ATLANTA – State Representative Mark Newton (R-Augusta), chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Higher Education, today introduced House Bill 1584, legislation that would bring a local referendum to Augusta citizens to transition Augusta to a council-manager form of government for Richmond County and the City of Augusta.
“I introduced legislation today that would create a local ballot referendum to allow Augusta voters to decide if they want a council-manager office to be established for the governing of Richmond County and the City of Augusta,” said Rep. Newton. “If voters favorably support this legislation in November, Augusta government would transition to a professional county-manager directed government that is hired by and answers to the Augusta Commission. We could see both clearer and tighter departmental oversight, along with increased efficiency for how our government operates in the City of Augusta. While the timing for a complete charter overhaul did not make it to completion in time for this legislative session, this proposed change to a professional manager would be an important and helpful first step. Crucially, if local citizens do want to see this first step of progress, it is vital that they urge support for this local bill to all of the Augusta delegation by Tuesday, March 24th.”
The local Augusta delegation includes State Representatives Mark Newton (R-Augusta), Brian Prince (D-Augusta), Karlton Howard (D-Augusta), L.C. Myles (D- Hephzibah) and State Senators Max Burns (R-Sylvania) and Harold Jones (D-Augusta).
This legislation would create a council-manager office for consolidated government of Richmond County and the City of Augusta. The county-manager would be nominated by the mayor and appointed by a majority vote of the commission. Additionally, the county-manager would be the administrative head of the county government and responsible to the commission for the proper and efficient administration of all the affairs of the county, except as otherwise provided by law.
This measure would be placed on the ballot for voters to decide on the first Tuesday of November 2026. The ballot question would ask:
“Shall the Act be approved that provides for a council-manager form of government for Augusta-Richmond County?”
*Editor’s note: Rep. Newton includes a headshot.
Representative Mark Newton represents the citizens of District 127, which includes portions of Columbia and Richmond counties. He was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2016 and currently serves as Chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Higher Education. He also serves on the Defense and Veterans Affairs, Health, Rules, Small Business Development, Transportation, Urban Affairs and Ways and Means committees.
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