The Augusta commissioners are the ten elected members of the Augusta-Richmond County Board of Commissioners, the consolidated government’s legislative body. They set the county budget and property tax rate, pass local ordinances, approve zoning changes, and appoint a county administrator to run daily operations. The mayor presides over their meetings and, since July 2024, votes on every matter alongside them.
How the Board Is Structured
Eight commissioners each represent a single geographic district. Two more seats, District 9 and District 10, are super-districts: District 9 covers the territory of Districts 1, 2, 4, and 5, while District 10 covers Districts 3, 6, 7, and 8.1Augusta-Richmond County, GA. Augusta-Richmond County Code of Ordinances – Article 5 Charter Each super-district takes in roughly half the county’s population, so those two members bring a broader view to the table while the other eight focus on their neighborhoods.
Terms run four years and are staggered, so only half the board is on the ballot in any election. Districts 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 hold terms running 2025–2028. Districts 2, 6, 8, and 10 hold terms running 2023–2026.2Augusta, GA. Augusta Commission The staggering keeps experienced commissioners on the board when newcomers arrive.
What the Commissioners Decide
Georgia’s Home Rule provisions give the commission broad authority to pass ordinances on public safety, health, zoning, and general welfare, provided those laws do not conflict with the state constitution or general state law.3Justia. Georgia Code 36-35-3 – Adoption of Ordinances, Rules, and Regulations That authority covers most of the local rules Augusta residents actually encounter, from noise regulations to business licensing.
Each year the board adopts the county budget and sets the millage rate that determines property tax bills. One mill equals one dollar per thousand dollars of assessed value, so small rate changes move real money across every household and business.4Augusta, GA. 2025 Property Tax Digest and 5-Year History of Levy The rate is set at a public meeting, and state law requires the commission to publish the current tax digest alongside a five-year levy history.
Standing Committees
Most proposals move through a committee before reaching the full board. For 2025–2026 the five standing committees are Public Services, Administrative Services, Engineering Services, Finance, and Public Safety.5Augusta, GA. Commission and Committee Meetings They meet on the second and last Tuesday of each month at 1:00 p.m. in the Lee N. Beard Commission Chamber, rotating in alphabetical order on a two-month cycle with Public Services anchoring the schedule. This is where detailed questions get asked and amendments get made.
Zoning and Land Use
Land-use decisions follow a two-step process. The Augusta Planning Commission, an advisory board, holds public hearings on development and rezoning requests, then sends recommendations to the Board of Commissioners for a final vote.6Augusta, GA. Augusta Planning Commission The commissioners are not bound by those recommendations, but overriding them tends to draw heavier public scrutiny. Zoning votes shape the county’s development for decades, which is why they often pull the largest crowds to public hearings.
The Mayor’s Role
The mayor presides over commission meetings and serves as Augusta-Richmond County’s executive and ceremonial face. Historically the office carried limited legislative power: before mid-2024, the mayor could only vote to break a tie among the ten commissioners. In a May 2024 referendum, 74 percent of voters approved a charter amendment giving the mayor a full vote on all commission matters, and the change took effect on July 1, 2024.7WRDW. Mayor Now Has a Full Vote at Augusta Commission Meetings
The mayor does not have a veto. The charter states plainly that the mayor “shall not be empowered to veto ordinances, resolutions, or other actions of the Commission.”1Augusta-Richmond County, GA. Augusta-Richmond County Code of Ordinances – Article 5 Charter Influence comes from agenda-setting, the full vote, and the visibility of the office, not from any power to block what the commission passes.
Who Runs Daily Operations
The commissioners themselves do not manage county departments. The board appoints a county administrator responsible for the proper administration of county affairs, with the administrator’s duties and employment terms set by commission resolution.8Augusta-Richmond County, GA. Augusta-Richmond County Code of Ordinances – Article 6 Corporate Powers and Duties The administrator reports to the full commission, not to the mayor.
Attending, Watching, and Requesting Records
Full commission meetings are held on the first and third Tuesdays of each month at 2:00 p.m. in the Lee N. Beard Commission Chamber on the second floor of the Municipal Building at 535 Telfair Street.9Augusta, GA. Public Meetings Residents who want to speak during public comment get three minutes. Check with the clerk’s office for the current sign-up procedure and any deadlines.
If you cannot attend, meetings stream live on the county’s website, with closed captioning available through YouTube or Google Chrome. Past meetings are archived on the Government Meetings On Demand page, and sessions also run on the city’s YouTube channel and Facebook page.10Augusta, GA. Government Meetings Live
Under Georgia’s Open Records Act, county agencies must produce responsive records within three business days of a written request. If some records take longer, the agency has to describe them and give a timeline for when they will be available.11Justia. Georgia Code 50-18-71 – Right of Access, Timing, Fees Include specific names, dates, and subject matter so staff can locate the right documents. Fees may apply depending on volume and type, and the agency will tell you before processing.