Georgia can now claim the smallest consolidated government in the lower 48 states population-wise per a recent vote by citizens of Georgetown and Quitman County to merge their governments, according to Harry Hayes, Vinson Institute faculty member and director of local government technical assistance. The local charter commission was assisted in their work by Betty Hudson and Paul Hardy, Institute attorneys. Elections will likely be held in the spring of 2007 for the new government.

Georgia now has five consolidated governments: Athens-Clarke County, Augusta-Richmond County, Columbus-Muscogee County, Cusseta-Chattahoochee County, and Georgetown-Quitman County.