2 The Association County Commissioners of Georgia strives to ensure that counties can provide the necessary leadership, services and programs to meet the health, safety and welfare needs of their citizens. With nearly a century of experience in working on behalf of local government, ACCG has built a solid foundation focused on providing quality member services to meet the needs of local officials. 3 Public Policy Development Process ACCG redesigned the association’s policy development process to allow the ACCG policy team to have more time to focus on county legislative priorities. By developing a two year policy platform, ACCG has aligned the policy development process with the biennial Georgia legislature. ACCG will still update the platform each year, but the association can set more long-term priorities and work proactively. ACCG has developed a network of County Legislative Coordinators who serve as the point people for their counties during the legislative session and provide information to support the work of the policy team. Implementation of Passed Legislation ACCG played a lead role in providing information to county officials on the planning process and implementation schedule developed for the regional transportation sales tax that was approved through the passage of House Bill 277 in 2010. ACCG staff also attended many of the Regional Roundtable meetings over the last year to monitor discussions and answer questions. Throughout this process, ACCG has worked closely with Georgia Department of Transportation Commissioner Vance Smith and Planning Director Todd Long. ACCG Government Relations Manager Dave Wills current serves on Georgia Geospatial Advisory Council and was recently named as co-chairman This council was created by the passage of House Bill 169 in 2010 and was charged with auditing Georgia’s Geographic Information Systems capabilities at the county, regional and state level. The Council met several times and developed recommendations which were submitted to the General Assembly in 2011 on how to move forward in achieving governmental GIS interoperability in the areas of floodplain management and notification, service delivery, transportation, public safety, economic development and more. In July, ACCG held five Property Tax and Transportation Workshops throughout the state led by Legislative Director Clint Mueller and Associate Legislative Director Matt Hicks to explain legislation passed during the 2010 legislative session as well as the implications and implementation requirements for counties. ACCG offered a follow up to these sessions in April to remind county officials about the changes to the requirements for property tax assessments and appeals. 2010 Elections In cooperation the Georgia Municipal Association, the Georgia School Boards Association and the Georgia Superintendents Association, ACCG hosted a Candidate Forum to give candidates seeking a statewide office the chance to address local elected officials. 4 County Priority Legislation Following the 2010 elections, ACCG policy staff met with members of Governor Deal’s transition team as well as Passed in 2011 new state agency heads. In addition, the policy staff also reached out to new state legislators to begin building HB 92 relationships and to explain the role of local government. Reduces the early voting period from 45 to 21 days. State Legislative Advocacy HB 197 ACCG Legislative Director Clint Mueller provided Limits emergency care services in jails to information and testified before the Special Council on Medicaid rates. Tax Reform and Fairness for Georgians appointed by the Georgia General Assembly. This council was charged with reforming the tax code in Georgia and developing HB 240 recommendations for the 2011 legislative session. He Provides a process by which local worked closely with legislators as the tax reform proposal governments can ask voters to redirect was discussed and modified during the legislative ses- funding set aside for SPLOST projects that sion. While the tax reform legislation was not brought up are no longer feasible or in the public’s best for a vote this year, ACCG continues to monitor this issue interest. and will provide input into any new proposal under consideration. HB 256 Establishes a new process for collecting Prior to the start of the 2011 legislative session, the fees for E-911 on prepaid wireless. ACCG policy team met with House and Senate leadership and individual legislators They also met with Secretary of HB 280 State Brian Kemp to discuss election reform and Tax Expands the use of funds collected for E- Council Chairman A.D. Frazier to discuss local flexibility 911. with sales tax and the business inventory tax. HB 322 ACCG hosted a breakfast for new state legislators who Authorizes the distribution of unidentifiable were formerly county officials to help them transition into local sales tax proceeds. their new role prior to the start of the legislative session. State Agency Coordination SB 39 Allows for the creation of mental health ACCG worked with the Department of Revenue to courts. establish a new program that matches business occupation tax permits against sales tax registrations. SB 86 This program will help counties ensure that all businesses Modifies the requirements for the legally required to collect sales tax in their county are development of comprehensive plans, doing so and remitting the sales tax to the right allowing for a basic option. jurisdiction. SB 156 Federal Legislative Advocacy Removes some of the requirements for E- 911 reporting. Associate Legislative Director Matt Hicks is helping expand ACCG’s focus on federal policy by working with SB 157 Holland & Knight to track issues before the U.S. Congress Makes solid waste management planning that could impact counties. In September, he traveled to and reporting optional. Washington, D.C. to visit Georgia’s congressional offices and to outline the new ACCG federal advocacy program. Governor Nathan Deal has until May 24 to ACCG will be developing a Federal Legislative Committee sign or veto all legislation passed during the to provide a forum to further discuss these issues and 2011 legislative session. For more provide a coordinated lobbying effort for county officials. information watch for the final ACCG legislative update or to go www.accg.org. 5 Training & Certification Programs ACCG and the Carl Vinson Institute of Government hosted another successful Mobile Classroom on August 19 - 20, 2010 focusing on economic development issues by touring several southeast Georgia locations. Twenty-five commissioners representing 19 counties, including 7 ACCG Board members, participated. The tour stopped in three counties - Liberty, Glynn, and Charlton - where attendees learned about work being conducted at Ft. Stewart and UGA’s Marine Extension offices, as well as fire mitigation, green infrastructure and nature tourism at the Okefenokee Swamp. In the last year, ACCG and the Carl Vinson Institute of Government recognized 48 individuals for completing the Certified Commissioners Advanced Program and 31 individuals for completing the Commissioners Training Program. These individuals joined the more than 2,600 county officials that have been certified since the program’s inception. In addition, recognition for the Standard of Excellence Program continues to grow, with 17 county officials achieving gold or silver status this year. In 2011, ACCG and the Carl Vinson Institute of Government will host two Mobile Classrooms. The first one is scheduled for May 19 – 20, 2011 and will focus on the connection between natural resources and economic development in northwest Georgia, including visits to Cloudland Canyon State Park and Shaw Industries (carpet manufacturer) as well as a boat tour of the Coosa River. The second one will be August 18—19, 2011 in the Richmond County area. ACCG Conferences All of ACCG’s major meetings have been thoroughly examined and redeveloped with an eye to providing outstanding educational opportunities and maximizing the use of the participant’s time and the county’s financial resources. ACCG has added more Standard of Excellence opportunities, focused on current issues and trends and condensed the length of the meetings. In October, the ACCG Legislative Leadership Conference welcomed over 250 county officials to Atlanta/ Fulton County. More than 76 counties had a registered delegate that attended the business session to vote on the 2011-2012 County Platform. In addition to commissioners training program courses, ACCG also offered two well-attended Standard of Excellence Sessions: 1) County Budgets and Constitutional Officers and 2) Preparing for Service Delivery Negotiations. More than 150 newly elected officials attended the Newly Elected Commissioners Conference held in Athens-Clarke County at the University of Georgia Continuing Education Center in December. The 6 agenda for this conference celebrated leadership, provided a foundation for county governance, explained ACCG programs and services and encouraged future participation in the association. Keynote speakers included former Secretary of State and Young Harris College President Cathy Cox, University of Georgia President Dr. Michael Adams and Olympian Sam Graddy. Responses from participants were overwhelmingly positive, and many new commissioners have attended other ACCG conferences and training programs. Governor Nathan Deal, Lt. Governor Casey Cagle and House Speaker David Ralston served as the keynote speakers for the ACCG Capitol Connection