AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – The future is now. City leaders are sitting down to set a game plan for where Augusta needs to go.
“Trying to see what we can do to make Augusta in the future thrive, and after Tuesday’s depressing news, there’s hope,” said Commissioner Catherine Smith Rice.The administrator set up this session, hoping to create a three-year strategic plan to guide growth.Augusta currently does not have a strategic plan.
“I think it is necessary for the governing body to develop a strategic plan so the city and the leadership inside the city will have will have some form of blueprint in order to follow,” said City Administrator Tameka Allen.Commission members asked about priorities for future planning, with many agreeing on the river, downtown, and getting more houses built in areas like south Augusta.Similar to the Augusta Tomorrow plan presented to commissioners this week, the mayor said the ball is already rolling.“The downtown TIA projects, the Augusta Tomorrow plan that adds so much benefit to how we development downtown and our Riverwalk, that’s in partnership with North Augusta. You talk about the new James Brown Arena, a lot of the Augusta we’re discussing today, they’re already in motion,” said Mayor Garnett Johnson. But what’s also in motion is the work on next year’s budget, facing a more than $21 million dollar shortfall. Commissioners understand it looks like a late start for strategic plans.“Oh, absolutely the timing is bad. What’s that old saying? The chickens come home to roost, that’s exactly what’s happening at this moment,” said Mayor Pro-Tem Wayne Guilfoyle.But at this moment, city leaders are also working to create a proper roadmap to the future…