The new North

Georgia Water District Board is causing consternation for the Coweta County

Commissioners.

The board was

created by Gov. Roy Barnes this year to try and address the water needs

of the fast-growing Atlanta area on a regional basis.

But Commission

Chairman Robert Wood, who represents the county's interest on the board,

said the board is currently balking about the budget for the new agency.

Wood said the

board was initially funded with $1 million from the state and the counties

participating must pony up another million.

Wood said one

of the possibilities is assessing the county $1 for every resident. Coweta

County would then have to pay about $90,000 to the agency, which Wood

deemed unfair.

Instead, Wood

said the board needs to take into account what each county is currently

doing to plan for future water needs.

"We've

committed millions of dollars to being a regional water source, while

other counties have done nothing. I'm going to be forced to vote against

it," said Commissioner Vernon "Mutt" Hunter.

The county

recently sold $40 million in bonds to cover the county's future water

needs and the County Commission wants this taken into account when dues

start being assessed for the organization.

"I have

been the voice that has kept this budget from being crammed down our throats,"

said Wood.

Wood said another

meeting of the board was set for this week and he would keep the board

updated on the budget negotiations.