Columbus, Georgia

Georgia's First Consolidated Government

Post Office Box 1340
Columbus, Georgia, 31902-1340
(706) 653-4013
fax (706) 653-4016

Council Members

Columbus Consolidated Government

OLD VERSION -- SEE CHANGES MADE BY

MAYOR/CITY MANAGER

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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