A $30,000 “courtesy vehicle” for the Statesboro-Bulloch County Airport sparked a tense exchange among Bulloch County commissioners Tuesday as discussion hovered over funding sources.
#5 from the Consent Agenda – Approve the purchase of a 2027 Chevy Equinox, budgeted for FY27, for $29,582.30 from Alan Jay Fleet Sales, via a state contract quote – was added to ‘New Business’ at the request of Commissioner Newkirk.
Newkirk asked what the purpose of the vehicle was. Statesboro-Bulloch County Airport Manager Kathy Boykin answered that it was a “’courtesy vehicle’ for the airport.”
“I guess I’m reading this wrong or there might have been a typo that we’re paying for this from TSPLOST?” Newkirk asked.
“Yes sir. That’s correct,” Boykin said.
County Finance Kristi King said the funding was coming from the airport line item and TSPLOST “can be used for maintenance and operating for transportation purposes and the airport qualifies as a transportation purpose and we have money set aside for the airport.”
Newkirk said he understood but that he thought it looked bad. “I’m not saying anything against you Kristi, but in the public, I think it looks bad whenever you have Banks Creek Church residents, which we have two of them here, and the one last meeting talking about trying to get this road approved and we kept telling, and they’ve been up here 20 years trying to get this road…but we don’t have the money to fix that, but we got money for $30,000 for a vehicle. I think that just looks bad. Mr. Mosley said just a few minutes ago that TSPLOST is for infrastructure.”
Newkirk made a motion to deny the agenda item because TSPLOST should not be used to buy vehicles.
Commissioner Ray Davis asked if the vehicle was a budgeted item.
Kathy Boykin answered, “Yes. We budgeted $30,000.” She said the vehicle is used to support the community.
“We have a lot of business jets flying in. More and more, we’re seeing management teams flying in, and they use the van. So we have, a lot of the aircraft require two pilots and a flight attendant, so we need three people. We have a truck that we were using to run errands for the airport- that broke down. So, our proposal was to move the courtesy truck to start using it for airport errands and get a courtesy vehicle, a car, so while the management team is out at the business, the pilot crew can go out, buy lunch, or shop or whatever it be,” she said.
Newkirk reiterated that his issue was the funds that were being used to pay for the vehicle when there are road issues.
Kristi King stated that the referendum voters approved included money for ‘roads and for the airport,’ “so legally because the citizens voted on airport funding, we cannot use airport funds for dirt roads.’
Newkirk said he wasn’t saying what was proposed was illegal, he just believed it looks bad to the public.
Assistant County Manager Randy Tillman said the initial request from the airport was for two vehicles.
Newkirk said he believed they were missing his point.
Chairman David Bennett replied, “I think you’ve made your point, Mr. Newkirk. Please let the County Manager speak.”
Newkirk: Assistant County Manager
Bennett: He’s the Acting County Manager today.
Newkirk: Okay.
Bennett: And just to clarify, when we budget funds, it goes into a pot of money and yes TSPLOST is made for transportation but when that money is allocated based on what was voted on by the people, it goes into a separate pot of money. You can’t move that pot of money to fix a road. Your point is valid, I understand it. But again, we must follow the law.
Bennett then asked for a second to Newkirk’s motion. It died for a lack of a second.
Commissioner Ray Davis made a motion to approve, seconded by Mosley. Approved 3-1 with Newkirk opposing.
Click to read the language from the TSPLOST IGA negotiated in 2022 and placed on the ballot for voter consideration.
