Chatham Commission's vote to abolish new CAT Board spurs legal challenge

Sept. 15, 2025 (update) – The Chatham County Commission’s effort to take back control of Chatham Area Transit’ governing body has been temporarily halted. On Friday, a Chatham County Superior Court judge enjoined the county from amending state legislation that would abolish a newly created 11-member board CAT board and reinstate the previous 9-member board, which consisted of a majority of county appointments. A hearing on the new CAT board’s petition for a preliminary injunction blocking the amendment is set for Oct. 7.

Sept. 7, 2025 (original story) – Chatham Area Transit has two potential drivers wrestling to take control of the wheel, leaving riders bracing for the impact.

The Chatham Commissioners voted on Friday to amend state legislation, abolish the new CAT board and reinstate a previous board that provided the county with more control over the agency. Commissioners Anthony “Wayne” Noha and Patrick Farrell voted against the amendment, while Aaron “Adot” Whitely was not present for the vote.

“The County is unable to approve the millage rate increase for an unconstitutionally created board that will not be able to legally conduct public transportation business in Chatham County,” the staff report concerning the amendment states. “Therefore, the County amends the Local Act, under the authority provided by the Georgia Constitution, to the law existing prior to the 2025 amendment.”

Chatham County amendment to HB 756>

Meanwhile, in a complaint filed Thursday, the new CAT board is asking a Chatham County Superior Court judge to block the county’s attempt to reform the previous board until an appeals court case regarding the dispute is resolved. The complaint disputes Chatham’s claim that the commission has the right under a “Home Rule” provision to amend the state legislation, while also arguing the public notice was deficient because it did not include all required language necessary to invoke the provision.

“The Commission’s effort to amend the nature of appointments to the Authority board relies on its misguided belief that it may amend an Act of the General Assembly simply because it does not like the Act,” the court filing states.

The county commissions vote on Friday comes after the commission recently voted to cut CAT’s millage rate, amounting to a $1.9 Million reduction in property tax revenue. In addition, the county commission failed to allocate Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax funding ahead of this Novembers referendum for the continuation of the 1-percent sales tax, which the transit service relies on for capital investments and matching funds for federal grants.

The funding cuts are described by the CAT board’s lawsuit as part of a “retributive campaign” in which the commission has “used the Commission’s purse strings to retaliate against the State and cripple the Authority’s operations, all with patent disregard for the impact on Chatham County residents and riders.”

The previous nine-member board included three members of the commission and two board members appointed by the commission, giving the commission a five-member majority. The 2025 legislation vacated the previous CAT board and recreated the governing body as an 11-member board, with only two commission members and one member appointed by the commission.

The county claims the state legislation is unconstitutional, even after a Chatham Superior Court judge rejected that argument recently and ruled against the county’s challenge to the board shakeup. That ruling is now being appealed in Georgia Supreme Court.

The lawsuit filed by the new CAT board seeks via a preliminary injunction to stop the county from taking any further actions while that appeal is under consideration and the granting of an immediate hearing on the requested relief. Otherwise, CAT will be “irreparably harmed and “left with two boards, one constituted pursuant to state law, and the other controlled by the Commission” that will impact and impede every CAT function, including contracting authority, personnel choices, transit routes, budget decisions, and other operational concerns.

“The brunt of the fallout will be borne by the Chatham County residents who rely on the Authority for essential transportation services,” the complaint states.

Past Coverage

If you find value in this website, please consider contributing above or via Paypal to help cover the costs. You can also send contributions via Venmo @Savannah_Agenda. Your support, no matter how much you give, is appreciated and will help ensure the future viability of this community resource. You can also show your support by subscribing below and sharing Savannah Agenda with others via email or social media. Increasing readership is critical to the long-term success of this site.