Georgia County Government - September 2008 - (Page 8)

PRESIDENT continued from page 7 some states, owing to the wisdom of state leaders’ having set aside reserves to offset what will surely be significant revenue shortfalls from the recession. Measures to reduce, change or eliminate the property tax consumed the bulk of attention in the 2008 session. ACCG’s Revenue and Finance Committee has advised that commissioners will be looking at tax reform again, but with respect to finding alternatives to a statewide assessment cap and ways to eliminate property tax on vehicles while keeping the Measures to reduce, change or eliminate the property tax consumed the bulk of attention in the 2008 session. counties financially whole. According to ACCG Legislative Director Clint Mueller, who coordinates the Revenue and Finance Committee, the association is exploring the possibility of seeking a change of state law to allow counties to collect and/or audit their local sales tax. For transportation, as outlined thoroughly in the preceding issue of this magazine, 2009 will be a very important year. ACCG’s Economic Development and Transportation policy committee’s top priority is pursuing a regional sales tax for funding regional transportation projects. The tax is the brainchild of the Get Georgia Moving Coalition, formed from more than 50 participating government, transit organizations, business, environmental and transportation industry leaders, including ACCG, to find resources for the state’s transportation infrastructure. The recommended voluntary 1-cent Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (T-SPLOST) is anticipated to be ACCG’s top priority in the upcoming legislature. In the Health and Human Services policy arena, commissioners’ leading goal again for 2009 will be promoting adequate funding of a statewide trauma care network. The lack of access that exists especially in rural Georgia today has the potential to limit economic development, and needlessly cost Georgians lives that could be saved by reliable access to trauma care. The Natural Resources and Environment committee guided members through fine points involving counties with regard to implementing the all-important State Water Management Plan, enacted last year. The committee also deliberated county positions with regard to solid waste, implementing the State Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Program (SCORP) and the State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP), land use and environmental program financing. Finally, the General County Government Committee formed a subcommittee to examine key issues relating to the Georgia Open Records Act, also known as the “Sunshine Law.” The subcommittee will review point of receipt for requests, the use of personal e-mail for county business, and how to address blanket open records requests in the future. I encourage you to attend ACCG’s Fall Policy Conference, where you can participate in final deliberations on the committee of your choice, and vote on the final presentation of this key policy document. ■ Since 1996, Office Depot has been honored to be the supplier of office and school products for U.S. Communities members, including the Association County Commissioners of Georgia. More than 8,500 customers throughout the United States currently benefit from the top-quality products and great prices offered through this special program. Pricing Advantages: 500 core list items discounted up to 85% off manufacturer’s list price Additional pricing options offering discounts on catalog-listed office essentials and non-core list items Copy print and binding services discounted in each , of our Office Depot stores Discounted full-line Promotional Products catalog Advantages to Y our Organization: Our cooperative bid agreement eliminates your need to go through the bid process Contract and pricing stay current through a semi-annual review with lead agency Broad product offering from each supplier Lower administrative costs E-commerce incentive rebates available Volume incentive rebates also available Free next-business-day delivery in our local delivery areas* Free registration for public agencies, with no minimum spending requirements Aggregated spending volumes nationwide enable customers to buy green while remaining in the budgetary black Knowledgeable sales professionals available throughout the U.S. to assist you Contact your local Business Solutions Account Manager to discover how Office Depot can help you take care of business through the U.S. Communities program, or call the Office Depot hotline at 800.890.4941 (press 1, then extension 3202). *Order by 5:00 PM local time and your office supplies order within our local delivery area will be delivered FREE the next business day Please note: Fax orders must be received by 3:00 PM to qualify for FREE . next-business-day delivery Sorry special orders are not available for delivery in Alaska or Hawaii. Other . , restrictions apply Contact your account representative for full details. . 8 GEORGIA COUNTY 373287_OfficeDepot.indd 1 GOVERNMENT 4/29/08 9:08:59 AM C 4.A DV. 8 2 .02 08 http://www.officedepot.com

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

Georgia County Government - September 2008 Contents President’s Message County Matters Cobb County: Quality of Life is Job No. 1 Innovative Transportation Financing in Georgia Drive Your Fleet into the Next Generation of Efficiency, Profits Spotlight: Georgia Technology Authority Media Productions GEMA News: Hurricane Season Could Cause Natural Gas Spike GDEcD News: Communities Receive Funds to Develop Tourism Assets Georgia’s Grand Old Courthouses: Upson County Extension News: Radon: Georgia’s Silent Danger Research Corner: Conserving Fuel Costs in Your County Staff News County Parade Index of Advertisers

Georgia County Government - September 2008

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