Georgia County Government - December 2008 - (Page 25)

wmakers with 2008 Legislative Service Awards supported principles ACCG holds as fundamental to workable government, those of local control and accountability. He took political risks to support authorizing voters to create a new, temporary sales tax for transportation and worked tirelessly to pass the legislation. f lexibility concerning local expenditures will allow counties to keep a diversified revenue stream relying on a broad tax base and with low tax rates, according to the unique needs of every Georgia community. Royal has earned the respect of both Republicans and Democrats and has proven an invaluable, and inexhaustible, resource on sound tax policy.” In years past, Rep. Royal has always strived to facilitate compromise between ACCG and GMA on difficult policy changes impacting local revenues and service and has been viewed by both state and local elected officials as the General Assembly’s premier expert on property taxation. ACCG is grateful for the many years of alliance counties have had with this distinguished Georgia lawmaker. Sen. Chip Rodgers Sen. Chip Rogers is recognized w it h a 2008 Legislative Service Award for his staunch support of fiscally conservative policies. During the 2008 legislative session, Sen. Rogers worked to bring meaningful tax reform to Georgia while protecting local control and flexibility over local revenues. Sen. Rogers worked closely with ACCG, as well, on critical measures to conserve forestland in Georgia and provide financing options to local governments that need public infrastructure in blighted area to incentivize redevelopment. Sen. Rogers was also instrumental in reforming Georgia’s hotel and motel laws to make them easier to understand and administer, adding effectiveness and simplicity concerning these laws from the perspective of Georgia’s local governments. Rep. Calvin Smyre Rep. Calvin Smyre, also the recipient of several previous ACCG Legislative Ser v ice Awards, is acknowledged as an honoree this year for his leadership in the effort to protect local control and f lexibility over local revenues during the tax reform debate. Rep. Smyre demonstrated his support for meaningful tax reform that moves our state forward instead of that which is pursued for political expedienc y. A s pre v iou sly s a id , cou nt ie s throughout Georgia face increasing pressures to provide adequate service levels expected by their residents, fund federal and state requirements, and keep local taxes from increasing, creating the need to effectively balance these conflicting demands. ACCG maintains that local control over revenues and Sen. Jeff Mullis Sen. Mu l lis, a not her lon g t i me “ f r ie nd of county government” and recipient of many ACCG legislative service awards in years past, championed a new transportation funding mechanism during the 2008 session, sponsoring Senate Resolution 845. While the legislation ultimately did not pass, Sen. Mullis’s efforts also went far to advance awareness of the need to invest in the state’s transportation infrastructure and also underscored the principles of local control and accountability. He too took risks to support authorizing voters to create a new, temporary sales tax for transportation and worked tirelessly to pass the legislation. Rep. Richard Royal This year Rep. Royal, who has garnered a host of ACCG L eg islat ive Awards for his loyal support and assistance to county governments during his tenure in the Georgia House, worked to ensure that local governments would receive state reimbursement for new tax benefits offered through the Georgia Forestland Protection Act. Rep. Royal also worked this year to continue to st reng t hen prov i sions i n t he Conservation Use Program to protect its integrity and ensure the goals of the prog r a m a re bei ng met . Hav i ng announced his intention not to seek reelection this year, the ACCG leadership wishes to express special thanks to Rep. Royal for his longtime support of local governments, in the legislature and in general. “During his 25 years of service in the Georgia Legislature, Sen. Richard Royal has been an outstanding friend to local governments,” ACCG Legislative Director Clint Mueller asserts. “Rep. Rep. David Ralston Rep. Ralston is being recognized this year with an ACCG Legislative Service Award for working tirelessly to shepherd HB 1245, a piece of ACCGrequested legislation through both the House and Senate during the 2008 Legislative Session. The bill made several significant changes to Georgia’s Public Defender system, not the least of which was adding seats to the governing body of the program reserved for county commissioners. Rep. Ralston, as Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, spent countless hours with ACCG staff perfecting the legislation and gathering the support of legislative leadership for its passage. In other legislative efforts to improve the state’s representation of the indigent, Rep. Ralston has always kept concerns over the financial burden on county taxpayers at the fore in his deliberations. He has worked to implement several other key pieces of legislation to protect counties from unduly subsidizing the state-run public defender system. His steadfast service on behalf of county interests and his sensitivity to the burden being placed on property taxpaying citizens have greatly facilitated fairness concerning these issues. In closing, ACCG salutes these dedicated lawmakers and their ongoing sensitivity to the need for laws that promote effective government which is workable at the local level, as well as at the level of the state, in the interest of all Georgia’s citizens. ■ DECEMBER 2008 www.accg.org 25 http://www.accg.org

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

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