Long County says debt fell from $6.5 million to under $1 million, a major turnaround after payroll fears and misspent money Long County says debt fell from $6.5 million to under $1 million, a major turnaround after payroll fears and misspent money Long County officials say they have reduced the county’s outstanding debt by nearly 85%, marking a major financial turnaround for a government that previously struggled to make payroll and faced allegations of misspent taxpayer money. A year-to-date report provided by County Manager Shane Richardson says the county reduced $6.5 million in outstanding debt to $979,560 — a decrease of 84.97%. The report covers Jan. 1 through Sept. 3, 2026. The figures were reported by the county and have not been independently audited by WJCL 22 News. The progress represents a significant milestone for Long County. In April 2025, then-County Manager Chuck Scragg said the county was $2.5 million in debt and could not guarantee it would have enough money to make payroll the following month. At the time, county leaders eliminated positions, closed two convenience centers, halted travel and training, and planned broad budget cuts. The county was also paying about $500,000 annually to house inmates elsewhere while its new $17 million jail remained unused. The financial crisis unfolded as the Georgia Bureau of Investigation examined the alleged misappropriation of county funds. Former County Commissioner Robert Parker and county vendor Tony “Pee-Wee”…
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