September 2024

ACCG News

ACCG Policy Council Proposes 2025 Policy Agenda Items 

The ACCG Policy Council met on Thursday, Sept. 5 to approve the association’s Proposed 2025 Policy Agenda, which is made up of the state and federal policy objectives and ACCG’s guiding principles. ACCG’s policy committees held two rounds of meetings during the summer, recommending 19 state policy objectives and three federal policy objectives for the Policy Council’s consideration. The Policy Council selected 12 of those state objectives and all three federal recommendations. ACCG membership will vote on the overall Policy Agenda and select the association's top three legislative priorities for 2025 during the October 9-11 Legislative Leadership Conference in Athens-Clarke County. The state and federal policy objectives are as follows:

Proposed State Policy Objectives

• Truck Weight Increase/LMIG
• Increase Public Works Bidding Threshold 
• Georgia Transportation Infrastructure Bank 
• Implementation of Next Generation 911 System 
• Emergency Medical Services 
• Enhance Georgia’s Annexation Dispute Resolution Process
• House Bill 581 Cleanup
• State Water and Drought Management Plan 
• Title Ad Valorem Tax (TAVT)
• Annual Audit Compliance 
• Environmental Program Financing
• Court Reporters – Digitize Process 

Proposed Federal Policy Objectives 

• Next Generation 911
• Housing Affordability and Accessibility
• Federal Inmate Exclusion Policy 

To read more about the Policy Council meeting and get the details on the legislative and federal agenda items, please click here. 

ACCG Accepting Amendments to the Policy Objectives

Counties may now submit amendments to any of the Policy Objectives within the Proposed Policy Agenda. To make an amendment, you will need to complete an amendment form and get signatures from four other commissioners – each from a different county. The amendment form can be found here and amendment requirements are included below.

Amendment Requirements

Amendments to the Policy Agenda and resolutions may be proposed from the Membership under the following conditions:

1. Proposed amendments or resolutions must be in writing on an ACCG Amendment Form;
2. Proposed amendments or resolutions must be co-signed by a total of five (5) commissioners that are each from a different county in good standing; and
3. Completed, proposed amendments or resolutions must be submitted to President David Sikes (dsikes.toombsco@gmail.com) and Todd Edwards (tedwards@accg.org) prior to the start of the Business Session.

ACCG Summer Policy Committee Meeting Materials Available

The 2024 Summer Policy Committee Meetings were successful, resulting in active attendee engagement marked by lively discussions. Thanks to all the county officials who attended, participated, and helped formulate ACCG’s 2025 policy platforms and legislative and federal agendas. To view the materials and presentations provided at these meetings, please click here.

ACCG and GMA Hold Annual Joint Policy Council Meeting

The ACCG and GMA Policy Councils met on September 4-5 in Braselton/Barrow County to continue strengthening the county and city partnership in pursuing sound public policy for Georgia’s counties and cities. Among the joint topics discussed were service delivery and LOST negotiations, HB 581 (comprehensive tax reform), local government infrastructure needs, truck weight increases, and emerging technologies impacting cities and counties. The event was facilitated by the University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government (CVIOG).    

Deadline Extended to Appoint Your County Voting Delegate for the 2024 Legislative Leadership Conference

The deadline to appoint your county voting delegate has been extended to Friday, September 13. Counties are encouraged to appoint their voting delegate by the deadline to avoid handling it onsite at the conference. Voting delegates will cast the final vote on behalf of the county to approve the 2025 Policy Agenda and Legislative Priorities during the Business Session on Thursday, Oct. 10. The voting delegate form must be completed by Friday, September 13 and emailed to Avis White at awhite@accg.org. 

Important Note: Cellular devices will be used to cast votes. More details will be shared with voting delegates prior to the conference. 

Join ACCG at the 2024 Fall District Meetings

Make plans to attend a District Meeting this fall. This year’s meetings will take place Oct. 28-Nov. 22, in various locations throughout the state. ACCG staff and other issue experts will discuss a wide array of topics impacting counties and a review of the approved 2025 ACCG Policy Agenda and Legislative Priorities will take place. Registration is now open and those interested in attending can secure their spot by contacting their county clerk. 

Click here for more information on meeting dates and locations.

ACCG Speaks in Favor of Curbing TAVT Abuse

On Aug. 14, ACCG attended the Joint House Motor Vehicles and Senate Transportation Committee meeting to speak in support of legislation to stop temporary operating permit (TOP) and dealer plate abuse. Both issues are costing local governments title ad valorem tax (TAVT) revenues. This is one of ACCG's potential Policy Agenda items for the 2025 legislative session.

ACCG Executive Director Testifies at Legislative Study Committees 

On Aug. 29, ACCG Executive Director Dave Wills testified at the House Rural Development Council. He discussed the challenges facing rural counties, including those related to providing state-mandated services, training and education for county officials, and county viability. On Aug. 30, Dave testified at the Senate Preservation of Georgia’s Farmlands Study Committee, providing a county perspective on policies that affect the use of land, particularly as they relate to the continuing loss of farmlands to development.

Senate Preservation of Georgia’s Farmlands Study Committee.

House Rural Development Council

Register to Attend a Joint ACCG-GMA HB 581 Training Session

ACCG and GMA are hosting joint training sessions for counties and cities on House Bill 581. House Bill 581 passed during the 2024 legislative session and will usher in significant changes to Georgia’s property and local sales tax systems if adopted by voters in the 2024 general election. A thorough summary of HB 581 can be found here.  

Due to registration quickly filling, an additional session will be offered in Putnam County on Wednesday, Oct. 2 at 1:30 p.m. County officials and county staff are encouraged to register for their preferred meeting as soon as possible. More information on the sessions such as registration links, dates, and locations can be found here. For those who are unable to attend the in-person sessions, a webinar will also be available on Wednesday, Oct. 16 at 1:00 p.m. To register for the webinar, click here.

*Important Note: Registration for the in-person training is managed by GMA. To register, select your preferred meeting and create an account for the GMA event registration system. You cannot use your ACCG database credentials to log into this system. If you have questions or difficulties registering, please contact registration@gacities.com.

ACCG and GMA Present Legislative Update at the GAZA Annual Conference

On Friday, Aug. 16, ACCG Deputy Director Clint Mueller and GMA Director of Governmental Relations Jim Thornton provided a 2024 legislative update to the Georgia Association of Zoning Administrators (GAZA) in Dougherty County. The presentation covered all the significant planning, zoning and other land use bills considered during the 2024 legislative session, with city and county planning and zoning officials from across the state attending.

ACCG and GMA Roundtable with Congressman Mike Collins

ACCG and GMA hosted a roundtable discussion in Madison/Morgan County with Rep. Mike Collins (GA-10), county and city officials from the 10th District. The meeting provided a valuable platform for discussing critical local issues like community resiliency, infrastructure improvements, and housing, while exploring collaborative solutions and emphasizing the importance of continued dialogue between state and local leaders to address the needs of Georgia's communities. 

A sincere thank you to Congressman Collins for his dedication to tackling these critical issues and for his unwavering support of initiatives that benefit Georgia. We also extend our appreciation to the local leaders who actively contributed their insights and solutions.

State News

Apply for Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation's BRACE Community Improvement Grant 

The Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation is now accepting applications for the BRACE Community Improvement Grant. The purpose of the BRACE grant program is to reduce litter, blight, and illegal dumping on public property and encourage code enforcement efforts. Funded through the Solid Waste Trust Fund (SWTF), the grant program is designed to prioritize assistance for communities to address these challenges. Grants of $2,500 or $5,000 will be made in October 2024, and priority will be given to communities of 2,500 or less. The deadline to apply is Sept. 27, 2024.

Click here to learn more.

Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Program Pre-Application Window Open

The pre-application window for the Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Program (GOSP) is open until Tuesday, Oct. 15. GOSP is a grant program that provides funding to support parks and trails and provide stewardship and acquisition of critical conservation lands. Grant and loan funds will be available for local governments, state agencies and nongovernmental organizations with conservation missions. 

Click here for more information.

Land & Water Conservation Fund 2024-2025 Funding Cycle Now Open

The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) grant cycle is now open and accepting pre-applications for fiscal year 2024-2025. The LWCF Program is a federal program authorized by Congress for the purpose of acquiring federal lands and assisting states and local governments with funds to acquire lands and develop and renovate outdoor recreation facilities. LWCF funds are appropriated by Congress to the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Parks Service (NPS), and NPS allocates the funds through state agencies as a grant program to state and local governments.

For more information click here.

Recreational Trails Program

The Recreational Trails Program provides funding for the construction and rehabilitation of trails and directly related trailhead facilities. Qualified Local Governments, federal agencies, and state agencies are invited to apply. Click here to view the 2023-2024 grant recipients.

Learn more about the Recreational Trails Program by clicking here.

Federal News

ACCG Participates in 2024 NACo Knowledge Management Forum 

ACCG Director of Governmental Affairs Todd Edwards participated in NACo’s 2024 Knowledge Management Forum on August 14 -16 in St. Paul/Ramsey County, Minnesota. County association staff from around the country discussed various issues impacting county governments, including the county's role in economic development, managing growth, workforce challenges, housing affordability and availability, and homelessness. The group also toured the Minnesota State Capitol, one of the nation’s finest.   

Federal Grant Opportunity for Affordable Housing 

U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff has announced a new federal grant funding opportunity, the Pathways to Removing Obstacles to Housing (PRO Housing) program, to help local communities build more housing units, drive costs down, and help families afford homes.

The PRO Housing program provides federal grant funding through a competitive application process to help build more housing, including developing, evaluating and implementing housing policy plans; improving housing strategies; and facilitating affordable housing production and preservation.

Eligible applicants include state and local governments and metropolitan planning organizations. Grant applications are due by Tuesday, Oct. 15 at 11:59 p.m. and can be submitted online at https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/356013.

“Georgia families urgently need more affordable housing,” Ossoff said. “I encourage Georgia communities to contact me and my office with any questions about this grant opportunity.”

ACCG is YOUR county association. We are here to advance all 159 Georgia county governments. Please feel free to contact a member of the Governmental Affairs Team if they can assist in any way.