PRESTON — Voters in Webster County are poised to make a historic decision on Feb. 5 when they decide whether to form Georgia’s sixth, and smallest, consolidated government from the existing jurisdictions of Preston, Weston and Webster County.

The effort to consolidate the governments officially began with approval by the Georgia General Assembly in 2006 of House Bill 1298, establishing the Preston-Weston-Webster County Charter and Unification Commission to which nine citizens were subsequently appointed. The work of the Commission began in May 2006, and resulted in a recommendation 10 months later to consolidate the governments. A public hearing was held on March 29, 200,7 to explain to the public the rationale for the recommendation.

The Commission then began the task of writing a charter which would serve as the basis for the consolidated government. However, the Commission did not have to begin from scratch since they had received copies of the charters of the consolidated governments of both Cusseta/Chattahoochee County and Georgetown/Quitman County, the two most recently created ones in Georgia. The proposed charter for the new government was unanimously approved by the Charter and Unification Commission in September 2007.

If voters approve the charter, the consolidated government would be formed effective Jan. 1, 2009. The former governments of Preston, Weston and Webster County would cease to exist, being replaced by a government comprised of five members, four elected from districts identical to the current county commission districts, with the other member being elected at large to serve full-time as chairman of the Unified Government.

Current officials and members of the Charter and Unification Commission expect consolidation to result in greater administrative efficiency, particularly related to use of personnel. They also expect financial advantages which would stem from, among other things, the imposition of a utility franchise fee in the unincorporated county, which would allow a rollback of more than $100,000 in property taxes.

The proposed Charter does not radically alter any existing provisions of local governance, but does provide incentives for elected officials to acquire higher levels of education and training. The salary of district commissioners would be set at $250 per month, but if they completed training programs offered by the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, they would earn up to $200 more per month. The salary of the full-time chairman, which would be based upon the salary provisions applicable to the Sheriff of Webster County, would be increased based upon educational attainment. A chairman would be paid an additional 5 percent for having earned a two-year degree from a regionally accredited college or technical college, 10 percent for a four-year degree or 15 percent for a graduate degree. The incentives should, in theory, produce better governance through better education and training.

If voters approve the formation of a new government, a subsequent election would be held to elect the five members of the new government. No current members of the county commission or city councils would be grandfathered into the new government.

Dave Wills, chairman of the Webster County Board of Commissioners, said the unified government would benefit in many ways.

“I think it’s going to be in the best interest to approve the merged government,” he said. “One of the primary reasons is because a merger will give us more administrative personnel. That will give us more latitude and flexibility in managing administrative personnel and administrative issues.

“Another reason (a merger) appeals to community members is the ability of the county as a whole to impose a utility franchise tax, on utility companies. It is estimated that collections would be over $100,000 a year. It is also believed that the newly-elected government would roll back property taxes. This would greatly provide for diversification of revenue sources.”

Elaine Nealy, member, Webster County Board of elections, told the Times-Recorder that there are 1,472 registered voters in Webster County, 716 in Preston’s Precinct 1 and 1,184 in Preston’s Precinct 3, 404 in Weston and 168 in Gooseberry (Center Point community).