Columbus, Georgia

Georgia's First Consolidated Government

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

Council Members

REVISED

11/7/06

Columbus Consolidated Government

Proposed -- 2007 Legislative Agenda



November 1, 2006





1. TAD ? Tax Allocation District:



Enact legislation that would allow the local government to establish a Tax

Allocation District (TAD). (Staff)



A Tax Allocation District (TAD) is established for the purpose

of publicly financing certain redevelopment activities in underdeveloped areas.

Redevelopment costs are financed through the pledge of future incremental

increase in property taxes generated by the resulting new development.

Typically, upon creation, TADs have vacant commercial and residential

properties, blighted conditions and numerous vacant buildings or are in need of

significant environmental remediation.





2. Department of Transportation/METRA access to the Georgia Crime Information

Center (GCIC):



Introduce legislation authorizing the Columbus, Georgia Department of

Transportation/METRA access to the Georgia Crime Information Center (GCIC) for

the purpose of locating address information used in collection of unpaid

parking citations, but not for the purpose of reviewing criminal history.

(Staff)





3. Inverse Condemnation:



Oppose legislation that expands the definition of Inverse Condemnation to

include any impact a state or local regulation would have on the value of

property and to require local governments (the taxpayer) to pay for the impact

of these regulations. (Carry over from 2005)





4. Base Realignment and Closure/BRAC:



Introduce/support legislation to assist local governments in funding

infrastructure projects as a result of BRAC.





5. Hazardous/Solid Waste Funding:



Introduce legislation to mandate that funds collected for waste tire removal be

placed in the Hazardous Waste Fund and the Solid Waste Fund instead of being

diverted elsewhere. (Carry over from 2004/05/06)





6. LARP Funding:



Introduce/support legislation to increase transportation funding for Local Area

Road Projects (LARP) and for County Contracts to assist in the overall

development/impact of BRAC.





7. Zoning Appeals



Oppose new legislation on Zoning Appeals - Currently, property owners may seek

appellate review of county decisions by application to the Georgia Supreme

Court. Legislation, however, has been proposed that would greatly complicate

administration of county zoning ordinances by giving landowners a right of

direct appeal in all zoning decisions adverse to the property owner. Given that

direct appeal would delay zoning decisions, lend uncertainty to the process,

cost substantial taxpayer dollars, and overburden the appellate courts. (Carry

over from 2006)





8. 911 Surcharge ? Increase:



Introduce/support legislation to increase 911 fees from $1.50 to $2.50 for

telephone landlines. (Carry over from 2006)







9. Wireless Phones:



Introduce/support legislation for a change in technology for wireless phones in

order to capture cost of prepaid phones.

(Carry over from 2006)





10. Public Defender?s Program:



Introduce/support legislation to allocate full funding for the Public

Defender?s Program. (Carry over from 2006)





11. Family Connection:



Support Legislation to continue funding for Family Connection. (Carry over

from 2004/05/06)





12. UGA Cooperative Extension Services:



Support continued funding for the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension

Service and its county delivery system. (Carry over from 2004/05/06)





13. Health Department ? Grant-in-Aid Funding:



Oppose proposed changes in Grant-in-Aid (GIA) funding to local health

departments. These changes will affect the daily provision of services to

communities as well as the ability to respond when communities need

assistance in a disaster. (Carry over from 2005/06)

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