The 11th Circuit Appeals Court released a unanimous ruling yesterday (Tuesday, June 28) that held that one of the purposes for Lake Lanier was to supply water to the metro-Atlanta region. This ruling overturns a 2009 decision by Senior U.S. District Judge Paul Magnuson that ruled it was illegal for the Corps of Engineers to draw water from Lake Lanier for this purpose.

Presentations and resources from sessions during the Legislative Leadership Conference held on October 4 - 5, 2010

2010 NACo Achievement Award Honors Ten Georgia County Government Programs

The ACCG Annual Meeting is the largest gathering of Georgia county officials in the state.

Six Georgia counties – Augusta-Richmond, Camden, Cherokee, Clayton, Habersham and Gwinnett – recently were selected as Georgia County Excellence Award recipients for developing innovative programs designed to make county government more effective and efficient, improve services for county residents and enhance the quality of life in Georgia communities.

The Association County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG) is pleased to announce a new partnership with the Georgia Humanities Council to make the New Georgia Encyclopedia (NGE), www.georgiaencyclopedia.org, its preferred site for information about Georgia counties.

The Georgia County Internship Program (GCIP) is recruiting counties to participate in the fall and spring semester program. To date, over 190 college and graduate students have interned in 50 counties. These students have assisted counties by creating and updating websites, performing GIS mapping, updating personnel guides, conducting energy audits, creating and updating record management plans, providing on-air talent, scripts, and film footage for county television stations, and much, much more.

This program will connect qualified students with opportunities to work in local government.

Health promotion and wellness have proven to positively affect healthcare costs. To promote member participation in wellness activities, the ACCG – Group Health Benefits Program (GHBP) offers Health Promotion Grants to those counties and authorities who participate in ACCG’s health insurance program through Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia. This year, 40 member counties will receive grants totaling $100,000.

ACCG members visit Arlington National Cemetery

State legislators spent the week learning more about the Governor’s budget proposal from state agency heads who testified at committee meetings. ACCG also took an in-depth look at the FY2012 Amended Budget and the proposed FY2013 budget to determine areas that will impact local governments.

Special Council on Tax Reform and Fairness will report recommendations for legislation by January 10, 2011.

ACCG press releases are distributed electronically to the media, ACCG membership and other citizens of Georgia. Press releases are listed below by date.

The ACCG - Interlocal Risk Management Agency (IRMA) Board of Trustees, which oversees the member-owned property and liability insurance pool for the association, recently voted to return a dividend in the amount of $1.75 million. This marks the ninth consecutive year that the program has returned a dividend, which is intended to benefit the long-term participants of the insurance program.

The Association County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG) Civic Affairs Foundation has received a $15,000 grant from the Verizon Foundation in order to expand the Georgia Civic Awareness Program for Students (GCAPS) to an additional four Georgia counties. GCAPS was developed by ACCG staff and county officials to address the need for increased civic involvement and awareness among today’s youth.

The Special Council on Tax Reform and Fairness for Georgians has released its final report on Friday, January 7, 2011. ACCG has developed an analysis and summary of recommendations that pertain to county revenues or that are related to an ACCG policy position.

The report highlights how states are working to address transportation infrastructure investment needs.

ACCG supports giving counties and local taxpayers the option to hold nonpartisan local elections if that is the desire of their community.

The Board of Trustees for the Association County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG) Workers’ Compensation Insurance Fund recently voted to return a dividend in the amount of $3 million to members participating in the program. The Workers’ Compensation Insurance Fund, also known as the ACCG-Group Self-Insurance Workers’ Compensation Fund (GSIWCF), is a non-profit, member-owned workers’ compensation insurance pool designed to meet the insurance needs of Georgia county governments.

On November 7, the Board of Trustees of the ACCG-Group Self-Insurance Workers’ Compensation Fund (GSIWCF) voted to return a dividend in the amount of $3.25 million to its membership. This represents an increase of 8.3% over last year’s $3 million dividend.

Make Your County's Resolution to Sign Up for ACCG’s Inmate Medical Savings Program.

This dividend represents the largest in the program's history and a 40% increase over last year's $1.25 million return.

This new third component of training will be launched at the annual conference in April.

ACCG knows that you face a difficult task in addressing our state's $2.2 billion budget shortfall by making reductions to the current year and fiscal year 2010 budgets. I also know that many of you are very concerned about the Governor's recommendation to eliminate $429 million of the Homestead Tax Relief Grant (HTRG) credit because you know that homeowners will have to repay the amount of the credit that they received on their 2008 property tax bills.

The Georgia Department of Agriculture has issued an alert, and counties should notify employees and volunteers to be on the lookout for these honeybees.

Information from the Fiscal Research Center at Georgia State looks at the effects on various income levels.

House Bill 811, having passed the House by 151-5,was intended to prevent the redirection of dedicated fees for the Solid Waste Trust Fund, the Hazardous Waste Trust Fund, the Peace Officer and Prosecutors Training Fund,and Joshua's Law.

Attorney General Thurbert Baker has issued an important Official Opinion in favor of local government.

Annual Sunny Awards Recognize local governments with perfect transparency sores. Find out which Georgia Counties were recognized.

ACCG’s health program partner, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia, will add coverage of the H1N1 (swine flu) flu vaccine

ACCG, in partnership with Georgia Trend magazine, is pleased to announce a call for nominations for the 7th Annual Georgia County Excellence Awards program!

This annual recognition highlights leaders in business, politics, education and non-profit organizations.

Federal Agencies Required to Pay Stormwater Fees

The passage of HB 1055 included an increase in the rate paid by counties to the Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC).

Counties need to check the populations acts to see if one or more are applicable to the county. Since a population act uses census numbers to determine which jurisdiction or jurisdictions are subject to the act’s provisions, it is critical that county attorneys examine application population acts relative to the 2010 census numbers.

The passage of HB 1055, which increases many of the fees for services provided by the courts and the sheriff’s office, will generate additional revenues for counties.

These checks are for unidentified sales taxes collected in late 2007 and part of 2009.

The goal of this program is to assist in increasing the recovery of recyclables here in Georgia.

As required by HB 122, the Carl Vinson Institute of Government recently completed development of a website giving local governments the ability to post financial documents, both adopted budgets and audited financial reports, on their website.

Marquel’s Pledge is a community initiative to raise the awareness of the dangers of celebratory gunfire in DeKalb County and throughout Georgia. DeKalb County created the initiative after 4-year-old Marquel Peters was struck and killed in church by a stray bullet believed to have been fired by a New Year’s Eve reveler.

In order to facilitate information exchange and increase county involvement in the legislative process, ACCG has asked each county to designate a County Legislative Coordinator (CLC).

The Georgia Department of Transportation has released the attached letter providing guidance to local officials on plans for increased coordination during winter weather events as well as approval to clear state roads.

Learn how southeastern states and local governments are faring during the economic downturn.

As a result of decreased funding in recent years, Cooperative Extension is developing a tiered approach to delivering services in counties.

As ACCG newest preferred partner, FivePoints provides cost effective solutions to help local governments with electronic records management, data integration, records preservation, and scanning services.

No funding allocated in Governor's budget proposal. ACCG urges legislators to include the estimated $10 million owed to counties.

The FTC’s Red Flag Rules to protect consumers from identity theft goes into effect on January 1, 2011.

Interested in promoting civic awareness to youth? Apply now for funding to implement the Georgia Civic Awareness Program for Students (GCAPS) in your county!

Georgia Supreme Court Amends Rules for Preparing the Record for Appeals in Response to Increase in Per Page Charge Set by HB 1055

Effective December 31, 2010, animal shelters are prohibited from using gas chambers (bottled carbon monoxide) to euthanize dogs or cats, including those that are feral and/or dangerous and may pose a threat to humans.

ACCG’s partnership with Gas South provides discounted natural gas rates to Georgia county officials and employees.

Check out the latest federal stimulus information from GDOT. You are also encouraged to check the Georgia DOT's Stimulus Website.

In the last year, many counties have received information from the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) regarding Title VI. Many counties have been asked to sign Title VI assurance documents in order to ensure federal funding for road construction projects. However, counties may still have questions about the requirements of Title VI and how it affects local government.

Please see the information below on the Georgia Department of Transportation Request for ADA Plans and a Nondiscrimination Agreement. ACCG will provide more information on these issues as it becomes available.

General Assembly has not made a final decision about whether to move this budget proposal forward.

GEFA accepting applications for loans to local governments for expanding existing reservoirs.

The Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) has developed an interactive web-based training program for users of the Motobridge/Georgia Interoperability Network (GIN). This training was developed and designed with the assistance of the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GRTI).

During the 2008 session, the Georgia General Assembly passed Senate Bill 342 which charged the Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority with conducting an inventory and survey of feasible sites for water supply reservoirs in the state.

A recently released report developed by the Tax Foundation, State-Local Tax Burdens Fall in 2009 as Tax Revenues Shrink Faster than Income, ranks Georgia among the lower half of states based on an analysis of several factors related to the payment of state and local taxes.

A recent report from the Tax Foundation compares 792 high population counties (65,000+) throughout the country.

Georgia communities can now apply for low-interest loans and grants to finance local transportation projects through the GTIB.

Congratulations to the county officials & ACCG staff included in Georgia Trend’s 100 Most Influential Georgians.

Governor Nathan Deal was sworn into office and delivered his inaugural address on January 10, 2011.

Governor Nathan Deal is scheduled to deliver the annual State of the State address on Tuesday, January 10 at 7 p.m. in the House chamber at the State Capitol.

Douglas County E-911 Director Greg Whitaker was re-elected President of the Georgia 9-1-1 Directors Association at the annual meeting of the organization. He was first elected for the 2009-10 term, and now has been re-elected for the 2011-12 term.

Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful announces that it has received a national award from Keep America Beautiful and Nestle Pure Life for efforts to encourage local plastic bottle recycling during the Great American Cleanup, the nation's largest community improvement program.

This training is designed to provide new and experienced Benefits Administrators and their Supervisors with detailed information about the ACCG/BCBSGA Health Program, product options, and services.

ACCG - Group Health Benefits Plan (GHBP) will once again offer Health Promotion and Wellness Grants.

the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) is partnering with GHFA Affordable Housing, Inc. to administer a new program called HomeSafe Georgia. HomeSafe Georgia targets homeowners who have experienced a substantial decrease in income due to job loss or underemployment by providing a mortgage payment bridge while they seek new or better employment. This program is expected to assist over 18,000 people.

Learn more about SB 346, the property tax reform legislation recently signed by Governor Perdue.

Review presentation materials and handouts from the Property Tax Learning Sessions.

The Georgia General Assembly passed legislation in the areas of funding for transportation infrastruture that requires implementation by counties.

University of Georgia (UGA)Vice President for Public Service and Outreach Jennifer Frum announced the appointment of Laura Meadows as director of the Carl Vinson Institute of Government on Wednesday, February 15. The appointment takes effect immediately.

Local Government Risk Management Services (LGRMS) is a safety and loss control organization that ACCG Insurance Programs depend on to help create the safest possible environment for Georgia counties most valuable resource – its citizens and employees.

Georgia’s counties and cities are required to adopt outdoor watering ordinances by Jan 1.

Steps to make ACCG.org your default homepage.

It may be necessary for counties to update their ordinances regulating pre-owned manufactured homes.

NACo is now accepting applications for the 2012 County Courthouse Awards. Established in 2001, the awards are sponsored by Siemens and recognize individual elected county officials from NACo member counties who demonstrate innovative and effective leadership to improve the quality of life of residents. Nominations are due by April 27, 2012.

ACCG’s Land Initiative and Nine Georgia Counties win a 2009 NACo Achievement Award!

A new National Association of Counties (NACo) survey shows that counties large and small appear to be settling into the "new normal" of revenue, staffing and service delivery levels after years of revenue losses in a U.S. economy struggling toward recovery.

The National Association of Counties’ (NACo) has sent letters to President Obama and Congressional leaders voicing deep concern that federal budget deficit reduction talks will focus too much on reductions to domestic, discretionary spending programs that will affect the American people.

New website allows public safety officials to collaborate and share information easily throughout the state and country.

The Fiscal Research Center at Georgia State University's Andrew Young School of Policy Studies has released a new report, "An Analysis of Water Related Infrastructure Spending in Georgia," that examines the effects of past Georgia state and local government infrastrucutre investements and conservation policies on water quality and quantity and explores the necessary infrastructure investment to maintain future water quality and quantity.

Learn more through this Q&A about the rules for the use of outdoor water.

With all that’s been said about smart growth in the past two decades, wouldn’t it be nice if someone put some of the best advice on paper? And tailored it to our state?

The Department of Revenue (DOR) has implemented a new integreated tax system which is significantly reducing the unidentified sales and use tax payments.

State lawmakers passed many bills during the 2011 legislative session that require action on behalf of county elected officials or may impact local communities. Several significant bills will go into effect on July 1, 2011.

The Georgia Department of Audits and Accounts has released the Georgia Tax Expenditure Report for 2012. This report was developed by the Georgia State University Fiscal Research Center for inclusion in the Governor's Budget Report as required by Georgia Code §45-12-75.

The Utilities Protection Center will use this new system for all UPC related functions.

The Association County Commissioners of Georgia and the Carl Vinson Institute of Government at the University of Georgia look forward to welcoming county commmissioners elected in November to the Newly Elected Officials Conference at the Continuing Education Center at the University of Georgia.

The Georgia County Internship Program funds internship positions in Georgia County Government. Submit your application and one or more interns in any county department.

Event to celebrate our past successes, fast forward to a discussion of future opportunities and end with a facilitated discussion on the FUTURE OF RURAL GEORGIA!

On June 30th, the Georgia Supreme Court rendered a 4-3 decision regarding law enforcement records and the response time.

ACCG's federal legislative partner, Holland & Knight provides an overview of the proposed budget cuts under consideration in the U.S. Congress.

These projections were updated from the initial release and will be adjusted again after the census numbers are ratified.

The Governor signed SB 346, the comprehensive tax reform bill, June 4, 2010.

Webinar Thursday, March 1 2012 from 2 p.m.- 4 p.m. : FCC, VHF, and UHF narrowbanding mandate that will impact most of Georgia.

The new Regional Commission map and directory has been approved and released by the DCA Board

GEMA/Homeland Security and the Georgia Department of Public Health launched the Ready Georgia mobile app.

Redistricting Information following the 2010 Census

In partnership with the Department of Revenue, ACCG has initiated a new statewide program that will allow counties with business occupation tax permits to match their data against the state’s sales tax registration information. This program will help counties ensure that all businesses legally required to collect sales tax in their county are doing so and remitting the tax to the right jurisdiction.

In recent weeks, there has been some confusion regarding what commissioners and sheriffs need to do regarding inmate health care – and in particular, whether the counties in the ACCG Inmate Health Program need to take action before July 1, 2011.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released the final report on the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project.

Amendment was unanimously adopted on June 2, 2010.

Gov. Nathan Deal has approved the final report of the Water Supply Task Force, which outlines water supply initiatives and recommendations for the Governor’s Water Supply Program. The final report, which is available at www.GeorgiaWaterSupply.org, was approved by the WSTF this month.

After a busy year preparing and planning for disasters and then actually having to coordinate relief efforts after three major events in 2011, Whitfield County’s Emergency Management Agency has been named the state’s Agency of the Year by the Emergency Management Association of Georgia.

Union County Sole Commissioner Lamar Paris, ACCG Executive Director Ross King and other county officials recently travelled to the National Association of Counties (NACo) Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C.