GMA Legislative Alert - No. 8
Legislative Alert - March 7, 2008
March 7, 2008
Franchise Fees: Limit to Municipal Customers Only
House Bill 938, Rep. Earl Ehrhart (R-Powder Springs)
GMA Position: Oppose
Contact: Lamar Norton, lnorton@gmanet.com, (678) 686-6273
Status: Pending in the House Rules Committee. GMA expects this bill to be heard
by the full House on Tuesday, March 11.
This bill would raise the cost of utility services on city residents and
businesses. It also exempts manufacturing companies from paying the tax and
threatens the continued legal validity of franchise agreements. Lost franchise
fee revenues would result in either diminished services or higher property
taxes.
GMA urges city officials to continue to talk to their House members about this
bill, asking them to vote no when and if it comes up for a vote on the floor of
the House.
Local Consumption Tax to Reduce or Eliminate Property Taxes
Senate Resolution 687, Sen. Mitch Seabaugh (R-Sharpsburg)
GMA Position: Support
Contact: Gwin Hall, ghall@gmanet.com, (678) 686-6212
Status: Pending in the Senate Rules Committee.
SR 687 is a Constitutional Amendment that would authorize cities, counties and
schools to hold a referendum for a consumption tax of up to 1 percent per
taxing jurisdiction. In exchange for the consumption tax, the jurisdiction
enacting it would be required to reduce its millage rate in accordance with the
anticipated sales tax revenues and would not be able to increase its millage
rate unless approved in a subsequent vote. This consumption tax would be in
addition to any LOST, SPLOST, ESPLOST, MOST or other existing local sales tax.
Local governments and school boards would still be allowed to use property
taxes to retire existing bonded indebtedness and could use property taxes to
pay for future bonded indebtedness if approved in accordance with current law.
Outdoor Advertising Sign Relocation & Reconstruction
House Bill 1318, Rep. Matt Dollar (R-Marietta)
GMA Position: Oppose
Contact: Tom Gehl, tgehl@gmanet.com, (678) 686-6247
Status: Scheduled to be heard on the House floor on Tuesday, March 11.
HB 1318 would require cities to compensate sign owners for the cost of removal
of, or alterations to, signs along city streets. This bill is not needed in
that current law already requires compensation for takings. The underlying
purpose of the bill seems to be designed to grant non-conforming signs
perpetual status even when the sign has outlived its useful life.
GMA asks that city officials contact their House members and ask them to vote
against this bill that would require city taxpayers to subsidize the billboard
industry.
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 House on March 4 and is now pending in the Senate
Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee.
HB 1281 would require EPD approval if a local government wants to impose
greater restrictions than those imposed by the state on outdoor water use or if
it wants to be exempt from state restrictions. This bill also states that,
barring conditions of excessive drought or other emergency periods of water
shortage, the EPD director may not restrict the use of surface water for
public, private, or community swimming pools solely due to drought or water
shortage.
LOST for Special Districts
House Bill 1276, Rep. Sean Jerguson (R-Woodstock)
GMA Position: Oppose
Contact: Gwin Hall, ghall@gmanet.com, (678) 686-6212
Status: Passed the House Ways & Means Committee on March 5 and is now pending
in the House Rules Committee.
HB 1276 would allow a county to use its portion of LOST revenues to reduce
property taxes special tax districts in the unincorporated area only.
Townships
House Bill 925, Rep. Mike Jacobs (R-Atlanta)
GMA Position: Neutral
Contact: Lamar Norton, lnorton@gmanet.com, (678) 686-6273
Status: Scheduled to be heard on the House floor on Tuesday, March 11.
Municipal Elections: Immediate Transmittal of Results
House Bill 1098, Rep. Bobby Reese (R-Sugar Hill)
GMA Position: Neutral
Contact: Lamar Norton, lnorton@gmanet.com, (678) 686-6273
Status: Passed the House on March 6 and is now pending in the Senate Special
Judiciary Committee.
Regional Development Centers
House Bill 1216, Rep. Ron Stephens (R-Savannah)
GMA Position: Neutral
Contact: Lamar Norton, lnorton@gmanet.com, (678) 686-6273
Status: Pending in the House Rules Committee.
? 1997 - 2008 Georgia Municipal Association
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