2023 Summer Policy Committee Meetings - Registration Still Open
There's still time to register for the Southern and Northern Policy Committee meetings. ACCG's seven standing Policy Committees will meet twice, in Toombs and Forsyth counties, to discuss key issues and recommend policy objectives for the 2024 ACCG Policy Agenda. The issues discussed and decided upon will guide the Association's advocacy efforts before the Georgia General Assembly, Congress, and federal and state agencies in 2024. County officials can choose to attend all policy committee meetings or the ones in which they are interested.
Click here to review the draft agendas and to register for the policy committee meeting(s) of your choice.
Get Ready for the 2023 Legislative Leadership Conference
Make plans to attend the Legislative Leadership Conference on October 11 - 13 at the Jekyll Island Convention Center in Glynn County. Counties will vote to approve the 2024 ACCG Policy Agenda and receive updates on legislative issues that impact local governments. Prior to the conference, counties are encouraged to designate their county voting delegate to vote on the 2024 Policy Agenda and Legislative Priorities during the Business Session.
The Business Session will be held on Thursday, October 12. Please be sure to appoint your county's voting delegate by Friday, August 25th, to ensure your county is represented during this important session. The voting delegate form can be accessed here. All forms should be scanned as an email attachment and sent to Tottianna Davis (tdavis@accg.org) or faxed to (678) 626 -9642 and addressed to her attention.
ACCG Has Updated its Guidance to Georgia’s Annexation Arbitration Process
As Georgia’s population continues to grow, cities are increasingly considering the annexation of unincorporated areas. In some circumstances, counties may object to annexations through Georgia’s annexation arbitration (or dispute resolution) process. The passage of HB 1461 during the 2022 legislative session made several significant changes to this process. ACCG supported this legislation, which became law on July 1, 2022, and has updated its annexation arbitration guidance for counties reflecting the changes in state law and rules of the Department of Community Affairs. Note that the joint ACCG/GMA arbitration handbook has not been updated as ACCG cannot do so unilaterally.
Please click here for ACCG’s 2023 Annexation Arbitration Guidance.
Please click here for a summary of the changes in the annexation arbitration law.
|
|
ACCG Testifies Before Ways and Means Study Committee on Local Option Sales Tax
On August 2, ACCG and GMA staff jointly testified on local sales taxes to the House Ways and Means Ad Hoc Study Committee on Local Option Sales Tax. The purpose of this committee meeting was to provide an overview of the different types of local sales taxes to the committee members. The committee will focus on Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) specifically at a future meeting. A video recording of the meeting can be accessed here.
|
|
ACCG and GMA Hold First Meeting on SDS/LOST Negotiations
On July 17, ACCG and GMA staff and members met to discuss possible changes to the Service Delivery Strategy (SDS) and Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) laws. Following these negotiations, members of ACCG’s SDS/LOST subcommittee will make recommendations for the Association’s Policy Council to consider in formulating ACCG policy positions in these areas. Once adopted, ACCG’s positions will be shared with the General Assembly’s Joint Study Committee on SDS, Senate Study Committee on LOST, and ad hoc LOST subcommittee, all of which will be meeting during the interim.
ACCG’s SDS/LOST Subcommittee:
- Travis Turner, White County Chairman
- David Carmichael, Paulding County Chairman
- Shannon Whitfield, Walker County Chairman
|
|
ACCG Mental Health Committee meets with DBHDD
On Monday, July 31, ACCG’s Standing Committee on Mental Health and Substance Abuse met with the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) to hear a presentation on the state of mental health in Georgia. DBHDD Commissioner Kevin Tanner kindly welcomed the Committee and organized DBHDD leadership to present information that was relevant to the Committee's work. Information shared during the meeting included presentations on bed capacity for forensic services; updates on initiatives that different community service boards are undertaking around the state; an overview of 9-8-8; an update on Georgia’s Hosing Voucher Program; and a powerful discussion on DBHDD’s Jail In-Reach Pilots within their Prison Forensic Program. ACCG’s Standing Committee on Mental Health and Substance Abuse will continue to collaborate and lean on the expertise of DBHDD as they progress toward their objective of establishing a clearinghouse for counties to share and access information on best practices for serving citizens with mental illness and substance abuse disorders.
|
|
ACCG Governmental Affairs Team Presents 2023 Legislative Service Awards |
|
On July 18, Todd Edwards, Deputy Director of Governmental Affairs, presented Rep. Brad Thomas a 2023 Legislative Service Award. Rep. Thomas sponsored HB 374, addressing a long-standing ACCG policy position by allowing dissatisfied property owners to deannex from a city without the city having unilateral veto authority over the deannexation. Thomas was also instrumental in opposing several bills that would have preempted local governments’ zoning and land use authority coming before the House Governmental Affairs Committee. He remains a strong advocate of home rule and responsible local government policy in Georgia.
|
|
On July 25, prior to the Thomas County Board of Commissioners meeting, Martha Revelo and Kathleen Bowen, Associate Directors of Government Affairs, presented Representative Darlene Taylor with a 2023 Legislative Service Award for her efforts as chair of the House Appropriation Subcommittee on Health, where she obtained state funding for an EMS Medicaid reimbursement rate increase in the Fiscal Year 2024 state budget. The EMS Medicaid reimbursement increase was a 2023 policy priority for ACCG. The primary focus was to relieve added challenges with emergency medical personnel that resulted from COVID and inflation. Additionally, Rep. Taylor was instrumental in raising local governments’ concerns regarding House Bill 189, legislation that increased truck weight limits in the state. |
|
Rep. David Jenkins was also presented an ACCG 2023 Legislative Service Award on July 25 before the Coweta County Board of Commissioners. Rep. Jenkins sponsored HB 254, an ACCG 2023 policy objective, making much needed reforms to local governments’ legal advertisement process. This law allows counties’ legal notices to be placed on their website, a website maintained by the legal organ, or another designated website. If an error is made in the text or publication date of a legal notice required by a city or county government, the online posting will suffice to meet state legal notice requirements.
For the listing of ACCG’s 2023 Legislative Service Award recipients, please click here.
ACCG Shares Disaster Relief Model Resolution
ACCG has developed a model resolution for the Disaster Relief Enabling Act, HB 311, which passed during the 2023 legislative session. The model resolution is intended to be used by counties within a federal disaster declaration area to provide optional temporary tax relief to eligible tax parcels. Should you have questions regarding how to utilize the model resolution, please contact your county attorney. The model resolution may be found here.
|
|
Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Program Funding Cycle Now Open
The Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) recently opened the pre-application window for the 2023-2024 Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Program (GOSP). Program funds will be dispersed for the purpose of providing stewardship to state parks; state lands and wildlife management areas; to support local parks and trails; and to protect critical conservation lands.
For more details, click here.
Bridge Posting Deadline Approaching
Bridge postings must be completed by September 2, 2023. GDOT will continue to work with local governments to ensure compliance by the deadline. State and local governments that do not comply and post their bridges may have funds withheld by the federal government and can experience project delays with GDOT if the project is federally funded. Counties should have received a letter from GDOT as of July 21st regarding the September 2 deadline for the bridge postings.
Georgia Counties that Own, Operate, or Maintain Traffic Control Devices and Traffic Management Systems Must be Members of Georgia 811 by January 1, 2024
Effective January 1, 2024, counties that own, operate, or maintain traffic control devices and traffic management systems must have joined Georgia 811 and begin locating these devices and management systems when other utilities excavate within the public’s right-of-way. Depending on their contracts/agreements with the Georgia Department of Transportation, counties may also be required for locating traffic control devices and management systems on state roads within their jurisdiction, thus also requiring membership with Georgia 811. Please contact your DOT district traffic engineer to determine who is responsible for these facilities.
Click here for important information on this new state requirement.
4th Annual GMA Broadband Summit - Partnering for Digital Equity
On August 29, join local leaders around the state at the 4th Annual GMA Broadband Summit in Jackson, Georgia. This year's theme focuses on Partnering for Digital Equity. The Broadband Summit connects local government leaders to resources to address a variety of broadband needs in their communities, with a focus on improving digital equity and literacy. Registration is free and open to all local government leaders.
Click here to register and learn more about the one-day event.
|
|
Georgia County Commissioners to Lead NACo Policy Steering Committees
Georgia County commissioners have achieved a remarkable milestone by securing leadership positions within the National Association of Counties (NACo) policy steering committees. The accomplishments of these esteemed individuals not only exemplify their dedication to public service but also highlight the significant impact they will have in shaping the future of county governance on a national scale. The full list of committee appointments can be accessed here.
Congratulations to all Georgia county commissioners selected for NACo leadership positions.
Clean Energy Tax Incentives: Elective Pay Eligible Tax Credits
The Inflation Reduction Act introduced tax credits referred to as elective pay or often called direct pay, which allows tax-exempt and governmental entities to receive a payment equal to the full value of tax credits for building qualifying clean energy projects. The new provisions will enable states, local governments, Tribes, territories, and nonprofits to actively invest in building a clean energy economy, help save residents money, and improve overall public health.
Click here to learn more about the tax credits.
Webinar Series: HUD's Pathways to Removing Obstacles to Housing (PRO Housing)
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) recently announced a Notice of Funding Opportunity known as Pathways to Removing Obstacles to Housing (PRO Housing) that aims to support communities by providing $85 million in funding to help identify and remove barriers to affordable housing production and preservation. Counties that are interested in the funding opportunity can learn more by attending the FY 2023 Housing NOFO Walkthrough Webinars offered throughout the month.
Click here for more information.
|
|
 |
Questions? Email the
ACCG Legislative team:
|
|
|
|
Register for the 2023 ACCG Policy Committee Meetings |
Follow us on social media!
|
|
|
|
ACCG is YOUR county association. We are here to advance all 159 Georgia county governments. Please feel free to contact a member of the policy team if they can assist in any way.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
