ATLANTA – State Representative Henry “Wayne” Howard (D-Augusta), along with Democratic members of the Augusta-Richmond County Legislative Delegation, will hold a press conference TODAY, Monday, February 14, 2022, at 3:30 p.m. at the South Wing Steps of the Georgia State Capitol.
Continue reading “Rep. Henry “Wayne” Howard, Democrat Legislators to Hold Press Conference Today on Local Redistricting Legislation for Augusta-Richmond County”Speaker Ralston Announces Members of Several House Study Committees
ATLANTA – Speaker David Ralston (R-Blue Ridge) today announced the members of six study committees established by the House of Representatives during the 2018 legislative session. Those study committees and their respective members are: Continue reading “Speaker Ralston Announces Members of Several House Study Committees”
Rep. Howard and Augusta Delegation Honor the Life of Sgt. Greg Meagher
ATLANTA – State Representative Henry “Wayne” Howard (D-Augusta), along with members of the Augusta Legislative Delegation, today honored the life of Sergeant Greg Meagher, who died last weekend while attempting to save another’s life. Rep. Howard and delegation members paid tribute to Sgt. Meagher at the State Capitol during a Morning Order where they held a moment of silence in his memory on legislative day 15 of the 2017 legislative session of the Georgia General Assembly. Continue reading “Rep. Howard and Augusta Delegation Honor the Life of Sgt. Greg Meagher”
Georgia Association of Broadcasters to Honor Rep. Wayne Howard
ATLANTA – State Representative Henry “Wayne” Howard (D-Augusta) and family members will be presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Georgia Association of Broadcasters (GAB) for Augusta’s The Parade of Quartets TV show. The GAB holds its annual Honors Night Program on Friday, June 7 at 6pm.
Continue reading “Georgia Association of Broadcasters to Honor Rep. Wayne Howard”
Legislation Introduced to Increase Transparency in Augusta-Richmond County
ATLANTA – State Representatives Quincy Murphy (D-Augusta), Henry “Wayne” Howard (D-Augusta), Earnest Smith (D-Augusta) and Gloria Frazier (D-Hephzibah) announced today the introduction of House Bill 1235, also known as the “Augusta-Richmond County Transparency in Government Act.” This legislation would require the Augusta-Richmond County Commission to cooperate with the state auditor in his mission to ensure proper use of taxpayer dollars at the local level.
“As state legislators, we must ensure government is held accountable,” said Rep. Murphy. “HB 1235 does this by ensuring the Augusta-Richmond County consolidated government maintains all proper records and provides taxpayers with access to those records.”
HB 1235 would require all Augusta-Richmond County departments, agencies, and private contractors, who are responsible for $500,000 or more in public funds, to have a forensic accounting audit at least every four years. Upon completion, the audit would be available to the commission and public. Failure to comply with the mandatory audit would result in the removal of the head of the agency or termination of contract for the delinquent private entity.
The representatives were led to sponsor HB 1235 after receiving a letter from the State Auditor, Russell W. Hinton, which stated that the Department of Audits and Accounts had not yet received the annual audit report from the Augusta-Richmond County Board of Commissioners.
“While I am sure that the Board of Commissioners will submit the necessary paperwork before their required deadline, this letter served as an opportunity for us to review our current laws governing local oversight,” said Rep. Howard, Chairman of the Augusta-Richmond County Delegation. “We found that we lack the tools necessary to ensure compliance with oversight policies. HB 1235 fixes that, so that we may assure taxpayers that their hard-earned money is put to proper use.”
For more information on HB 1235, please click here.
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