Each week ACCG shares snapshots of counties, highlighting activities from around the state and the ACCG team at work. Email your photos to locallens@accg.org.

Note: Local Lens submissions submitted prior to 12:00 p.m. on each Friday will be included in that week's edition. Submissions received after that will be included in the following week’s newsletter.

October 10, 2026

ACCG hosted more than 300 county officials for the Legislative Leadership Conference in Athens-Clarke County. Attendees had the opportunity to network with peers, enhance their understanding of county operations through CORE and Specialty track classes, and vote on the Proposed 2027 Policy Priorities.

During the first day of the conference, county officials expanded their knowledge in Lifelong Learning Academy (LLA) CORE and Specialty track classes. Topics included county government finance, public safety and public health, and shaping federal and state relations. 

ACCG President and Athens-Clarke County Mayor-Elect Welcome Conference Attendees

ACCG President and Colquitt County Commissioner Marc DeMott welcomed conference attendees to the Opening General Session and provided remarks about the importance of the policy development process. Attendees also received a warm welcome from Athens-Clarke County Mayor-Elect Dexter Fisher.

County Issues Discussed During Lieutenant Governor Candidate Forum


ACCG invited the Democratic and Republican party nominees for Lieutenant Governor to participate in a forum with ACCG Executive Director Dave Wills. Wills and Sen. Josh McLaurin, the Democratic Party nominee, discussed significant county issues ranging from property tax reform, data centers, and the state-county partnership. McLaurin addressed questions from county officials and outlined his priorities.

(From left to right) Rep. Yasmin Neal, Rep. Chas Cannon (committee chair), Rep. Victor Anderson, and ACCG Deputy Director Clint Mueller.

Georgia Legislators Share Insights from the House Blue Ribbon Study Committee

Moderated by ACCG Deputy Director Clint Mueller, members of the House Blue Ribbon Study Committee on Local Government Taxation, Funding, and Budgeting provided an update on the committee's ongoing work and key policy issues under review. These issues included property tax reform, counties' authority to collect franchise fees, and tax abatements.

ACCG Director of Governmental Affairs Todd Edwards and the Governmental Affairs team presented the Policy Issues Update to conclude the Opening General Session. The team provided a thorough overview of the Proposed 2027 State and Federal Policy Priorities.

County Officials Approve the 2027 Policy Priorities

During the Business Session, the ACCG membership approved the 2027 Policy Priorities. The top three Policy Priorities are Allow Counties to Collect Electric Franchise Fees, Floating Local Option Sales Tax (FLOST) and Local Homestead Option Sales Tax (LHOST) Reform, and Next Gen 9-1-1 Implementation.

(From left to right) ACCG County Consulting Services Associate Alicia Vaughn, Columbia County Administrator Scott Johnson, Early County Manager Stephanie Chandler, Bartow County Administrator Peter Olson, and ACCG Governmental Affairs Associate Keenan Rogers

Moderated by ACCG's Alicia Vaughn and Keenan Rogers, panelists from Columbia, Early, and Bartow counties shared their insights on data centers and public policy during the afternoon hot topic session. They discussed key factors that should be considered before approving a data center, including land use and zoning, environmental impacts, and community needs.

ACCG and Georgia Trend magazine, the state's leading business publication, will once again host the Georgia County Excellence Awards. The Georgia County Excellence Awards honor counties that have taken innovative and cost-effective approaches to solving local issues. The application period will open on Monday, Oct. 12. Visit the ACCG website and monitor your inbox for updates. 

ACCG-Jerry R. Griffin Scholarship (Grant) Program

The ACCG-Jerry R. Griffin Scholarship (Grant) Program was created by the ACCG Board of Managers in 2025 to foster lifelong learning, enhance engagement among county officials at the state and national level, and increase conference participation at select ACCG and National Association of Counties (NACo) events. The non-competitive scholarship grants funds to county officials and/or staff for the reimbursement of expenses associated with attending ACCG and NACo conferences in 2026 and 2027. Click here to learn more.

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