cars home if they live more than seven miles outside of the county.)

If cops lived in Richmond county they can respond even faster, right? Can understand the reasons why cops would prefer to have their vehicles at their residences, but my dad who's been a cop here for 30 years never came home with one (would've been crazy to even propose it, as money didn't grow on trees then, as now). Never stopped officers responding within 10 minutes even then -- and Richmond county geography hasn't expanded in 30 years, too. If it would save taxpayers $200,000 a year on fuel, think about it, that's at least 4 extra cops on the beat. I'd rather pay for 4 extra cops for faster response, than for officers living in Columbia county to get to downtown faster (and not paying RC taxes that helps to pay their salary, their fellow brethen). If RCSO officers want to live in Columbia county, let them apply for a job with Columbia county's sheriff department. Plain dollars and sense.

Good point Sandy. I want to know how may extra police cars the county has to buy for the night beat because there are a bunch of them parked over in colubia county every night.