ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) - Dougherty County commissioners considered an end-of-year bonus for county workers Monday, with only one commissioner raising objections.

The finance committee is recommending a one-time bonus of $1,000 for full-time employees and $500 for part-time employees. District 4 Commissioner Russell Gray strongly opposed the bonus because it was not planned in the budget. District 2 Commissioner Victor Edwards immediately rebutted that claim, saying county employees deserve it and it would not be right to withhold it so close to the holidays.

Commissioner objects to unbudgeted expense

“Excuse my language but we do a damn poor job financially of putting things like this in our budget, preparing to pay these things out,” Gray said. “We can’t just put things in the general fund and say oh at the last minute we are going to do this and go spend $771,312 on bonuses so we can do it at the last minute.”

Edwards responded that the county has previously been debt-free and should not withhold bonuses from employees.

“But then you’ve been sitting here all this time knowing that we used to brag about being debt free, well we oppress the people, the people are being oppressed and now you continue on oppressing the people that the community needs,” Edwards said. “If you would have told these people back in January you weren’t going to do it then that’s ok but to wait to the 8th hour to do it. That’s not right.”

Lobbying contract dispute leads to heated exchange

The disagreement escalated when the commission discussed renewing a contract with a lobbying group. Gray noted that the group has not followed the contract by failing to provide monthly updates. Chairman Lorenzo Heard stepped in with a proposed solution, leading to a heated exchange.

“Nobody’s trying to cut you off, I don’t like when people talk ignorant, now this is what I don’t like,” Heard said.

“Ignorant? It’s a contract,” Gray responded.

The exchange continued with both commissioners speaking over each other about floor procedures and monthly reports.

“I want you to stop crying like a baby! What do you want? Tell me what you want?” Heard said to Gray.

“Wow, you really want to bounce off the bottom today,” Gray replied.

The Dougherty County Commission will have to vote to approve funds for both issues.

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