Politics & Government

New Pricing Approved for Rideshare

The average rider will see a monthly rate increase of $6 starting Sept. 1.

Following an explanation of what for Douglas County’s Rideshare program would mean to citizens, no one spoke concerning the change during this morning’s public hearing.

The Board of Commissioners then voted 4-1 in favor of the change, which will result in an average increase in price of $6 a month per rider effective Sept. 1.

Before the vote, Commission Kelly Robinson, who was the lone dissenter, asked how riders were notified. County Clerk Lisa Watson said newspaper ads were taken out and notifications were placed on the county’s website and television station.

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Also, Rideshare Division Manager Jim Watson said, Rideshare’s newsletter had the information on it and emails were sent out to riders.

Robinson emphasized that Rideshare is “not intended to be a profit center." 

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Watson agreed, saying the rate changes are “meant to cover costs,” mainly rising gas prices.

Commissioner Mike Mulcare noted that without the rate change, Rideshare is predicted to have a $20,000 shortfall, which would have to be made up by the general fund.

Mulcare said the board has received some emails asking why the rates are raised when gas prices go up but don’t go down when gas prices decrease. He asked that the rates be looked at regularly to see if they can be adjusted based on gas.

Also on Tuesday, the board:

  • Adopted a resolution keeping the county government millage rate at 9.9. The Board of Education millage rate was just set at 22.95 mills, and the state gets .25 mills. Those numbers mean that of taxes based on the millage rate, the county government receives 29.91 percent, county schools receive 69.34 percent, and the state gets .75 percent.
  • Recognized the 2011 Georgia Special Olympic tennis athletes from Douglas County for their accomplishments.
  • Transferred the county’s Speed Detection Device Permit from the Board of Commissioners to the sheriff’s office.
  • Awarded bids for road paving, pavement markings, gravel materials and concrete materials.
  • Reappointed Kim Ransom as the Region III EMS Council for Douglas County.
  • the proposed annexation of land at Blair’s Bridge Road and Thornthon Road in Lithia Springs into the city of Douglasville that would lead to a RaceTrac fueling station. Mulcare said the county “heard this is not a truck stop” from the city. The seven acres proposed for the annexation “doesn’t sound like a service station or convenience store to me. … I can see the trucks running now.” Commission Chairman Tom Worthan noted how the citizens of Lithia Springs have no say in the proposed annexation. “I hope we resolve this with the mayor and council” of Douglasville, Commissioner Henry Mitchell said.
  • Reappointed Catherine Childress to the Douglas County Housing Authority as resident commissioner for a one-year term.
  • Reappointed Tony Gonzalez to the Douglas County Housing Authority for a five-year term.
  • Reappointed James Weeks to the Douglas County Board of Assessors for a three-year term.
  • Reappointed Ruthie Purdue to the Douglas County Board of Assessors for a three-year term.


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