Georgia County Government - December 2008 - (Page 24)

ACCG Recognizes Nine Outstanding Georgia La he 2008 session of the Georgia Genera l Assembly was t r u ly like few in recent history. With an overriding focus on a proposal to reform the property tax dominating much of the session, less emphasis than was optimal was given to pressing needs including transportation funding and the need to bolster Georgia’s inadequate network of trauma care medical centers. Throughout, ACCG’s priority was the protection of local government control over – and flexibility concerning expenditures of – local government revenue sources. The support of key legislative leaders was critical to promoting tax reform alternatives that would benefit all Georgians. Even as reform proposals dominated the session, however, thanks to the assistance and support of other key lawmakers, progress resulted on behalf of transportation funding, conservation of forestlands, and legislation to promote needed redevelopment in areas stricken by blight. To a l l t he outstanding legislators herein who garnered 2008 ACCG Legislative Service Awards, “friends of county government” all, the ACCG membership expresses sincere gratitude, and earnest expectations of future progress for all Georgia’s property taxpaying citizens. It is in this spirit that ACCG’s policy staff acknowledges the following outstanding Georgia lawmakers for their assistance and support. Their efforts have helped counties gain ground in key policy areas critical not only to the sound operation of county governments statewide, but also to the quality of life of the citizens all Georgia’s elected officials serve. Honorees are: T oughly discussed and protected the rights of local officials, to determine the appropriate level of service for their community with the local accountability required to generate the taxes necessary to fund these services. Lt. Governor Cagle also provided great leadership in measuring legislative proposals for their economic benefits to the state, ensuring that there was a measurable return on the state’s investment. Lt. Governor Cagle has garnered great respect among s t at e a nd lo c a l D e mo c r at s a nd Republicans for his ability to bring diverse groups to the table and build consensus around issues that are important to all Georgians. ACCG expresses appreciation for the open working relationship the association’s membership has enjoyed with the Lt. Governor’s office under Cagle’s leadership. to maintain a diversified revenue stream that encompasses a broad tax base with low tax rates. Each community in Georgia is unique and the optimal mix of services and revenues for one community is often very different from the optimal mix in another area of the state. Lt. Governor Casey Cagle Topping the list of distinguished Legislative Service Award recipients for 2008 is Georgia Lt. Governor Casey Cagle. Through Lt. Governor Cagle’s thoughtful and even-handed leadership, a rush to make major changes to Georgia’s property tax system was slowed. Lt. Governor Cagle wanted to ensure that these changes were thor24 GEORGIA COUNTY GOVERNMENT Rep. Dubose Porter Another longtime “friend of county government,” Rep. DuBose Porter, is lauded this year for leading efforts to protect local control and flexibility over local revenues during the tax reform debate. As county officials are well aware, a major proposal to reform property taxes by centralizing more control over revenues with the state dominated the legislative session. Without strong support from respected legislative leaders, ACCG’s defensive lobbying efforts would perhaps have seen little success. Rep. Porter demonstrated his support for meaningful tax reform that moves the state forward, in lieu of pursuing the politically popular “issue” of the day. Counties continue to face unprecedented and mounting pressures to provide adequate delivery of services – many of these critical services such as police and fire safety, expected by residents – and at the same time, must meet mandates to fund federal and state requirements while keeping local taxes from going up. To balance these conf licting demands, county officials must have more control and flexibility at the local level over revenues and expenditures. This will allow counties Rep. John Lunsford While so much focus was placed on measures that would “reform” the property tax, transportation needs still figured very high in importance for county governments throughout the 2008 session. According to Matthew Hicks, ACCG’s Associate Legislative Director for Economic Development and Transportation, Rep. John Lunsford sponsored HB 1019 in response to overwhelming demand for new transportation infrastructure investments statewide. This legislation creates a State Infrastructure Bank that would function as a “revolving loan fund” for local government transportation projects. This groundbreaking legislation was modeled on similar infrastructure banks in 33 other states. The legislation will authorize Georgia counties to apply for loans or other financial assistance to accelerate needed transportation projects, including roads and bridges, public transit projects, rail projects, the building or expansion of local or regional airports, and the building of alternative transportation facilities. Rep. Vance Smith In other vital transportation initiatives, recognizing that Georgia is the 3rd fastest-growing state in the nation but ranks 50th in transportation funding per capita, Rep. Vance Smith championed a new transportation funding mechanism during the 2008 session in HB 1319 and HR 1226. While the legislation did not pass, Rep. Smith’s efforts greatly promoted awareness of the need to substantially invest in Georgia’s transportation infrastructure. In advocating for new funding, Rep. Smith strongly

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

Georgia County Government - December 2008 Contents President's Message County Matters 2009 Legislative Forecast: ACCG's Platform for the Coming Legislative Session ACCG Policy Staff 2008 Legislative Awards Honor Georgia Lawmakers Cell Towers and Local Governments Oglethorpe Power Plans Biomass Electric Facilities Georgia's Grand Old Courthouses: Dawson County Extension News: Biofuels Development Research Corner: Implementing a Record Retention Policy County Parade Index of Advertisers/Advertiser.com

Georgia County Government - December 2008

For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.