DALTON, Ga. — After relaying his 10-year vision for the city, Mayor David Pennington pledged Thursday to take an immediate step to trim the city’s budget: Bid major Dalton roads projects out to private contractors.

“We’re going out of the street and road business in the next 30 days,” he said after a Trade Center breakfast.

On Monday, the City Council passed a resolution to partner with Whitfield County on road work to contract with private firms to carry out the major road projects. The proposal could cut 30 public works jobs, City Administrator Butch Sanders said.

“We have always received reductions like that through attrition,” Mr. Sanders acknowledged. “This will be ... new.”

While the city pledged to create a “City-County Transportation Agreement” by July 1, the Whitfield County Commission refused to adopt a similar resolution without studying its feasibility.

“We’re looking at taking on a significant amount of work,” Commissioner Randy Waskul said. “We have got to do a little homework before putting the fine details in.”

But the mayor criticized the county’s hesitancy to commit to a timeline.

“They’ve talked for years,” Mr. Pennington said. “Why would I be confident that they’re going to pass something substantial to actually change anything?”

Still, Alderman Charlie Bethel hasn’t given up on a county-city agreement. He said he believes the commissioners haven’t abandoned the prospect of working with the city. “I think that door is still open,” Mr. Bethel said.

Meanwhile, Mr. Pennington plans to plow ahead with making cuts at public works.

“We move fast ... and maybe (the county) can catch up with us someday,” he said. “But we’re not waiting on them. The taxpayers deserve more.”