AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – After weeks of talking about the mayor’s credit card expenses but taking no action, Augusta Commission members came to a decision Tuesday.

They voted to reimburse Mayor Garnett Johnson for confirmed legitimate city expenses he charged to his personal card.

To avoid future problems, the city will issue him a city credit card while it develops a policy on that card’s use.

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The city administrator, procurement department and law department will develop the proposed policy after a review of the current policy.

“I mean, when you look at other mayors that have up to $20,000 and $50,000 in the state of Georgia, when you look at the Marshal with a $20,000 limit, I think $15,000 is more than reasonable,” said Commissioner Sean Frantom.

The goal is to have a policy developed by Sept. 24.

The decision follows weeks of controversy after the mayor sought reimbursement for several expenses.

The motion passed at Tuesday’s meeting with Johnson recusing himself.

“We are giving him the money back and then fixing the policy. We can’t allow the office of the mayor to continue doing business as he has,” Commissioner Tony Lewis said.

The mayor brought the subject up to commissioners a few weeks agoasking for more than $40,000 to cover various expenses over the previous six months.

We requested all receipts turned in by the mayor during this time. These expenses include conference trips, office supplies and more. Among the expenses:

• More than $2,000 for the mayor’s Masters reception.
• Nearly $4,000 at the Masters gift shop for guests.
• Nearly $18,000 combined on Masters food and parking.
• More than $2,400 for a White House state dinner.

He said he charged these expenses to his own card because he had no city-issued card.

Also at the meeting

Augusta Transit Deputy Director addressed the commission about recognizing September as Prostate Cancer Awareness Month.

Highlighted page Zero Prostate Cancera support group that offers camaraderie, support and resources.

A group of six or seven men stood at the meeting when Page asked prostate cancer members to stand.

One man dies every 15 minutes in the country from prostate cancer, according to Page.

“Black men are twice as likely to die because they keep it secret,” he said.

According to Zero Prostate Cancer, one in six Black men will develop prostate cancer in their lifetime, compared to one in eight men overall.

“Early detection saves lives,” said Page, himself a prostate cancer survivor.

He said the support group meets monthly at the Richmond County Library.

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