March 22, 2007
LEGISLATIVE
UPDATE
Legislators
are back from a two week adjournment that was to
allow time to resolve a $131 million funding shortfall for
PeachCare for Kids. This delay pushes Day 30 – the day a
bill must pass a least one chamber to survive – to March
27. Please communicate with your legislators as frequently
as possible to discuss legislative issues of concern to
you.
HB 187
ESPLOST to Fund Transportation Improvements
(Rep. Scott Martin, R-2)
This bill would authorize schools to use a portion of their
ESPLOST revenues for offsite infrastructure improvements
necessary for new or expanding schools. Schools
could pay for turn lanes, sidewalks, traffic signals and
other improvements. Under current case law, counties
and cities have to pay for these improvements. The bill
also requires schools to pay for the ESPLOST referendum
election costs if a special election is held for this sole
purpose. TWG: This would
include items such as the turning lane into the High School
that the BOC has objected to paying for, feeling it was
a “school” project.
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HB 531
Minimum Salaries/Full-Time County Chairmen
(Rep. Richard Smith, R-131)
This bill would establish a minimum salary for full time
chairs of county commissions. The minimum would equal that
of the county’s tax commissioner. This bill would not reduce
current salaries of full-time chairs compensated at a higher
level. TWG: Local Governments
should set their own salaries, not the STATE. We can see
the problems it causes when the State sets salaries and
the local citizens have to cough up the money to pay the
salaries—if the official is earning the pay or not. For
example: Magistrate Judge.
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HB 585
Eliminate Property Taxes on Personal Vehicles
(Rep. Mark Burkhalter, R-50)
This bill would phase out property taxes on vehicles over
a four year period. The counties and municipalities would
provide a tax credit to the owner of the vehicle then submit
a request for a reimbursement grant to the Department
of Revenue. This process would be modeled after
the current system in place for giving the Homestead Tax
Relief Grant Credit. If the General Assembly fails
to appropriate the money needed to fully reimburse the local
governments for the credit, the credit will be reduced by
a corresponding amount. TWG:
The property owners will be ultimately responsible for any
shortfall. The property owner bears the burden of the county
tax system now. This bill is introduced with Rep. Burkhalter
stating the State has a big surplus and can handle this.
Then why is there a Peachcare Crisis and no money for roads?
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SB
221 Septage Disposal Land Application Sites
(Sen. John Bulloch, R-11)
This legislation, resulting from a Senate Study Committee
over the interim, would
allow a septage land disposal site to be located in a county,
without the county having to approve it,
so long as it meets local zoning and land use standards
and is permitted by the state Environmental Protection Division.
As also recommended by that study committee, the septage
hauling manifest system is being enhanced by the Department
of Human Resources and illegal dumping penalties have already
been strengthened to a felony offense. TWG:
Why would any Rep. want to let such a company come into
a county without the BOC having to approve it? This sounds
not only scary, but crazy!
SB 67
Clarifying Contingent Expenses of Superior Court
(Sen. John Wiles, R-37)
This bill clarifies that expenses for providing
indigent defense are NOT expenses that a superior court
judge can order paid out of county funds. The intent
of the legislation is to require
circuit public defenders to stay within the budgets
given to them by the General Assembly and by the counties
in the circuit. Counties should be able to rely upon the
budgetary process when appropriating funds for indigent
defense.
Status: Favorably reported by Judiciary Committee, Pending
in Rules Committee
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Other
Legislation being proposed:
House
Bill 262
Allows school systems to shorten the 180-day school year
by up to 10 days
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Senate
Bill 38
Requires Georgia driver’s license or Georgia ID card to
register automobiles and obtain tag
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Senator
Grant’s “Private Cities Bill” has progressed:
Around March 1, the Senate State and Local Governmental
Operations Committee approved both a constitutional amendment
(Senate Resolution 309) and companion legislation (Senate
Bill 200) that would open the door to private cities in
Georgia. The measures have
drawn support from a lot of influential interests, especially
developers, so passage in the Senate and then the House
is quite possible. As TWG stated before,
the power to impose taxes should be restricted to
voters or to elected officials who can be held accountable
by voters. Not by an appointed board which can include ALL
developers! Senator Grant seems to be perfectly
willing, even eager, to give private business
the power to tax through this controversial legislation.
The constitutional amendment, however, would also
have to approved by Georgia voters.
TWG
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Mission
Statement:
** To keep the taxpayers of Jasper County, Georgia informed
as to where and how
their tax dollars are being spent.
** To keep the taxpayers abreast of local policies and
laws being
discussed and enacted.
** We advocate more open government, less government spending,
and lower property taxes.
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