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. 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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