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ALBANY, GA -- On Thursday morning, the Dougherty County Commission and the Dougherty County School Board held a meeting to organize their plans for redistricting the city.

School Board Member, James Bush, said this joint effort will also save the taxpayers some money.

“We have the same boundaries and the same number of members and it would save the tax payers some money because we will split the cost,” said Bush.

During the meeting, the board hired consultant Linda Meggers to map out the changes that will be made in upcoming work sessions. She said District 1 will have the most change.

“It’s twenty something percent more that that ideal district size and we have another district that is slightly over but most of the districts are slightly under,” said private consultant, Linda Meggers.

Meggers will work with the joint committee developing a plan to get the districts back in balance. She intends on using 2010 census information as a go by.

James Bush said making this adjustment is about fairness in political representation.

“The key component is one man one vote,” said Bush, “We cannot stack districts. We cannot gerrymander. We have to use the U.S. Census information to make sure people are equally represented.”

Bush has been appointed as the redistricting chair. He said after the outline is laid, the plan will then have to go to the State General Assembly for a vote.