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
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