NEWTON COUNTY — The Metropolis of Covington’s pursuit to recoup unpaid stormwater charges is constant within the type of one other lawsuit.
Town formally sued Newton County on April 27 in Newton County Superior Courtroom, claiming that the county owes $68,366.22 in unpaid charges. Based on the criticism, the unpaid payment schedule is dated by July 18, 2025.
Along with the listed quantity, town is asking that the courtroom award them any further unpaid charges or fees that might accrue.
Newton County declined to remark for this story.
Discussions of amassing unpaid stormwater charges date again to December 2025. Councilman Jared Rutberg expressed his concern of the county and Newton County Faculties allegedly not paying their respective stormwater charges.
Councilman Dwayne Turner reintroduced the subject upon assuming workplace in March. Turner offered an array of choices, together with waiving all excellent charges for the county, college system and residents.
Nonetheless, Metropolis Legal professional Frank Turner, Jr. advised the council that it might not be legally permissible to waive unpaid stormwater charges for residents, however added {that a} deal might be comprised of one authorities entity to a different. The council as an alternative got here to a consensus that it might pursue authorized motion to recoup the unpaid charges.
This led to a separate lawsuit filed in opposition to Newton County Faculties on March 18 for unpaid stormwater charges. Based on the criticism, town is asking for $38,144.30 in unpaid charges courting again to July 18, 2025.
In a response to the submitting, Newton County Faculties referred to as it a “complicated authorized difficulty” in an announcement and stated that it might hope to deliver a “fast and conclusive decision” to the matter.
Thomas M. Mitchell of Buford represents town in each circumstances. Mitchell efficiently argued that stormwater fees had been categorized as a utility, not a tax, in Athens-Clarke County. That case was upheld on enchantment within the Georgia Supreme Courtroom on two separate events.
