COLUMBUS CONSOLIDATED GOVERNMENT
2015 PROPOSED LEGISLATIVE AGENDA
December 2, 2014
(Add-on Item "9")
December 2, 2014 Council Meeting
1. OTHER LOCAL OPTION SALES TAX (OLOST) - HOTEL/MOTEL EXEMPTION:
The Columbus Consolidated Government is requesting that the Local Legislative
Delegation to the General Assembly introduce legislation to amend O.C.G.A.
48-8-96 (h) (1) so that it only applies to LOST referenda held after January 1,
2011, thereby leaving the original two exemptions contained in the 2004
legislation in place in Columbus, Georgia. (Requested by Councilor Henderson)
Explanation:
Legislation would reinstate the original exemptions related to hotel lodging
and vehicle sales for any LOST referenda held after January 1, 2011.
2. MILITARY RETIREE STATE TAX EXEMPTION:
Rationale: Of the five states that border Georgia, four do not tax military
retiree pay. Georgia does not tax the first $35,000 of retirement income for
citizens 62 years old and older. Military veterans who retire at younger ages
from active service and begin to receive payments immediately do not benefit
from this program. This puts border cities at a competitive disadvantage when
attracting veterans to the area. These veterans work in Georgia but pay
property and income taxes in border-states. With the growth of Fort Benning
due to Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC), active and retired military are
choosing to live in Russell and Lee Counties in Alabama while working at Fort
Benning. Our community benefits when these families choose to live in
Columbus. Exempting military retiree pay from state income tax will help
attract military retirees to Columbus. (Requested by: Mayor?s Revenue
Commission and Chamber of Commerce)
Explanation:
The mayor and city manager joins the Mayor?s Revenue Commission in support of
this item.
3. SALES TAX ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY USER SAFEGUARD (POINT OF SALES
DATA):
The Columbus Consolidated Government is requesting the state take necessary
steps to ensure the full collection and timely remittance of all sales and use
taxes due to the state and to local governments, whether such steps include
additional funding for the Department of Revenue for audits and compliance
purposes, privatizing sales tax collections or allowing local governments to
collect and audit local sales taxes locally. (Carry over
2010/11/12/13/14)(Requested by mayor, city manager and, Finance Director)
Explanation/Example:
1. Require the Department of Revenue to collect data showing sales tax
collections in cities;
2. Fully capture all data, whether electronically or manually filed;
3. Require the Department of Revenue to share sales tax data for collections
within municipal boundaries;
4. To the extent required to protect taxpayers, support confidentiality and
privacy of information shared with cities;
5. Support efforts to increase audits to ensure compliance; and,
6. Allow for more timely remittance of sales tax dollars to local
governments.* (added 11/14/14)
4. CORONER OFFICE ? FEES:
The Columbus Consolidated Government is requesting the local legislative
delegation to introduce legislation that would allow all coroners to charge
certain set fees for specific reports and documents in excess of the standard
$.10 per page permitted by the open Records Acts. (Requested by Coroner Buddy
Bryan))
Explanation:
Requesting an increase above the $.10 per page permitted by the Open Records
Acts.
5. RESIDENTIAL SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT FACILITY:
The Columbus Consolidated Government is requesting legislation recommending the
state take necessary steps to fund an adolescent residential treatment facility
in Muscogee County. (Requested by Mary Bode, Juvenile Court). (Carry over from
2013)
Explanation: Currently, there is a need in the community for a residential
substance abuse treatment facility for adolescents. In 2006, Alchemy
Residential Treatment Facility operated by New Horizons Community Service Board
was closed. The Muscogee County Juvenile Drug Court participants that are in
need of a higher level of treatment are being placed in DHR facilities
throughout the state of Georgia. Recently, four DHR facilities have closed
limiting placement resources for the Muscogee County Juvenile Drug Court.
These existing DHR placements require transportation and participants receive
minimal family engagement in the treatment process due to the distance of the
placement locations. Drug Court Staff also travels weekly to treatment
facilities to conduct intakes, discharges and treatment progress meetings. A
facility located in Columbus, Georgia would benefit the community by reducing
travel expenses and will assist with staff utilization more efficiently. This
will also enable the youth to remain enrolled in the Muscogee County School
District with less academic disruption. The Muscogee County Juvenile Drug
Court continues to strive to enhance services for substance abusing adolescents
and this need being met will assist in increasing staff and family engagement
both in the treatment and re-entry processes.
6. 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
previous years) (Requested by Pam Hodge, Finance Director)
Explanation:
The revenue generated by the landline, wireless and prepaid phones does not
currently support the operation of the E911 function. The E911 function for
the past four fiscal years has been subsidized from the General Fund and the
Other Local Option Sales Tax Fund for a total of $2.4 million. The E911 fees
from the landline phones have continued to decline almost 10% over the last
three years.
7. BLUE LIGHT ? LIMITED USE:
The Columbus Consolidated Government is requesting legislation requesting the
Georgia General Assembly to take necessary action to oppose any legislation
that would decriminalize the law as it regulates to the use of blue lights.
(Requested by Recorder?s Court Administrator/Judge Cielinski)
Explanation:
By allowing blue lights on any vehicles other than those already approved, will
cause confusion for citizens. Mostly all citizens identify the blue light for
public safety vehicles.
8. SPECIALTY TIER DRUG STUDY AND MORATORIUM/CREATE A JOINT STUDY COMMITTEE:
The Columbus Consolidated Government is requesting the local legislative
delegation to support legislation to create a Joint Study Committee on
Specialty Tier Drugs with an Advisory Task Force required that will report on
effects of Specialty Tier Drugs and cost-sharing, including coinsurance impact
on enrollees; and for purpose of evaluating its disease, minority and economic
discriminatory practices; and to support legislation to make such drugs more
affordable for all Georgians. We ask for a twenty-four month (24) moratorium
on current out ?of-pocket expenses for all health insurance plans in Georgia.
(Requested by Councilor Barnes)
Explanation: Traditional prescription drug benefit plans included
well-established multi-tiered drug formulary structures. Typically, generic
drugs are placed in the first tier with preferred brand name drugs in the
second tier and non-preferred brand drugs in the third tier. Specialty Tiers
involve fourth or greater tiers where such prescriptions typically do not have
a generic equivalent and are very expensive to manufacture with special storage
and administration requirements. Prescription drugs in Specialty Tiers may
include injectable or infused biological agents and are often used to treat
conditions such as Hemophilia, HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, Multiple Sclerosis, Lupus,
Cancers, Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, and other rare,
chronic conditions. These are cutting-edge drugs that do not have generic
equivalents. Specialty Tiers require a patient to pay a coinsurance currently
ranging from twenty to almost fifty percent (20-50%) of the drugs? cost.
In Georgia, insurance companies are implementing Specialty Tier categories.
Georgia has an opportunity to join 19 other states that are moving forward with
legislation to support transparency of prescription coverage protecting
patients? full access to Specialty Tier drugs without financial devastation.
9. ELECTION CALENDAR: ADDITIONAL ITEM FOR 12/2/14 COUNCIL MEETING
The Columbus Consolidated Government is requesting the local legislative
delegation introduce legislation at the 2015 Session of the Georgia General
Assembly to allow a merged election calendar for federal and state elections,
which will reduce the burden of payment by Muscogee County taxpayers for such
elections. (Mayor Pro Tem Pugh)
Explanation:
Under current Georgia Law, elections for state officials, Mayor and Council,
and other local referenda are set. Such a dual calendar for state and federal
elections poses administrative issues for election officials and significant
increased costs to Muscogee County taxpayers. Under a dual election calendar,
Muscogee County taxpayers could be forced to spend between $80,000 and $120,000
for each additional election, including dual primary elections and dual general
election runoffs. A dual election calendar system would contribute to
significant increased voter confusion about state and federal candidates,
election of local candidates and other local issues.
9.
A RESOLUTION
No._____
WHEREAS, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia has set
federal election dates comply with the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee
Voting Act of 1986 (UOCAVA);
WHEREAS, under current Georgia law, runoffs for federal and state elections are
held at different times;
WHEREAS, such a dual calendar for state and federal runoff elections poses
administrative issues for election officials and significant increased costs to
Muscogee County taxpayers;
WHEREAS, under such a dual election calendar, Muscogee County taxpayers could
be forced to spend between $80,000 and $120,000 for each additional runoff
election;
WHEREAS, such a dual election calendar system would contribute to significant
increased voter confusion about state and federal candidates, and other local
issues;
WHEREAS, this Council desires that the local legislative delegation introduce
general legislation at the 2015 Session of the Georgia General Assembly to
allow a merged election calendar for federal and state runoff elections which
will reduce the burden of payment by Muscogee County taxpayers for such
elections.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE COUNCIL OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA HEREBY RESOLVES:
We hereby respectfully request that the local legislative delegation introduce
general legislation at the 2015 Session of the Georgia General Assembly to
allow a merged runoff election calendar for federal and state elections which
will comply with the Order of the U.S. District Court and which will reduce the
burden of payment by Muscogee County taxpayers for such runoff elections. Let
a copy of this resolution be forwarded to each member of the local legislative
delegation to the Georgia General Assembly and to Ms. Nancy Boren.
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Introduced at a regular meeting of the Council of Columbus, Georgia held on the
2nd day of December, 2014 and adopted at said meeting by the affirmative vote
of ______ members of Council.
Councilor Allen voting________________.
Councilor Baker voting________________.
Councilor Barnes voting_______________.
Councilor Buck voting_________________.
Councilor Davis voting________________.
Councilor Henderson voting____________.
Councilor Huff voting_________________.
Councilor Pugh voting_________________.
Councilor Thomas voting_______________.
Councilor Woodson voting______________.
______________________________ ____________________________
TINY B. WASHINGTON TERESA PIKE TOMLINSON
CLERK MAYOR
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