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DEKALB COUNTY, GA—A crucial court hearing is scheduled for July 10 concerning a citizen’s lawsuit that could potentially return nearly $1 million in taxpayer money to the county treasury.
Ed Williams, a longtime government accountability advocate who chairs Concerned Citizens for Effective Government, is representing himself in the case that challenges pay raises and allowances granted to the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners in 2018. Williams contends the pay raises were approved in violation of Georgia’s Open Meetings Act and are unconstitutional under state law.
“The upcoming hearing is significant. The case was dismissed in May 2021. I appealed that decision and it was reversed in 2024,” said Williams. “The county had argued that I did not have a right to bring a suit against the county because I was not harmed. Historically, citizens in Georgia have had a right to sue their local government as far back as 1896, according to case law. This new hearing paves the way for that.”
At issue is whether former and current officials should be required to return any increase. Williams said that he is asking the court to require that any compensation or allowances be returned to the county, appoint a Special Master to calculate the total amount owed to taxpayers, and allow the hearing to be recorded for transparency.
“This is a critical fight on behalf of citizens,” Williams said. “It’s not right that the Board of Commissioners approved a raise for themselves without the public’s knowledge.
“I’m still fighting because I want to use this case as a textbook example that citizens do have a right to protest through the court systems and hold elected officials accountable for their actions. We can go beyond protesting with signs. If that money is returned to the county, it can be used for a number of things—fixing potholes and other infrastructure, and even to pay for citizens’ outstanding water bills. The money belongs to the taxpayers.”
Despite not being an attorney, Williams has made a significant impact in Georgia’s legal landscape. His prior victories in this case have been cited in more than 70 legal decisions statewide, and two major courts have sided with his right to hold public officials accountable:
In 2020, the Georgia Supreme Court ruled that Williams had legal standing to sue and that the 2018 vote may have violated state law.
In 2024, the Georgia Court of Appeals affirmed that taxpayers could challenge public officials for alleged misuse of public funds.
Senior Judge Alford J. Dempsey, Jr. will preside over the hearing.
“We’re encouraging the public to attend,” said Williams, who will be joined by members of Concerned Citizens for Effective Government and community residents.
Hearing Details:
Date: Thursday, July 10, 2025
Time: 9:30 a.m.
Where: DeKalb County Courthouse (Courtroom 7C)
Address: 556 N. McDonough St., Decatur
To learn more about the full case history, visit:
https://ccegov.blogspot.com/2018/10/news-and-media-coverrage.html