Legislative Update
Volume 10 , Issue 2       
January 25, 2019

Week Two Marked with Budget Hearings
Week two of the 2019 legislative session was marked with budget hearings from the Joint Appropriations Committee. Committee members received presentations from state agencies as well as Governor Kemp.

Governor Kemp released his proposed budget report for the Amended Fiscal Year (AFY) 2019 and the Big Budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2020. You can review the Governor's Budget Report here.

Budget Highlights
AFY 2019 Budget (Supplemental Budget):
  • $68.8 million in grants to local schools to improve school security
  • $8.4 million to expand the Georgia Apex Program to provide school based mental health services in high schools
  • $35.8 million Forestland Protection Act grants for reimbursement to local governments
  • $2.6 million to implement Georgia tax reform and online tax collections
  • $5.6 million for hazardous waste cleanup

FY 2020 Budget:
  • $492 million to adjust the base salaries for certified teachers and employees by $3,000 per year
  • A 2 percent pay raise for all state employees
  • $28.2 million for behavioral health services
  • $4.3 million for the expansion of accountability courts
  • $150 million in bond funds for the replacement and implementation of voting systems statewide
  • $5.1 million to implement Georgia tax reform and online tax collections

Click here to review ACCG's full overview of the Governor’s Budget Report that includes items of interest to counties. ACCG will provide updates as the budget progresses through the legislative process.
Department of Revenue Issues Bulletin on Availability of Sales Tax Information
The Georgia Department of Revenue (DOR) has issued a Policy Bulletin regarding the process for counties and other local governments to obtain information about vendors remitting sales taxes that are attributable to that local jurisdiction. This Bulletin is in response to the passage of SB 371 (an ACCG Priority) last session.

Under SB 371, a county governing authority may designate an official to make requests and receive such sales tax information. That information remains confidential and may only be discussed by the governing authority in executive session. The Policy Bulletin may be found here.
Click on "This Week's Bills" to review the bills included in this week's Legislative Update.

Access the Legislative Tracking Database for a compilation of all bills ACCG is following. 
Facebook Live and Legislative Update Newsletter - Thursday, January 31
Next week's Facebook Live Legislative Update will take place on Thursday, January 31 at 8:30 a.m. The Legislative Update e-newsletter will also be released on Thursday. This schedule change is in anticipation of circumstances regarding Super Bowl 53 in downtown Atlanta that will impact ACCG's office hours.
Watch Today's Livestream of the Legislative Update
Did you miss today's Facebook Live Legislative Update? Don't worry - we've got you covered! Just click on the ACCG Tv logo to start watching!
Conference Housing Deadline is Tuesday, January 29
Registration is now available for the 2019 Capitol Connection Conference that will take place February 27-28 in Atlanta/Fulton County. If you have yet to do so, contact your county clerk to register today to secure accommodations in the ACCG room block by Tuesday, January 29. The designated conference hotel is The Omni at CNN Center in downtown Atlanta.


Also, county officials are encouraged to invite their legislators to the ACCG/GMA Joint Legislative Breakfast that will take place on February 28 at the Georgia Railroad Freight Depot. Click here for more information.
ACCG Legislative Communications Tools
As ACCG prepares for another successful session as the official voice for Georgia’s 159 counties, we want to remind our county officials of the various communications tools that will help keep them informed and engaged. Click here to read all about them!
ACCG News
News You Can Use - Articles Related to ACCG Policy Issues
The following are pertinent articles regarding some of the major policy issues that ACCG is covering. The full article can be accessed by clicking on the title.

Atlanta Journal Constitution – January 23, 2019
To learn the latest about what's happening at the Capitol, register for the 2019 Capitol Connection Conference.
ACCG is YOUR county association here to advance all Georgia county governments. Please feel free to let us know when you're visiting the State Capitol this session, and a member of the policy team will gladly assist you as needed. Don't forget to use your 2019 Legislative Toolkit when conversing with your state legislators!
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