ATLANTA (AP) A Republican-backed bill advancing in the Georgia House would block “defund the police” movements in cities and counties, after Atlanta and Athens debated plans to cut or redirect.
The Western Circuit comprises Oconee and Athens-Clarke counties.
Smith, in his first term as mayor, said Wednesday the idea has a financial component.
Smith for months has maintained that Oconee’s plans to build a new government complex which would include a new library on the outskirts of the city is a waste of taxpayer money.
“How can we save Oconee taxpayers money? We can save millions of dollars by not building that big building,” he said, adding that the library s present building could just be expanded.
Taxpayers “are tired of property taxes going up and here’s one way we can rein it in and say we want to be a standalone judicial circuit,” Smith said.