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COLUMBUS, Ga. — After years of what has seemed like outright denial, and after months of tumultuously deciding to finally face the music, city councilors appear to finally understand that it’s time for our city to get serious about the crime and gang-related violence plaguing our city.

On Tuesday, May 9, city council held both a regular session and a meeting of the budget review committee at which they heard from several officials and departments about their concerns for our city’s current ability to combat crime.

THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE

One of those speakers was Sheriff Greg Countryman, who had come hat-in-hand to inform city council that his office’s annual expenses had exceeded his allocated budget by a whopping $1.5 million. 

We’ll be following up on this in the near future with a detailed break-down of the expenses and why they do in fact appear to be legitimate.

While several councilors did have legitimate questions as they sought to understand the truth of the situation, it was easily explained and understood that the salary savings simply aren't enough to cover the overtime required. 

Councilor Tucker (District 4) immediately moved to approve the request. After some light discussion, city council members unanimously voted to provide Sheriff Countryman with the $1.5 million he requested.

THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY

We recently published about how the District Attorney Stacey Jackson had also requested a budget increase for a few extra resources, as well as to hire the additional personnel his office requires to properly keep up with the city’s current case rate against gang-related offenders.

The total ask from the DA’s office was for a relatively-low total of just $174,500, of which $155,000 were for the salaries to hire two additional investigators and two administrative personnel.

After Jackson made his presentation to council, several councilors were more than willing to work with Jackson to find the resources his office needs.

In response to Jackson’s well-articulated proposal to hire additional investigators and other personnel so he may properly prosecute gang-related offenders, Councilor Glenn Davis (District 2) spoke up in strong support of finding our DA the funding he needs:

“Mr. Jackson, I'm willing to put that on the “Add List” for you. Let me just say: Look, if we're ever going to get serious about crime, and fighting crime, and prosecuting crime, and dealing with it, then the buck stops with you. I mean, you're — in my eyes — the chief law enforcement officer or chief prosecutor. I mean, everything stops in your office. And so if that's what I hear you saying, that you want to get serious with crime — and that's what the citizens are telling us; that's what we're hearing and that's where our law enforcement is heading in that direction — then they're going to need you. Because it all stops with you. It stops in your office. I'm willing to give you that — and I believe it's going to make a difference. And so far, you've shown your value there, and you'll continue to do that for the citizens of Columbus. So you need the resources, and I'm willing to give you that opportunity.”

In response to Councilor Davis, District Attorney Jackson made the following statement:

“And I promise the council,” Jackson began, “that I’ll use those resources in the most efficient and productive manner as possible.”

Council Davis nodded back to Jackson in understanding.

After Jackson made his thankful pledge, Councilor Tyson Begly (District 10) also voiced his words of support in a statement made to Jackson:

“I second for the same reasons Glenn (Davis) was just saying,” Begly began. “This is a priority. I appreciate you articulating the needs and how they're being used. I second it. Thank you.”

Given that the forum was a meeting of the budget review committee to add potential expenditures to the infamous “Add/Delete” list and did include any binding legal action of the council, we are fairly certain that no motion was made nor was a second required — though Begly’s words of support were well-appreciated nonetheless.

A UNIFIED FRONT

It is becoming quite clear that city councilors of all backgrounds, experiences, and viewpoints are all of the same mind when it comes to our city’s violent crime: It isn’t going away on its own, it requires deliberate actions through many different channels to reduce it, and the time to get serious about it is now.

Time will tell how serious our city’s leaders — both elected and appointed — really are about taking those actions. Our city’s future depends upon it.

Stay with the Muckraker as we continue our coverage of what is quite literally the single-most important bedrock issue of our city as the situation continues to develop in the days and weeks ahead.

Facts are stubborn things — and we’ll keep publishing them, whether city officials like them or not.

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