Columbus, Georgia

Columbus Consolidated Government



2004 Legislative Agenda





1. Health Department Funding:



Oppose state cuts to the Health Department?s funding, which

could impact the amount of funding that the consolidated

government must provide them on an annual basis.



2. Jail Overcrowding:



Introduce/Support legislation that will expedite transfer of state

inmates to the state prison from city/county jail.



3. Rutledge State Prison



Oppose closing Rutledge State Prison.



4. LOST:



Enact LOST enabling legislation for consolidated governments

as proposed in the 2003 Legislative Session.



5. Tax - Destination Marketing:



Reform the Georgia Hotel/Motel Tax Code (OCGA 48-51) to

insure significant percentage of funds are used for the original

intended purpose of Tax ?Destination Marketing.



6. Trade Center Funding:



Urge funding previously committed to renovate/expand the

Trade Center in the amount of $22,000,000.



7. National Child Crime Search:



Introduce/Support legislation that would permit us to

fingerprint and do a national child crime search on all

employees who have or wish to have one on one contact with

children. This would be consistent with the Federal Child

Abuse Prevention Act. We have an ordinance mandating

such a search, however, since Georgia has not opted in to this

Act, such checks are not currently available.



8. Pay Raise for Elected Officials:



Oppose legislation which increases salaries of local elected

officials without a resolution of support from the local governing

authority.



9. State Funding for Oxbow Marina:



Support funding for Oxbow Marina.