An review of DeKalb County’s unique government is stalled, but state lawmakers may revive the effort.
The DeKalb Charter Review Commission met just once last year to consider changes to the county's form of government, which has the only elected CEO in Georgia. Many other counties hire a professional manager to oversee government operations.
Newly elected CEO Mike Thurmond said Thursday he wants a broad evaluation of DeKalb's government that goes beyond its chief executive role.
Other options could include changing the number of county commissioners, instituting term limits, deciding separations of power, rewriting purchasing rules and more.
“We should look at the entire charter, not just the CEO’s position,” Thurmond said after meeting with senators representing DeKalb. “At this point, we don’t know if that’s a problem, so we need to look at the entire charter.”
He said he wanted members of DeKalb's legislative delegation involved from the start.
“Ultimately, it’s the Legislature that will have to enact any changes,” said Rahn Mayo, the co-chairman of the commission and a former state representative. “At some point, I anticipate the charter review process will continue.”
Bills to create the charter review didn't pass during last year's session of the Georgia General Assembly.
Then former DeKalb CEO Lee May brought the group together on his own.
But after one meeting in September, the commission couldn’t move forward. Negotiations broke down between the county and the University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute, which county officials wanted to hire to assist with the review.
Members of the state Senate and House of Representatives are preparing legislation to revive the DeKalb charter review.
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