City of Warner Robins to provide relief for those affected by the government shutdown

WARNER ROBINS — In the wake of the government shutdown, many federal workers across Houston County are currently not working until an agreement is reached between the U.S. Government. 

With the shutdown in effect, James Drinkard, City Administrator of the City of Warner Robins, said it is too early to tell how much the government shutdown will affect the city. 

“The exact impacts that this shutdown will be hard to forecast. It’s really going to come down to how long the disagreement in Washington [D.C.] lasts,” he said. 

So far, the city has seen some form of concern and uncertainty from those who work for the federal government. 

“We’ve seen in the past, shutdowns last a matter of days and we’ve seen others that have gone over a month,” he said. “If you’re talking about individuals forgoing pay for a month or more, that becomes incredibly concerning to those families and the overall economy of the region.” 

The City of Warner Robins has taken initiative and will provide relief for those affected by the shutdown. Drinkard said the city will be holding off on utility disconnects and waiving fees for late payments for individuals directly impacted by the government shutdown. 

“To take advantage of that, an individual would need to provide a federal employee I.D. and whatever documentation they’ve received with respect to their pay being suspended, layoffs or anything of that nature,” he said. 

Drinkard offered reassurance and said as long as the government shutdown is in effect, the city will continue with relief efforts. 

“If it becomes very protracted, then we’ll have to really think through exactly how we maintain that commitment and help our citizens as they recover,” he said. “If it is an extended shutdown, recovery is not an overnight thing, especially for those who may be already living paycheck to paycheck.” 

With the City of Warner Robins’ ties to Robins Air Force Base, Drinkard said the city needed to step in and help. 

“Whenever something impacts federal employees, it is something we need to be cognizant of, and when possible, need to be responsive to,” he said.