Columbus, Georgia

Georgia's First Consolidated Government

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

Council Members

GMA Legislative Alert, No. 10

Legislative Alert

Legislative Alert - March 21, 2008

March 21, 2008

Tax Reform

House Resolution 1246?and House Bill 1244

GMA Position: Support

Contact: Gwin Hall, ghall@gmanet.com, (678) 686-6212



Status: Both bills passed the Senate Finance Committee and are now pending in

the Senate Rules Committee.



Lt. Governor Casey Cagle?s (R-Gainesville) tax reform plan, which he announced

earlier in the week, was passed by the Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday.

The Lt. Governor?s plan differs significantly from the tax reform plan passed

by the House. The plan passed by the Senate Finance Committee would:

reduce all income tax rates by 10% of five years;

tie state government spending to a formula based on a combination of population

growth and the rate of inflation;

eliminate the state?s ? mil property tax; and?

would tie local property assessments, both residential and non-residential, to

a governmental inflation index.

HR 1246, a Constitutional Amendment, contains the language that imposes the

property assessment cap and the state spending limitations. HB 1244 would

reduce the state?s income tax rates. The Senate has already passed legislation

eliminating the state?s ? mil property tax.



While GMA is supportive of the Senate?s tax reform plan, we do have concerns

about property assessment caps being placed on non-residential property.



Joint City & County Tax Districts

Senate Resolution 845, Sen. Jeff Mullis (R-Chickamauga)

GMA Position: Evaluating

Contact: Tom Gehl, tgehl@gmanet.com, (678) 686-6247



Status: Will be on the House floor for a vote on Thursday, March 27.



As currently written, this proposed Constitutional Amendment would give

Regional Development Centers (RDCs) the authority to levy up to a 1 percent

sales tax for transportation needs in their region.



SR 845 requires that a resolution be adopted by two publicly elected members

(cities and counties) within each county in each RDC in order to place the tax

on the ballot in a region. If the tax is approved by voters, 100% of the funds

collected would remain in the region.



There are three amendments that will be considered on the House floor. One is

an ?opt-out? provision that would allow a county to not implement the tax if

the county commission votes against being included in the the RDC

transportation plan. Another amendment would exempt off-road, farm, locomotive,

aircraft and watercraft fuel from any regional sales tax imposed under this

authority granted to RDCs. The third amendment would, for the first time in

Georgia, allow for 25 percent of the sales tax on motor fuels to be used for

any or all transportation purposes, including mass transit, as appropriated by

the direction of the General Assembly.



GMA urges city officials to review this legislation. GMA is on record in

support of increased funding for transportation infrastructure, and GMA staff

continues to work with the leadership and other stakeholders to ensure

meaningful municipal participation in each region.



Red Light Cameras

House Bill 77, Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-Cassville)

GMA Position: Oppose

Contact: Ted Baggett, tbaggett@gmanet.com, (678) 686-6210



Status: Passed the Senate and now awaits House approval of the Senate changes

to the bill.



This bill would require that expensive traffic engineering studies be completed

before red light cameras could be installed by a city. It also would require

cities to obtain a permit from DOT before installing an automated camera.

Existing cameras would have to comply with DOT red light camera requirements.

HB 77 also includes a number of other provisions:

requires annual reporting to DOT;?

allows DOT to investigate complaints;

second and subsequent notices to violators must be sent by certified mail;

requires that an extra second be added to the yellow light at intersections

with cameras; and

allows violators to send in affidavits indicating they weren't driving instead

of showing up in court to contest the ticket.

HB 77 no longer contains a revenue sharing provision that would redirect

municipal funds to the state.



Fleet Vehicles: Cities Liable for Discretionary Acts

House Bill 1235, Rep. Austin Scott (R-Tifton)

GMA Position: Oppose

Contact: Ted Baggett, tbaggett@gmanet.com, (678) 686-6210



Status: Pending in the Senate Insurance & Labor Committee.



As currently written, this bill would remove sovereign immunity for law

enforcement officers that have to make judgment calls about whether fleet

vehicles are covered by fleet insurance policies or not.



Regional Development Centers

House Bill 1216, Rep. Ron Stephens (R-Savannah)

GMA Position: Neutral

Contact: Lamar Norton, lnorton@gmanet.com, (678) 686-6273



Status: Passed the Senate State & Local Government Operations Committee and is

now pending in the Senate Rules Committee.



Outdoor Water Use: EPD Approval of Local Restrictions or Exemptions

House Bill 1281, Rep. Terry England (R-Auburn)

GMA Position: Evaluating

Contact: Tom Gehl, tgehl@gmanet.com, (678) 686-6247



Status: Passed the Senate Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee and is now

pending in the Senate Rules Committee.



City of Dunwoody: Create

Senate Bill 82, Sen. Daniel Weber (R-Dunwoody)

GMA Position: Neutral

Contact: Susan Moore, smoore@gmanet.com, (678) 686-6211



Status: Passed both the House and Senate and has been sent to the Governor.



Townships

Senate Bill 89, Sen. David Alderman (D-Decatur)

GMA Position: Neutral

Contact: Susan Moore, smoore@gmanet.com, (678) 686-6211



Status: Passed the House Governmental Affairs Committee and is now pending in

the House Rules Committee.



State Transportation Infrastructure Bank

House Bill 1019, Rep. John Lunsford (R-McDonough)

GMA Position: Support

Contact: Tom Gehl, tgehl@gmanet.com, (678) 686-6247



Status: Passed the Senate and now awaits House approval of the Senate changes

to the bill.



Budget Update

The House and Senate have approved the supplemental FY ?08 Budget and have sent

it to the Governor. The House passed the FY ?09 Budget and has sent it to the

Sente for consideration.





? 1997 - 2008 Georgia Municipal Association





Attachments


No attachments for this document.

Back to List