Draft Regional Water Plans Available for Public Review and Comment
Regional Water Planning Councils have developed draft updated Regional Water Plans that are available for public review and comment through May 19, 2017.
The State Water Plan calls for the Councils to review the Regional Water Plans every five years. The Councils began a review and revision process in 2016 that resulted in the draft updated Regional Water Plans. The Councils considered updated water and wastewater demand forecasts and resource assessment analyses in their preparations of the draft updated Regional Water Plans.
The draft updated Regional Water Plans may be viewed on the EPD website.
Water Conservation to Combat Drought (notice from GA EPD)
The Georgia Department of Natural Resources is encouraging communities to take action and learn the different ways to reduce water use. As a Georgia resident, you can play a role in combating the drought by following a few water conservation tips. For the full press release visit
www.accg.org.
Water conservation tips can be found here.
State Funds Available for Scrap Tire Amnesty Events and to Remove Tires Dumped on County Right-of-Ways
Local governments and solid waste authorities can apply for the Local Government Scrap Tire Abatement Reimbursement Program to receive funding to cover the cost of transporting and processing scrap tires that have been removed from identified, state-listed dumps where the owner is either financially unable to clean up the tires, unknown, or the local government has determined that the property owner is a victim of illegal dumping. Funds are also available to remove tires dumped on county right-of-ways and for scrap tire amnesty events sponsored by a local government.
For more information on this funding opportunity, including how to apply, click here.
Georgia Department of Agriculture Reports on Their Efforts to Educate and Encourage Compliance with the GATE Program
The Georgia Department of Agriculture recently met with ACCG staff and state legislators to discuss the importance of adhering to the protocols for implementing the Georgia Agricultural Tax Exemption program (GATE). Review the tools provided to ensure that your rural communities are in compliance with the tax exemption program.
2018 County Budget News: Cost of Living Adjustment
The cost of living increase for county officials whose minimum salary is established by state law (i.e., coroner, magistrate, probate judge, sheriff, superior court clerk, and tax commissioner) and for county commissioners is calculated based upon the amount of cost of living increases and/or general performance increases awarded to state employees by the General Assembly in the appropriations bill. The Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget (OPB) calculates the average cost of living increases and/or general performance increase given to state employees. State employees received a 2 percent merit increase for high performing employees, which translates into a 2 percent COLA for county elected officials. Although state employee may receive their increase on July 1, 2017, the COLA for county officials is not effective until January 1, 2018.[1]
Each year, ACCG prepares a guide to assist county budget officials and payroll officials in calculating county official salaries. This guide is reviewed and approved by the County Officer Association of Georgia, the Georgia Sheriffs’ Association and the Magistrate Council. Until the 2018 salary guide is available, county officials may use the 2017 guide to prepare estimates for the 2018 salaries.
[1] See, O.C.G.A. § 1-3-4.1.
