Columbus Consolidated Government
2015 PROPOSED Legislative Agenda (10 Items)
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)
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 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: This item is listed on the Chamber of Commerce Legislative
Agenda. The mayor and city manager joins the Chamber of Commerce and the
Mayor?s Revenue Commission in support of this item.
3. SCRAP METAL PROCESSORS:
The Columbus Consolidated Government is requesting the local legislative
delegation support legislation to make two amendments to the Secondary Metal
Recyclers Act contained at O.C.G.A. Sections 10-1-350 et seq. as follows:
(Requested by the Copper Theft Task Force) (Carry over from the 2013/14 Session)
Explanation:
1. To amend O.C.G.A. ?10-1-355 to allow metal recyclers to make cash payments
not to exceed $50.00 for regulated metal property.
2. To amend O.C.G.A. ?10-1-356 to reinstate the criminal charge of ?Prohibited
Acts, False Statement of Ownership? which was contained in that code section
prior to the 2012 amendments made by HB 872.
4. 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 Pam Hodge, 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)
5. 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 for the $.10 per page permitted by the Open Records
Acts.
6. 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.
7. TECHNOLOGY FEE:
The Columbus Consolidated Government is requesting legislation requesting the
Georgia General Assembly to take necessary action to repeal the sunset
provision and allow Columbus, Georgia to add a fee to state mandated fines as
approved for other cities in Georgia. (Requested by Recorder?s Court
Administrator/Judge Cielinski)
Explanation: Recorder?s Court provides citizens of Muscogee County with fair
and impartial justice, promote public safety, enhance public trust and
confidence, and safeguard the constitutional rights of all who appears in this
court.
Requesting removal of the sunset provision. This fee should apply to all
tickets. The state law as written does not allow the city of Columbus to impose
the fee on state mandated fines. In checking with the Administrative Office of
the Courts, we are the only city with that limitation.
Requesting a $25 fee be imposed due to start up costs instead of the $15.00
fee. There is a lot of start- up cost. (Per Judge Cielinski)
8. ELECTION CALENDAR:
The Columbus Consolidated Government is requesting the local legislative
delegation introduce legislation at the 2014 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) (Adopted resolution from August 13, 2013
Council Meeting is attached.)
Explanation:
Under current Georgia Law, elections for state officials, Mayor and Council,
and other local referenda are set for July 2014. 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. 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 upto 2010) (Requested by Pam Hodge)
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.
10. 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.
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