Association County Commissioners of Georgia : About Us

The Association County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG) is a nonprofit instrumentality of Georgia’s county governments. Formed in 1914 with 19 charter county members, today ACCG serves as the consensus building, training, and legislative organization for all 159 county governments in the state.

With this primary charge, ACCG works to ensure that the counties can provide the necessary leadership, services and programs to meet the health, safety and welfare needs of their citizens.

ACCG objectives, as listed in the bylaws are:

To develop and maintain an organization structure within which ideas can be presented and a unified policy developed, enabling the Association to speak with a unified voice;
To ensure that the legal basis of counties is such that public services may be provided in a cost effective manner;
To ensure that an adequate revenue base for counties is established and defended against special interests;
To provide county government officials the opportunity to exchange ideas and experience and obtain expert advice;
To provide Congress and the state legislature with information necessary for the development of sound legislation of benefit to the nation, state and counties.

Georgia

’s county governments constitute the direct membership of ACCG. This encompasses 159 counties represented by more than 810 county commissioners. The association’s constituency also includes 400 appointed county clerks, managers, administrators, and attorneys and more than 30,000 full-time and part-time employees. Non-governmental entities, including private businesses and corporations, may also participate in many of ACCG’s activities as Associate Members.

Mission Statement

It is the mission of the Association County Commissioners of Georgia to enhance the role, stature and responsiveness of county government in Georgia. Since counties are the level of government closest to the people and serve all the people of the state, ACCG will promote the ability of Georgia counties to provide public services responsibly, efficiently, and cost effectively through cooperative legislative action, education of public officials, provision of quality member services and technical assistance, and increasing public awareness of critical local government issues.

Building Consensus

ACCG embraces a policy committee process to reach consensus among county officials. Among the most accepted strategies in consensus building, the committee process gives all county officials the opportunity to offer views as to the present and future of county government in Georgia. ACCG has six standing policy committees: Economic Development and Transportation, General County Government, Health and Human Resources, Natural Resources and Environment, Public Safety and the Courts, and Revenue and Finance.

Member Services

ACCG also administers a comprehensive array of member services, tailored to meet the needs of county governments. These include insurance, financing, managerial, technical assistance programs, and training.

Exchanging Ideas

ACCG hosts a number of meetings and training opportunities throughout the year, culminating in the Annual Meeting in the spring which is the largest gathering of county officials in the state.

Code of Ethics

As the duly elected or designated commissioner(s) of this Georgia county which is a member in good standing of this Association County Commissioners of Georgia, we subscribe to the ACCG Code of Ethics.

To continue to make honesty the keystone of our efforts, by being always mindful of our oath of office, and by practicing honesty and impartiality in all our actions.
To keep the public informed on county operations and activities since we believe that “county business is ever public business.”
To expend all county income economically for the greatest good of all county residents.
To provide a certified annual audit of all county income, expenditures, and investments.
To set up and follow a budgetary expense for county income and expenditures.
To employ only persons found to be properly qualified by training or experience for key county jobs.
To appraise all real and personal property impartially for tax purposes.
To encourage the commercial, cultural, and industrial development of our country through sound planning and practical cooperation with other local governments, institutions, state and federal agencies.
To remember always that “In God We Trust” in pursuit of the American Way of free enterprise and independence through “Local Government – The Bulwark of Democracy.”