HB 1584: Augusta, City of; Richmond County; council-manager form of government; provide

Augusta and Richmond County currently operate under a consolidated government led by an elected mayor and commission, without a professional county manager position. This bill would add a new office of county manager, nominated by the mayor and confirmed by majority vote of the commission, to serve as the government's administrative head handling day-to-day operations, department oversight, contracts, and purchasing up to $50,000 without prior commission approval. The bill also revises the mayor's listed powers and duties, largely keeping them focused on presiding over meetings, voting, signing contracts, and ceremonial duties. Before any of these changes take effect, Augusta-Richmond County voters must approve the plan in a referendum set for November 2026. If approved, the changes take effect January 1, 2027. If rejected or if the election is not held, the bill is automatically repealed 365 days after the scheduled election date.

• Creates a new office of county manager for Augusta-Richmond County, nominated by the mayor and appointed by majority vote of the commission.
• Gives the county manager authority to enforce laws, supervise department heads and employees, prepare commission meeting agendas, and oversee contracts.
• Allows the county manager to make purchases up to $50,000 without commission approval or bidding, with purchases over $10,000 reported to commissioners.
• Revises the mayor's powers under the 1995 Augusta-Richmond County consolidation act (Ga. L. 1995, p. 3648) to focus on presiding, voting, ceremonial duties, and signing contracts.
• Requires a countywide referendum in November 2026 before the changes can take effect, with automatic repeal if voters reject it or the election does not happen.

Augusta-Richmond County voters, who must approve the plan in a referendum; the mayor and county commission, whose roles and oversight duties would shift; county department heads and employees, who would report to a new county manager; and the county election superintendent, who must conduct the referendum.

If voters approve it, Augusta-Richmond County would shift day-to-day administration from elected officials to an appointed professional manager, changing how contracts, purchasing, and department supervision are handled. If voters reject it or the election does not occur, the entire change is automatically undone.

• Section 1 revises the mayor's duties under the 1995 consolidation act, focusing them on presiding at meetings, voting, ceremonial functions, administering oaths, and signing contracts.
• Section 3 adds a new Section 4.1 creating the county manager office, its appointment process, qualifications, and detailed duties including agenda preparation and purchasing authority up to $50,000.
• Section 4 requires a referendum on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November 2026, with the ballot language specified, and makes conducting the election mandatory for the superintendent, enforceable by writ of mandamus.
• Section 4 also sets January 1, 2027 as the effective date for Section 1 if voters approve, and provides automatic repeal 365 days after the election if they do not.
• Section 5 makes the rest of the Act effective upon the Governor's approval or upon becoming law without approval.
• Section 6 repeals conflicting laws.

1. 2026-03-23House Second Readers (House)
2. 2026-03-20House First Readers (House)
3. 2026-03-19House Hopper (House)

• Mark Newton (R, HD-127)Primary sponsor

• Augusta-Richmond County government
• local government structure
• county manager
• referendum
• consolidated government