Join Us Next Month 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. Voting delegates must be present during the Business Session on Thursday, October 12 to cast a vote on the 2024 Policy Agenda and Legislative Priorities. If your county has not appointed a voting delegate, the county chair, sole commissioner, CEO or mayor becomes the voting delegate. That individual can appoint another member of the governing authority onsite by visiting the Voting Delegate booth near registration. Voting delegates will receive an email prior to the conference with additional information.
Important: Voting delegate credentials can be picked up onsite at the voting delegate booth near registration on Wednesday, October 11 from 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. and on Thursday, October 12 from 7:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. You must have your credentials to vote.
Save the Date: 2023 Fall Regional Meetings
Starting in late October, ACCG will travel across the state for the 2023 Fall Regional meetings. Join us at the meeting of your choice to discuss hot legislative and other issues impacting county government, connect with ACCG and to network with your peers from surrounding counties. Registration is set to open on September 18. Please contact your county clerk to register.
For meeting dates and locations, click here.
ACCG Needs Your Help - Adopt the Mental Health Model Resolution
In recent years, ACCG and Georgia’s counties have played a critical role in making significant changes to mental health reform. As the mental health crisis persists, it is incumbent upon Georgia’s county officials to continue partnering with state officials to devise solutions for all who call the Peach State home. ACCG is encouraging every county to adopt a resolution urging the Governor and General Assembly to continue efforts to reform and improve mental health services for the citizens of Georgia. Click here to download the model resolution.
ACCG asks for this to be adopted by Friday, December 8, 2023, prior to the start of the 2024 legislative session. Once your county has adopted the resolution, please notify Administrative and Policy Coordinator Tottianna Davis by emailing a copy of the signed resolution to tdavis@accg.org.
Click here for a special message from ACCG President & Baldwin County Commissioner Henry Craig on the importance of this effort.
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ACCG/GMA Joint Policy Committee Meeting
County commissioners and mayors across the state held a joint policy meeting and engaged in group discussions on issues including LOST/SDS and Housing. This was an opportunity for local elected officials to meet and engage as both organizations continue to work together on finding solutions to these key issues.
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ACCG Testifies to Senate Committee on Expanding Georgia’s Workforce
On August 22, ACCG Director of Governmental Affairs Clint Mueller presented to the state Senate Committee on Expanding Georgia’s Workforce at the Kia Georgia Training Center in Troup County. Mueller shared recent challenges that Georgia counties have experienced in hiring and retaining a qualified, quality workforce.
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Ways and Means Local Option Sales Tax Ad Hoc Committee
The Ways and Means Local Option Sales Tax Ad Hoc Committee met on August 2 to hear testimony regarding the various types of local sales taxes available throughout the state. The Department of Revenue provided an overview of the different sales tax types. A presentation advocating for a statewide Municipal Options Sales Tax (MOST) was made by a group including the mayors of Braselton and Gainesville. ACCG and GMA co-presented on the different sales tax types and took questions.
Click here to see the video recording.
Pictured left to right: Clint Mueller, ACCG Governmental Affairs Director; Jim Thornton, GMA Director of Government Relations; Ryan Bowersox, GMA Assistant General Counsel; and Dante Handel, ACCG Governmental Affairs Associate
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Georgia Housing Task Force Holds First Meeting
Georgia’s Housing Access and Affordability Task Force held its first meeting in Whitfield County on August 29. This task force, made up of members from ACCG, GMA, the home builders and realtor associations, and other stakeholders, is meeting over the summer to develop legislative recommendations for addressing the state’s housing affordability challenges. Two upcoming meetings are scheduled for Macon-Bibb County on September 26 and August-Richmond County on October 24.
Pictured left to right: Scott Johnson, Columbia County Manager; Mayor Kelly Girtz, Athens-Clarke County; Todd Edwards, ACCG; Robert Sivick, Whitfield County Administrator; Commissioner Trevor Readdick, Camden County; Chairman Carter Infinger, Bryan County; Chairman David Sikes, Toombs County; and Clint Mueller, ACCG.
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ACCG Governmental Affairs Team Presents 2023 Legislative Service Awards |
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On August 22, Governmental Affairs Associate Gabriel Carter presented Rep. Teri Anulewicz with a 2023 ACCG Legislative Award before the Cobb County Board of Commissioners. Rep. Anulewicz was recognized for her efforts in raising concerns over House Bill 189, legislation increasing truck weight limits and its negative impact on local roads and bridges. Additionally, Rep. Anulewicz spoke against legislation preempting local governments and legislation imposing harsh penalties against local governments for speed detection camera violations. Rep. Anulewicz in her capacity as a member of the House Transportation Committee and House Governmental Affairs Committee continuously advocates on behalf of local governments. |
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At the Whitfield County Board of Commissioners meeting on August 14, Governmental Affairs Associate Dante Handel presented Rep. Kasey Carpenter with a 2023 ACCG Legislative Service Award for his diligent work on Senate Bill 56, which included his digital goods language. This bill provides parity between online retailers and brick-and-mortar stores and expands the sales tax base by modernizing the sales tax code. This language was an ACCG revenue and finance agenda item.
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At the Bartow County Commission meeting on August 9, Sen. Chuck Hufstetler was presented a 2023 ACCG Legislative Service Award for his efforts on Senate Bill 56, which included digital goods language of great importance to counties. The legislation came through the Senate Finance Committee, on which he serves as chairman. This legislation will protect local businesses and expand the sales tax base. The digital goods language was an ACCG revenue and finance agenda item this past legislative session.
For the full listing of ACCG’s 2023 Legislative Service Award recipients, please click here.
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Senate Study Committee on Local Option Sales Tax Meets
On August 14, the Senate Study Committee on Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) held its first meeting. The Department of Revenue provided an overview of LOST and the Georgia Municipal Association (GMA) provided the city perspective. Several mayors and city managers provided testimony about their experience with LOST and advocated for a statewide Municipal Option Sales Tax (MOST) was mentioned several times. ACCG will have an opportunity to present at the next committee meeting, which should be either late September or early October in Savannah.
Click here to see the recording.
Georgia Makes Workforce Housing Grants Available
Georgia’s Rural Workforce Housing Initiative, under DCA’s OneGeorgia Authority, has issued a notice of funding availability to make grants and loans available to assist local communities with housing development to address a shortage of housing stock that impacts the workforce economy. Examples of funding activities include essential community infrastructure needed to support new housing development, land acquisition, and construction finance for workforce housing.
Fiscal Year 2024 submission deadlines are as follows:
- October 13, 2023, for December award announcement
- January 12, 2024, for April award announcement
- April 12, 2024, for June award announcement
Funds Available Through OneGeorgia Authority
The OneGeorgia Authority through the Department of Community Affairs provides programs of financial investments that includes grants, loans, grant/loan combinations that will assist qualified applicants-Local governments, local-government authorities, joint or multi-county development authorities, lending institutions and airport authorities in promoting economic development activities including infrastructure, retention of employment opportunities, and funding for workforce housing in rural areas of the state. Programs include the Rural Innovation Fund, the Equity Fund, and the EDGE Fund. In carrying out the purposes of these programs, proposals that invoke cooperation, collaboration and regional partnerships between local governments and public and private-sector partners are highly encouraged to receive the greatest consideration for assistance.
For more information regarding these OneGeorgia programs and application deadlines please click here.
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.
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NACo Issues Local Housing Affordability Report
The NACo Housing Task Force has issued its 2023 “Advancing Local Housing Affordability” final report. This national task force, launched in 2022 and made of county officials, was charged with identifying county-led policy, practice, and partnership solutions to addressing America’s housing affordability crisis. It also explored intergovernmental partnership opportunities that support housing solutions between federal, state, and local officials along with private, nonprofit, and other community organizations. This toolkit is aimed at helping counties address local housing affordability challenges.
Click here to view the toolkit.
Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act includes the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program, which provides $1.3 billion of funding to expand broadband and strengthen access to affordable, high-speed internet across the state of Georgia. Through the Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget (OPB), the Eligible Entity the Georgia Technology Authority (GTA) has released the BEAD Program’s Five-Year Action Plan. The plan includes a comprehensive broadband needs assessment and establishes the state's goal of providing all Georgians will robust, high-speed internet, along with the tools and skills needed enabled by broadband access. To access the five-year plan, please click here.
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Questions? Email the
ACCG Legislative team:
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Get Ready for the 2023 ACCG Legislative Leadership Conference |
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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.
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