Agenda Item # 1
Columbus Consolidated Government
Council Meeting
11/14/2017
Agenda Report # 43
TO: Mayor and Council
SUBJECT: Increase Municipal Court Jurisdiction
INITIATED BY: Judge Steven D. Smith, Municipal Court
Recommendation: Approval is requested to add item #20 to the 2018 Legislative
Agenda to request local legislation to increase the civil jurisdiction of the
Municipal Court of Columbus from $15,000 to $50,000.
Background: The jurisdictional limit of the Court was last changed in 1985.
Analysis: See attached letter of Judge Steven Smith.
Financial Considerations: None
Projected Annual Fiscal Impact Statement: None
Legal Considerations: A local act of the General Assembly is required to
increase the civil jurisdiction of the Municipal Court of Columbus.
Recommendations/Actions: Amend the 2018 Legislative Agenda adopted by this
Council to request a Local Act of the General Assembly increasing the civil
jurisdiction of the Municipal Court of Columbus from $15,000 to $50,000.
A RESOLUTION
No._____
WHEREAS, the Municipal Court of Columbus handles many civil actions with the
jurisdictional limit of $15,000; and,
WHEREAS, the General Assembly has not changed the jurisdictional limit of the
Municipal Court of Columbus since 1985; and,
WHEREAS, the jurisdictional limit of the Civil Courts of Bibb County and
Richmond County are both $45,000; and,
WHEREAS, this Council desires that the jurisdictional limit of the Municipal
Court of Columbus be similar to that of the Civil Courts of Bibb County and
Richmond County; and,
WHEREAS, this Council desires that the local delegation to the Georgia General
Assembly introduce local legislation to increase the civil jurisdiction of the
Municipal Court of Columbus from $15,000 to $50,000.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE COUNCIL OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA HEREBY RESOLVES:
We hereby respectfully request that the local legislative delegation to the
Georgia General Assembly introduce local legislation to increase the civil
jurisdiction of the Municipal Court of Columbus from $15,000 to $50,000. Let a
copy of this resolution be forwarded by the Clerk of Council to each member of
the local delegation to the Georgia General Assembly.
______________
Introduced at a regular meeting of the Council of Columbus, Georgia held on the
_____ day of _________ 2017, and adopted at said meeting by the affirmative
vote of ten members of Council.
Councilor Allen voting __________.
Councilor Baker voting __________.
Councilor Barnes voting __________.
Councilor Davis voting __________.
Councilor Garrett voting __________.
Councilor Henderson voting __________.
Councilor Huff voting __________.
Councilor Thomas voting __________.
Councilor Turner Pugh voting __________.
Councilor Woodson voting __________.
_______________________________ __________________________
Tiny B. Washington, Clerk of Council Teresa Pike Tomlinson, Mayor
Attachments