Georgia County Government - February 2008 - (Page 10)

MATTERS continued from page 9 WHEN IT RAINS IT’S POUROUS Pervious Pavement High permeability concrete that drains quickly Call us for more information: Georgia Concrete and Products Association Ste. 665 at 100 Crescent Centre Parkway • Tucker, Georgia 30084 Call: 770-621-9324 or 1-800-338-2868 359208_Georgia.indd 1 12/5/07 is based on a referendum where leaders are chosen. County commissioners, city councilmen and school board members face voters every four years in a referendum on how they have done. I dare say there is no official whose every decision has the approval of all the voters, but on the whole a re-election of an official is an indication that he or she has balanced the needs of the entity with the wishes of the citizens. Current efforts to put communities’ economies and government services on auto pilot with respect to expenditures are untenable. Whether we tie expenditures to the CPI or some other index or system, the General Assembly, which is elected to manage state government, is superimposing its ideas and perceived needs on local governments and schools. Counties perform services that are mandated by the state Legislature and the Constitution, and they must be carried out. While cities can provide services electively, counties often have no choice. Whether the mandate is to operate a jail and court system, maintain land records and UCC filings, build and maintain roads and bridges, collect taxes for the 8:29:45 PM state, provide automobile tags and titles, or provide public health, safety and welfare, county government is the entity on which the public relies for vital services. Without those services communities could not exist. At the end of the day, counties and cities are the service delivery arms of our state’s government. We could probably operate without the state government for a while, but I suggest that without the services provided and the order maintained by local government our state would erupt into chaos very quickly. The fact is, we have a truly wonderful governmental system in this nation and state. While there may be tension from time to time, historically, mutual respect and partnership has existed between the various levels of government, as has civility. ACCG is committed to working with all legislators, in concert with our membership of county commissioners, to strike the needed balance between the roles of county commissioners and those of legislators. ■ 10 GEORGIA 315650_Clough.indd 1 COUNTY GOVERNMENT 2/8/07 3:44:00 AM http://www.gcpa.org http://www.cloughharbour.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Georgia County Government - February 2008

Georgia County Government - February 2008 Contents President's Message County Matters Regional Focus on the Georgia Mountains: Rabun, Habersham and Stephens Counties DNR Commissioner Noel Holcomb Solid Waste Management in Georgia: New Challenges Ahead Essential Elements of Negotiating Professional Service Firm Contracts The Walker County Courthouse at LaFayette Extension News: Partnerships are Key to Conservation Education Research Corner: Interns: An Asset to Every County NACo News: Counties and Climate Change FAQs Georgia Flag to Travel to All 159 Georgia Counties State Announces Regional Recycling Hub Grant Awards Abraham Joins ACCG Support Staff County Parade ACCG Launches e-Magazine Index of Advertisers

Georgia County Government - February 2008

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