Revised
11/17/08
PROPOSED
2009 LEGISLATIVE AGENDA
October 17, 2008
1. HOMEOWNERS TAX RELIEF CREDIT
Introduce/support legislation that will allow for local reimbursement
for Homeowner Tax Relief Credit granted to qualified residents.
2. REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT CENTER FEES
Introduce legislation to remove mandatory fees paid to RDC?s for municipalities
with in-house Planning Departments. Regional Development Center fees should be
based on services rendered.
3. TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS
Introduce/support legislation to change Georgia Department of Transportation
guidelines on road funding projects to allow municipalities to make
improvements and GADOT reimburse once the project reaches the top of the
priority list and funding is made available. (Request of Councilor Anthony)
Also, introduce/support legislation to increase transportation funding for
Local Area Road Projects (LARP) and for County Contracts to assist in the
overall development/impact of BRAC. (carry over from 2007)
4. STATE FACILITIES AND SERVICES
Introduce/support legislation supporting West Central Georgia Mental Health
Center, Georgia Crime Lab and Health Department Services remaining in Muscogee
County.
5. POINT OF SALES DATA
Introduce/support legislation requiring sales tax point of sale data by
Department of Revenue or private contractor.
6. STATE WATER PLAN
Support legislation that encourages minimization of the consumptive use of
water so as to assure that downstream users water rights are fully protected.
Such legislation should be incorporated into requirements for all State Water
Planning activities. (Requested by Billy Turner, President of the Cols. Water
Works)
7. 911 SURCHARGE ? INCREASE
Introduce/support legislation to increase 911 fees from $1.50 to $2.50 for
telephone landlines and wireless phones from $1 to $2.50. (carry over from
2006/07/08 and amended 11/27/07/08)
8. PUBLIC DEFENDER?S PROGRAM
Introduce/support legislation to allocate full funding for the Public
Defender?s Program. (carry over from 2006/07/08)
9. COSTS RECOVERY FOR COLLECTION OF DELINQUENT TAXES
Support legislation to provide that the costs of administering collection of a
delinquent property tax lien before or after making levy on property shall be
added to the execution and collection from the delinquent taxpayer.
The vast majority of taxpayers pay their taxes in a timely manner without the
need of issuing a delinquent execution. Cost of title examinations, due
diligence research, legal notice preparation and mailings to collect delinquent
taxes should be borne by the delinquent property owners and not by abiding
taxpayers who have timely paid their taxes. Such costs should rightfully be
assessed against and recouped from the delinquent property owner who
necessitated the expense. Current law, O.C.G.A. ?48-5-161, should be amended
to clarify that the costs and actual expenses of collecting a delinquent
execution are recoverable at the time incurred by adding those costs and
expenses to the execution, irrespective of whether levy has been made. (Carry
over from 2008 ? requested by Tax Commissioner Lula Huff)
10. SALARY FOR VARIOUS CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS
Introduce/support legislation to amend local laws to leave the Clerk of
Superior Court and Tax Commissioner salaries tied to the Muscogee County
Sheriff, but to allow receipt of COLA?s and longevity increases even if their
tenure exceeds the tenure of the Muscogee County Sheriff.
Introduce/support legislation to amend local laws to set the Marshal and Clerk
of Municipal Court salaries at 80% of the Muscogee County Sheriff and to allow
receipt of longevity increases granted to the Muscogee County Sheriff.
(Requested by Muscogee County Marshal Greg Countryman)
11. SCRAP METAL PROCESSORS
Introduce/Support legislation to strengthen state law regulating scrap metal
processors and to increase penalties for violations of said laws and for
convictions of theft of scrap metals. (Requested by Councilor Davis)
12. COLUMBUS BOARD OF HEALTH ? LEGISLATIVE CONCERNS:
Please see legislative concerns below.
___________________________________________________________
Columbus Board of Health
2008
Legislative Concerns
The Columbus Board of Health appreciates the opportunity to bring our 2008
public health concerns to the attention of the Columbus City Council and our
legislative delegation:
Issue 1.
On April 23, 2008 the Board of Health passed a resolution encouraging the
governor to create a separate state public health agency. In August, Governor
Perdue recommended that public health be integrated into the Department of
Community Health. The Columbus Board of Health believes that public health
should be a separate agency. See attachment 1.
Issue 2.
The Columbus Board of Health request that the State Legislature restore the
family planning funds that have been removed by the Department of Human
Resources the 7.5 million dollar FY09 reduction and the additional 2 million
FY10 reduction will decimate the state?s family planning services having
serious health and welfare effects on the state. In our health district these
cuts amount to a $683,384.00 dollars for this fiscal year.
See attached information about the impact to the state and the West Central
Health District with the removal of these funds. Attachment 2
Issue 3.
The current state, district and local board of health system are an important
component of a strong local public health system. The Columbus Board of Health
supports the continuation of the current district map. Specifically that
Columbus remains the district head quarters for the West Central Health
District. See Attachment 3
Attachments