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title-36•Title 36 — Local Government
Official Code of Georgia Annotated — Title 36. Local Government
Snapshot of the Georgia code as mirrored by FindLaw, current as of 2024-03-28.
The state is divided into 159 counties, whose boundaries and limits shall be ascertained by the several Acts laying off the same and those Acts amendatory thereof. The names of the counties are as follows: Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Baker, Baldwin, Banks, Barrow, Bartow, Ben Hill, Berrien, Bibb, Bleckley, Brantley, Brooks, Bryan, Bulloch, Burke, Butts, Calhoun, Camden, Candler, Carroll, Catoosa, Charlton, Chatham, Chattahoochee, Chattooga, Cherokee, Clarke, Clay, Clayton, Clinch, Cobb, Coffee, Colquitt, Columbia, Cook, Coweta, Crawford, Crisp, Dade, Dawson, Decatur, DeKalb, Dodge, Dooly, Dougherty, Douglas, Early, Echols, Effingham, Elbert, Emanuel, Evans, Fannin, Fayette, Floyd, Forsyth, Franklin, Fulton, Gilmer, Glascock, Glynn, Gordon, Grady, Greene, Gwinnett, Habersham, Hall, Hancock, Haralson, Harris, Hart, Heard, Henry, Houston, Irwin, Jackson, Jasper, Jeff Davis, Jefferson, Jenkins, Johnson, Jones, Lamar, Lanier, Laurens, Lee, Liberty, Lincoln, Long, Lowndes, Lumpkin, Macon, Madison, Marion, McDuffie, McIntosh, Meriwether, Miller, Mitchell, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Murray, Muscogee, Newton, Oconee, Oglethorpe, Paulding, Peach, Pickens, Pierce, Pike, Polk, Pulaski, Putnam, Quitman, Rabun, Randolph, Richmond, Rockdale, Schley, Screven, Seminole, Spalding, Stephens, Stewart, Sumter, Talbot, Taliaferro, Tattnall, Taylor, Telfair, Terrell, Thomas, Tift, Toombs, Towns, Treutlen, Troup, Turner, Twiggs, Union, Upson, Walker, Walton, Ware, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Webster, Wheeler, White, Whitfield, Wilcox, Wilkes, Wilkinson, and Worth.
Whenever a stream of water is the boundary of a county, the jurisdiction of the county shall extend to the center of the main channel of the stream, provided that whenever a stream of water is the boundary of a county and such stream or a bank thereof is the boundary of the State of Georgia, the jurisdiction of the county shall extend to that point which is the boundary of the state.
Every county is a body corporate, with power to sue or be sued in any court.
A county is not liable to suit for any cause of action unless made so by statute.
In all cases in which a county is a party defendant, service shall be sufficient if perfected upon a majority of the commissioners, in those counties in which the affairs of the county are committed to a county commissioner or a board of county commissioners.
All boards of county commissioners, county commissioners, county managers, or other persons or bodies having charge of receipts and expenditures of county moneys shall publish a financial statement once each calendar year in the paper in which sheriff's advertisements are published in their respective counties. A copy of this statement shall also be posted twice each year for a period of not less than 30 days on the bulletin boards of the various county courthouses. The statement shall set forth the source of all income and a summary of all expenditures in a plain and simple manner that can be easily understood by all taxpaying citizens. The statement shall also contain a report of all money owed by the county, current bills excepted, of the number of tax delinquents, and the total amount of tax delinquency.
(a) The judges of the probate courts, county treasurers, clerks of the superior courts, and sheriffs of the various counties shall make a return, under oath, to the grand juries of their respective counties on the first day of each term of the superior court. The return shall set forth a just and true statement of the amount of money belonging to the county which was received by them and the source from which the money was received, along with their expenditures, accompanied by a copy of the most recent financial statement or annual audit of the financial affairs of the county offices subject to this Code section.
(b) When the returns provided for in subsection (a) of this Code section have been made, the grand jury shall examine the same. If the returns are found to be correct, the grand jury shall endorse its approval thereon and attach the same to its general presentments, to be filed in the office of the clerk of the superior court. If the returns are found to be incorrect, the grand jury, through its foreman, shall return them to the officer making the same, shall plainly and distinctly set forth in writing the grounds of its disapproval, and shall require the officer to appear before the jury and explain the errors.
(c) Should any officer fail or refuse to make the return required by subsection (a) of this Code section, the foreman of the grand jury shall immediately notify the presiding judge of such failure. The judge shall issue an order requiring the delinquent officer to come forward and make the return required or, in default thereof, to be attached for contempt.
(a) The officer or officers charged with the administration of the fiscal affairs of the several counties and with the custody and control of such funds may invest all sums collected under the requirements of Article IX, Section V, Paragraph VI of the Constitution of this state, for the purpose of paying the principal of bonded indebtedness of such counties, which sums are not actually payable on the principal within 12 months from the date of collection thereof, in valid outstanding bonds of the county or some other county of the state which have been duly validated, or in valid outstanding bonds of this state or of the United States. Such officer or officers may keep the funds so invested in such bonds, with the privilege of changing the investment from the character of the bonds named to another from time to time as such officer or officers may direct until such time before the maturity of outstanding obligations as may be necessary to dispose of the bonds in order to meet such obligations at maturity.
(b) Whenever and as soon as the sinking fund of any county has been invested in the manner specified in subsection (a) of this Code section, the officer or officers of the county charged with the administration of the fiscal affairs of the county shall proceed forthwith to have the securities in which such funds are so invested registered in the name of the county, provided the bonds by their terms under the conditions of their issue are capable of being registered in the name of the owner.
Any county official, officer, or employee who is charged with the responsibility of collecting, receiving, or disbursing any fees, fines, forfeitures, costs, commissions, allowances, penalties, funds, or moneys, or any other emolument or perquisite for any other county official, officer, or employee who has been placed upon a salary payable from county funds in lieu of receiving such compensation, when provision has been made by law for such compensation to become the property of and payable to the county, may pay said funds directly into the county treasury upon their receipt.
The county governing authority is authorized, whenever it deems it necessary to do so, to employ an expert accountant to examine and report on the books, vouchers, and accounts of any county officer whose duty it is under the law to handle county funds. The expert accountant may reside in the county in which he is to be employed or elsewhere.
The governing authorities of the various counties shall have the authority to expend county funds for the purpose of employing such additional temporary personnel and providing such equipment and supplies as in their respective judgments shall be necessary and advisable, in order that such personnel and equipment might assist any county officer, official, or department in discharging his or its duties and responsibilities in an efficient and orderly fashion. Nothing contained within this Code section shall be construed so as to abrogate the authority of such officers and officials to select the personnel who shall be employed within their respective offices and departments.
(a) The governing authority of any county is authorized to provide, and to expend county funds for the provision of, group health, life, disability, and liability insurance, retirement or pension coverage, social security and employment security coverage, and other similar or related employment benefits for members of the county governing authority and for elected county officers and the personnel thereof, as well as for the dependents and beneficiaries of such officials and personnel; provided, however, that no member of a county governing authority may become vested in the provision of any retirement or pension benefits authorized by this subsection until after the next general election in which said official stands for reelection.
(b) Any prior expenditure of county funds in the manner authorized by this Code section is validated and confirmed; and no person shall be liable in any respect by reason of his or her participation in any prior provision of the benefits authorized by this Code section.
It shall be the duty and responsibility of the governing authority of each county of this state to keep the county courthouse and the county offices maintained therein open during normal working hours for the transaction of the public's business. As used in this Code section, “normal working hours” means a minimum of 40 working hours during each calendar week, except for those weeks during which public and legal holidays, which are recognized and designated as such by Georgia law or by the governing authority of the county, are observed.
Any public officer of any county in this state who buys up at a discount or in any manner speculates in what are known as “county orders,” “jury scrip,” or any other order or scrip which is to be paid out of any public fund of this state or of any county in this state shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be removed from office.
(a) No county governing authority, any member thereof, or any other county officer authorized by law to use public or county funds for the purchase of goods or property of any kind for public or county purposes shall purchase such goods or property from any store in which such county governing authority, any member thereof, or other county officer is an employee, or in which he is directly or indirectly interested, or from any person or partnership of which he is a member or by whom he is employed, unless by sanction of the majority of the members of the county governing authority or unless it is made clearly to appear that such individual, partnership, or owner of the store offers and will sell the goods or property as cheaply as or cheaper than the same can be bought elsewhere.
(b) Any county governing authority, any member thereof, or any county officer violating subsection (a) of this Code section shall be removed from office upon proper proceedings instituted by any taxpayer in the county. Any contract made in violation of subsection (a) of this Code section shall be illegal.
The county governing authority may by proper ordinance prohibit, regulate, or tax the practice of fortunetelling, phrenology, astrology, clairvoyance, palmistry, or other kindred practices, businesses, or professions where a charge is made or a donation accepted for the services and where the practice is carried on outside the corporate limits of the municipality. The tax, if any, which is imposed shall not exceed the sum of $1,000.00 per year. Such ordinances may prescribe the punishment to be imposed for violations, but such punishment shall not exceed imprisonment for 60 days or a fine of $500.00 or both. Prosecutions for violations shall be in the magistrate court of the county as provided in Chapter 10 of Title 15.
(a) No person, firm, corporation, or employee of any municipality shall transport, pursuant to a contract, whether oral or otherwise, garbage, trash, waste, or refuse across state or county boundaries for the purpose of dumping the same at a publicly or privately owned dump, unless permission is first obtained from the governing authority of the county in which the dump is located and from the governing authority of the county in which the garbage, trash, waste, or refuse is collected.
(b) Subsection (a) of this Code section shall not apply to the transportation of any material which is regulated pursuant to Article 2 of Chapter 5 of Title 12, the “Georgia Water Quality Control Act,” or Article 1 of Chapter 9 of Title 12, “The Georgia Air Quality Act.”
In all counties of this state having a population of 550,000 or more according to the United States decennial census of 1980 or any future such census, any employee who is authorized to enforce any county code, ordinance, regulation, rule, or other order, including such related ordinances, codes, and regulations as drainage regulations, soil erosion and sedimentation control regulations, subdivision and zoning regulations, water and sewer regulations, and any other land development or construction regulations of such counties, shall have the authority to issue citations to any person who shall violate any such county code, ordinance, regulation, or order which shall be in effect in such counties. Such citations shall command the appearance of such person at a designated regular session of a court in such county having the jurisdiction of a commitment court throughout the entire county. At such time and place, the court shall act as a court of inquiry with all the powers and authorities specified in Article 2 of Chapter 7 of Title 17. In the event that any such person shall fail to appear in response to such citation, a warrant shall be issued for the arrest of the person for violation of such county code, ordinance, regulation, rule, or order without the necessity of any further action.
(a) In all counties of this state having a population of 550,000 or more according to the United States decennial census of 1980 or any future such census, the county governing authority shall be empowered by ordinance or resolution to assess against any property the cost of reopening or repairing any public way, street, road, right of way, or highway, or the cost of cleaning up from any public way, street, road, right of way, or highway any debris, dirt, sediment, soil, trash, building materials, and other physical materials originating on such property, as a result of any private construction activity carried on by any developer, contractor, subcontractor, or owner of such property.
(b) Any assessment authorized under subsection (a) of this Code section, as well as the interest thereon and the expense of collection, shall be a lien against the property so assessed coequal with the lien of other taxes and shall be enforced in the same manner as are state and county ad valorem property taxes by issuance of a fi. fa. and levy and sale as set forth in Title 48, the “Georgia Public Revenue Code.”
(a) In all counties of this state having a population of 400,000 or more according to the United States decennial census of 1990 or any future such census, the governing authorities of such counties are authorized to provide by ordinance for the appropriation of money for and the making of grants or contributions to any corporation, association, institution, or individual for purely charitable purposes, provided that the activities funded by any such grants or contributions shall take place within the county making such grant or contribution.
(b) In connection with the appropriation of money for or the making of any grant or contribution for purely charitable purposes, the governing authority of any county within this state may establish such boards or councils as it may determine to establish the procedures by which such grants or contributions are made and to advise the governing authorities of such counties generally with respect to such grants or contributions.
(c) Appropriations, grants, and contributions made pursuant to this Code section shall be in the form of contracts for services.
(d) For the purpose of this Code section, “purely charitable purposes” shall mean charitable, benevolent, or philanthropic purposes for health, education, social welfare, arts and humanities, or environmental organizations.
(e) No funds may be appropriated, granted, or contributed under this Code section for a purpose which is in violation of the laws of this state; provided, however, that this subsection shall not be interpreted to prohibit a good faith expenditure of funds for purposes authorized by law.
(a) The governing authority of each county, for the purpose of protecting and preserving the public health, safety, and welfare, is authorized to adopt ordinances for the governing and policing of the unincorporated areas of the county, violations of which ordinances may be punished by fine or imprisonment or both. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, such ordinances may provide for traffic regulation, including adoption of the uniform rules of the road under Chapter 6 of Title 40, may provide for the regulation and control of litter in the same manner as municipal ordinances under Code Section 16-7-48, and may provide for the implementation and enforcement of any power or duty vested in the county governing authority.
(b) Each such ordinance shall specify the maximum punishment which may be imposed for a violation of the ordinance; and in no case shall the maximum punishment for the violation of any such ordinance exceed a fine of $1,000.00 or imprisonment for 60 days or both; provided, however, that for violation of a pretreatment standard or requirement adopted pursuant to the federal Clean Water Act 1 the ordinance may specify that the fine may be up to $1,000.00 per day for each violation by an industrial user.
(c) Jurisdiction over violations of such county ordinances shall be in the magistrate court of the county; and procedure for enforcement of such ordinances shall be as provided in Article 4 of Chapter 10 of Title 15; provided, however, jurisdiction over ordinances having to do with traffic offenses shall be in the court or courts having jurisdiction over state traffic offenses.
(d) This Code section shall not affect the jurisdiction of or procedure in any other court which has jurisdiction over violations of county ordinances.
1 33 U.S.C.A. § 1251 et seq.
(a) The governing authority of any county is authorized to provide by ordinance or resolution for the creation of a civil service system for employees of the county, other than elected officials or persons appointed to positions for specified terms.
(b) Subsequent to the creation of a civil service system, the county governing authority which created the system may provide by ordinance or resolution that positions of employment within departments subject to the jurisdiction of elected county officers or subject to the jurisdiction of other commissions, boards, or bodies of the county shall be subject to and covered by the civil service system upon the written application of the elected county officer, commission, board, or body having the power of appointment, employment, or removal of employees of the officer, department, commission, board, or body. Once positions of employment are made subject to the civil service system, such positions shall not be removed thereafter from the coverage of the civil service system.
(c) A civil service system created pursuant to the authority of this Code section shall be administered in such manner and pursuant to such rules and regulations as may be provided for by resolution or ordinance of the county governing authority which created the system.
(d)(1) The powers granted to the governing authorities of counties by this Code section:
(A) Shall not supersede or replace any power granted by any local constitutional amendment to the General Assembly to provide by law for a civil service or merit system for any county;
(B) Shall not supersede or replace any law enacted by the General Assembly pursuant to the authority of a local constitutional amendment described in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph; and
(C) Shall be in addition to any power granted by local constitutional amendment directly to the governing authority of any county to provide by ordinance or resolution for a civil service or merit system for such county.
(2) As used in paragraph (1) of this subsection, the term “local constitutional amendment” means any constitutional amendment described in subparagraph (a) of Paragraph IV of Section I of Article XI of the Constitution of the State of Georgia which has been continued in force and effect pursuant to the authority of said subparagraph (a) of said cited constitutional provision and which has not been repealed pursuant to the authority of subparagraph (b) of said cited constitutional provision.
(a) No county shall require any person who performs services on his property or on private property pursuant to an agreement with an individual, corporation, partnership, association, or other private entity to purchase from the county any materials used in the construction or repair of any water system, sewer system, storm or drainage system, building, or other facilities on such property. Any county which sells such materials used in the construction of such facilities shall be required to publish the acceptable manufacturing or engineering standards of such materials sold by the county and such other materials, if any, which the county finds acceptable for the construction of such facilities. In the construction of any such facility, the use by any person or other entity of materials which are not purchased from the county shall not render any such facility or project ineligible for acceptance as a public right of way or utility project if the materials used meet the acceptable standards published by the county.
(b) Nothing in this Code section shall affect the authority of a county to enact building, construction, electrical, fire, or other codes which require materials used in the construction or repair of water systems, sewer systems, storm or drainage systems, buildings, or other facilities to meet or satisfy certain standards.
(c) Any county officer or employee who, without sufficient cause, refuses to accept as a public right of way or utility project any water and sewer system or other facility constructed with acceptable materials not purchased from the county shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
(d) Upon the final conviction of any county officer or employee of violating subsection (c) of this Code section, the employment of such officer or employee by the county shall immediately be terminated.
(a) Any person hired or appointed to serve as the clerk of the governing authority of any county in this state shall attend and complete a course of training on matters pertaining to the basic performance of his or her official duties. Such training shall be conducted by the University of Georgia under the supervision of the Carl Vinson Institute of Government at such time and place as shall be determined by the Carl Vinson Institute of Government.
(b) The personnel of the Carl Vinson Institute of Government are authorized to work with the members of the Association County Clerks of Georgia and the Association County Commissioners of Georgia in establishing and operating the training course provided for in subsection (a) of this Code section, as well as establishing the rules and regulations governing attendance of such training.
(c) All reasonable expenses of attending the training class required by this Code section shall be paid from funds appropriated by the county governing authority for such purposes.
Official minutes of the meetings of a county governing authority shall be maintained in the offices of the county governing authority. Copies of contracts, maps, or similar material or documents related to actions taken by a county governing authority may be included in the minutes or incorporated by reference to an alternate location. Where incorporated by reference, such documents shall be stored in a central location or locations identified by ordinance or resolution of the county governing authority.
The governing authority of any county in this state may authorize the execution of one or more contracts which specify the rates, fees, or other charges which will be charged and collected by the county for electric, natural gas, or water utility services to be provided by the county to one or more of its utility customers. Any such contract shall be subject to the following conditions and limitations:
(1)(A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B) of this paragraph, no such contract shall be for a term in excess of ten years.
(B) No such contract for solar utility services or for wind utility services shall be for a term in excess of 20 years;
(2) Any such contract which is for a term in excess of two years shall include commercially reasonable provisions under which the rates, fees, or other charges shall be adjusted with respect to inflationary or deflationary factors affecting the provision of the utility service in question; and
(3) Any such contract shall include commercially reasonable provisions relieving the county from its obligations under the contract in the event that the county's ability to comply with the contract is impaired by war, natural disaster, catastrophe, or any other emergency creating conditions under which the county's compliance with the contract would become impossible or create a substantial financial burden upon the county or its taxpayers.
(a) As used in this Code section, the term:
(1) “Expenditure of public funds” means:
(A) Utilizing the proceeds of any tax, proceeds from the county general fund, or any other county proceeds;
(B) Incurring general obligation debt, revenue debt, or other multiyear obligations; or
(C) Entering into any intergovernmental agreement with an authority or instrumentality of the state which would impact future tax revenue or obligate the payment of tax revenue, general obligation debt, revenue debt, or other multiyear obligations.
(2) “Fixed guideway transit” means a public transportation system using and occupying a permanent, separate right of way for the exclusive use of public transportation, including, but not limited to, rails for use by trains or a bus rapid transit system.
(3) “Mass transportation” means any mode of transportation serving the general public which is appropriate to transport people by highways or rail.
(4) “Mass transportation regional system participant” means any county within a special district created pursuant to Article 5 of Chapter 8 of Title 48 in which mass transportation is provided within such special district, to such special district, or from such special district by a multicounty regional transportation authority created by an Act of the General Assembly, including but not limited to the Atlanta-region Transit Link “ATL” Authority or the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority.
(b) Prior to an expenditure of any public funds for the establishment, maintenance, and operation of a fixed guideway transit in any county that is a mass transportation regional system participant, the governing authority of such county shall obtain approval from:
(1) The Atlanta-region Transit Link “ATL” Authority that such project is on the regional transit plan adopted by such authority pursuant to Code Section 50-39-12; and
(2) A majority of qualified voters of the county in a separate referendum question as provided for in this Code section.
(c) Prior to the issuance of the call for the referendum, the governing authority of the county that is a mass transportation regional system participant shall adopt a resolution which shall specify the type and location of a fixed guideway transit, the capital costs to establish such fixed guideway transit, the date upon which the capital costs to establish such fixed guideway transit shall be paid in full, and an estimate of the projected annual costs for maintenance and operation of such fixed guideway transit.
(d)(1) Whenever the governing authority of any county that is a mass transportation regional system participant wishes to submit to the electors of such county the question of whether to expend public funds for a fixed guideway transit, any such governing authority shall notify the election superintendent of such county by forwarding to the superintendent a copy of a resolution of the governing authority calling for a referendum election. Such election shall be held with a general election, general primary election, or presidential preference primary. Upon receipt of the resolution, it shall be the duty of the election superintendent to issue the call for an election for the purpose of submitting the question of authorizing the expenditure of public funds for a fixed guideway transit to the voters of the county for approval or rejection. The election superintendent shall issue the call and shall conduct the election on a date and in the manner authorized under Code Section 21-2-540. The election superintendent shall cause the date and purpose of the election along with a copy of the resolution adopted pursuant to subsection (c) of this Code section to be published once a week for two weeks immediately preceding the date of the election in the official organ of such county. The ballot shall have written or printed thereon the following:
| | “ | ( ) YES | Shall the expenditure of public funds for a fixed guideway transit | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | | | ( ) NO | within ______________ County be approved?” |
(2) All persons desiring to vote in favor of the question shall vote “Yes,” and all persons desiring to vote against the question shall vote “No.” If more than one-half of the votes cast are in favor of the question, then the expenditure of public funds by such county for a fixed guideway transit shall be deemed approved; otherwise, such expenditures shall continue to be prohibited. It shall be the duty of the election superintendent to hold and conduct such elections under the same rules and regulations as govern general elections. It shall be the superintendent's further duty to canvass the returns, declare the result of the election, and certify the result to the Secretary of State. The expense of the election shall be borne by the county holding the election.
(e) This Code section shall not apply to the extension of a fixed guideway transit or levy of applicable sales and use taxes authorized pursuant to an Act known as the “Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority Act of 1965,” approved March 10, 1965 (Ga. L. 1965, p. 2243), as amended, or Part 2 of Chapter 9 of Title 32 for which any referendum required under such Act or part shall control, or to any project within a county or between counties which have approved such sales and use tax, provided that such project is wholly within the territorial boundaries of such county or counties.
(a) Each county is divided into militia districts according to its territory and population.
(b) Militia districts are to remain the same as presently organized until changed in the manner prescribed in this chapter.
Each militia district organized or changed must contain within its limits at least 200 persons 18 years of age or over who are residents at the time of the organization of the district and, in its formation, must not leave any older district with less than 200 such persons.
Whenever it is necessary and expedient to lay out a new militia district, to change the lines of old districts, or to consolidate or abolish old districts, the judge of the probate court may, at any time, appoint three commissioners who are citizens of the district or districts from which it is proposed to make the new district or to change the lines thereof, whose duty it shall be to lay out and define the lines and to report the same to the judge of the probate court. The commissioners shall have authority to engage the services of a competent surveyor to assist them in their duties. The surveyor shall be paid for his services, out of the county treasury, the same compensation county surveyors are paid for similar services rendered to a citizen. If the judge of the probate court approves the report of the commissioners, he shall have all proceedings in the matter entered on his minutes, after which the district laid out or the line changed or defined shall be known and regarded accordingly.
It is the duty of the judge of the probate court, when a new district is laid out, immediately to transmit to the Governor the proceedings in the matter, duly certified, from his minutes and to publish them for 30 days at the door of the courthouse and in the newspaper where he does his official advertising.
Whenever one or more citizens of any county desire to have the boundary line of the county changed, they shall file in the offices of the judges of the probate courts of the counties to be affected a petition in writing, setting forth the exact character of the change desired to be made, specifying particularly the situation, direction, and existing marks and monuments, if any, of the original line, and describing particularly the direction, location, and length of the proposed new line, and setting forth the reasons for the change. The person or persons applying for the change shall also give notice of the intention to apply for the change by publishing the same for at least 30 days next preceding the term of the superior court or courts to be held in the counties to be affected, which term shall be that next occurring after the filing of the petition with the judges of the probate courts:
(1) By publishing the notice in a public newspaper having general circulation in each of the counties to be affected by the change; and
(2) By posting the notice at the door of the courthouse in each of the counties and at three public places in every militia district adjacent to the line to be changed.
It shall be the duty of the judges of the probate courts of the counties whose dividing line is sought to be changed to lay before the grand juries of their respective counties, on the first day of the next term of the superior courts after the publication of the notice and the filing of the petition provided for in Code Section 36-3-1, the original petition, together with all maps, plats, and other papers that may have been filed therewith. If such grand juries, by a two-thirds' vote of their respective bodies, approve the change applied for, they shall so declare in their general presentments. This action of the grand juries shall be certified at once by the clerks of the superior courts to the county governing authority in the counties to be affected, who shall, within 30 days from the date of the certification, approve or disapprove the application and certify their action to the judges of the probate courts of their respective counties. When the judges of the probate courts have satisfactory evidence of the concurrent approval of the grand juries and of the county governing authority in the counties to be affected, they shall cause an official notice of concurrent approval and a description of the line approved to be published for at least 30 days in a public newspaper having general circulation in their respective counties.
When all the proceedings have been had in the manner prescribed in Code Sections 36-3-1 and 36-3-2 and when the same have been fairly recorded by the judges of the probate courts on the minutes of their respective courts, the new line or lines shall be held to have been established in lieu of the original line or lines.
The entire costs of advertising and recording the petition, descriptions, and all other papers and proceedings relating to the proposed change in the boundary line of a county shall be paid by the person or persons applying therefor.
When all proceedings have transpired pursuant to this article, three copies of the survey and plat evidencing a change in county lines and a copy of a resolution from the governing authority of each county evidencing approval of the change shall be filed jointly by the judge of the probate court of each county with the Secretary of State. Upon receipt of the copies of the survey and plat and the resolutions provided above, the Secretary of State shall certify the survey and plat and send a certified copy thereof to the clerk of the superior court of each county affected by the change in county lines. The clerk of the superior court shall record the survey and plat in the same book in which other plats of the county are recorded. The Secretary of State shall retain one copy of the survey and plat, such copy of the survey and plat to be filed in his office.
When the boundary line between two or more counties is in dispute and the grand jury of either county presents that the boundary line needs to be marked out and defined, it shall be the duty of the clerk of the superior court in the county where the presentments were made to certify the presentments to the Governor. The Governor shall appoint some suitable and competent land surveyor, who shall not reside in either county, to survey, mark out, and define the boundary line in dispute and to return the survey with plat to the Secretary of State's office to be recorded in a book to be kept for that purpose.
Before the land surveyor proceeds to make the survey, he shall give the authorities having charge of the revenues of the counties at least ten days' notice of the time and place intended to commence the survey. The notice shall be given by mail or in person.
(a) At any time after certification of the grand jury presentment to the Governor and prior to a final determination by the Secretary of State under Code Section 36-3-24, the governing authorities of the affected counties may by mutual agreement determine where the boundary line shall be located. Any such agreement shall be evidenced by the adoption of an appropriate concurrent unanimous resolution by the governing authority of each affected county; and each such resolution shall incorporate or incorporate by reference an agreed upon plat, description, or other means of definitely ascertaining the boundary line.
(b) The resolutions of the affected counties shall be filed with the Secretary of State and the Department of Community Affairs, together with the agreed upon plat, description, or other means of definitely ascertaining the county line. If the Secretary of State finds that:
(1) Such resolutions meet the requirements of this Code section;
(2) The agreed upon plat, description, or other means adequately defines the boundary line;
(3) The surveyor, if appointed, has been adequately compensated for services performed to date or adequate arrangements have been made for the payment of such compensation; and
(4) The agreement is otherwise proper to terminate the boundary dispute,
then the Secretary of State may enter a written determination that the disputed boundary line has been determined by agreement as authorized by this Code section. Such written determination, the concurrent resolutions of the affected counties, and the plat, description or other means of definitely ascertaining the boundary line shall be recorded in the same manner and with the same effect provided for in Code Section 36-3-25.
The land surveyor appointed by the Governor to survey, mark out, and define the boundary line in dispute shall furnish the judges of the probate courts or chairmen of the boards of county commissioners of the respective counties with a copy of the survey and plat made and returned by him to the Secretary of State, at the same time the survey and plat are made and returned to the Secretary of State.
The survey with plat, made and returned to the Secretary of State, shall be filed in his office, and entry of filing shall be made thereon; but the survey and plat shall not be recorded within the space of 30 days from the date of its reception in such office, for the purpose of allowing the authorities of either county dissatisfied therewith to file a protest or exceptions thereto within that time.
If a protest or exceptions to the survey and plat are filed in the Secretary of State's office within the 30 days, it shall be the duty of the Secretary of State to give, through the mail, ten days' written notice of the time when he will hear the protest or exceptions at his office to the county governing authorities of the respective counties. Upon the hearing, the Secretary of State shall determine from the law and evidence the true boundary line in dispute between the respective counties.
Upon the making of a decision by the Secretary of State pursuant to Code Section 36-3-24 or in case no protest or exceptions are filed within the 30 days, the Secretary of State shall cause the survey and plat to be recorded in a book to be kept for that purpose, whereupon the same shall be final and conclusive as to the boundary line in dispute. When the boundary line in dispute has been established as final and conclusive as provided in this Code section, the same boundary line shall not again be subject to the procedures set forth in this article, and such boundary line may subsequently be changed only in accordance with Article 1 of this chapter, provided that nothing contained in this sentence shall affect any boundary line dispute in question on July 1, 1980, until the dispute is settled.
(a) The land surveyor shall receive a fee to be fixed by the Secretary of State or his designated deputy or assistant. Such fee shall be based upon reasonable compensation for the work to be performed and the rates normally charged by land surveyors in the same geographical area as the disputed line. The fee shall be negotiated prior to the commencement of the survey. Prior to the commencement of the survey, it shall be the duty of the Secretary of State to notify the governing authorities of the counties affected of the fee which has been negotiated.
(b) For the purpose of assisting the Secretary of State in connection with his responsibilities and duties to fix and negotiate an appropriate fee for the services of the land surveyor in surveying, marking out, and defining the boundary line in dispute, the Secretary of State may appoint an advisory committee to be composed of three registered land surveyors. One of the members of the advisory committee shall be a county surveyor who shall be selected by the Secretary of State from a list of at least three county surveyors submitted to the Secretary of State by the Association County Commissioners of Georgia. The members of the advisory committee shall serve at the pleasure of the Secretary of State or for such terms as the Secretary of State shall provide. The members of the advisory committee shall receive no compensation for their services as such.
(c) The advisory committee shall review the proposals of the land surveyor appointed by the Governor and shall counsel and advise the Secretary of State as to the committee's recommendation concerning an appropriate fee for such services. The recommendations of the advisory committee to the Secretary of State in relation to such fee shall not be binding upon the Secretary of State but shall be used by the Secretary of State in assisting him in determining and fixing an appropriate fee.
It shall be the duty of the governing authorities of each of the counties affected by such survey to pay that proportion of the fee established under Code Section 36-3-26 that such county bears to the total number of counties directly affected by the survey. The payment of such fees is declared to be a public purpose. The governing authority of each county affected is authorized and directed to pay such fees and to levy such taxes as may be necessary for the payment of such fees.
Whenever two-fifths of the electors of any county who are qualified to vote for members of the General Assembly, as shown by the registration list last made out, shall petition the judge of the probate court for the removal or change of the county site of the county, the judge of the probate court shall at once grant an order directing an election to be held at the various election precincts in the county not less than 40 nor more than 60 days thereafter. The petition shall state where the new county site is to be located. Notice of the election shall be published weekly for four weeks previous to the day of the election in the newspaper in which the sheriff publishes his legal notices. All persons qualified to vote for members of the General Assembly shall be qualified to vote at the election. Elections under this Code section shall not occur more often than once in five years.
The election shall be held and conducted and returns shall be made thereof as is provided by Chapter 2 of Title 21, the “Georgia Election Code.”
At the election, the form of the ballot and the procedure for marking the ballot shall be as provided in Chapter 2 of Title 21, the “Georgia Election Code.” The ballot for such election shall have written or printed thereon the following:
| | “ | [ ] YES | Shall the county site of _____ County | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | | | [ ] NO | be moved to _____?” | |
In any such referendum election, all persons desiring to vote in favor of moving the county site shall vote “Yes,” and those persons desiring to vote against moving the county site shall vote “No.” If two-thirds of the votes cast at the election are in favor of removal, the General Assembly next convening after the election may provide for the removal of the county site by appropriate legislation.
The certificate of the Secretary of State showing that the election was held and that two-thirds of the qualified voters voting at the election voted in favor of removal shall be sufficient evidence of the holding of the election and of the number of votes cast.
After a county site is removed as provided by law, all the courts which are required by law to be held at the county site of the county, by proper orders made by the judges of such courts at chambers or in regular session and entered on the minutes of the courts, shall continue to be held in the old buildings at the former county site until the new buildings at the county site are ready for occupancy. All the proceedings of any court so held shall be legal.
The authorities having charge of county affairs in any county for which the county site has been removed shall provide by an order entered on their minutes that the county officers of the county shall have and keep their offices in such buildings at either the old or new county site as, in the judgment of the county authorities, may be best, until the new buildings are ready for occupancy.
The words “Roads and Revenues” are stricken from the official names of all of the governing authorities of the counties of this state, so that the official names of the governing authorities of the counties will be changed from “Board of Commissioners of Roads and Revenues of _____ County” and from the “Commissioner of Roads and Revenue of _____ County” to “Board of Commissioners of _____ County” and “Commissioner of _____ County,” respectively.
(a) When a vacancy occurs in the office of a county governing authority in any county in which the local Act creating that governing authority for the county makes no provision for succession to fill the vacancy and the unexpired term of office exceeds six months in duration, it shall be the duty of the judge of the probate court of the county to call a special election to elect a successor and fill the vacancy in not less than 30 nor more than 60 days. The election shall be held as provided by Chapter 2 of Title 21, the “Georgia Election Code,” and the cost of the election shall be defrayed by the proper county authorities. If the unexpired term to be filled is less than six months in duration and the local Act creating the governing authority makes no provision to fill the vacancy, the judge of the superior court of the county shall have the power to appoint a successor to fill the unexpired term.
(b) Unless otherwise provided by local law, when the office of any county commissioner is vacated for any reason and a special election is required to be called pursuant to subsection (a) of this Code section, the remaining members of the board of commissioners shall constitute the governing authority of the county during the interim period between the creation of the vacancy and the election and qualification of a successor to fill the vacancy pursuant to subsection (a) of this Code section, except that if as a result of that vacancy or any combination of such vacancies there is no longer any commissioner remaining in office to constitute the county governing authority, the judge of the probate court of the county shall serve as the county governing authority until the election and qualification under subsection (a) of this Code section of all successors to the vacated positions on the county governing authority.
(c) A judge of the probate court serving as the county governing authority pursuant to subsection (b) of this Code section shall receive for such service, in addition to any other compensation that judge is authorized by law to receive, an amount equal to the amount the chairman of the board of commissioners or the sole commissioner, as applicable, would have been authorized to receive for that period of service.
(a) The governing authority of any county of this state or the General Assembly may create in and for those counties in which it deems necessary or advisable the office of county manager and may vest in such office powers, duties, and responsibilities of an administrative nature. The qualifications, method of selection, appointment, compensation, tenure, and such other related matters pertaining to the office of county manager shall be provided for by the governing authority of the county.
(b) Nothing in this Code section shall pertain to consolidated governments which include all the area within any county.
(c) This Code section shall not apply to any county having a population of more than 500,000 according to the United States decennial census of 1990 or any future such census.
(a) The governing authority of each county has original and exclusive jurisdiction over the following subject matters:
(1) The directing and controlling of all the property of the county, according to law, as the governing authority deems expedient;
(2) The levying of a general tax for general county purposes and a special tax for particular county purposes;
(3) The establishing, altering, or abolishing of all roads, bridges, and ferries in conformity to law;
(4) Reserved;
(5) The filling of all vacancies in county offices unless some other body or official is empowered by law to so fill such vacancy;
(6) The examining, settling, and allowing of all claims against the county;
(7) The examining and auditing of the accounts of all officers having the care, management, keeping, collection, or disbursement of money belonging to the county or appropriated for its use and benefit and the settling of the same;
(8) The making of such rules and regulations for the support of the poor of the county, for the county police and patrol, for the promotion of health, and for quarantine as are authorized by law or not inconsistent therewith; and
(9) The regulating of peddling and fixing of the cost of licenses therefor.
(b) Nothing in this Code section shall be construed to prohibit a local law from delegating to a chairman or chief executive officer of a county governing authority jurisdiction over any subject matter provided for in subsection (a) of this Code section.
(a) As used in this Code section, the term:
(1) “County governing authority” means a governing authority as defined in paragraph (7) of Code Section 1-3-3 and an elected county chief executive officer.
(2) “Expenses in the nature of compensation” means any expense allowance or any form of payment or reimbursement of expenses other than reimbursement for expenses actually and necessarily incurred by members of a county governing authority.
(b) Unless otherwise provided by local law, the governing authority of each county is authorized to fix the salary, compensation, expenses, and expenses in the nature of compensation of the members of the governing authority subject to the following conditions:
(1) Any increase in salary, compensation, expenses, or expenses in the nature of compensation for members of a county governing authority shall not be effective until the first day of January of the year following the next general election held after the date on which the action to increase the compensation was taken;
(2) A county governing authority shall take no action to increase salary, compensation, expenses, or expenses in the nature of compensation until notice of intent to take such action and the fiscal impact of such action has been published in a newspaper designated as the legal organ of the county at least once a week for three consecutive weeks immediately preceding the meeting at which the action is taken; and
(3) Such action shall not be taken during the period of time beginning with the date that candidates for election as members of the county governing authority may first qualify as such candidates and ending with the first day of January following the date of qualification.
(c) Salary, compensation, expenses, and expenses in the nature of compensation paid to members of a county governing authority in accordance with applicable local or general salary laws in effect on January 1, 2001, and as subsequently amended, shall continue in full force and effect as compensation for such county officials unless such compensation is increased pursuant to subsection (b) of this Code section; and this Code section shall not affect the power of the General Assembly at any time by local or general law to increase or decrease any or all of such compensation or by local law to withdraw the authority otherwise granted to a county governing authority under this Code section.
(a) In every county of this state in which the county government is administered by a single county commissioner, such county commissioner shall be entitled to receive a minimum annual salary equal in amount to the minimum annual salary provided for the sheriff of any such county pursuant to the provisions of subsection (a) of Code Section 15-16-20; provided, however, that a local law may provide for a greater annual salary than such minimum salary or may provide an expense allowance in addition to such minimum salary or in addition to such greater salary; provided, further, that any such county commissioner may by resolution elect to receive a salary of lesser amount which is provided by a local law.
(b) The provisions of subsection (a) of this Code section shall not affect any automobile allowance provided for any such county commissioner pursuant to local law.
A county governing authority shall have the power to authorize any of the officers, agents, and employees of the county to serve, in any manner prescribed by applicable law, any process, summons, notice, or order on all persons, as defined in Code Section 1-3-3 therein named, when:
(1) The paper to be served arises out of or relates to an activity or condition conducted or maintained by such person within the territorial jurisdiction of the county in violation of an applicable law or ordinance covering the following: public housing, building, electrical, plumbing, heating, ventilating, air-conditioning, air and water pollution control, solid waste management, and other technical or environmental codes; county business, occupation, and professional license tax ordinances; county privilege license or permit ordinances; or ordinances providing for the protection of facilities for the treatment or wholesale or retail distribution of water from tampering or theft which may arise either from a single isolated act or omission or from an activity or condition;
(2) The paper to be served originates in or is issued under the authority of the department or branch of county government employing such officer, agent, or employee; and
(3) Each and every day the condition is maintained or the activity is conducted is made a separate county offense by applicable law or ordinance.
Where any such paper names one or more persons who reside outside the territorial jurisdiction of the county, the several sheriffs, marshals, and constables of the several counties of this state are authorized and directed to serve any such paper and make appropriate return of such service by them, as other process is served and returned, on such named persons residing in their respective jurisdictions, upon receipt of a written request to make such service, for the fees allowed for service of process issued by the superior courts of this state.
In addition to any other compensation to which a member of a county governing authority is entitled under general or local law, any such official who has been awarded a certificate from the University of Georgia, evidencing his or her successful completion of the voluntary course of training administered by the Carl Vinson Institute of Government resulting in designation as a certified county commissioner shall be entitled to a compensation supplement of $100.00 per month. With regard to members of the governing authority of a consolidated government, designation either as a certified county commissioner or a certified municipal official by the Carl Vinson Institute of Government shall be acceptable.
Whenever the state employees subject to compensation plans authorized and approved in accordance with Code Section 45-20-4 receive a cost-of-living increase or general performance based increase of a certain percentage or a certain amount, the compensation to which a member of a governing authority is entitled under general or local law shall be increased by the same percentage or same amount applicable to such state employees. If the cost-of-living increase or general performance based increase received by state employees is in different percentages or different amounts as to certain categories of employees, the amount to which a member of a county governing authority is entitled under general or local law shall be increased by a percentage or an amount not to exceed the average percentage or average amount of the general increase in salary granted to the state employees. The Office of Planning and Budget shall calculate the average percentage increase or average amount increase when necessary. The periodic changes in the amount to which a member of a county governing authority is entitled under general or local law shall become effective on the first day of January following the date that the cost-of-living increases or general performance based increases received by state employees become effective; provided, however, that if the cost-of-living increases received by state employees become effective on January 1, such periodic changes in the amount to which a member of a county governing authority is entitled under general or local law shall become effective on the same date that the cost-of-living increases or general performance based increases received by state employees become effective.
(a) Compensation to which a member of a county governing authority is entitled under general or local law, including amounts provided for in Code Sections 36-5-27 and 36-5-28 shall be increased by multiplying said amounts by the percentage which equals 2.5 percent times the number of completed, four-year terms of office served by such member of a county governing authority where such terms have been completed after December 31, 2004, effective the first day of January following the completion of each such period of service.
(b) For a member of a county governing authority elected to two-year terms of office or six-year terms of office, the percentage increase provided for in subsection (a) of this Code section shall be 1.25 percent times the number of completed two-year terms or 3.75 percent times the number of completed six-year terms as applicable.
(a) No other conditions of eligibility are required for the office of county treasurer than those which apply to all other county officers, provided that no other county officer can also be county treasurer.
(b) County treasurers shall be elected and commissioned in the same manner and at the same time as clerks of the superior courts and shall hold their offices for terms of four years. The General Assembly, by local law, may abolish the office of county treasurer in any county and may fix the compensation of the county treasurer.
No appointment or election to the office of county treasurer is effective until bond and security is given and the oath of office is taken.
In addition to the oath required of all public officers, before entering on the duties of their office, county treasurers must take the following oath:
“I, _____, do swear that I will faithfully collect, disburse, and account for all moneys or other effects of the county, and otherwise faithfully discharge all the duties required of me by law as county treasurer. So help me God.”
Within 30 days after his election or appointment, the county treasurer shall give a bond payable to the county governing authority with securities approved by such authority, in a sum which in its judgment will be ample to protect the county from any loss.
(a) The oath of office of the county treasurer must be entered on the minutes of the county governing authority and filed in his office. His official bond must be filed and recorded in such office.
(b) When one or more sureties on the bond of the county treasurer own real estate in any county or counties other than the county in which the treasurer holds office, such bond, within 30 days after the execution thereof, shall be recorded in the county or counties wherein the real estate is situated, by the county governing authority, or such bond shall be recorded within 30 days after its execution by the authority in the book of record of bonds of county officers. After the treasurer's bond is accepted and recorded in the county in which the treasurer holds office, the county governing authority of such county shall forward the same to the county governing authority in each county in which any one or more sureties on the bond own any real estate; such county governing authority to whom the bond is sent shall record the same in accordance with this subsection.
As against the interests of third parties acting in good faith and without notice who may have acquired a transfer or lien binding the real estate of any surety on the bond of any county treasurer situated in any county other than that in which the treasurer holds office, no such real estate of the surety shall be bound from the date of the bond unless the bond is recorded in the county. When the bond is recorded after 30 days, the real estate of the surety situated in any county other than that in which the treasurer holds office shall be bound only from the date on which the bond is recorded.
Nothing in Code Sections 36-6-5 and 36-6-6 shall be construed to affect the validity or force of the lien of any such bond from the date thereof as between the parties thereto.
When any official bond is executed by any county treasurer or any person acting as such, the property of the treasurer or person acting as such, as well as the security or securities on the bond, shall be bound from the time of the execution thereof for the payment of any and all liability arising from the breach of the bond.
It shall be the duty of the Governor to give written or printed directions to the county governing authority upon the requirements of Code Sections 36-6-5 through 36-6-7, as other instructions and directions are now given in reference to the bonds of county treasurers. The costs of transmitting and recording the bonds shall be paid by the county treasurer.
The county treasurer must keep his office at the county site or at some place within one mile of the courthouse.
All books and stationery required by the county treasurer must be furnished at the expense of the county.
County treasurers are entitled to receive the following fees:
(1) For receiving and paying out county funds:
(A) Two and one-half percent for receiving all sums up to $10,000.00.
(B) Two and one-half percent for paying out all sums up to $10,000.00.
(C) One and one-fourth percent for receiving the excess of any sum over $10,000.00.
(D) One and one-fourth percent for paying out the excess of any sum over $10,000.00.
(2) For making his returns to the grand jury, $1.00.
(3) For making his returns to the judge of the probate court, $1.00.
However, in no case shall the compensation of a county treasurer exceed the sum of $3,000.00 per annum, unless within the sole discretion of the proper governing authority of the county the compensation is increased to a sum not to exceed $3,600.00 per annum.
No county treasurer or other county official shall receive any commission on funds received or disbursed in connection with county contracts with the Department of Transportation for the construction or repair of roads; and this Code section and Code Sections 36-6-12 and 36-6-15 shall not apply to funds received or disbursed on such contracts. The funds received from county contracts with the Department of Transportation for the construction and repair of roads shall be collected by the county treasurer, in those counties having a county treasurer, and shall be disbursed by him without any commission or fee; in those counties having no county treasurer, the funds from these contracts shall be collected and disbursed by the usual officers without any commission or fee.
It is the duty of the county treasurer:
(1) To collect diligently from all officers and others all moneys due the county;
(2) To examine the minutes and execution dockets of the different courts of the county, to demand and receive all moneys appearing to be due thereon, and to institute proceedings against defaulters;
(3) To pay without delay, when there are sufficient funds, all orders or other debts due, according to their dates; when there are not sufficient funds, payment shall be made as prescribed in Code Section 36-11-4;
(4) To take a receipt on each order when paid and carefully file it away;
(5) To keep a well-bound book in which shall be entered all receipts, stating when received, from whom, and on what account, and all amounts paid out, stating when paid, to whom, and on what account;
(6) To keep a well-bound book in which shall be entered a full description of all county orders or other forms of indebtedness, as they are presented;
(7) To record a copy of the orders of the county governing authority levying county taxes;
(8) To exhibit to the first grand jury at the first session of the superior court of each year a full statement of the condition of the county treasury up to that time;
(9) On the second Monday in January of each year, to file with the county governing authority a full statement of his account, accompanied by his vouchers for the preceding year, together with his estimate of the indebtedness of the county for the ensuing year and the means of providing therefor;
(10) To place his books and vouchers before the grand jury or the county governing authority for examination when called upon to do so;
(11) To appear before the county governing authority or the grand jury to render an account of his actings and doings as county treasurer; and
(12) To publish at the door of the courthouse and in a public newspaper, if there is one published in the county, a copy of his annual statement to the county governing authority.
All county funds are to be paid to and disbursed by the county treasurer except such as may be specially excepted by law, which shall be collected and disbursed as specially directed.
The treasurers of the several counties are authorized to deposit the county funds which may come into their hands as county treasurers in any bank or banking institution which has been designated by law as a depository for the funds of the state.
(a) It shall be lawful in all counties of this state having a population of 600,000 or more according to the United States decennial census of 1990 or any future such census for any county officer and any officer of any court, including the superior court in such counties, having in his possession and custody any funds, including trust funds, held for the benefit of any third person or litigant or for any purpose or subject to the order of any court or other tribunal to deposit such funds for safekeeping in the treasury of the county and to accept therefor the receipt of the treasurer or other fiscal officer of such county.
(b) The original custodian of such fund before making any deposit may require the treasurer or other fiscal officer to execute in his favor a special bond in an amount not less than the aggregate of all funds so deposited and held by the treasurer or other fiscal officer, which bond with security approved by the superior court of such county shall be conditioned to repay or disburse all of such funds under proper legal authority. In lieu of other security on such bond, the treasurer or other fiscal officer may deposit in a safe place a bond of the United States Treasury in an amount not less than the aggregate of all deposits secured by such bond.
(c) The treasurer of any county or other fiscal officer charged with the custody of county funds may decline to accept funds from any officer or officer of the court for deposit and safekeeping when in the judgment of such treasurer or other fiscal officer the conditions imposed are burdensome or would cause hardship or financial loss.
(d) Any officer or officer of the court who deposits funds in his custody in the treasury of the county of such officer or officer of the court shall be relieved of personal responsibility for the safekeeping of such funds as may be entrusted to the treasury of the county under this Code section.
(e) This Code section shall not be interpreted to prevent or delay the direct payment into the county treasury of all funds belonging to such county and collected by or held by an officer or officer of the court, but all of same shall be deposited immediately in the county treasury without the requirement of any special bond.
Any depository of state funds selected by the county treasurer to be a depository of the county funds shall, in addition to the bond given to the state as security for the money of the state deposited in such bank, give to the county treasurer a bond in an amount sufficient to protect him from any loss, which bond shall be payable to him and shall be conditioned to account fully to him for all county moneys that may be deposited by him as county treasurer under the terms of this article.
The county treasurers are authorized to arrange with the bank to pay interest on the money deposited with the bank, but they are not required to do so. Any money received by them as interest must be paid by them into the treasury of the county.
When the books of the county treasurer are full, they must be deposited, together with the vouchers and other files relating thereto, in the office of the county governing authority and shall be part of its records.
Upon the resignation, expiration of the term, or removal from office of the county treasurer, he, or, if he is dead, his personal representative, must state his accounts and deliver all the money, books, papers, and property of the county to his successor, as do other officers. His successor must report the same immediately to the county governing authority.
When the county treasurer or his personal representative has made a fair and full statement of all his accounts and liabilities as such, pursuant to Code Section 36-6-20, an exoneration of himself and his sureties, together with the details of such settlement, must be entered on the minutes of the county governing authority. It shall be final, except for fraud.
It shall be the duty of the judge of the probate court or county governing authority to compel the treasurers of the county to come before the court or governing authority at such times as may be designated by the judge or governing authority, not less than twice in each year, to render an account of his official actings and doings respecting the county tax and funds and to make a full and complete exhibit of his books, vouchers, accounts, and all things pertaining to his office.
The failure or refusal of any county treasurer to render the account and make the showing provided for by Code Section 36-6-22, after being notified to do so by the county governing authority, shall constitute malpractice in office. A conviction therefor shall subject the offender to removal from office. During the continuance of such failure or refusal after the notice aforesaid, the county governing authority shall suspend the treasurer from duty and shall appoint some fit and proper person to take charge of the county funds and perform the duties of his office until the question of his removal can be passed upon and decided by the proper tribunal. Proper bonds shall be taken from the person so appointed, as provided by law. The power given by this Code section and Code Section 36-6-22 to inquire into the affairs of the treasurer of the county and to suspend him from office in certain cases shall in no way affect the liability of the treasurer or that of the sureties on his bond.
County treasurers may be removed from office in the same manner as clerks of the superior courts may be removed.
Vacancies in the office of county treasurer shall be filled as are vacancies in other county offices.
The amount of the bonds of appointees to fill vacancies shall be in the discretion of the county governing authority, taking into consideration the amount that may come into their hands, and shall be for double such amount.
When the county treasurer at any time fails to pay any order which is entitled to payment, any other legal demand upon him, or any balance that is in his hands to his successor or to the person entitled to receive it, the county governing authority may issue execution against him and his sureties for the amount due, as against a defaulting tax collector.
Any county treasurer who buys up any county orders or claims for less than their full par value, either by himself or by agents, directly or indirectly, pays for them in property at an estimated value above its true value, refuses to pay an order when he has funds to pay the same, or illegally postpones the payment of an order shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be removed from office on complaint and proof being made to the county governing authority.
There must be one county surveyor for each county. The surveyor is empowered to appoint one or more assistants or deputies, for whose conduct he is responsible.
(a) County surveyors shall be elected, commissioned, qualified, and removed as are clerks of the superior courts and shall hold their offices for four years.
(b)(1) Every person holding the post of county surveyor must be a qualified surveyor, licensed by the State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors, and such person must have successfully passed the examination given by the board as a prerequisite to the granting of a license as a land surveyor; provided, however, that any person holding the position of county surveyor on March 7, 1966, whether elected or appointed, shall not be required to meet the qualifications enumerated in this subsection so long as such person remains in the position of county surveyor, whether reappointed or reelected to this position.
(2) Paragraph (1) of this subsection shall not apply to:
(A) Any county having a population of less than 17,000 inhabitants according to the United States decennial census of 1960 or any future such census; or
(B) Any person who was holding the position of county surveyor in such a county on January 1, 1977, and who has acted continuously as county surveyor since that date, for as long as such person remains in the position of county surveyor, notwithstanding the fact that the population of the county has grown to exceed 17,000.
(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (b) of this Code section or paragraph (3) of subsection (b) of Code Section 43-15-29, a county surveyor who is not licensed by the State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors shall only practice land surveying for the county and shall not engage in the private practice of professional land surveying; provided, however, that this subsection shall not apply to any county surveyor duly elected and holding office on June 30, 1986, so long as said person continues to hold the office of county surveyor; provided, however, that any county surveyor who has a minimum of four years of surveying experience shall be eligible to take the land surveyor examination and eligible for certification as a land surveyor.
(a) The General Assembly may by local law abolish the office of elected county surveyor in any county of this state and authorize the governing authority of the county to appoint the county surveyor for such term of office as the General Assembly shall provide by said local law.
(b) A local law abolishing the office of elected county surveyor pursuant to the authority of this Code section shall comply with the provisions of Code Section 1-3-11 requiring referendum approval on abolishing certain offices, except that if the office of the elected county surveyor is vacant at the time of its abolishment or if the person holding the office was appointed to fill a vacancy pursuant to the provisions of Code Section 36-7-3, such office may be abolished at any time without the necessity of a referendum.
(c) A county surveyor appointed by a county governing authority pursuant to the authority of a local Act enacted pursuant to the provisions of this Code section shall possess the qualifications to hold office as a county surveyor specified by paragraph (1) of subsection (b) of Code Section 36-7-2 and shall carry out the duties of a county surveyor as provided in this chapter and other laws of this state.
(a) Whenever an election fails to fill the office of county surveyor, the judge of the probate court shall appoint a person to serve as the county surveyor until a successor is duly elected in a special election which shall be held at the time of the next general election to serve out the remainder of the unexpired term of office.
(b) In the event that a vacancy occurs in the office of county surveyor, the judge of the probate court shall appoint a person to serve for the unexpired term of office and until his successor is duly elected and has qualified.
A county surveyor who derives his authority from appointment needs no commission beyond the order of the judge of the probate court entered on his minutes, of which appointment the Governor must be informed without delay.
In addition to the oath required of all public officers, the county surveyor must take the following oath before entering on the duties of his office:
“I, _____, swear that I will, to the best of my skill and knowledge, discharge the duties of surveyor of _____ County and that I will not admeasure, survey, or lay out any land, in my capacity as such, or knowingly permit or cause it to be done, without a warrant first obtained for that purpose. So help me God.”
At the same time, he shall give bond and security in the sum of $1,000.00.
When an assistant is appointed by the county surveyor, he must take the same oath the county surveyor takes. The fact of his appointment must, at the same time, be entered on the minutes of the judge of the probate court.
The county surveyor may keep his office at his place of abode, if within the limits of the county. The county shall not be required to furnish the county surveyor with an office or facilities.
It shall be the duty of the county surveyor:
(1) To observe punctually and carry into effect all such orders as he may receive from any officer who may lawfully command him;
(2) To partition lands, to make resurveys, to give plats of all surveys, and to administer all oaths required by law in such cases;
(3) To survey county lines and district lines and to make other surveys in which his county may be interested whenever required to do so by the county governing authority;
(4) To execute all surveys required by the rule or order of any court of competent jurisdiction; and
(5) To keep a well-bound book in which shall be entered plats of all surveys made by him with a minute of the names of the chainbearers, when executed, by whose order, and to whom the plat was delivered, if any. Such book shall belong to his office and shall be turned over to his successor; when full, it shall be deposited in the office of the county governing authority.
(a) The county surveyor shall be allowed to establish a reasonable fee for each of the following acts:
(1) Surveying a town lot and returning a certificate thereof;
(2) Surveying a tract of land;
(3) Making a plat and recording, advertising, and transmitting the same to the Secretary of State's office;
(4) Making a resurvey of land by order of court;
(5) For every other survey, making and certifying a plat thereof and transmitting the same;
(6) Running lines between counties or districts or making new lines, per day, the county surveyor furnishing the chainbearer and provisions;
(7) Making a plat of homestead, affidavit, and return;
(8) Making each additional plat where there is more than one lot; and
(9) Making any other survey he may be called upon or required to perform.
The fee established by the county surveyor shall be reasonably equivalent to the same fee which would be charged if the survey had been conducted by a private surveyor.
(b) The county surveyor shall be allowed to contract for his services in the same manner as private surveyors, whenever he is called upon or required to make a survey for a private or a corporate benefit or by order of the county governing authority or by order of the court.
The fees for surveys made by the county surveyor for private or corporate benefit shall be paid by the person or corporation ordering the survey. The fees for surveys made by order of the county governing authority shall be paid out of county funds. The fees for surveys made by order of court, unless otherwise agreed upon, are to be taxed in the bill of costs and shall have the effect of a judgment lien upon the land surveyed, if not paid by the party bound for costs.
A county surveyor who makes a survey for a person who neglects to pay him may make oath before the judge of the probate court of his county of the performance of such service and its value. The judge of the probate court shall thereupon issue a fi. fa. in his name for the use of the surveyor, against the person defaulting. Such person may defend himself therefor in the same manner as persons against whom executions issue for detaining county funds.
Surveys or plats of lands within his county, made by the county surveyor under order of court and on notice to all the parties, signed by him officially, and stating the contents, courses, and distances of any land surveyed by him are presumptive evidence of the facts if all the requisites of the law touching such surveys and the reports thereof are complied with.
(a) When there is no county surveyor, any person who is a citizen of this state and who holds a current and valid certificate of registration as a land surveyor issued by the State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors may perform the duties of county surveyor, when specifically required or appointed to do so, if first sworn to do the same faithfully and impartially, to the best of his skill and knowledge.
(b) Persons performing such service are on the same footing as county surveyors as to the special service rendered and are personally liable as such surveyors are officially liable.
When any county surveyor is interested in any survey to be made, the judge of the superior court or the judge of the probate court of the county in which the land is located, upon the application of any party in interest, shall appoint a competent, disinterested surveyor or, in his discretion, may appoint the surveyor of any adjoining county to make the survey. If the surveyor appointed is not a county surveyor, before entering on the survey, he shall subscribe before some judicial officer of the county the oath required of county surveyors. The rights, powers, and duties of the surveyor so appointed shall be the same as those of the county surveyor. The return of the surveyor shall have the same force and effect as do other surveys.
The county surveyor, whether elected or appointed, may be removed by the judge of the probate court for want of capacity, in the same fashion as clerks of the superior courts are removed in the superior court. This cause of removal shall be in addition to the causes which apply to all public officers.
Any county surveyor or other person acting as such who knowingly surveys nonvacant land as vacant land or makes any other false survey shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
(a) The county governing authority shall have authority to elect or appoint such number of county police as in its discretion it deems proper, provided that the county governing authority complies with the provisions of this Code section. Any person elected or appointed to the county police shall possess the qualifications prescribed in Code Section 35-8-8.
(b)(1) Each county governing authority may authorize, through proper resolution or ordinance, the creation of a county police force. No resolution or ordinance adopted pursuant to this paragraph shall become effective until the governing authority of the county has submitted to the qualified electors of the county the question of whether the resolution or ordinance shall be approved or rejected. The county governing authority shall establish the date of the election in compliance with Code Section 21-2-540, which shall be not less than 30 days after the call of the election, and shall notify the county election superintendent of its decision as to the date. The election superintendent shall issue the call for the election and shall specify that the election shall be held on the date determined by the county governing authority. The election superintendent shall cause the date and purpose of the election to be published once a week for two weeks immediately preceding the date thereof in the official organ of the county. The ballot shall have written or printed thereon the following:
| | “ | ( ) YES | Shall the resolution or ordinance adopted by the governing authority of (Name of County) to create a | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | | | ( ) NO | county police force be approved?” | |
(2) Those persons desiring to vote in favor of the creation of a county police force shall vote “Yes,” and those persons opposed to the creation of a county police force shall vote “No.” If more than one-half of the votes cast on the question are in favor of the creation of a county police force, then the county governing authority shall be authorized to create a county police force pursuant to the provisions of this chapter; otherwise, a county police force shall not be created. If the resolution or ordinance is rejected by the qualified electors, the question of the creation of a county police force may not again be submitted to the voters of the county within 48 months immediately following the month in which such election was held. The county election superintendent shall hold and conduct the election under the same rules and regulations as govern special elections, except as otherwise provided in paragraph (1) of this subsection. He shall canvass the returns and declare and certify the result of the election to the Secretary of State. The expense of any such election shall be borne by the county wherein the election was held.
(c) The provisions of subsection (b) of this Code section shall not apply to any county which has created a county police force prior to January 1, 1992, which county police force remains in existence and operational.
(d) Any county police force created by a county governing authority between January 1, 1992, and February 25, 1992, shall be abolished no later than December 31, 1992, unless, prior to said latter date, a resolution or ordinance authorizing the creation of a county police force is adopted by the county governing authority and approved by the qualified electors of the county in a special election as provided in subsection (b) of this Code section.
The terms for which county police shall be elected or appointed shall be left to the discretion of the county governing authority. Such county police or any member thereof may be removed from office at any time, at the will of the county governing authority, with or without cause. A resolution or ordinance authorizing the creation of a county police force adopted by a county governing authority and approved by the qualified electors of the county in a special election as provided in subsection (b) of Code Section 36-8-1 shall not affect the power of the county governing authority to abolish a county police force at any time.
Upon the election of county police, each of them shall enter into a good and solvent bond, in a sum of not less than $1,000.00, to be fixed by the county governing authority, conditioned for the faithful performance of all their duties. Anyone injured or damaged by any one of such county police may bring an action upon his bond in his name or in the name of the county governing authority for his benefit or use.
The county governing authority shall fix the salaries of the county police, which salaries, together with the expense of maintaining the police, shall be paid out of the county treasury. The county governing authority is authorized to levy such tax as may be necessary to pay such salaries and expenses over and above the sums for which it is otherwise authorized to levy a tax.
Under the direction and control of the county governing authority, the county police shall have:
(1) The same power to make arrests and to execute and return criminal warrants and processes in the county of their election or appointment only, as sheriffs have; and
(2) All the powers of sheriffs as peace officers in the county of their election or appointment.
Upon the election or appointment of county police, the county governing authority shall make rules and regulations for the conduct, management, and control of such county police and shall, from time to time, enlarge, modify, or change such rules and regulations as its discretion may dictate.
(a)(1) Except as provided for in paragraph (2) of this subsection, the governing authority of a county that has elected to establish a county police force pursuant to this chapter shall not decrease the annual budgetary appropriation for such police force by more than 5 percent of the previous fiscal year's appropriation for such police force.
(2)(A) Paragraph (1) of this subsection shall not apply if actual or anticipated revenues of the county for the applicable fiscal year decrease by more than 5 percent. In such event, the governing authority shall be authorized to decrease the budgetary appropriation for such police force, but in no event shall the budget of the police force be decreased by a greater percentage than the overall percentage decrease in actual or anticipated revenues of the county.
(B) Paragraph (1) of this subsection shall not apply if during the previous fiscal year the county made a one-time capital public safety facility, equipment, or software purchase or incurred a one-time legal obligation that increased the annual budgetary appropriation of such police force by more than 4 percent above the annual budgetary appropriation for such police force for the fiscal year immediately preceding the previous fiscal year and the current fiscal year.
(b)(1) Except as provided for in paragraph (2) of this subsection, the governing authority of a county that has elected to establish a county police force pursuant to this chapter shall ensure that the annual budgetary appropriations for such police force during a rolling five-year period shall not decrease by more than 5 percent during such time period.
(2) Paragraph (1) of this subsection shall not apply if actual or anticipated revenues of the county for the applicable time period decrease by more than 5 percent. In such event, the governing authority shall be authorized to decrease the budgetary appropriation for such police force, but in no event shall the budget of the police force be decreased by a greater percentage than the overall percentage decrease in actual or anticipated revenues of the county.
(c) Subsections (a) and (b) of this Code section shall not apply if:
(1) The governing authority ensures that an equal or greater level of law enforcement services will be provided to the county by either the sheriff or another local government pursuant to an intergovernmental agreement;
(2) During the applicable time period, the county is ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction to begin providing a public service at a level such county was not providing prior to the issuance of such court order necessitating county-wide budgetary adjustments; or
(3) Whenever a governing authority shall propose to adopt a police department budget which would exceed any limits in subsections (a) and (b) of this Code section, it shall adopt that budget rate at an advertised public meeting and at a time and place which is convenient to the taxpayers of the taxing jurisdiction. The governing authority shall also place an advertisement in a newspaper of general circulation serving the residents of the unit of local government and post such advertisement on the website of the governing authority, which describes the proposed percentage reduction in police services from the previous year's appropriation for police services. At least one week prior to the meeting of the governing authority at which adoption of the budget rate will be considered, the governing authority shall conduct a public hearing, at which time any persons wishing to be heard on the budget reduction may appear.
(d) This Code section shall not apply to any county police force employing less than 25 full-time or part-time certified law enforcement officers.
All deeds, conveyances, grants, or other instruments which have been or may be made to any officer or person for the use and benefit of any county shall vest in the county the title as fully as if made to the county by name.
The county governing authority shall have the control of all property belonging to the county and may, by order entered on its minutes, direct the disposal of any real property which may lawfully be disposed of and make and execute good and sufficient title thereof on behalf of the county.
(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of Code Section 36-9-2, a county governing authority shall not have the authority to demolish or to provide for the demolition of a county courthouse which was constructed prior to January 1, 1905, and which is listed in the National Register of Historic Places unless the question of whether or not to demolish the courthouse is submitted to the qualified voters of the county for approval or rejection in a referendum called for such purpose.
(b) The ballot in the referendum required by subsection (a) of this Code section shall have written or printed thereon the words:
| | “ | ( ) YES | Shall the demolition of the (Name of County) courthouse, as proposed by the governing authority of | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | | | ( ) NO | (Name of County), be approved?” | |
(c) A referendum held pursuant to this Code section shall be conducted only in conjunction with a general primary or general election and shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 2 of Title 21, the “Georgia Election Code.”
(a)(1) Except as otherwise provided in this Code section, the governing authority of any county disposing of any real property of such county shall make all such sales to the highest responsible bidder, either by sealed bids or by auction after due notice has been given. Any such county shall have the right to reject any and all bids or cancel any proposed sale. The governing authority of the county shall cause notice to be published once in the official legal organ of the county or in a newspaper of general circulation in the community, not less than 15 days nor more than 60 days preceding the day of the auction or, if the sale is by sealed bids, preceding the last day for the receipt of proposals. The legal notice shall include a legal description of the property to be sold. If the sale is by sealed bids, the notice shall also contain an invitation for proposals and shall state the conditions of the proposed sale, the address at which bid blanks and other written materials connected with the proposed sale may be obtained, and the date, time, and place for the opening of bids. If the sale is by auction, the notice shall also contain the conditions of the proposed sale and shall state the date, time, and place of the proposed sale. Bids received in connection with a sale by sealed bidding shall be opened in public at the time and place stated in the legal notice. A tabulation of all bids received shall be available for public inspection following the opening of all bids. All such bids shall be retained and kept available for public inspection for a period of not less than 60 days from the date on which such bids are opened.
(2)(A) Counties may retain the services of a Georgia licensed real estate broker to assist in the disposition of surplus real property; said brokerage services shall be procured by request for proposals in response to an issued solicitation. The proposal shall include the minimum stated broker qualifications and experience.
(B) In the event a county does retain the services of a qualified and experienced Georgia licensed real estate broker to assist in the disposition of surplus real property, the broker so retained shall:
(i) Represent the county and comply with the requirements of this Code section, including, but not limited to, issuing a call or request for sealed bids from the public and causing notice to be published once in the official legal organ of the county not less than 15 days nor more than 60 days preceding the day of the auction or, if the sale is by sealed bids, preceding the last day for the receipt of proposals. The legal notice shall include a legal description of the real property to be sold. The notice shall also contain a request for proposals and shall state the conditions of the proposed sale, the address at which bid blanks and other written materials connected with the proposed sale may be obtained, and the date, time, and place for the opening of bids;
(ii) Actively market the disposition of the real property;
(iii) Comply with all federal, state, and local laws;
(iv) Create a website which posts: the request for sealed bids; questions submitted by interested parties; responses to submitted questions as prepared by the county; dates the real property will be made available for public inspection; public information regarding the property; and other related communication and marketing information;
(v) Immediately forward the sealed bids to the governing authority of the county, which shall open such bids at the specified date, time, and place;
(vi) Only serve in the capacity of a broker engaged by a seller as provided for in Code Section 10-6A-5. A real estate broker representing a county shall be prohibited from working with or aiding a prospective buyer in connection with the disposition of real property for which the real estate broker was contracted; and
(vii) Agree to accept the agreed upon sales commission based on the highest responsive bid received as so adjudicated by the governing authority of the county, in its sole discretion.
(C) In the event the county decides to reject all bids and not award the sale to any of the bidders, the broker shall agree to accept the minimum payment in lieu of the commission as so agreed upon by the parties in an engagement contract.
(3) This subsection shall not apply to:
(A) Redemption of property held by any county under a tax deed; the granting of easements and rights of way; the sale, conveyance, or transfer of road rights of way; the sale, transfer, or conveyance to any other body politic; and any sale, transfer, or conveyance to a nonprofit corporation in order to effectuate a lease-purchase transaction pursuant to Code Section 36-60-13;
(B) Any option to sell or dispose of any real property belonging to any county of this state if that option was granted by said county prior to March 17, 1959;
(C) The sale of any real property belonging to any county in this state where the proper governing authority of the county advertised the property for ten consecutive days in the newspaper in which the sheriff's advertisements for the county are published, and where the sale was awarded thereafter to the highest and best bidder, in accordance with the terms of the advertisement, and an option given in accordance with the sale for the purchaser who had deposited a part of the purchase price to pay the balance within 365 days from the date of the execution of the option, where the sale was awarded and the option granted prior to May 1, 1961; or
(D) The exchange of real property belonging to any county in this state for other real property where the property so acquired by exchange shall be of equal or greater value than the property previously belonging to the county; provided, however, that within six weeks preceding the closing of any such proposed exchange of real property, a notice of the proposed exchange of real property shall be published in the official organ of the county once a week for four weeks. The value of both the property belonging to the county and that to be acquired through the exchange shall be determined by appraisals and the value so determined shall be approved by the proper authorities of said county.
(b) In any county of the state having a population of 550,000 or more according to the United States decennial census of 1980 or any future such census, where the governing authority thereof has established or constituted an advisory commission, board, or authority to study and make recommendations for the future development, use, and sale of county owned property, the governing authority of such county shall have the right, with the advice and approval of such commission, board, or authority, to negotiate and consummate a private sale of any county owned property, notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this Code section. Where there is no commission, board, or authority established in such county for the particular class or type of property, the governing authority of such county shall nevertheless have the right to negotiate a private sale of any county owned property with the advice and approval of the grand jury.
(c)(1) Any county governing authority and the governing authority of any consolidated government may sell, grant, lease, rent, convey, or transfer any real property owned by the county or consolidated government, including real property dedicated or used as a park or recreation area, to the local board of education or other public educational institution for use as a site for a public school or other educational purpose. Any county governing authority and the governing authority of any consolidated government may sell, grant, convey, or transfer to the local board of education or other public educational institution licenses, easements, or lesser interests in such real property owned by the county or the consolidated government, including real property dedicated or used as a park or recreation area for such purposes. A county governing authority and the governing authority of any consolidated government are authorized to exchange real property, including real property dedicated or used as a park or recreation area, with the local board of education or other public educational institution for other real property for such purposes. Such a sale, grant, lease, rental, conveyance, or transfer may be made by negotiation between the governing authority and local board of education or other public educational institution without advertisement, bidding, auction, notice, publication, or referendum. This subsection shall not be construed to abrogate or impair any reverter provision or other condition of a sale, grant, conveyance, or transfer of real property to a county governing authority or governing authority of a consolidated government.
(2) Prior to executing any sale, grant, lease, rental, conveyance, or transfer pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) of this subsection, the governing authority proposing such action shall hold a public hearing in the immediate vicinity of the affected property. Such hearing shall be advertised by posting conspicuous notice at the place of the hearing and at the affected property. The governing authority shall have at least one representative at the public hearing to receive the comments and concerns expressed and to report such comments and concerns to the governing authority.
(3) After the public hearing provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection but before the action proposed under paragraph (1) of this subsection, the governing authority proposing the action shall hold at least one meeting to discuss the transaction in light of the comments and concerns expressed at the public hearing.
(d) Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this Code section, where the governing authority has, prior to March 1, 1987, approved and recommended the sale or disposal of county owned real property containing an area of less than 20,000 square feet, the governing authority shall have the right to negotiate and consummate a private sale of such property, provided such sale is for at least the fair market value of the property. Notice of the intention of the county governing authority to make a private sale shall be published once a week for four weeks in the official organ of the county.
(e) Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this Code section, where the governing authority has prescribed a system of recreational set-asides where developers are required to set aside a certain amount of property in each new subdivision for recreational purposes and where those recreational set-asides have been conveyed to the county governing authority at no cost to the county, the county governing authority shall have the right to negotiate and consummate a private sale of such property to a homeowners' association representing the majority of property owners in the subdivision where the recreational set-aside property is located, provided that the use of the property shall be for recreational purposes for a period of not less than five years from the date of the sale. Notice of intention of the county governing authority to make a private sale shall be published once a week for four weeks in the official organ of the county.
(f) Notwithstanding any provision of this Code section to the contrary or any other provision of law or ordinance to the contrary, whenever any county determines that the establishment of a facility of the state or one of its authorities or other instrumentalities would be of benefit to the county, by way of providing activities in an area in need of redevelopment, by continuing or enhancing local employment opportunities, or by other means or in other ways, such county may sell or grant any of its real or personal property to the state or to any of its authorities or instrumentalities and, further, may sell or grant such lesser interests, rental agreements, licenses, easements, and other dispositions as it may determine necessary or convenient. These powers shall be cumulative of other powers and shall not be deemed to limit their exercise in any way.
(g)(1) As used in this subsection, the term “lake” means an impoundment of water in which at least 1,000 acres of land were to be submerged.
(2) Notwithstanding any provision of this Code section or any other law to the contrary, whenever any county has acquired property for the creation or development of a lake, including but not limited to property the acquisition of which was reasonably necessary or incidental to the creation or development of that lake, and the governing authority of such county thereafter determines that all of the property is no longer needed because of a decision by the county to not construct the lake, that county is authorized to dispose of such property or interest therein as provided in this subsection.
(3)(A) In disposing of property, as authorized under this subsection, the county shall notify the owner of such property at the time of its acquisition or, if the tract from which the county acquired its property has been subsequently sold, shall notify the owner of abutting land holding title through the owner from whom the county acquired its property. Any notice required pursuant to this subparagraph shall be in writing and delivered to the appropriate owner or by publication if such owner's address is unknown. Such owner shall have the right to acquire such property, as provided in this subsection.
(B) If the original owner of the property at the time of the county's acquisition of such property is deceased, the original owner's spouse, child, or grandchild shall have the first opportunity to purchase the property which the county is disposing of pursuant to this subsection; provided, however, the owner's child shall have such right only if the owner's spouse is deceased or has waived his or her right to purchase the property, and the owner's grandchild shall have such right only if both the owner's spouse and child either are deceased or have waived their right to buy the property. If the original owner's spouse is deceased and the original owner had more than one child or grandchild and such children or grandchildren have a right to purchase the property pursuant to this paragraph, then such children or grandchildren shall be entitled to purchase the property as tenants in common. The county shall place a notice of a sale proposed pursuant to this subparagraph once in the county legal organ. If after 45 days from the date of such publication the original owner's spouse, child, or grandchild has not come forward, or if the tract from which the county acquired its property has been subsequently sold, the county shall notify the owner of abutting land holding title through the owner from whom the county acquired its property as provided in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph. Publication pursuant to this subparagraph, if necessary, shall be in a newspaper of general circulation in the county where the property is located.
(4) When an entire parcel acquired by the county or any interest therein is being disposed of, it may be acquired under the right created in paragraph (3) of this subsection at such price as may be agreed upon, but in no event less than the price paid for its acquisition. When only remnants or portions of the original acquisition are being disposed of, they may be acquired for the market value thereof at the time the county decides the property is no longer needed.
(5) If the right of acquisition is not exercised within 60 days after due notice, the county shall proceed to sell such property as provided in subsection (a) of this Code section. The county shall thereupon have the right to reject any and all bids, in its discretion, to readvertise, or to abandon the sale.
(h) Notwithstanding any provision of this Code section or of any other law, ordinance, or resolution to the contrary, a county governing authority is authorized to sell and convey parcels of small or narrow strips of land, so shaped or so small as to be incapable of being used independently as zoned or under applicable subdivision or other development ordinances or land use plans, or as streets, whether owned in fee or used by easement, to abutting property owners where such sales and conveyances facilitate the enjoyment of the highest and best use of the abutting owner's property without first submitting the sale or conveyance to the process of an auction or the solicitation of sealed bids; provided, however, that each abutting property owner shall be notified of the availability of the property and shall have the opportunity to purchase said property under such terms and conditions as set out by ordinance.
(i)(1) As used in this subsection, the terms “conservation easement” and “holder” shall have the meanings as set forth in Code Section 44-10-2.
(2) Notwithstanding any provision of this Code section or of any other law, ordinance, or resolution to the contrary, whenever the governing authority of any county determines that the establishment of a conservation easement would be of benefit to the county and to its citizens by way of retaining or protecting natural, scenic, or open-space values of real property; assuring the availability of the property for agricultural, forest, recreational, or open-space use; protecting natural resources; maintaining or enhancing air or water quality; or preserving the historical, architectural, archeological, or cultural aspects of the property, such governing authority may sell or grant to any holder a conservation easement over any of its real property, including but not limited to any of its real property set aside for use as a park. These powers shall be cumulative of other powers and shall not be deemed to limit their exercise in any way; provided, however, that a conservation easement shall not be created, granted, or otherwise conveyed for the purpose of preventing, frustrating, or interfering with the exercise of the power of eminent domain by any public utility or other entity authorized to exercise the power of eminent domain.
The officer having charge of the financial affairs of each county shall keep insured, at a fair valuation against loss by fire, all volumes of the public laws and decisions of the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals which have been furnished to the judge of the probate court and the clerk of the superior court of his county. Such policies of insurance shall be in the name of the county. The premiums therefor shall be paid out of the funds of the county. In the event of any loss or damage by fire, the county governing authority shall proceed to collect the amount of loss on the policy; when so collected, the proceeds thereof shall be used in supplying new books of the kind lost or injured, insofar as the proceeds may be sufficient to do so.
(a) It is the duty of the county governing authorities to erect or repair, when necessary, their respective courthouses and jails and all other necessary county buildings and to furnish each with all the furniture necessary for the different rooms, offices, or cells.
(b) The county buildings shall be erected and kept in order and repaired at the expense of the county under the direction of the county governing authority which is authorized to make all necessary contracts for that purpose.
(c)(1) As used in this subsection, the term “county document” means:
(A) Records documenting property rights, deeds, and wills; and
(B) Tax records documenting ownership of property and the latest valuations of property.
(2) A county officer, the county board of tax assessors, or any other officer of the county having the responsibility or custody of any county documents set forth in paragraph (1) of this subsection shall, at night or when the county office is closed, keep such county documents:
(A) In a fireproof safe or vault;
(B) In fireproof cabinets;
(C) On microfilm, pursuant to the standards set forth in Article 6 of Chapter 18 of Title 50, only if a security copy has been sent to the Georgia State Archives;
(D) At a location not more than 100 miles from the county in a data storage and retrieval facility approved by the county governing authority within the State of Georgia which is in a building or facility which is in compliance with the fire safety standards applicable to archives and record centers as established by the National Fire Protection Association in Standard No. 232, as such standard was adopted on August 11, 1995. If documents are stored outside the county where the documents were created, the government entity shall bear all costs of transporting such documents back to the county of origin for purposes of responding to requests under Article 4 of Chapter 18 of Title 50, relating to inspections of public records. Such documents shall be made available to the requester; or
(E) On any other electronic imaging medium that facilitates retrieval of such documents via electronic means, provided that such medium enables conversion of such documents to future electronic imaging technologies and provided that such custodian creates a daily computer-based backup of all archival documents stored on such medium.
(3) It is the duty of the county governing authorities to furnish the necessary fireproof equipment, microfilming equipment and supplies, or some other safe facility for such county documents.
(4) On and after January 1, 1985, county documents shall be stored only in accordance with the provisions of this subsection. The local fire marshal in each county shall monitor the various county offices in the county to assure compliance with the provisions of this subsection.
The county governing authority shall designate the rooms in the courthouse to be occupied by each of the county officers and enter the same on its minutes, which it may change from time to time as convenience may require.
It shall be the duty of the county governing authority to furnish fuel, lights, furniture, stationery, records, and office supplies in general for the different county offices of the county, at the expense of the county, provided that this Code section shall apply only to the offices of the officers in the courthouse in the county.
The public grounds and other county property are placed in the keeping of the sheriff of the county, subject to the order of the county governing authority; and it is his or her duty to preserve them from injury or waste and to prevent intrusions upon them.
The county jails hereafter constructed shall be of sufficient size and strength to contain and keep securely the prisoners who may be confined therein and shall contain at least two apartments, one for males and one for females, which are properly ventilated so as to secure the health of those confined therein.
Any person who designedly destroys, injures, or defaces any public building or its appurtenances or furniture or uses the same for an indecent purpose shall be liable for the damages and shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
All contracts entered into by the county governing authority with other persons in behalf of the county shall be in writing and entered on its minutes.
In any county of this state having a population of 800,000 or more according to the United States decennial census of 2000 or any future such census, contracts for building or repairing any courthouse or other public building, jail, bridge, causeway, or other public works or public property shall be let to the lowest responsible bidder, but the governing authority of any such county shall have the right to reject any or all bids for any such contract. The governing authority of any such county, in considering whether a bidder is responsible, may consider the bidder's quality of work, general reputation in the community, financial responsibility, previous employment on public works, and compliance with a minority business enterprise participation plan or making a good faith effort to comply with the goals of such a plan.
In any county having a population of more than 150,000 in any metropolitan statistical area having a population of not less than 260,000 nor more than 360,000 according to the United States decennial census of 1980 or any future such census, contracts for building or repairing any courthouse or other public building, jail, bridge, causeway, or other public works or public property shall be let to the lowest responsible bidder, but the governing authority of any such county shall have the right to reject any or all bids for any such contract. The governing authority of any such county, in considering whether a bidder is responsible, may consider the bidder's quality of work, general reputation in the community, financial responsibility, previous employment on public works, and compliance with a minority business enterprise participation plan or making a good faith effort to comply with the goals of such a plan.
All claims against counties must be presented within 12 months after they accrue or become payable or the same are barred, provided that minors or other persons laboring under disabilities shall be allowed 12 months after the removal of the disability to present their claims.
Except where otherwise provided by law, each county governing authority shall audit all claims against its respective county. Every such claim, or such part as may be allowed, must be registered. The county governing authority or its clerk must give the claimant an order on the treasurer for the same; in the order, it shall specifically designate upon what particular fund such order is drawn, out of which payment is to be made.
No order shall be paid until after five days from its date and delivery, unless otherwise specially ordered. In the meantime, the county governing authority may furnish the county treasurer with a full statement of all orders issued, which shall be immediately registered by him; when so registered, such orders shall be paid according to law, without further notice to the treasurer previous to the time of payment.
(a) When there are enough funds to pay all outstanding orders and other forms of indebtedness due which the treasurer is authorized to pay, such debts may be paid indiscriminately without regard to their dates. When there are enough funds to pay all forms of indebtedness dated prior to some particular date, all such forms of indebtedness may likewise be paid indiscriminately. When there are insufficient funds to pay all forms of indebtedness of equal degree, they shall be paid ratably. Under all other circumstances, debts should be paid in the order of their dates.
(b) If any person holding county orders fails to present them by December 1 to the county treasurer for payment, such orders shall be postponed in favor of all orders which were so presented and were not paid for want of funds.
(a) On December 1 of each year, the county treasurer and the county governing authority shall together make an entry of all orders entitled to payment which were not so presented for payment and what orders not of equal dignity have been paid instead, in whole or in part, and what other orders are entitled to payment before such nonpresented orders. Persons holding such orders who present them without receiving payment before such day may have the treasurer annually mark thereon “Presented,” the day of presentation, and that they were not paid for want of funds. Such county orders, when legally issued and duly presented, as provided in this Code section, and not paid for want of funds, shall bear interest at such rate as may be prescribed by the county governing authority, by resolution duly adopted and entered upon the minutes of the county governing authority, which rate of interest shall in no event be more than 7 percent per annum from date of entry of presentation and nonpayment for want of funds. The rate so fixed shall be plainly written or printed upon the face of the order. However, interest shall not be paid on such warrant or warrants after July 1 following the year in which they were presented unless the warrant or warrants are again presented and payment is refused for want of funds. The treasurer or keeper of county funds shall endorse on the warrant the words “Presented for payment; no funds on hand with which to pay same. This the _____ day of _____, _____.”
(b) Any county order issued by any county governing authority shall bear interest at the rate specified by resolution at the time of the issuance of the order, as provided in this Code section. The rate of interest which the warrant shall thereafter bear shall not be changed or affected by any subsequent resolution or change of rate of interest that may be adopted thereafter by the county governing authority; rather the warrant shall bear the rate of interest written or printed upon the face of the order and established by the county governing authority at the time of the issuance thereof.
All county orders are transferable by delivery or endorsement; and the endorser shall be liable according to the terms of his endorsement, as in commercial paper, provided that no transfer can take place so as to prevent a treasurer from setting off any sum that the payee may owe the county at the date of the order.
The private property of the citizens of a county shall not be bound by any judgment obtained against the county. Such judgment, if binding, shall be satisfied from money raised by lawful taxation.
The general supervision of all paupers is vested in the county governing authority.
No person who is able to maintain himself by labor or who has sufficient means shall be entitled to the benefits of the provision for the poor. In cases where women are unable to maintain themselves and the helpless children they may have, they may be aided to the extent required in the furnishing of food, clothing, or shelter.
The father, mother, or child of any pauper contemplated by Code Section 36-12-2, if sufficiently able, shall support the pauper. Any county having provided for such pauper upon the failure of such relatives to do so may bring an action against such relatives of full age and recover for the provisions so furnished. The certificate of the judge of the probate court that the person was poor and was unable to sustain himself and that he was maintained at the expense of the county shall be presumptive evidence of such maintenance and the costs thereof.
Any inhabitant of any county, city, town, or village in or out of this state who sends a pauper to some county in this state by paying the expense of his transportation or otherwise has him removed for the purpose of burdening some other community shall be personally liable for the support of the pauper in the county where he locates. If the person who transports a pauper is insolvent or does not respond to such demand from any cause, the county from which the transportation took place shall be liable.
(a) Whenever any person dies in this state and the decedent, his or her family, and his or her immediate kindred are indigent and unable to provide for the decedent's decent interment or cremation, the governing authority of the county wherein the death occurs shall make available from county funds a sum sufficient to provide a decent interment or cremation of the deceased indigent person or to reimburse such person as may have expended the cost thereof voluntarily, the exact amount thereof to be determined by the governing authority of the county but shall not exceed the lesser of the actual costs of interment or cremation.
(b) The Department of Corrections is authorized to reimburse the governing authority of the county where expenditures have been made in accordance with this Code section for the burial or cremation of any inmate under the authority, jurisdiction, or control of the Department of Corrections; but in no case shall the governing authority of the county be entitled to reimbursement where the decedent was in the custody of a county correctional institution or other county correctional facility.
The county governing authority in this state is authorized to make, adopt, amend, and repeal building, housing, electrical, plumbing, gas, and other similar codes relating to the construction, livability, sanitation, erection, equipment, alteration, repair, occupancy, or removal of buildings and structures located outside of the corporate limits of any municipality in the county.
The codes authorized in Code Section 36-13-1 may embrace such matters as the preparation and submission of plans and specifications; issuance of permits; standards governing the kind, quality, and performance of materials, equipment, and workmanship; establishment of fire zones; fireproofing; means of egress and ingress; floor area per occupant; and sanitary facilities and usage proceedings in connection with unsafe, unsanitary, or inadequate structures. The enumeration in this Code section shall not be construed as being exclusive.
The codes authorized in Code Section 36-13-1 may be adopted by reference to national or regional codes.
The county governing authority is permitted to contract with municipalities and other political subdivisions of the state possessing the authority to issue building permits and to enforce building, electrical, plumbing, gas, housing, and other similar codes, in order to administer efficiently the powers granted under this chapter.
The county governing authority shall have the authority to appoint building, electrical, plumbing, gas, and housing inspectors for its county and to appoint such other assistants as the authority may deem necessary.
In all counties of this state having a population of 550,000 or more according to the United States decennial census of 1970 or any future such census, any employee who is authorized to enforce any county code, ordinance, regulation, rule, or other order, including such related ordinances, codes, and regulations as drainage regulations, soil erosion and sedimentation control regulations, subdivision and zoning regulations, water and sewer regulations, and any other land development or construction regulations of such county, shall have the authority to issue citations to any person who shall violate any such county code, ordinance, regulation, or order which shall be in effect in such counties. Such citations shall command the appearance of such person at a designated regular session of a court in such county having the jurisdiction of a commitment court throughout the entire county. At such time and place such court shall act as a court of inquiry with all the powers and authorities as specified in Code Section 17-8-5. In the event that any such person shall fail to appear in response to a citation, a warrant shall be issued for the arrest of such person for violation of such county code, ordinance, regulation, rule, or order without the necessity of any further action.
The county governing authority shall have the authority to make rules and regulations concerning permits for and inspections of construction equipment and the alteration, repair, or removal of buildings, signs, and other structures outside the corporate limits of municipalities located in its county. It may prescribe fees or charges for permits and inspections, which fees shall be fixed and charged by the governing authority and shall be paid to the county treasurer by the applicant for such permits or inspections.
The county governing authority shall have the authority to make such codes, rules, and regulations as are permitted under this chapter for:
(1) The entire unincorporated area of the county;
(2) Any militia district within the unincorporated area of the county;
(3) Any land lot;
(4) Any land and water areas 500 feet wide on either side of any state or county highway or any section of such highway within the unincorporated area of the county;
(5) Any land or water areas 500 feet wide on either side of any water line of the stream or water reservoir or section thereof within the unincorporated area of the county; or
(6) Any portion of the unincorporated area of the county lying within a specified distance of the boundaries of a municipality in the county.
Before enacting any of the codes, rules, or regulations permitted in this chapter, the county governing authority shall hold a public hearing thereon. At least 15 days' notice of the time and place of the hearing shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the county.
The county governing authorities are authorized to appropriate and expend funds for the purposes of this chapter.
When any violation of any of the codes, rules, and regulations which are adopted by the county governing authority under this chapter is or is proposed to be committed, the inspectors appointed under this chapter, the county attorney, some other appropriate authority of the county, or any adjacent or neighboring property owner who would be damaged by the violation, in addition to other remedies, may institute injunction, mandamus, or other appropriate action or proceeding to prevent, correct, or abate the violation or threatened violation.
Full compliance with all rules, regulations, and requirements set up under this chapter shall be a prerequisite to issuance of any permit. Failure to secure such permit as is required is declared to be a misdemeanor.
The violation of any of the codes, rules, and regulations adopted by the county governing authority under this chapter is declared to be a misdemeanor. Any person violating any such codes, rules, and regulations shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. Each and every day such violation continues shall be deemed a separate offense.
The consent of the state is given to and authority is vested in the county governing authority to erect bridges across the navigable streams that lie wholly within the state, whenever in the judgment of the county governing authority the public interest may be subserved thereby, upon its compliance with the law of Congress requiring the approval of the secretary of transportation and the chief of engineers of the United States, as embodied in the statutes of the United States passed by the Fifty-fifth Congress and approved March 3, 1899.
Counties lying adjacent to any river on the border or forming the boundary between this state and another shall have the same power, acting by and through the proper county authorities, to build and maintain bridges over such river as the counties now have to build and maintain bridges over streams lying wholly within their borders, provided that this power shall not be exercised except to cooperate with the proper authorities of the adjacent state in building and maintaining such bridges, on the principle that each state is to build simultaneously from its own bank to the middle of the river and afterwards to maintain and keep up the part of the bridge which it has built; and provided, further, that no bridge shall be erected under this Code section at any point where the river exceeds, at low-water mark, 2,000 feet in breadth.
(a) The county governing authority may contract and pay out of the funds of the county such sums of money as it deems equitable and just to the authorities of the United States for the county's fair proportion of the cost of building any bridge which it deems necessary to erect across any stream dividing the county or some part thereof from lands over which the jurisdiction has been ceded to the government of the United States for any purpose, provided that it shall thereafter be the duty of the authorities of the United States to keep such bridges in repair, to renew them as often as may be necessary, and to keep them open for the free and uninterrupted travel of the public.
(b) The United States is vested with full and complete jurisdiction over grounds necessary for the erection of piers and approaches to such bridges on each side of such streams, so far as may be necessary for the erection, repair, and protection of the bridges and approaches.
There is created in each county in this state a board to be known as the board of trustees of the county law library, hereafter referred to as the board. The board shall consist of the chief judge of the superior court of the circuit in which the county is located; the judge of the probate court; the senior judge of the state court, if any; the chief judge of the magistrate court; the district attorney of the circuit in which the county is located; a solicitor-general of the state court, if any; the clerk of the superior court; and two practicing attorneys of the county. The practicing attorneys shall be selected by the other trustees and shall serve at their pleasure. All of the trustees shall serve without pay. The chief judge of the superior court shall be chairperson of the board. A majority of the members of the board shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of transacting all business that may come before the board.
(a) There is created an office to be known as secretary-treasurer of the board of trustees of the county law library in each county. The secretary-treasurer shall be selected and appointed by the board and shall serve at the pleasure of the board. The board may appoint one of its own members as secretary-treasurer or, in its discretion, may designate some other person to act as secretary-treasurer of the board. The secretary-treasurer of the board shall perform the duties provided for the treasurer in this chapter.
(b) The board of trustees may designate the judge of the probate court or a deputy clerk of the superior court of each county to act as librarian; any such official shall not receive any additional compensation for the performance of such duties. The board, however, in its discretion, may designate some other person to act as librarian and shall fix the compensation for such person.
The secretary-treasurer of the board shall give a good and sufficient surety bond, payable to the county, in such an amount as may be determined by the board, to account faithfully for all funds received and disbursed by him. The premium on the bond shall be paid out of the county law library fund.
The board of trustees is given the following powers and duties:
(1) To provide for the collection of all money provided for in this chapter;
(2) To select the books, reports, texts, and periodicals;
(3) To make all necessary rules and regulations governing the use of the library;
(4) To keep records of all its meetings and proceedings;
(5) To exercise all other powers necessary for the proper administration of this chapter; and
(6) To enter into agreements with the boards of trustees of other county law libraries within the same judicial circuit for the purpose of pooling funds to purchase books, reports, texts, and periodicals and to purchase or lease computer related research equipment and programs; to provide for the joint use of such books, reports, texts, periodicals, and computer related research equipment and programs within the same judicial circuit; and to provide where said books, reports, texts, periodicals, and computer related research equipment and programs may be maintained.
The board shall have control of the funds provided for in this chapter. All funds received shall be deposited in a special account to be known as the county law library fund. The board shall have authority to expend the funds in accordance with this chapter and to invest any of the funds so received in any investments which are legal investments for fiduciaries in this state.
The board may take, by gift, grant, devise, or bequest, any money, real or personal property, or other thing of value and may hold or invest the same for the uses and purposes of the library.
(a) The money paid into the hands of the treasurer of the board of trustees of the county law library shall be used for the purchase of law books, reports, texts, periodicals, supplies, desks, and equipment and for the maintenance, upkeep, and operation of the law library, including the services of a librarian and, within the discretion of the board of trustees, payment for purchases made by a county's superior court, state court, probate court, magistrate court, or juvenile court, and for the purchase or leasing of computer related legal research equipment and programs, and, at the discretion of the county governing authority, for the establishment and maintenance of the codification of county ordinances. However, the amount transferred to the county governing authority for codification pursuant to this subsection shall not exceed the cost of establishing or maintaining the codification.
(b) In addition to the uses specified in subsection (a) of this Code section, the board of trustees of a county law library shall be authorized to use funds to establish a law library or libraries for the judges of the superior courts of the judicial circuit and for the judges of the state court in which the county lies. A request for the establishment of one or more such libraries shall be made to the board of trustees by the chief judge of the judicial circuit with the assent of a majority of the superior court judges of the circuit or by the chief judge of the state court of the county with the assent of a majority of the state court judges of the county. Additionally, the probate judge, chief magistrate, presiding juvenile court judge, or any chief judge of any county court may make a similar request. It shall be in the discretion of the board of trustees of each county whether to grant such a request. Any one or more county boards of trustees in the judicial circuit may participate in the establishment of the law library or libraries and, for the purpose of such participation, may enter into agreements regarding the proportional share of expenditures to be borne by each county board of trustees. Purchases made from county law library funds under this subsection shall not duplicate the law books and materials supplied to each judge by the state or by other sources. Such purchases shall become the property of the judge who requested the purchase and shall be passed on to his or her successor in office.
(c) In the event the board of trustees determines in its discretion that it has excess funds, such funds as may be designated by the board of trustees shall be disbursed by the board of trustees to charitable tax-exempt organizations which provide civil legal representation for low-income people; used to purchase software, equipment, fixtures, or furnishings for any office related to county judicial facilities or services, including, but not limited to, courtrooms and jury rooms; or turned over to the county commissioners and used by the county commissioners for the purchase of software, equipment, fixtures, or furnishings for the courthouse.
(d) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this Code section, all law books, reports, texts, and periodicals purchased by the use of gifts and from the funds of the county law library shall become the property of the county.
The county governing authority shall furnish necessary space, offices, lights, heat, and water for the maintenance of the county law library.
(a) For the purpose of providing funds for those uses specified in Code Section 36-15-7, a sum not to exceed $5.00, in addition to all other legal costs, may be charged and collected in each action or case, either civil or criminal, including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, all adoptions, petitions for review, applications by personal representatives for leave to sell or reinvest, trade name registrations, applications for change of name, and all other proceedings of civil or criminal or quasi-criminal nature, filed in the superior, state, probate, and any other courts of record, except county recorders' courts or municipal courts. The amount of such additional costs to be charged and collected, if any, in each such case shall be fixed by the chief judge of the superior court of the circuit in which such county is located. Such additional costs shall not be charged and collected unless the chief judge first determines that a need exists for a law library in the county. The clerk of each and every such court in such counties in which such a law library is established shall collect such fees and remit the same to the treasurer of the board of trustees of the county law library of the county in which the case was brought, on the first day of each month. Where fees collected by the treasurer have been allocated for the purpose of establishing or maintaining the codification of county ordinances, the allocated amount shall in turn be remitted by the treasurer to the county governing authority for said purpose on a monthly basis or as otherwise agreed by the treasurer and the county governing authority. The county ordinance code provided for in subsection (a) of Code Section 36-15-7 shall be maintained by the county governing authority. When the costs in criminal cases are not collected, the cost provided in this Code section shall be paid from the fine and bond forfeiture fund of the court in which the case is filed, before any other disbursement or distribution of such fines or forfeitures is made.
(a.1) In any county having a population of more than 550,000 according to the United States decennial census of 1980 or any future such census, the power and authority provided in subsection (a) of this Code section for the chief judge shall be exercised by the superior court judge who has the most service as a superior court judge.
(b) A case, within the meaning of subsection (a) of this Code section, shall mean and be construed as any matter which is docketed upon the official dockets of the enumerated courts and to which a number is assigned, whether such matter is contested or not.
(c) Reserved.
(d) Notwithstanding that provision of subsection (a) of this Code section which excepts recorders' courts from the requirement of charging and collecting the additional costs provided for by said subsection (a), said subsection (a) and subsection (b) of this Code section shall be applicable to the recorder's court of each county of this state having a population of not less than 200,000 nor more than 275,000 according to the United States decennial census of 1980 or any future such census.
(e) Notwithstanding that provision of subsection (a) of this Code section which excepts county recorders' courts and municipal courts from the requirement of charging and collecting the additional costs provided for by that subsection (a), subsections (a) and (b) of this Code section shall apply to any municipal court of a municipality if the governing authority thereof, by ordinance or resolutions, approves the charging and collecting of such costs pursuant to subsections (a) and (b) of this Code section.
(f) Reserved.
(g) In counties where a law library authorized by this chapter has not been established, upon request of the county governing authority, the chief judge of a circuit shall direct that the fees authorized by this Code section be charged and collected for the purpose of the establishment and maintenance of the codification of county ordinances. However, the amount transferred to the county governing authority pursuant to this subsection shall not exceed the cost of establishing or maintaining the codification. The clerk of each and every court in such counties in which costs are collected for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this subsection shall remit the same to the county governing authority on the first day of each month. The county ordinance code provided for in this subsection shall be maintained by the county governing authority. When the costs in criminal cases are not collected, the cost provided in this Code section shall be paid from the fine and bond forfeiture fund of the court in which the case is filed before any other disbursement or distribution of such fines or forfeitures is made.
All actions, decisions, contracts, and purchases made by any board of trustees of a county law library or any other person charged with the responsibility of operating or maintaining a county law library under any law of this state enacted prior to March 19, 1971, are ratified.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, this chapter shall not apply to a city court, which is authorized to try state traffic offenses, of any city of this state having a population of 300,000 or more according to the United States decennial census of 1980 or any future such census.
Each board created pursuant to this chapter shall, at the end of each fiscal year for the preceding year, have an annual audit of its financial affairs, books, and accounts performed by the county accountant as employed pursuant to Code Section 36-1-10; the internal auditor employed by the governing authority of the county, if such internal auditor is a certified public accountant; or a certified public accountant. The determination of the performance of such audit by the county accountant, the internal auditor, or a certified public accountant shall be made by the board. Such audit shall be conducted in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, including, but not limited to, a report on whether the control, deposit, and investment of funds, the receipt and investment of money and property, and the use of funds by such board have been conducted as provided for under this chapter. A copy of such audit shall be made available to the governing authority of the county and shall be a public document.
The county governing authority shall furnish, purchase, or cause to be furnished or purchased a suitable filing case or other container to be placed in the office of the judge of the probate court of the county and labeled “Historical.”
The judge of the probate court of the county shall be required to receive from any responsible citizen or citizens any data of a historical nature and place the same on file in the historical container provided for in Code Section 36-16-1, for safe preservation and historical reference. The matter to be entered for preservation must be of general interest and not of a personal nature; it may include records, proceedings, or minutes of any religious body or organization; school records not otherwise preserved; records of civic, patriotic, or fraternal organizations; and records of purely community affairs when of such nature as to be of general interest and not otherwise recorded by court procedure.
The judge of the probate court and the county board of education are made the sole judges of the admissibility of any matter or document which may be submitted to the judge of the probate court for filing, should any question arise as to the historical value of such matter or document so submitted; and the judge of the probate court and the board of education sitting in regular session shall have authority to accept or reject any matter so submitted, provided that the judge of the probate court shall be required to deposit in the historical container all documents in his office pertaining to records of Confederate soldiers and widows of such soldiers, as well as soldiers and their surviving spouses of all other wars of our nation, a record of which he may have in his office, and to make proper notations thereof in the book of record.
The judge of the probate court shall be required to keep a suitable record and index in a book prepared for that purpose of all matter placed in the historical container, with notations as to the nature of the matter on file, by whom, and when placed on file. He shall be entitled to a fee of 25¢, payable by the person filing such historical matter, for each article or document so deposited by such person for preservation with him, provided that the county historian may submit documents for preservation without payment of a fee to the judge of the probate court.
This chapter shall not become operative in any county of this state until it has been adopted and recommended by a majority vote of two successive regular grand juries of the county.
It is declared to be the purpose and intent of the General Assembly that state funds be made available to the governing authorities of the counties of this state to be expended for any public purposes.
To the extent that funds are made available by the budget authorities pursuant to the general appropriations Acts or any other laws for the purposes set out in Code Section 36-17-1, except for the grants to counties which are appropriated as a part of the appropriation to the Department of Transportation designated “For grants to counties for aid in county road construction and maintenance,” the Office of the State Treasurer is authorized and directed to grant such funds to the counties of this state in the same proportion which the total public road mileage of each county bears to the total public road mileage in the state, as such mileage information is furnished by the Department of Transportation. The computation of individual county grants, as provided for in this Code section, shall be prepared and certified by the state treasurer, who shall make such payments.
Funds distributed under this article by the Office of the State Treasurer shall be paid to the counties in the name of the county treasurer or other fiscal authority authorized to receive county funds. Such funds shall be expended by the county only for the purposes prescribed in Code Section 36-17-1.
Pursuant to the authority granted to the General Assembly in Article III, Section IX, Paragraph II(c) of the Constitution of Georgia and in order to provide for a more effective management and fiscal administration of the state and pursuant to Article III, Section IX, Paragraph VI(b) of the Constitution of Georgia, in order to provide funds to counties to aid in the construction and maintenance of county roads and, in addition to funds provided pursuant to other laws, there may be allotted to each county annually for county road construction and maintenance certain grants as provided in Code Sections 36-17-21 and 36-17-22.
(a) In any year in which the General Assembly appropriates by line item, and with reference to this Code section, funds necessary to provide grants to counties to aid in the construction and maintenance of county roads, such grants shall be allotted to each county pro rata according to each county's share of the total number of homesteads in the state for the immediately preceding year. For purposes of this Code section and Code Section 36-17-22, the term “homestead” shall mean and include all that tangible property upon which an ad valorem property tax homestead exemption was claimed and allowed.
(b) In order to provide better fiscal management, the funds provided pursuant to this Code section are intended to be utilized for the relief of ad valorem taxation on tangible property. No county shall be entitled to receive any of the funds provided for in this Code section unless and until a credit against county ad valorem property taxes levied and expended by the county governing authority is granted by the governing authority of the county to each homestead located within the county. Each credit shall equal an amount computed as follows: the amount of the grant allotted, pursuant to this Code section, to the county to aid in the construction and maintenance of county roads, divided by the number of homesteads in the county.
(c) No credit granted pursuant to this Code section shall exceed one-half of the credit recipient's total tax liability for county ad valorem property taxes levied and expended by the county governing authority.
(d) If a surplus remains from the funds allotted to such county by this Code section after complying with this Code section, such remaining funds shall be deemed appropriated and allotted to the county under Code Section 36-17-22.
(a) In any year in which the General Assembly appropriates by line item, and with reference to this Code section, funds necessary to provide grants to counties to aid in the construction and maintenance of county roads, such grants shall be allotted to each county pro rata according to each county's share of the total number of homesteads in the state for the immediately preceding year.
(b) In order to provide better fiscal management, the funds provided pursuant to this Code section are intended to be utilized for the relief of ad valorem taxation on tangible property. No county shall be entitled to receive any of the funds provided for in this Code section unless and until a credit against county ad valorem property taxes levied and expended by the county governing authority is granted by the governing authority of the county to all eligible tangible property, as defined in subsection (c) of this Code section, except motor vehicles and trailers, located within the county. Each credit shall equal an amount computed as follows: a pro rata share of the sum of the grant allotted, pursuant to this Code section, to the county to aid in the construction and maintenance of county roads and the surplus, if any, from the funds allotted to such county by subsection (a) of Code Section 36-17-21, after compliance by the county with the provisions of subsection (b) of Code Section 36-17-21.
(c) As used in this Code section, the term “eligible tangible property” means all tangible property except that tangible property required to be returned to and assessed by the state revenue commissioner pursuant to statutes passed by the General Assembly under the authority of Article VII, Section I, Paragraph III of the Constitution of Georgia.
(a) No credit or combination of credits granted pursuant to this article shall exceed the lesser of (1) $1,000.00 or (2) the credit recipient's total tax liability for county ad valorem property taxes levied and expended by the county governing authority. No credit authorized by such Code sections shall be granted unless the taxpayer claims his entitlement to such credit and certifies that the sum of all such credits so claimed by him does not exceed $1,000.00. The state revenue commissioner shall provide by regulation for the forms and procedures by which taxpayers shall claim credits and certify the sum thereof. The governing authorities of the various counties shall make available to the taxing authorities of such counties funds sufficient to defray the administrative costs of this article. Any person who, with intent to receive credit not authorized by this article, claims a credit to which he is not lawfully entitled or falsely certifies the sum of credits claimed by him shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. Any credit erroneously or illegally granted, whether due to negligence or any other cause, shall be recoverable by the county granting such credit in the same fashion as any other delinquent property tax.
(b) No credit authorized under this article shall be granted to any taxpayer unless the taxpayer pays his then current tax liability for county ad valorem property taxes levied and expended by the county governing authority on or before the date such liability becomes due. However, in order to comply with this subsection, the governing authority of any county may, by appropriate resolution, extend the date that such tax liability becomes due.
The taxing authority of each county receiving funds pursuant to this article shall show in a prominent manner on the tax bill of each ad valorem taxpayer the dollar amount of credit against ad valorem property taxes which the taxpayer is receiving as a result of the funds allocated and shall show that such credit is a result of the passage of such Code sections by the General Assembly. Each such tax bill shall also show in a prominent manner the amount of any surplus, from the funds allotted to the county by such Code sections, after compliance by the county with subsection (b) of Code Section 36-17-21 and subsection (b) of Code Section 36-17-22, retained by the governing authority of the county. The form of the notice shall be as prescribed by the state revenue commissioner, who shall determine and certify to the appropriate state fiscal officer the amount of funds to which each county is entitled pursuant to this article. The determination of the state revenue commissioner shall be final and the appropriate state fiscal officer shall disburse the funds pursuant to the certification.
It shall be the duty of the state revenue commissioner to administer this article. The commissioner shall have the authority to promulgate such rules and regulations as he may deem necessary for the effective administration of this article.
As used in this chapter, the term “cable television system” means a nonbroadcast facility consisting of a set of transmission paths and associated generation, reception, transmission, and control equipment, under common ownership and control, that distributes or is designed to distribute to subscribers the signals of one or more television broadcast stations and programs received via satellite, microwave, video tape, or video discs or produced by the franchised cable system.
The governing authority of each county in this state is authorized to limit the operation of cable television systems within its territorial limits, except as limited by Code Section 36-18-3, to operators licensed and franchised by the county; to grant, in its sole discretion, one or more franchise licenses for the operation of cable television systems within the territorial limits of that county, except as limited by Code Section 36-18-3; and to regulate by ordinance or resolution the operation of cable television systems licensed and franchised by that county. The governing authority of each such county, in connection with the grant of such franchises, is further authorized to charge franchise fees to cable television systems for the right to operate the systems within the unincorporated areas of the county and within any incorporated areas which are subject to the limitation contained in Code Section 36-18-3. Cable television system franchise fees shall be negotiated between each county and each franchisee, in an amount not to exceed that amount authorized under applicable federal law and regulations.
A county shall neither grant a franchise nor collect a franchise fee for the operation of cable television systems within the corporate limits of any municipality except by agreement with the municipality. A municipality shall neither grant a franchise nor collect a franchise fee for the operation of cable television systems within the unincorporated area of a county except by agreement with the county.
It is the intent of this chapter to confirm expressly the authority of counties to grant franchises for, and to regulate by ordinance or resolution, cable television systems within their territorial limits, except as limited by Code Section 36-18-3. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to impair any cable television system franchise license lawfully issued by a county or municipality prior to April 9, 1981; and any such license shall be entitled to the benefits of this chapter.
This chapter shall not apply to any cable television system owned or operated by a city, a county, or a school system as to operations within the geographical area of such city, county, or school system.
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the “Georgia County Leadership Act.”
The General Assembly finds and declares that it is in the best interests of the citizens of this state to require newly elected members of a county governing authority, prior to taking office, to attend a course of training and education on matters pertaining to the administration and operation of county government. The purpose of such course shall be to instruct such individuals in the powers, duties, and responsibilities of their positions of public trust.
As used in this chapter, the term:
(1) “Academy” means the Georgia County Leadership Academy.
(2) “Board” means the Board of the Georgia County Leadership Academy.
(3) “County governing authority” means the governing authority as defined in paragraph (7) of Code Section 1-3-3 and an elected chief executive officer of a county.
(4) “State” means the State of Georgia and any department, board, bureau, commission, or other agency thereof.
(a) All persons elected as members of a county governing authority who were not serving as members of a county governing authority on July 1, 1990, shall enroll in, attend, and satisfactorily complete a course of training and education of at least 18 hours on matters pertaining to the administration and operations of county governments. Such course of training and education shall include, but not be limited to, orientation in local government finance and budgeting; methods of taxation; planning; public works and utilities; parks and recreation; environmental management; public safety, health, and welfare; personnel management; responsiveness to the community; the ethics, duties, and responsibilities of members of a county governing authority or a chief executive officer; and such other matters as may be deemed necessary and appropriate by the academy.
(b) All expenses incurred by a newly elected member of a county governing authority related to the course of training and education authorized and required by subsection (a) of this Code section, including the reasonable costs of housing, travel, and meals, shall be paid from public funds appropriated for such purposes. All expenses not paid for by state funds shall be paid from county funds by the county governing authority whose newly elected member or members shall attend such course.
(a) There is created and established the Georgia County Leadership Academy. Except as otherwise provided in Code Section 36-20-4, all costs of operating and conducting the academy shall be paid for from public funds appropriated for such purposes.
(b) The academy shall have the power, duty, and authority to design, implement, and administer the course of training and education required by Code Section 36-20-4.
(c) The initial course of training and education required by Code Section 36-20-4 shall be conducted by the academy on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November of 1990 and completed before January 1, 1991. Subsequent courses shall be conducted by the academy biennially between the Tuesday after the first Monday in November and before January 1 of the following year or as otherwise changed by general law. The academy shall have sole responsibility for determining the exact date or dates the course of training and education shall be conducted.
(d) The academy shall establish guidelines and procedures to permit any person elected or appointed as a member of a county governing authority after January 1 of a calendar year or any person who is unable to attend or complete the course of training and education when offered by the academy due to medical disability, providential cause, or any other reason deemed sufficient by the academy, to comply with the requirements of Code Section 36-20-4.
(e) The academy shall perform such other duties and have such other powers and authority as may be necessary and proper or as prescribed by general law.
(a) The academy shall be under the direction and supervision of the board of the Georgia County Leadership Academy. The board shall have the power and duty to organize, administer, control, oversee, and advise the academy so that the academy is operated in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
(b) The academy is assigned to the Department of Community Affairs for administrative purposes only, as prescribed in Code Section 50-4-3.
The board shall consist of seven members and shall be composed of the commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs, the director of the Carl Vinson Institute of Government of the University of Georgia, the administrator of Governmental Training of the Carl Vinson Institute of Government of the University of Georgia, the president of the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, the executive director of the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, and two members appointed by the Governor. Members of the board appointed by the Governor shall serve for four-year terms.
(a) The board may accept appropriations, grants, gifts, donations, or contributions from the federal government; the state government; any county, municipal, or local government; any board, bureau, commission, agency, or establishment of any such government; any other organization, firm, or corporation, public or private; and any individual or groups of individuals in furtherance of the services, purposes, duties, responsibilities, or functions vested in the board and academy.
(b) The board is authorized to make such contracts, leases, or agreements as may be necessary and convenient to carry out the duties and purposes for which the board is created. The board is authorized to enter into contracts, leases, or agreements with any person, firm, or corporation, public or private, upon such terms and for such purposes as may be deemed advisable by the board.
On or before February 1 of each year, the director of the Carl Vinson Institute of Government, on behalf of the board, shall make a report to the Governor, the chairman of the Senate State and Local Governmental Operations Committee, and the chairman of the State Planning and Community Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives. The report shall include a summary of the accomplishments of the academy during the preceding calendar year, including, but not limited to, the total number of members of a county governing authority who attended the course of training and education offered by the academy; an outline of the academy's programs for the current calendar year; an evaluation of the programs and services offered by the academy; and recommendations, if any, for legislation as may be necessary to improve the programs and services offered by the academy.
It is declared to be the intent of the General Assembly that a method be provided whereby counties and certain other entities of this state may, in the discretion of their respective governing bodies, provide group health and other employee benefits to their employees through a common administrative and investment system. Such a system based on joint participation will permit counties and other entities, regardless of size, to provide certain benefits to their employees, will reduce overall administrative costs which might be prohibitive if undertaken individually, and will make possible better investment opportunities. It is intended that this chapter be liberally construed to effectuate this intent.
As used in this chapter, the term:
(1) “Benefit system” or “system” means the plan or plans of employee benefits offered and administered pursuant to this chapter.
(2) “Board” means the board of directors of the ACCG Group Health Benefits Program, Inc.
(3) “Contract” means a contract executed pursuant to this chapter between the board and a county.
(4) “Corporation” means the ACCG Group Health Benefits Program, Inc., a corporation established under Chapter 3 of Title 14, the “Georgia Nonprofit Corporation Code,” created to provide benefits pursuant to this chapter.
(5) “County” means the group health benefits program operated by the corporation; the Association County Commissioners of Georgia and any affiliate; any Georgia county government; any consolidated city-county government; or any public authority, commission, board, or similar body created or activated by an Act of the General Assembly or by resolution or ordinance of the county governing authority, individually or jointly with any other political subdivision or subdivisions of the State of Georgia, pursuant to the Constitution or an Act of the General Assembly and which carries out its function on a county-wide basis, a multicounty basis, or wholly within the unincorporated area of a county.
(6) “Employee” means any salaried or hourly rated person employed by a county. Notwithstanding any laws to the contrary, the term also includes any appointed or elected member of the governing authority of a county, the chief legal officer and any associate legal officer, and any other elected or appointed county official.
(7) “Employee benefits” means group health benefits, group short-term disability benefits, group death benefits, group accidental death and dismemberment benefits, and such other benefits as from time to time the board may deem advisable.
(8) “Member county” means a county which has contracted to become a member of the benefit system as provided for in this chapter.
(a) Any county in this state may enter into a contract with the board for the purpose of providing employee benefits to its employees.
(b) The corporation shall be governed by a board of directors, which shall be appointed and shall serve in accordance with the bylaws of the corporation. The board shall be authorized to operate and administer the benefit system in accordance with its bylaws and such other rules and regulations as may be established by the board as necessary or desirable for the administration of the benefit system.
(c) The board shall maintain a fidelity bond, and errors and omissions coverage or other appropriate liability insurance, in an amount deemed sufficient by the board.
(d) The administrative expenses of the board, including all operational expenses, fees, compensation, and other costs, shall be paid from funds held by it and may be chargeable by it to either principal or income or both, as determined by it, as of any valuation date. Further, the board shall have the authority to allocate expenses among member counties on the basis of costs.
The benefit system authorized under this chapter shall have an annual audit of its books and accounts performed by a certified public accountant. Such audit shall be conducted in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A copy of such audit shall be made available to member counties.
(a)(1) The board has the power to establish one or more plans which may be adopted by any county that meets the criteria established by the board. The employees to be covered, the benefits to be provided, and the terms and conditions for benefits shall be provided in the plan. A county is empowered to adopt such a plan by ordinance and to execute an agreement with the board to provide employee benefits as provided in the plan. The agreement and plan entered into by each member county may constitute a separate plan, unless the contract between the board and one or more counties specifically provides that funds of the counties are to be pooled and treated as a single plan. A plan providing employee benefits may provide for the method of funding such benefits through the use of insurance, self-funding, or otherwise.
(2) Any agreement between the board and a county which provides for self-funded benefits shall contain a provision that such benefits are to be provided, to the extent fixed in the plan, by the county and that the corporation does not guarantee the benefits.
(b) The board is authorized to specify in the plan reasonable employee classifications.
(c) Counties are authorized to appropriate funds to provide the benefits specified in such plan and to pay their portion of the administrative costs of the board in administering the system. Each county is authorized to pay the total contribution on behalf of its employees or to provide that a portion be deducted from the salaries of participating employees.
(d) Contributions paid by a county shall be paid from county funds which are on hand or which will be collected in the year the contribution is made and shall not be deemed to create a debt of the county.
The board is authorized to invest and reinvest funds held by it, in accordance with the bylaws of the corporation, in any investments which are legal investments for domestic insurance companies under the laws of this state or in any investments authorized for trustees of private employee benefit plans by the federal Employees Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, 1 as amended.
1 29 U.S.C.A. § 1001 et seq.
Funds held by the board of trustees or for its account shall not be subject to process, levy, or attachment; nor shall benefits arising under this chapter or any contract pursuant to this chapter be assignable unless otherwise specifically permitted under the plan of benefits.
The provision of employee benefits pursuant to this chapter shall not be subject to regulation under Title 33.
The employee benefit system shall be exempt from state and local taxes and fees.
Nothing in this chapter shall create a debt of the State of Georgia.
Wherever the words “city,” “town,” “municipality,” or “village” appear in the statutory laws of this state, such words shall be construed as synonymous, and the General Assembly so declares this to be its intention in the use of these words; such words shall be held to mean a municipal corporation as defined by statutory law and judicial interpretation.
The council or other governing body of a municipal corporation has discretion in the management and disposition of its property. Where such discretion is exercised in good faith, equity will not interfere therewith.
(a) One council may not, by an ordinance, bind itself or its successors so as to prevent free legislation in matters of municipal government.
(b) The governing authorities of municipal corporations having a population of not less than 100,000 and not more than 135,000 according to the United States decennial census of 1970 or any future such census may on behalf of such municipal corporations enter into contracts with respect to the ownership, maintenance, construction, or reconstruction of street overpasses and underpasses of railroad properties which shall be binding upon such authorities and successors. Contracts executed by the governing authorities of such municipal corporations prior to December 31, 1977, with respect to the ownership, maintenance, construction, or reconstruction of street overpasses and underpasses of railroad properties are ratified and confirmed.
(c)(1) The governing authorities of municipal corporations having a population of not less than 350,000 according to the United States decennial census of 1980 or any future such census may, on behalf of such municipal corporations, authorize the mayor to enter into contracts with private or public entities not involving the incurring of indebtedness by such municipal corporations or security for indebtedness of such private and public entities for periods not exceeding 50 years and for a valuable consideration, which contracts shall be binding on such municipal corporations and on such authorities and successors, with respect to the leasing, subleasing, maintenance, or management of property for retail facilities, restaurants, or office or other commercial use, or for residential use, or with respect to property or facilities used for nonprofit museum purposes, which property or facilities are located in its downtown development area, as defined in paragraph (3) of Code Section 36-42-3; and to authorize the mayor to include in any such contracts for use of property which is located in a downtown development area and is in or contiguous to an urban redevelopment area established pursuant to Chapter 61 of this title or to enter into amendments to any such existing or future contracts for use of property which is located in such areas in order to include terms and conditions which provide for renewals or extensions of the term of such contracts for a period of time not to exceed an additional 50 years. The limitation involving the incurring of indebtedness by such municipal corporations or security for indebtedness of such private and public entities shall not apply to contracts for the use of property for nonprofit museum purposes, nor shall such limitation apply to contracts for the leasing, subleasing, maintenance, or management of property or facilities which, in addition to being located in a downtown development area, are also located in or contiguous to an urban redevelopment area established pursuant to Chapter 61 of this title, the “Urban Redevelopment Law.”
(2) The governing authorities of any municipal corporation in this state having a population of 350,000 or more according to the United States decennial census of 1980 or any future such census may authorize the mayor to execute contracts on behalf of such municipal corporation for periods not exceeding 50 years and for valuable consideration with public or private entities to support certificates of participation in a principal amount of not more than $100 million, which contracts shall be for the development, construction, leasing, subleasing, maintenance, or management of property or facilities used for criminal justice purposes and located within the downtown development area of such municipal corporation as defined in paragraph (3) of Code Section 36-42-3 and shall be binding on such municipal corporation and such authorities and their successors.
(d) The governing authority of any municipal corporation in this state may authorize the execution of one or more contracts which specify the rates, fees, or other charges which will be charged and collected by the municipal corporation for electric, natural gas, or water utility services to be provided by the municipal corporation to one or more of its utility customers. Nothing in this subsection, however, shall be construed to grant to any municipal governing authority the right or power to specify the rates, fees, or charges to be collected for electric, natural gas, or water utility services provided by a local authority, as defined in subsection (a) of Code Section 36-80-17, where the right or power to specify such rates, fees, or charges is otherwise vested by local constitutional amendment, general statute, or local law in the governing body of such local authority. Any such contract shall be subject to the following conditions and limitations:
(1)(A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B) of this paragraph, no such contract shall be for a term in excess of ten years.
(B) No such contract for solar utility services or for wind utility services shall be for a term in excess of 20 years;
(2) Any such contract which is for a term in excess of two years shall include commercially reasonable provisions under which the rates, fees, or other charges shall be adjusted with respect to inflationary or deflationary factors affecting the provision of the utility service in question; and
(3) Any such contract shall include commercially reasonable provisions relieving the municipal corporation from its obligations under the contract in the event that the municipal corporation's ability to comply with the contract is impaired by war, natural disaster, catastrophe, or any other emergency creating conditions under which the municipal corporation's compliance with the contract would become impossible or create a substantial financial burden upon the municipal corporation or its taxpayers.
A councilman or alderman of a municipal corporation shall be ineligible to hold any other municipal office during the term of office for which the councilman or alderman was chosen unless he first resigns as councilman or alderman before entering such other office. This Code section shall apply to all elected officials of a municipal corporation.
Whenever the charter of any incorporated municipality provides for a prior period of residency in the municipality as a qualification for the election or appointment of any person to any office or position in the municipal government, residence in territory which is afterwards annexed to the municipality shall be deemed residence within the municipality for the purpose of computing the period of residence to make one eligible to hold such office or position.
It is improper and illegal for a member of a municipal council to vote upon any question brought before the council in which he is personally interested.
A municipal corporation in this state is authorized to surrender its corporate charter when such municipal corporation has not functioned under the corporate charter for a period of ten years, by petitioning the superior court of the county in which the municipal corporation lies, such petition being made by a majority of the registered voters of the nonfunctioning municipal corporation. Thereupon, the judge of the superior court may receive the surrendered corporate charter and by order of the court declare the municipal corporation to be dissolved. Any order of any superior court judge dissolving any municipal corporation within this state will be furnished in duplicate to the Secretary of State and shall serve as notice upon the Secretary of State that the municipal corporation has, by order of the court, been dissolved as a municipal corporation.
(a) On and after July 1, 1995, any municipal corporation in this state shall be deemed an inactive municipality and its charter shall be repealed by operation of law if the municipal corporation fails to meet any of the minimum standards provided in subsection (b) of this Code section for determining an active municipality.
(b) An active municipality is any incorporated municipality in this state the governing body of which meets each of the following minimum standards:
(1) Provides at least three of the following services, either directly or by contract:
(A) Law enforcement;
(B) Fire protection (which may be furnished by a volunteer fire force) and fire safety;
(C) Road and street construction or maintenance;
(D) Solid waste management;
(E) Water supply or distribution or both;
(F) Waste-water treatment;
(G) Storm-water collection and disposal;
(H) Electric or gas utility services;
(I) Enforcement of building, housing, plumbing, and electrical codes and other similar codes;
(J) Planning and zoning; and
(K) Recreational facilities;
(2) Holds at least six regular, monthly or bimonthly, officially recorded public meetings within the 12 months next preceding the execution of the certificate required by subsection (c) of this Code section; and
(3) Qualifies for and holds a regular municipal election as provided by law, other than a municipality which has a governing authority comprised of commissioners or other members who are appointed by a judge of the superior court.
(c) Not later than July 1, 1994, each municipal corporation in this state shall file with the Department of Community Affairs either:
(1) A certification from the governing authority that the municipal corporation meets the minimum standards for determining an active municipality enumerated in subsection (b) of this Code section; or
(2) A certification from the governing authority that the municipal corporation does not meet the minimum standards for determining an active municipality enumerated in subsection (b) of this Code section, including a statement that the governing authority recognizes that its legal existence will under the provisions of this Code section be terminated as of July 1, 1995.
(d) After October 15, 1994, the Department of Community Affairs shall transmit to the governing authority of each municipal corporation in the state either:
(1) A statement confirming that the Department of Community Affairs has received from the municipal corporation the filing required by subsection (c) of this Code section, including a statement of which type of filing was received from that municipal corporation; or
(2) A statement that the Department of Community Affairs has not received from the municipal corporation the filing required by subsection (c) of this Code section, including a statement that the municipal corporation's legal existence will be terminated as of July 1, 1995, unless such filing is received by December 31, 1994.
(e) A municipal corporation which does not timely make the filing required by subsection (c) of this Code section shall have a grace period until December 31, 1994, to make such filing. However, if such filing is not made by December 31, 1994, the legal status of the municipal corporation shall be the same as that of a municipal corporation which does not meet the minimum standards for determining an active municipality enumerated in subsection (b) of this Code section; and such municipal corporation shall cease to have legal existence as of July 1, 1995.
(f) As quickly as practicable after December 31, 1994, the Department of Community Affairs shall compile a listing of all municipal corporations in this state indicating those whose legal existence will be terminated as of July 1, 1995, and those whose legal existence will not be so terminated. A certified copy of such listing shall be provided to the Secretary of State and shall be conclusive evidence, acceptable in any court and recordable in any public records, of the termination or continuation of existence of a municipal corporation. The Secretary of State shall transmit such a certified copy of the listing to the legislative counsel for publication in the Georgia Laws for the year 1995, and all courts of this state may take judicial notice of the listing so published.
(g) Upon the termination of existence of a municipal corporation as provided for in this Code section, the existence of any local authority created by or for such municipal corporation shall likewise terminate on the same date. Upon the termination of any municipal corporation or local authority under this Code section, all assets, property, and legal rights and obligations of the municipal corporation or local authority shall devolve by operation of law upon the governing authority of the county in which the legal situs of the municipal corporation or local authority was located; provided, however, that this devolution of rights and obligations shall in no manner obligate the county to provide continued employment for any employee of the abolished municipal corporation or local authority. In the case of legal indebtedness of a municipal corporation or local authority devolving upon a county under this Code section, the county shall be authorized but not required to levy a special district tax, fee, or assessment within the formerly incorporated territory (or a portion thereof corresponding to any special district for which the indebtedness was incurred) for the purpose of retiring all or a portion of such indebtedness. Assets devolved to the county governing authority pursuant to this Code section which are deemed to be excess by the county shall be used to retire any indebtedness of the terminated municipal corporation or local authority. Property devolved to the county governing authority pursuant to this Code section which is deemed to be unnecessary by the county shall be sold and the proceeds from such sale used to retire any indebtedness of the terminated municipal corporation or local authority.
(h)(1) Upon the termination of existence of a municipal corporation as provided in this Code section, the geographic area that was contained in the boundaries of the former municipal corporation may continue to be identified under the same name and style as the former municipal corporation, and for such purpose signs and other appropriate insignia may be erected for such identification.
(2) The Department of Community Affairs shall establish a designation of “historic township” for communities created on or before 1900, provide for the establishment of unincorporated town councils, provide a procedure for converting such municipalities to townships, and for registration of such.
(i) At the session of the General Assembly held in the year 1996 only, a new charter may be granted to a municipal corporation which ceased to exist under the provisions of this Code section solely because of a failure to make the required filing with the Department of Community Affairs (not including any case where the municipal corporation failed to meet the minimum standards of an active municipality enumerated in subsection (b) of this Code section), without regard to the minimum standards for incorporation set out in Chapter 31 of this title. In such a case the local law granting the new charter shall have attached thereto, in lieu of the certificate otherwise required by Code Section 36-31-5, a certificate by the author of the bill stating that the requirements of this subsection are met by the municipal corporation being reincorporated. In any such case assets and property and rights and obligations which devolved upon the county shall be retransferred from the county back to the municipal corporation.
(j) In any case in which the legal dissolution of a municipal corporation has not been certified under the provisions of subsection (f) of this Code section but the municipal corporation does not in fact meet the minimum standards for determining an active municipality enumerated in subsection (b) of this Code section, any citizen of the municipal corporation or the county in which the legal situs of the municipal corporation is located may bring at any time on or after July 1, 1995, a declaratory judgment action for a declaration of the dissolution of the municipal corporation. Any such action shall be brought in the superior court of the county wherein the legal situs of the municipal corporation is located. If a judgment is entered declaring the dissolution of the municipal corporation, the court shall file a certified copy of the judgment with the Secretary of State and the legislative counsel. A copy of such judgment shall be published in the next publication of the annual session laws with the same status and effect provided for in subsection (f) of this Code section; and a certified copy of the judgment from the court or the Secretary of State shall have the same status and effect as described in subsection (f) of this Code section.
The right and power to organize work gangs or other means of confinement and to confine at labor therein, for a term not exceeding 30 days, persons convicted of violating the ordinances of municipal corporations is conferred on the municipal corporations or their respective authorities. In addition to other punishment allowed by law, municipal corporations, by and through their municipal courts, shall have the right and power to punish persons convicted of violating the ordinances of such municipal corporations by confinement or confinement at labor for a period of time not to exceed 30 days.
It shall be unlawful for any municipal corporation to provide commissions or percentages of any fines and bond forfeitures derived from any arrests made by law enforcement officers as compensation or any part thereof. The sole basis of compensating such employees shall be by a fixed salary, to be provided by the governing authority of such municipal corporation.
Without express legislative authority, a municipal corporation may not grant to any person the right to erect or maintain a structure or obstruction in a public street.
The municipal authorities of any municipal corporation are authorized to permit the enclosure of any lane, alley, or portion thereof in such municipal corporation when the owners of the lots abutting on such lane or alley and the owners of any other lots to the enjoyment of which access through such lane or alley is necessary consent thereto. Such municipal authorities shall have the right at any time to reopen such lane or alley.
In all municipal corporations of this state having a population of 350,000 or more according to the United States decennial census of 1980 or any future such census, the municipal authorities of such municipal corporations are authorized to close any municipal streets adjacent to or through institutions of higher learning during any hours in which the municipal authorities determine that it is in the best interest of the public safety and welfare to do so. For the purposes of this Code section, “public safety and welfare” shall be defined to include not only considerations of the flow of traffic, but may also include a determination that to close said streets during such hours will enhance police protection on said streets.
Except as provided in subsection (g) of Code Section 21-4-13, in the event that all seats on the governing authority of a municipality are vacant, the election superintendent of the county in which the municipality is located shall have the authority to call for a special election to fill the vacant offices and to conduct, or to appoint a superintendent of elections for the municipality for the purpose of conducting, the special election. The board of registrars for the county shall prepare the electors list for the special election.
It is declared to be the intention of the General Assembly to prescribe certain minimum standards which must exist as a condition precedent to the original incorporation of a municipal corporation of this state.
When a municipal corporation is created by local Act as authorized in this chapter, the provisions of Code Section 36-30-7.1 shall not apply for two years from the date the first elected officials of such municipal corporation take office. No later than July 1 following the expiration of such two-year period, the governing authority of the municipal corporation shall file a certification with the Department of Community Affairs stating whether the municipal corporation does or does not meet the standards for an active municipality under subsection (b) of Code Section 36-30-7.1.
To be eligible for original incorporation as a municipal corporation, the minimum population standards of the area embraced within the proposed municipal boundary shall be as follows:
(1) A total resident population of at least 200 persons; and
(2) An average resident population of at least 200 persons per square mile for the total area.
To be eligible for original incorporation as a municipal corporation, the area embraced shall be so developed that at least 60 percent of the total number of lots and tracts in the area at the time of incorporation are used for residential, commercial, industrial, institutional, recreational, or governmental purposes and shall be subdivided into lots and tracts such that at least 60 percent of the total acreage, not counting the acreage which at the time of incorporation is used for, held for future use for, or subject to a contract for future use for commercial, industrial, governmental, recreational, or institutional purposes, consists of lots and tracts of five acres or less in size.
Every local law granting an original municipal charter shall have attached thereto a certificate by the author of the bill stating that the minimum standards required by this chapter exist as to the area embraced. Existence of the standards may be determined, as to population, by estimate based on the number of dwellings in the area multiplied by the average family size in the area, as determined by the last preceding federal census or by other reliable evidence acceptable to the author. As to development of the area, existence of the standards may be determined by estimate based on actual survey, county maps or records, aerial photographs, or some other reliable map acceptable to the author. The certificate shall be a permanent part of the charter and shall constitute conclusive evidence of the existence of the standards required by this chapter.
When a new municipal corporation is created by local Act, the governing authority of the municipal corporation shall have all the same powers to license and regulate alcoholic beverages within its territory as did the governing authority of the county when such territory was within the unincorporated area of the county. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, it is specifically provided that no petition, election, or other condition precedent which might otherwise be required under Title 3 to authorize sales of any alcoholic beverages shall be required in order for the governing authority of the municipality to exercise such powers.
(a) When a new municipal corporation is created by Act of the General Assembly, the new municipality shall assume the ownership, control, care, and maintenance of county road rights of way located within the area incorporated unless the municipality and the county agree otherwise by joint resolution.
(b) This Code section shall apply to any new municipal corporation created by Act of the General Assembly on or after April 15, 2005.
(a) When a new municipal corporation is created by local Act, the local Act may provide for a transition period not to exceed 24 months for the orderly transition of governmental functions from the county to the new municipal corporation. The local Act may specify the time or times during the transition period (or the method or methods for determining the time or times during the transition period) at which:
(1) Various governmental functions, services, and responsibilities will be assumed by the new municipal corporation within its territory; and
(2) The municipal court of the new municipality shall begin to exercise its jurisdiction over various subject matters.
(b) When a chartering local Act so provides for a transition period, the county in which the new municipality is located shall continue to provide within the territory of the new city all government services and functions which it provided as of the date of enactment of the chartering local Act. The county shall continue to provide such services and functions until the end of the transition period; provided, however, that the new city may assume the provision of any service or function at such earlier time as may be specified in the chartering local Act or at such earlier time as may be agreed upon by the county and the new city.
(c) When a chartering local Act so provides for a transition period, on and after the first day the initial governing authority takes office, the governing authority may from time to time adopt appropriate measures to initiate collection within the territory of the new city during the transition period of all taxes, fees, assessments, fines and bond forfeitures, and other moneys. Where a particular tax, fee, assessment, fine, forfeiture, or other amount collected by the city during the transition period is specifically related to the provision of a particular government service or function by the county, the service or function shall continue to be provided by the county during the transition period contingent upon payment by the city of the actual cost of providing such service or function unless otherwise provided in a written agreement between the new city and the county.
(d) When a chartering local Act so provides for a transition period, the county in which the new city is located shall not from the time of enactment of the charter until the end of the transition period remove from the county road system any road within the territory of the new city except with the agreement of the new city.
(e) When a chartering local Act so provides for a transition period, the new municipality shall not be subject to the laws specified in this subsection during the transition period; provided, however, that the new city and other political subdivisions may during the transition period commence planning, negotiations, and other actions necessary or appropriate for compliance after the transition period. During the transition period, the new municipality shall not be subject to:
(1) Chapter 70 of this title, relating to planning and service delivery strategies;
(2) Provisions of Code Section 12-8-31.1, relating to solid waste planning;
(3) Provisions of Code Section 48-13-56, relating to reporting of excise taxes collected and expended pursuant to Article 3 of Chapter 13 of Title 48; and
(4) Provisions of Code Section 36-81-8, relating to reporting of local government finances, reporting of revenues derived from a tax levied pursuant to Article 3 of Chapter 13 of Title 48, and reporting of local government services and operations.
(f) When a chartering local Act so provides for a transition period, upon the termination of the transition period subsections (b) through (e) of this Code section shall cease to apply and the new city shall be a fully functioning municipal corporation and subject to all general laws of this state.
(g) As of the date a chartering local Act is approved by the Governor or becomes law without such approval, the Governor is authorized to appoint five persons to serve as interim representatives of the newly incorporated municipality until the election of the municipality's first governing authority. The interim representatives shall cease to serve as of the time the members of the first governing authority take office. The function of the interim representatives shall be to facilitate the provision of municipal services and facilities, the collection of taxes and fees, and the negotiation of intergovernmental agreements in preparation of the establishment of the new municipality. The interim representatives shall not have the ability to enter into any binding agreements, to expend public funds, or to incur any liability on behalf of the new municipality. Any person who is serving as or has served as an interim representative shall be ineligible to qualify for election as a member of the initial governing authority of the new municipality.
When a new municipal corporation is created by local Act, the chartering local Act may provide for the initial terms of office of members of the governing authority to be of any length or lengths; and the provisions of this Code section shall control over any conflicting provisions of Code Sections 21-2-541.1 and 21-2-541.2.
The General Assembly may, in connection with the incorporation of a new municipal corporation, at any time (before, after, or contemporaneously with the passage of the chartering Act) appropriate to the Department of Community Affairs funds for grants or loans or both to a specific existing or proposed municipal corporation. When funds are so appropriated, the department shall make grants as specified by recipient, amount, and purpose and loans as specified by recipient, amount, interest rate, term, and purpose in the appropriation unless the chartering Act fails to secure passage or otherwise fails to become effective.
When a municipal corporation is created by local Act within a county which has a special district for the provision of local government services consisting of the unincorporated area of the county, the territory within the new municipal corporation shall be removed from the special district except to the extent otherwise provided by Code Section 36-31-8 during a transition period and except that the county may continue to levy within such territory any previously imposed tax for the purpose of retiring any special district debt until such time as such debt is retired.
(a) As used in this Code section, the term:
(1) “County” means a county in which a tax is being levied and collected for purposes of a metropolitan area system of public transportation.
(2) “Fire station” means any property or facility that is located wholly within the territory of a qualified municipality, owned by the county or subject to a lease-purchase or installment sale arrangement by the county, and used by the county as of the date immediately prior to the date the local Act incorporating a qualified municipality became law to provide fire protection services authorized by Article IX, Section II, Paragraph III(a)(1) of the Constitution. Such term shall include any buildings, fixtures, or other improvements on such property or in such facilities.
(3) “Park” means any property or facility that is located wholly within the territory of a municipality, including but not limited to athletic fields, athletic courts, recreation centers, playgrounds, swimming pools, arts centers, historical properties, and adjacent greenspace, owned by the county, or subject to a lease-purchase or installment sale arrangement by the county and used by the county as of the date immediately prior to the date the local Act incorporating a qualified municipality became law to provide any services authorized by Article IX, Section II, Paragraph III(a)(5) of the Constitution or to provide any services authorized by Article IX, Section II, Paragraph III(a)(10) of the Constitution. Such term shall include any buildings, fixtures, or other improvements on such property or in such facilities.
(4) “Qualified municipality” means any new municipality located in a county and created by local Act which becomes law on or after January 1, 2008.
(b) A qualified municipality that succeeds to the control of local government services pursuant to Article IX, Section II, Paragraph III(a) of the Constitution may take control of and hold title to parks and fire stations as a trustee or agent for the public.
(c)(1) A qualified municipality located within a county which has a special district for the provision of fire services shall continue to be part of such special fire district where the local Act creating such qualified municipality so provides or where the governing authority of the qualified municipality elects by formal resolution to continue to be part of the special fire district and delivers a copy of such resolution to the governing authority of the county within 30 days after the date the resolution is adopted.
(2) If a qualified municipality initially elected to remain in a fire services special district, such municipality shall be removed from such fire services special district by adopting a resolution stating its intent to be removed from the district and the date of removal, provided the governing authority of the qualified municipality delivers a copy of such resolution to the governing authority of the county. The fire services shall be discontinued by the county on the first day of the next fiscal year of the county that begins at least 180 days after the specified notice is received by the county.
(d) A qualified municipality located within a county that charges fees on a periodic basis for the provision of water or sewer services, or both, may elect to continue receiving such services for the same fees charged residents in the unincorporated area of the county. Such election may be set forth in the local Act creating such qualified municipality or be made by resolution of the governing authority of the qualified municipality provided the governing authority of the qualified municipality delivers a copy of such resolution to the governing authority of the county within 30 days after the date the resolution is adopted.
(e) The county shall not convey, otherwise encumber, move any fixtures or buildings, or enter into or renew any contractual obligations with respect to any park or fire station located in the qualified municipality. The governing authority of the county shall assign to the governing authority of the qualified municipality all of its right, title, and interest in any executory contract in effect on any park or fire station that the qualified municipality elects to purchase as provided in this Code section. Such assignment shall be effective on the date the municipality assumes ownership of any such park or fire station or as otherwise may be agreed between the governing authority of the municipality and the governing authority of the county.
(f) A municipality may elect to purchase parks within the territory of the municipality from the county in which the municipality is located. Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, whenever a municipality elects to purchase any such parks, the governing authority of the municipality shall provide written notice to the governing authority of the county specifying the parks to be purchased and the date or dates the municipality will assume ownership of such parks; the purchase price for such parks shall be $100.00 per acre. Such notice shall be provided for each such park no less than 30 days prior to the date the municipality intends to assume ownership.
(g) Upon the payment of the purchase price, all of the county's right, title, and interest in the parks that the municipality elects to purchase shall be transferred to the governing authority of the municipality. Such transfer shall be effective on the date the municipality intends to assume ownership of such parks and as stated in the notice given pursuant to subsection (f) of this Code section. The governing authority of the county shall transfer, execute, and deliver to the governing authority of the municipality such instruments as may be necessary to record the transfer of such right, title, and interest. Notwithstanding any provision in any property deed or law to the contrary, a municipality may purchase a park from the county without permission of the state and may use such park for all purposes for which the county was authorized under such deed or law.
(h) In the event a park is transferred by a county to a municipality under this Code section, the municipality shall be prohibited from imposing or collecting user fees from residents of the county in excess of the amount of such fees imposed or collected from residents of the municipality.
(i) Where residents of a municipality are required pursuant to Code Section 36-31-11 to continue to pay taxes for the purpose of retiring any special district debt created by the issuance of bonds by the county on behalf of the special district for the purpose of improving parks and the municipality elects to purchase any such park pursuant to this Code section, the county shall transfer to the municipality as an agent of the special district the portion of the bond proceeds that the county planned to spend on such park at the time of the referendum on the bonds, based upon any statements of intention or representations concerning use of the bond proceeds by the governing authority of the county. Such amount shall be determined based on county resolutions and any attachments thereto, staff recommendations, or similar documents presented at the time of passage of a resolution, county records, and any public statements or representations made by county managers, representatives, officials, or their agents as to the amount that would be spent on such park in order to solicit voter support for the referendum; provided, however, that the amount to be transferred by the county to the municipality shall be reduced by any amount spent by the county to improve such park prior to the date of the municipality's notice of its election to purchase the park as provided in subsection (f) of this Code section. The transfer shall be due within 30 days after the municipality assumes ownership of any such park. The municipality shall be required to expend any such funds for and on behalf of the special district in a manner consistent with the purpose and intent of the issuance of the bonds.
(j) A qualified municipality may elect to purchase one or more fire stations from the county in which it is located. Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, whenever a qualified municipality elects to purchase a fire station from the county, the governing authority of the qualified municipality shall provide written notice to the governing authority of the county specifying the fire station to be purchased and the date or dates the qualified municipality will assume ownership of such fire station. Such notice shall be provided with respect to each such property no less than 30 days prior to the date the qualified municipality intends to assume ownership of the fire station.
(k)(1) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, if a qualified municipality elects to purchase a fire station that serves only territory wholly within the qualified municipality, the purchase price shall be $5,000.00 for each such fire station.
(2) If the county uses a fire station to serve an area located outside the qualified municipality, the purchase price for each such fire station shall be $5,000.00 plus an additional amount determined as provided in this paragraph. Such additional amount shall be the product of the fair market value of such fire station multiplied by the percentage of the total service area of such fire station which is located outside of the corporate limits of the qualified municipality. If the portion served outside the qualified municipality exceeds 20 percent of the total service area, then from the date the qualified municipality assumes ownership of such fire station, the qualified municipality shall be obligated to offer to lease the fire station back to the county for a period not to exceed two years for an amount of $10. 00 for the lease period.
(l) If a county and municipality fail to reach an agreement on the amount to be paid or any related matter under this Code section, either the county or the municipality may petition the superior court to seek resolution of the items in dispute. Such petition shall be assigned to a judge, pursuant to Code Section 15-1-9.1 or 15-6-13, who is not a judge in the circuit in which the county is located. The judge selected may also be a senior judge pursuant to Code Section 15-1-9.2 who resides in another circuit. The visiting or senior judge shall conduct an evidentiary hearing or hearings as such judge deems necessary and render a decision with regard to the disputed items.
(a) The General Assembly finds that:
(1) The purpose of a special district is to provide services to a given geographic area and to finance the provision of those services from taxes, fees, and assessments levied in the geographic area which benefits from the services;
(2) The creation of a municipal corporation within a county which has a special district for the unincorporated area of the county may result in the special district being divided into noncontiguous areas or in existing noncontiguous areas of such district being even more remote from each other; and
(3) The purpose of a special district is defeated if it becomes divided into noncontiguous areas which are remote from each other and one or more of such noncontiguous areas is subsidizing the provision of services in other such noncontiguous areas.
(b)(1) When a municipal corporation is created by local Act within a county which has a special district for the provision of local government services consisting of the unincorporated area of the county and following the creation of said municipal corporation the special district is divided into two or more noncontiguous areas, any special district taxes, fees, and assessments collected in such a noncontiguous area shall be spent to provide services in that noncontiguous area. Effective January 1, 2006, for the purposes of this Code section, a noncontiguous area located within ten miles of another noncontiguous area may be treated as the same noncontiguous area.
(2) If, on or after May 14, 2008:
(A) Excess proceeds derived from the collection of any special district taxes, fees, and assessments or from any earnings thereon remain following the expenditure required under paragraph (1) of this subsection; and
(B) All of the area within the special district shall have become incorporated within one or more municipalities,
then the excess proceeds shall be disbursed within 60 days to the governing authority of each municipality which has incorporated any portion of the area of the special district; and the county shall continue to make such disbursements for so long as such excess proceeds continue to be received. The amount of proceeds to be disbursed to each municipality shall be determined on a pro rata basis using as a denominator the total value of all tax parcels within the special district and as a numerator the total value of all tax parcels which were incorporated within each municipality.
(3) If, on or after May 14, 2008:
(A) Excess proceeds remain from the collection of any special district taxes, fees, and assessments or from any earnings thereon; and
(B) A new municipality shall have been created from within such special district such that the special district shall have been diminished in size but not all of the special district shall have been incorporated within one or more municipalities,
then the excess proceeds shall be disbursed within 60 days to the governing authority of each municipality which has incorporated any portion of the area of the special district; and the county shall continue to make such disbursements for so long as such excess proceeds continue to be received. The amount of proceeds to be disbursed to each municipality shall be determined on a pro rata basis using as a denominator the total value of all tax parcels within the special district and as a numerator the total value of all tax parcels which were incorporated within each municipality.
(c) When a municipal corporation is created by local Act within a county subject to this Code section, the county shall for the fiscal year in which the municipal corporation is chartered and for each of the next two fiscal years have included in its annual audit detailed findings as to:
(1) The amount of any special district taxes, assessments, and fees collected in each noncontiguous area of the special district;
(2) The total amount of expenditures by the county for:
(A) The provision of services within each noncontiguous area of the special district, including only those services which are provided by the county only in the special district; and
(B) The construction and maintenance of facilities for the provision of services referred to in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph; and
(3) The amount by which expenditures stated in paragraph (2) of this subsection exceed or are less than the amount stated in paragraph (1) of this subsection.
(d) The party performing the audit required by subsection (c) of this Code section shall prepare as promptly as is practicable a brief informational summary of the audit findings required by that subsection. The informational summary shall also include a statement of the amount of proceeds collected by the county pursuant to any tax under Article 2 of Chapter 8 of Title 48 which would be allocated to each noncontiguous area of the special district if such area received an allocation equal on a per capita basis to the average per capita allocation to the cities in the county. After each year's summary becomes available, a copy of the summary shall be included with the next ad valorem tax bills mailed by the county to residents of the special district consisting of the unincorporated area of the county.
(e) For purposes of determining applicability of this Code section, a county shall be considered to have a special district for the provision of local government services when a county has created a special district for such purposes pursuant to Article IX, Section II, Paragraph VI of the Constitution or has created a similar district for the provision of services under any other provision of any past or present Constitution or law.
(a) Each municipal corporation of this state shall, unless otherwise provided in the local law relating to a particular municipal corporation, be authorized to establish and maintain a municipal court having jurisdiction over the violation of municipal ordinances and over such other matters as are by general law made subject to the jurisdiction of municipal courts. Any such court shall be styled as a municipal court. Any reference in this Code or in any local law to a corporate court, police court, recorder's court, mayor's court, or any such court known by any other name which has jurisdiction over the violation of municipal offenses shall be deemed to mean a municipal court. Except in this Code section and in the laws relating to the City Court of Atlanta, the terms “corporate court,” “corporate courts,” “police court,” “police courts,” “recorder's court,” “recorders' courts,” “mayor's court,” and “mayors' courts,” when such terms refer to a court of a municipal corporation, are stricken wherever they appear in any general or local law of this state and the term “municipal court” or “municipal courts,” whichever is appropriate, is inserted in lieu thereof. The change in the name of any such court as provided for by Article VI, Section X, Paragraph I of the Constitution of the State of Georgia and by this Code section shall not affect the validity of any action or prosecution in such court.
(b) The provisions of this chapter shall apply equally to all municipal courts, whether heretofore styled as a municipal court, corporate court, police court, recorder's court, or mayor's court or called by some other name and whether established by the municipal corporation under authority granted to the municipal corporation or established by the local law relating to a particular municipal corporation.
(c) Each municipal court of this state, unless otherwise provided in the local law relating to a particular municipal court, shall be authorized to impose any punishment up to the maximums specified by general law, including the maximums specified in subparagraphs (a)(2)(B) and (a)(2)(C) of Code Section 36-35-6.
(d) The governing bodies of the municipal corporations of this state having a municipal court are authorized and empowered, either by ordinance or resolution, to select, elect, or appoint either a mayor pro tempore or a recorder pro tempore to hold and preside over such municipal court in the absence or disqualification of the mayor or recorder. While presiding in such corporate courts, the mayor pro tempore or recorder pro tempore shall have such power, authority, and jurisdiction as is given by the charter of the municipal corporation to its mayor or recorder.
(e) Subsection (d) of this Code section shall not affect any municipal corporation for which provision is made in the charter for the appointment or selection of a mayor pro tempore or a recorder pro tempore.
(f) Any municipal court operating within this state and having jurisdiction over the violation of municipal ordinances and over such other matters as are by specific or general law made subject to the jurisdiction of municipal courts shall not impose any punishment of confinement, probation, or other loss of liberty, or impose any fine, fee, or cost enforceable by confinement, probation, or other loss of liberty, as authorized by general law or municipal or county ordinance, unless the court provides to the accused the right to representation by a lawyer, and provides to those accused who are indigent the right to counsel at no cost to the accused. Such representation shall be subject to all applicable standards adopted by the Georgia Public Defender Council for representation of indigent persons in this state.
(g) Any municipal court operating within this state that has jurisdiction over the violation of municipal or county ordinances or such other statutes as are by specific or general law made subject to the jurisdiction of municipal courts, and that holds committal hearings in regard to such alleged violations, must provide to the accused the right to representation by a lawyer, and must provide to those accused who are indigent the right to counsel at no cost to the accused. Such representation shall be subject to all applicable standards adopted by the Georgia Public Defender Council for representation of indigent persons in this state.
(h) Any municipality or municipal court may contract with the office of the circuit public defender of the judicial circuit in which such municipality is located as a means of complying with the municipality's or municipal court's legal obligation to provide defense counsel at no cost to indigent persons appearing before the court in relation to violations of municipal ordinances, county ordinances, or state laws.
Municipal court judges shall be licensed to practice law in the State of Georgia and an active member in good standing of the State Bar of Georgia; provided, however, that any judge serving on June 30, 2011, who does not meet the qualifications required by this Code section may serve as municipal court judge in any municipality so long as such judge is in compliance with Code Section 36-32-27. The provisions of this Code section shall expressly supersede any conflicting local law of this state.
(a)(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter or any general or local Act, the governing authority of each municipal corporation within this state having a municipal court, as provided by the Act incorporating the municipal corporation or any amendments thereto, is authorized to appoint a judge of such court. Any individual appointed as a judge under this Code section shall possess such qualifications as set forth in Code Section 36-32-1.1 and shall receive such compensation as shall be fixed by the governing authority of the municipal corporation. Notwithstanding the failure of the governing body of a municipal corporation to enter into a written agreement or enact an ordinance as provided for in this paragraph, any individual appointed as a judge under this Code section shall serve for a minimum term of one year from the date of appointment as reflected in the minutes of the municipal corporation, unless such municipal corporation's charter provides for a longer term, and until a successor is appointed or if the judge is removed from office as provided in Code Section 36-32-2.1. Such term shall be memorialized in a written agreement between such individual and the governing authority of the municipal corporation or in an ordinance or a charter.
(2) Except as otherwise provided for in Code Section 36-32-2.1, in the event of a vacancy occurring during the term of a judge appointed under this Code section, the governing authority of the municipal corporation is authorized to appoint an individual to serve for the remainder of the unexpired term created by such vacancy, provided such individual is qualified by law to serve as a municipal court judge.
(b) This Code section shall not be construed to require the governing authority of any municipal corporation to appoint a judge; but such governing authority may appoint a judge if, acting in its sole discretion, the governing authority determines that such appointment would be in the best interest of the municipal corporation.
(a) As used in this Code section, the term “judge” means an individual serving as an appointed municipal court judge.
(b)(1) A judge may be removed during his or her term of office by a two-thirds' vote of the entire membership of the governing authority of the municipal corporation for:
(A) Willful misconduct in office;
(B) Willful and persistent failure to perform duties;
(C) Habitual intemperance;
(D) Conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice which brings the judicial office into disrepute; or
(E) Disability seriously interfering with the performance of duties, which is, or is likely to become, of a permanent character.
(2) A municipality may define in its charter further conduct that may lead to a judge's removal.
(c)(1) Removal proceedings pursuant to subsection (b) of this Code section may be initiated only by written petition setting forth the grounds for removal of a judge signed by one or more members of the governing authority of the municipal corporation.
(2) A petition for removal shall state:
(A) The cause or causes for his or her termination in sufficient detail to enable him or her fairly to show any error that may exist therein;
(B) The names of the known witnesses and a concise summary of the evidence to be used against him or her, and the names of any new witnesses shall be provided as soon as practicable; and
(C) That the judge, upon request, shall be furnished with compulsory process or subpoena legally requiring the attendance of witnesses and the production of documents and other evidence as provided by law.
(3) Upon submission of the petition to remove the judge to such governing authority, the governing authority may consider the petition and determine if the petition relates to and adversely affects the administration of the office of the judge and the rights and interests of the public. If it is determined at a public meeting by a majority vote of the governing authority of the municipal corporation that there is an adverse impact, the judge may be suspended immediately and without further action for up to 60 days pending the final determination pursuant to subsection (e) of this Code section. A judge suspended pursuant to this subsection shall continue to receive the compensation from his or her office until the final determination on the petition or expiration of the suspension.
(d) If by the expiration of the suspension period no formal resolution of the petition has been made, the judge shall be reinstated.
(e)(1)(A) Removal proceedings shall consist of an open and public hearing held by the governing authority of the municipal corporation, provided that the judge against whom such charges have been brought shall be furnished notice of the time and place where the hearing will be held and a copy of the charges at least 20 days prior to the hearing.
(B) The notice required by subparagraph (A) of this paragraph shall be served by certified mail or statutory overnight delivery and shall be deemed to be perfected by certified mail when the notice is deposited in the United States mail addressed to the last known address of the addressee with sufficient postage affixed to the envelope.
(C) The judge shall be entitled to be represented by counsel at his or her expense and, upon request, shall be entitled to have subpoenas or other compulsory process issued for the attendance of witnesses and the production of documents and other evidence. Such subpoenas and compulsory process shall be issued in the name of the governing authority of the municipal corporation and shall be signed by the chief elected official or chief executive officer of the municipal corporation. In all other respects, such subpoenas and other compulsory process shall be subject to Article 2 of Chapter 13 of Title 24.
(D) The hearing shall be recorded at the expense of the municipal corporation. Such recording should contain at least the audio and may contain video. The audio recording of the hearing shall be transcribed at the judge's expense if he or she requests review by the superior court.
(E) The following oath or affirmation shall be administered to all witnesses by the presiding officer provided for in paragraph (2) of this subsection;
“You do solemnly swear or affirm that the testimony you give shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. So help you God.”
(F) All questions relating to the admissibility of evidence or other legal matters shall be decided by the presiding officer provided for in paragraph (2) of this subsection. The governing authority of the municipal corporation shall have the burden of proving by a preponderance of the evidence that removal is warranted pursuant to subsection (b) of this Code section, and such governing authority shall have the right to open and to conclude arguments. Except as otherwise provided in this Code section, hearings shall be governed by the same rules as govern the introduction of evidence in nonjury civil trials in the superior court.
(G) At the conclusion of the hearing, the governing authority of the municipal corporation shall determine whether or not to remove the judge from office. The governing authority of the municipal corporation shall state the basis for its decision to remove or not remove the judge from office. Said decision and its basis shall be rendered at the hearing and shall be in writing. The right to appeal a decision to remove a judge from office shall exist. The decision to remove a judge from office pursuant to this Code section shall be appealed by filing a petition for review in the superior court of the circuit in which the governing authority of the municipal corporation, or any portion of it, is situated. Such appeals shall be governed by Chapter 3 of Title 5.
(2) The chief judge of the superior court of the circuit in which the governing authority of the municipal corporation, or any portion of it, is situated shall appoint a senior superior court judge or a senior state court judge to act as the presiding officer at a hearing conducted pursuant to this subsection. If the municipal corporation lies in two superior court circuits, the most senior chief judge of the circuits shall appoint such presiding officer. The governing authority of the municipal corporation shall be responsible for compensating the presiding officer for his or her services at a rate not to exceed $500.00 per diem, plus reasonable and necessary expenses.
(f) This Code section shall not affect the power and authority of the Judicial Qualifications Commission to discipline, remove, or cause the involuntary retirement of judges.
(g) In the event that a vacancy in a judgeship is created by the removal of a judge pursuant to this Code section, the governing authority of the municipal corporation may fill such vacancy by appointing any individual qualified by law to serve as a municipal court judge for a period of not less than 30 days nor more than 60 days. If after the conclusion of the removal proceedings, including the appeal period, there is a vacancy for such judgeship, the governing authority of the municipal corporation may appoint a judge in the same manner as set forth in Code Section 36-32-2.
(h) The provisions of this Code section shall expressly supersede any conflicting local law of this state.
All judges of all municipal courts in this state shall have and are given the same powers and authorities as magistrates in the matter of and pertaining to criminal cases of whatever nature in the several courts of this state.
Any municipal corporation shall have full power and authority to provide, by ordinance, for the forfeiture of bonds given by offenders for their appearance before municipal courts and to provide for the collection of the same from the principal and sureties on such bonds by judgment, execution, and sale.
All municipal courts having authority to try offenses against the laws of the municipal corporations in which such courts are located shall have the power and authority:
(1) To impose fines upon persons convicted of such offenses, with the alternative of other punishment allowed by law, in the event that such fines are not paid;
(2) To sentence such person to community service work; or
(3) To impose a sentence consisting of any combination of the penalties provided for in this Code section.
(a) The municipal court of any municipality is granted jurisdiction to try and dispose of cases where a person is charged with the possession of one ounce or less of marijuana if the offense occurred within the corporate limits of such municipality. The jurisdiction of any such court shall be concurrent with the jurisdiction of any other courts within the county having jurisdiction to try and dispose of such cases.
(b) Any fines and bond forfeitures arising from the prosecution of such cases shall be retained by the municipality and shall be paid into the treasury of such municipality.
(c) Any defendant charged with possession of an ounce or less of marijuana in a municipal court shall be entitled on request to have the case against him or her transferred to the court having general misdemeanor jurisdiction in the county wherein the alleged offense occurred.
(d) Nothing in this Code section shall be construed to give any municipality the right to impose a fine or punish by imprisonment in excess of the limits as set forth in the municipality's charter.
(a) The municipal court of any municipality shall be granted jurisdiction to try and dispose of cases where a person is charged with transactions in drug related objects in violation of Code Section 16-13-32 if the offense occurred within the corporate limits of such municipality. The jurisdiction of any such court shall be concurrent with the jurisdiction of any other courts within the county having jurisdiction to try and dispose of such cases.
(b) Any fines arising from the prosecution of such cases shall be retained by the municipality and shall be paid into the treasury of such municipality.
(c) Any defendant charged with transactions in drug related objects in violation of Code Section 16-13-32 in a municipal court shall be entitled, upon request, to have the case against him or her transferred to the court having general misdemeanor jurisdiction in the county where the alleged offense occurred.
(d) Nothing in this Code section shall be construed to give any municipality the right to impose a fine or punish by imprisonment in excess of the limits as set forth in the municipality's charter.
(a) The municipal court of each municipality is granted jurisdiction to try and dispose of cases where a person is charged with a misdemeanor under Code Section 40-6-10 of knowingly operating or knowingly authorizing the operation of a motor vehicle without effective insurance of such vehicle or without an approved plan of self-insurance as required by Chapter 34 of Title 33, the “Georgia Motor Vehicle Accident Reparations Act,” if the offense occurred within the corporate limits of such municipality. The jurisdiction of each such court shall be concurrent with the jurisdiction of any other courts within the county having jurisdiction to try and dispose of such cases.
(b) Any fines and bond forfeitures arising from the prosecution of such cases shall be retained by the municipality and shall be paid into the treasury of such municipality.
(c) Any defendant charged with a misdemeanor under Code Section 40-6-10 in a municipal court shall be entitled on request to have the case against him transferred to the court having general misdemeanor jurisdiction in the county in which the alleged offense occurred.
(d) Nothing in this Code section shall be construed to give any municipality the right to impose a fine or punish by imprisonment in excess of the limits as set forth in the municipality's charter.
(a) The municipal court of each municipality of each county required to comply with Article 2 of Chapter 9 of Title 12, known as the “Georgia Motor Vehicle Emission Inspection and Maintenance Act,” is granted jurisdiction to try and dispose of such cases in which a person is charged with a misdemeanor under Code Section 12-9-55 of operating a responsible motor vehicle without a certificate of emission inspection, if the offense occurred within the corporate limits of such municipality. The jurisdiction of such court shall be concurrent with the jurisdiction of any other courts within the county having jurisdiction to try and dispose of such cases.
(b) Any fines and bond forfeitures arising from the prosecution of such cases shall be retained by the municipality and shall be paid into the treasury of such municipality.
(c) Any defendant charged with a misdemeanor under Code Section 12-9-55 in a municipal court shall be entitled upon request to have the case against him transferred to the court having general misdemeanor jurisdiction in the county in which the alleged offense occurred.
(d) Nothing in this Code section shall be construed to give any municipality the right to impose a fine in excess of the limits set forth in Code Section 12-9-55.
(a) The municipal court is granted jurisdiction to try and dispose of cases in which a person is charged with a misdemeanor theft by shoplifting or misdemeanor refund fraud if the offense occurred within the corporate limits of the municipality. The jurisdiction of such court shall be concurrent with the jurisdiction of any other courts within the county having jurisdiction to try and dispose of such cases.
(b) Any person charged in a municipal court with misdemeanor theft by shoplifting or misdemeanor refund fraud shall be entitled upon request to have the case against him or her transferred to the court having general misdemeanor jurisdiction in the county in which the alleged offense occurred.
(c)(1) A person convicted in a municipal court of misdemeanor theft by shoplifting shall be punished as provided in paragraph (1) of subsection (b) of Code Section 16-8-14, provided that nothing in this Code section or Code Section 16-8-14 shall be construed to give any municipality the right to impose a fine or punishment by imprisonment in excess of the limits as set forth in the municipality's charter.
(2) A person convicted in a municipal court of misdemeanor refund fraud shall be punished as provided in the misdemeanor penalties set forth in Code Section 16-8-14.1, provided that nothing in this Code section or Code Section 16-8-14.1 shall be construed to give any municipality the right to impose a fine or punishment by imprisonment in excess of the limits as set forth in the municipality's charter.
(d) Any fines and bond forfeitures arising from the prosecution of such cases in such municipal court shall be retained by the municipality and shall be paid into the treasury of such municipality.
(e) It shall be the duty of the appropriate agencies of the municipality in which an offense under subsection (a) of this Code section is charged to make any reports to the Georgia Crime Information Center required under Article 2 of Chapter 3 of Title 35.
(a) The municipal courts are granted jurisdiction to try and dispose of a first offense violation of Code Section 3-3-23, relating to furnishing alcoholic beverages to, and purchase and possession of alcoholic beverages by, a person under 21 years of age, if the offense occurred within the corporate limits of such municipal corporation. The jurisdiction of such municipal court shall be concurrent with the jurisdiction of any other courts within the county having jurisdiction to try and dispose of such cases.
(b) Any fines and bond forfeitures arising from the prosecution of such cases shall be retained by the municipal corporation and shall be paid into the treasury of such municipal corporation.
(c) Any defendant charged with a first offense violation of Code Section 3-3-23 in a municipal court shall be entitled upon request to have the case against him transferred to the court having general misdemeanor jurisdiction in the county in which the alleged offense occurred.
(d) A person convicted in a municipal court of a first offense violation of Code Section 3-3-23 shall be punished as provided in paragraph (1) of subsection (b) of Code Section 3-3-23.1, provided that nothing in this Code section or Code Section 3-3-23.1 shall be construed to give any municipal corporation the right to impose a fine or punishment in excess of the limits set forth in the charter of such municipal corporation.
(e) Nothing in this Code section shall affect the original and exclusive jurisdiction of the juvenile court as set forth in Code Section 15-11-10.
(a) The municipal court of each municipal corporation in counties where there is no state court is granted jurisdiction to try and dispose of any violation of Code Section 16-7-21, relating to criminal trespass, if the offense occurred within the corporate limits of such municipal corporation. The jurisdiction of such municipal court shall be concurrent with the jurisdiction of any other court within the county having jurisdiction to try and dispose of such cases.
(b) Any fines and bond forfeitures arising from the prosecution of any such case in the municipal court shall be retained by the municipal corporation and shall be paid into the treasury of such municipal corporation.
(c) Any defendant charged with a violation of Code Section 16-7-21 in a municipal court shall be entitled upon request to have the case against him or her transferred to the court having general misdemeanor jurisdiction in the county in which the alleged offense occurred.
(d) A person convicted of a violation of Code Section 16-7-21 shall be punished as provided in such Code section, provided that nothing in this Code section or in Code Section 16-7-21 shall be construed to give any municipal court the right to impose a fine or punishment by imprisonment in excess of the limits as set forth in the municipality's charter.
Notwithstanding any other contrary provision of law, in municipal courts which have jurisdiction over misdemeanor offenses or ordinance violations, such offenses or violations may be tried upon a uniform traffic citation, summons, citation, or an accusation.
(a) Subject to the provisions of subsection (b) of this Code section, in addition to any other jurisdiction vested in the municipal courts, such courts shall have the right and power to conduct trials, receive pleas of guilty, and impose sentence upon defendants for violating any provision of Part 2, Part 3, or Part 3A of Article 2 of Chapter 7 of Title 16 or Code Section 32-6-51 or 40-6-248.1 that is punishable for its violation as a misdemeanor. Such jurisdiction shall be concurrent with other courts having jurisdiction over such violations.
(b) A municipal court shall not have the power to dispose of misdemeanor cases as provided in subsection (a) of this Code section unless the defendant shall first waive in writing a trial by jury. If the defendant does not waive a trial by jury, the defendant shall notify the court and, if reasonable cause exists, the defendant shall be immediately bound over to a court in the county having jurisdiction to try the offense wherein a jury may be impaneled.
(a) All judges of the municipal courts, and all judges of courts exercising municipal court jurisdiction, shall periodically satisfactorily complete a training course as provided in Article 2 of this chapter.
(b) The Georgia Municipal Courts Training Council shall keep records of training completed by municipal judges and judges of courts exercising municipal court jurisdiction.
(c) If any municipal judge, or any judge of a court exercising municipal court jurisdiction, does not satisfactorily complete the required training in any year, the Georgia Municipal Courts Training Council shall promptly notify the Judicial Qualifications Commission, which may remove the judge from office unless the Judicial Qualifications Commission finds that the failure was caused by facts beyond the control of the judge.
(d) The reasonable costs and expenses of such training shall be paid by the governing authority of the jurisdiction where the judge presides.
(e) This Code section shall not apply to any magistrate judge, probate judge, or any judge of a court of record who presides in a court exercising municipal court jurisdiction.
Notwithstanding any other contrary provision of law, local or general, sessions of a municipal court may be held outside the municipality for which the municipal court is established if such sessions are held within a county in which the municipality is located or has its legal situs. Nothing in this Code section shall be construed to restrict the judge of a municipal court from having authority to engage in any judicial act which he or she is lawfully entitled to perform, regardless of where the judge is located when the act is performed.
(a) For purposes of this Code section, the term:
(1) “Municipal court” shall have the same meaning as described in subsection (a) of Code Section 36-32-1.
(2) “Municipal court clerk” shall mean the primary person most directly responsible for the administration of a municipal court other than a judge of the municipal court.
(b)(1) Any person who is hired or appointed as a municipal court clerk on or after July 1, 2006, shall satisfactorily complete a minimum of 16 hours of training related to the operation of municipal court as prescribed by the Georgia Municipal Courts Training Council within his or her first year of service as a municipal court clerk.
(2) Each municipal court clerk, regardless of when he or she was hired or appointed, shall complete a minimum of eight hours of training related to the operation of municipal court as prescribed by the Georgia Municipal Courts Training Council on an annual basis. The training required by this paragraph shall be satisfied by completing the training provided for in paragraph (1) of this subsection in the municipal court clerk's first year of service.
(3) The reasonable costs and expense of training required by this Code section shall be paid by the governing authority of the municipality from municipal funds.
(c) The Georgia Municipal Courts Training Council shall keep records of training completed by municipal court clerks.
(d) In any year that any municipal court clerk does not satisfactorily complete the required training, the Georgia Municipal Courts Training Council shall promptly notify the governing authority of the applicable municipality as well as the chief municipal court judge of the applicable municipality.
This article shall be known and may be cited as “The Georgia Municipal Courts Training Council Act.”
As used in this article, the term:
(1) “Certified municipal judge” means a municipal judge who has the appropriate required certificate of training issued by the council and on file with the council.
(2) “Council” means the Georgia Municipal Courts Training Council.
(3) “Municipal court” means and includes any municipal court as defined in subsection (a) of Code Section 36-32-1.
(4) “Municipal judge” means a judge of a municipal court.
(5) “School” means any school, college, university, academy, or training program approved by the council and the Judicial Council of Georgia which offers basic, in-service, advanced, specialized, or continuing judicial training or a combination thereof, and includes within its meaning a combination of course curriculum, instructors, and facilities which meet the standards required by the council.
(a) There is established a council which shall be known and designated as the “Georgia Municipal Courts Training Council” and which shall be composed of the director of the administrative office of the courts or the director's designee, which member shall not be a voting member, and five municipal judges who shall be appointed by the Council of Municipal Court Judges of Georgia. The initial terms for two members shall expire on December 31, 1991. The initial terms for three members shall expire on December 31, 1992. Following the expiration of these initial terms, their successors shall be appointed for terms of two years.
(b) In the event of death, resignation, disqualification, or removal for any reason of any member of the council, vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment and successors shall serve for the unexpired term.
(c) Membership on the council does not constitute public office and no member shall be disqualified from holding office by reason of his membership.
Immediately and before entering upon the duties of office, the members of the Georgia Municipal Courts Training Council shall take the oath of office and shall file the same in the office of the Judicial Council of Georgia, which, upon receiving the oath of office, shall issue to each member a certificate of appointment.
(a) A chairman and vice-chairman shall be elected at the first meeting of each calendar year.
(b) The director of the Administrative Office of the Courts or his designee shall serve as secretary to the council.
(c) A simple majority of the members of the council shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
(d) The council shall maintain minutes of its meetings and such other records as it deems necessary.
(e) The council shall report at least annually to the Governor and to the General Assembly as to its activities.
The members of the council shall receive no salary but shall be reimbursed for their reasonable and necessary expenses actually incurred in the performance of their functions; provided, however, that such expenses shall not exceed those allowed to members of the General Assembly.
The council is vested with the following functions, powers, and responsibilities:
(1) To make all the necessary rules and regulations to carry out this article;
(2) To cooperate with and secure the cooperation of every department, agency, or instrumentality of the state government or its political subdivisions in furtherance of the purposes of this article;
(3) To approve schools and to prescribe minimum qualifications for instructors at approved schools;
(4) To issue a certification to any municipal court judge satisfactorily complying with an approved training program established;
(5) To do any and all things necessary or convenient to enable it wholly and adequately to perform its duties and to exercise the power granted to it; and
(6) To prescribe, by rules and regulations, the minimum requirements for curricula and standards composing the initial in-service, advanced, specialized, and continuing training courses for certification.
(a) Any person who becomes a municipal judge on or after January 1, 1991, shall satisfactorily complete 20 hours of training in the performance of his or her duties within one year after the date of his or her election or appointment in order to become certified under this article. Any person serving as a municipal judge prior to January 1, 1991, shall be exempt from completing these 20 hours of training.
(b) Except as provided in subsection (d) of this Code section, any person who becomes a judge of a court exercising municipal court jurisdiction on or after July 1, 2012, who is not subject to subsection (a) of this Code section, shall satisfactorily complete 20 hours of training in the performance of his or her duties within one year after the date of his or her election or appointment in order to become certified under this article. Any person serving as a judge of a court exercising municipal court jurisdiction prior to July 1, 2012, who is not subject to subsection (a) of this Code section, shall be exempt from completing these 20 hours of training.
(c) Except as provided in subsection (d) of this Code section, in order to maintain the status of a certified municipal judge or a certified judge of a court exercising municipal court jurisdiction, he or she shall complete 12 hours of additional training per annum during each calendar year after the year of his or her initial certification in which he or she serves as municipal judge or as judge of a court exercising municipal court jurisdiction.
(d) This Code section shall not apply to any magistrate judge, probate judge, or any judge of a court of record who presides in a court exercising municipal court jurisdiction.
(e) If a municipal court judge completes training hours in excess of the number of hours required by this Code section in a calendar year, credit for such excess hours, not to exceed six hours, shall, upon the request of the municipal court judge, be carried over and applied to the number of hours required for the next calendar year.
(a) There is created a council of municipal court judges to be known as the “Council of Municipal Court Judges of Georgia.” The council shall be composed of the judges of the municipal courts of this state. The council is authorized to organize itself and to develop a constitution and bylaws. The officers of said council shall consist of a president, a first vice president, a second vice president, a secretary, a treasurer, and such other officers as the council shall deem necessary. The council shall have an executive committee composed of two representatives from each judicial administrative district.
(b) It shall be the purpose of the council to effectuate the constitutional and statutory responsibilities conferred upon it by law, to further the improvement of the municipal courts and the administration of justice, to assist the judges of the municipal courts throughout the state in the execution of their duties, and to promote and assist in the training of such judges.
(c) Expenses of the administration of the council shall be paid from state funds appropriated for that purpose, from federal funds available to the council for that purpose, or from private funds available to the council, and from other appropriate sources.
(d) The council through its officers may contract with a person or firm including any member of the council for the production of educational material and compensate said member for producing such material, provided that funds are available to the council at the time of execution of the contract or will be available at the time of the completion of the contract and provided that the terms of the contract are disclosed to the full council and made available to the general public and news media. At the request of the council, the Administrative Office of the Courts shall be authorized to act as the agent of the council for the purpose of supervising and implementing the contract.
(e) The Administrative Office of the Courts shall provide technical services to the council and shall assist the council in complying with all its legal requirements.
(f) Notwithstanding any other law, a councilmember shall not be ineligible to hold the office of judge of a municipal court by virtue of his or her position as a member of the council and membership in the council shall not constitute the holding of a public office.
(a) The Council of Municipal Court Judges of Georgia is authorized to create and oversee savings plans and deferred compensation plans for its members in good standing.
(b) Participation in such plans shall be optional for members of the council in good standing.
(c) Such plans shall be funded solely by the individual contributions of the members of the council who choose to participate in the plan.
(d) No money or other funds collected through a municipal court shall be used to fund such plans.
(e) The creation and oversight of such plans by the council shall not create a debt or other financial obligation for this state or any political subdivision of this state.
(f) The creation and oversight of such plans by the council shall not create any fiduciary liability on the part of the council.
(a) Pursuant to Article IX, Section II, Paragraph IX of the Constitution of the State of Georgia, the General Assembly, except as provided in this Code section and in Chapter 92 of this title, declares it is the public policy of the State of Georgia that there is no waiver of the sovereign immunity of municipal corporations of the state and such municipal corporations shall be immune from liability for damages. A municipal corporation shall not waive its immunity by the purchase of liability insurance, except as provided in Code Section 33-24-51 or 36-92-2, or unless the policy of insurance issued covers an occurrence for which the defense of sovereign immunity is available, and then only to the extent of the limits of such insurance policy. This subsection shall not be construed to affect any litigation pending on July 1, 1986.
(b) Municipal corporations shall not be liable for failure to perform or for errors in performing their legislative or judicial powers. For neglect to perform or improper or unskillful performance of their ministerial duties, they shall be liable.
Where municipal corporations are not required by statute to perform an act, they may not be held liable for exercising their discretion in failing to perform the act.
A municipal corporation shall not be liable for the torts of policemen or other officers engaged in the discharge of the duties imposed on them by law.
Members of the council and other officers of a municipal corporation shall be personally liable to one who sustains special damages as the result of any official act of such officers if done oppressively, maliciously, corruptly, or without authority of law.
(a) No person, firm, or corporation having a claim for money damages against any municipal corporation on account of injuries to person or property shall bring any action against the municipal corporation for such injuries, without first giving notice as provided in this Code section.
(b) Within six months of the happening of the event upon which a claim against a municipal corporation is predicated, the person, firm, or corporation having the claim shall present the claim in writing to the governing authority of the municipal corporation for adjustment, stating the time, place, and extent of the injury, as nearly as practicable, and the negligence which caused the injury. No action shall be entertained by the courts against the municipal corporation until the cause of action therein has first been presented to the governing authority for adjustment.
(c) Upon the presentation of such claim, the governing authority shall consider and act upon the claim within 30 days from the presentation; and the action of the governing authority, unless it results in the settlement thereof, shall in no sense be a bar to an action therefor in the courts.
(d) The running of the statute of limitations shall be suspended during the time that the demand for payment is pending before such authorities without action on their part.
(e) The description of the extent of the injury required in subsection (b) of this Code section shall include the specific amount of monetary damages being sought from the municipal corporation. The amount of monetary damages set forth in such claim shall constitute an offer of compromise. In the event such claim is not settled by the municipal corporation and the claimant litigates such claim, the amount of monetary damage set forth in such claim shall not be binding on the claimant.
(f) A claim submitted under this Code section shall be served upon the mayor or the chairperson of the city council or city commission, as the case may be, by delivering the claim to such official personally or by certified mail or statutory overnight delivery.
Property of a municipal corporation in use for the public or held for future use for the public is not subject to levy and sale under executions. All property held by a municipal corporation is presumptively for public use.
It is declared to be the intention of the General Assembly to vest certain general powers in the governing body of each of the municipal corporations of this state, such powers to be in addition to or cumulative of those which any municipal corporation may now have under its charter or any other special or general law. It is the purpose of this grant of general powers:
(1) To provide authority for all municipal corporations to exercise certain common functions of local government;
(2) To provide for local self-government to the extent of the powers granted; and
(3) To relieve the necessity for special legislative action by the General Assembly to the extent of the powers granted in this chapter.
In addition to the other powers which it may have, the governing body of any municipal corporation shall have the following powers, under this chapter, relating to the administration of municipal government:
(1) The power to establish municipal offices, agencies, and employments;
(2) The power to define, regulate, and alter the powers, duties, qualifications, compensation, and tenure of all municipal officers, agents, and employees, provided that the members of the municipal governing body shall not have the right to fix or change their own terms or the terms of their successors, nor to alter their own salaries or compensation, except pursuant to the authority of Code Section 36-35-4, nor to alter such duties or responsibilities as are specifically given to a particular elective official by charter;
(3) The power to authorize any of the officers, agents, and employees of the municipal corporation to serve, in any manner prescribed by applicable law, any process, summons, notice, or order on all persons, as defined in Code Section 1-3-3 therein named, when:
(A) The paper to be served arises out of or relates to an activity or condition conducted or maintained by such person within the territorial jurisdiction of the municipal corporation in violation of an applicable law or ordinance; and
(B) The paper to be served originates in or is issued under the authority of the department or branch of municipal government employing such officer, agent, or employee.
Where any such paper names one or more persons who reside outside the territorial jurisdiction of the municipal corporation, the several sheriffs, marshals, and constables of the several counties of this state are authorized and directed to serve any such paper and make appropriate return of such service by them, as other process is served and returned, on such named persons residing in their respective jurisdictions, upon receipt of a written request to make such service, for the fees allowed for service of process issued by the superior courts of this state;
(4) The power to establish merit systems, retirement systems, and insurance plans for all municipal employees and to establish insurance plans for school employees of independent municipal systems and to provide the method or methods of financing such systems and plans;
(5) The power to contract with any state department or agency or any other political subdivision for joint services or the exchange of services; to contract with such agencies or subdivisions for the joint use of facilities or equipment; and to contract with any state agency or political subdivision to perform any service or execute any project for such agency or subdivision in which the municipal corporation has an interest;
(6) The power to legislate, regulate, and administer all matters pertaining to absentee voting in municipal elections; and
(7)(A) The power to grant franchises to or make contracts with railroads, street railways, or urban transportation companies, electric light or power companies, gas companies, steam-heat companies, telephone companies, water companies, and other public utilities for the use and occupancy of the streets of the city, for the purpose of rendering utility services, upon such conditions and for such time as the governing authority of the municipal corporation may deem wise and subject to the Constitution and the general laws of this state.
(B) The amount of fees collected from customers of public utilities or companies as a result of franchise agreements or contracts authorized by this paragraph shall be itemized on bills or invoices transmitted to customers for utility services. The requirements of this subparagraph shall not apply to fees that are included in the system-wide charges or base rates of a public utility or company subject to a franchise agreement or contract.
In addition to the other powers it may have, any municipal corporation shall have the power, in the interest of the health and general welfare, to accept by gift, acquire, construct, lease, own, regulate, operate, improve, open, close, or extend public streets, alleys, sidewalks, parks, swimming pools, golf courses, recreation grounds, airports, airfields, parking areas, parking buildings, athletic fields, grandstands and stadia buildings used or useful for sports, buildings used or useful for housing fairs and exhibits, buildings for educational purposes, libraries, buildings used or useful for poultry and livestock shows and exhibits, and buildings used or useful for public amusement purposes, together with facilities or buildings used for any combination of the above. Any municipal corporation may, under this chapter, contract with any other political subdivision for the joint use of any of such facilities.
In addition to the other powers it may have, the governing body of any municipal corporation may provide for the general health and welfare by establishing hospitals and clinics for the reception and treatment of charitable and pay patients. It shall have the power to contract with any state agency or political subdivision of this state to provide joint facilities or services for the care and treatment of patients.
(a) In addition to the other powers which it may have, any municipal corporation shall have the power under this chapter:
(1) To acquire by gift, by purchase, or by the exercise of the right of eminent domain, to construct, to reconstruct, to improve, to better, and to extend any water system or sewage system, or both, within the municipal corporation;
(2) To acquire by gift, by purchase, or by the exercise of the right of eminent domain any lands, easements, rights in lands, and water rights in connection therewith;
(3) To operate and maintain any such systems for its own use and for:
(A) Public and private persons within the territorial boundaries of the municipal corporation who use the system; or
(B) Persons to whom the system is made available at the property owned by such persons; and
(4) To prescribe, revise, and collect rates, fees, tolls, or charges for the services, facilities, or commodities:
(A) Furnished to persons or users; or
(B) Made available by such systems to the property owner at such owner's property. When services are available but not used, the maximum rates, fees, tolls, or other charges imposed shall not exceed the minimum charge or fee imposed on a user of such system.
(b) The provisions of subparagraphs (a)(3)(B) and (a)(4)(B) of this Code section shall apply with respect to an individual residential property owner only in the case of a municipality or public water system or project thereof that is exempted from the provisions of subsections (a) and (b) of Code Section 36-60-17.1 pursuant to subsection (c) of such Code section.
Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, each municipal corporation of this state is authorized, in the discretion of its governing authority, to enter into valid and binding lease agreements with nonprofit corporations, classified as public foundations (not private foundations) under the United States Internal Revenue Code, for the stated purpose of providing library services for any period of time not to exceed 15 years.
Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, any municipal corporation of this state having a population of more than 300,000 according to the United States decennial census of 1970 or any future such census is authorized, in the discretion of its governing authority, to enter into valid and binding leases and contracts with private persons, firms, associations, or corporations for any period of time not to exceed 50 years to provide for the operation and maintenance of botanical gardens on municipal property.
Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, any municipal corporation of this state having a population of more than 300,000 according to the United States decennial census of 1970 or any future such census is authorized, in the discretion of its governing authority, to enter into valid and binding leases and contracts with private persons, firms, associations, or corporations for any period of time not to exceed 50 years to provide for the operation and maintenance of public zoos on municipal property.
The governing body of each municipal corporation of this state is given the authority to issue, refund, and liquidate financial obligations, including bonds, incurred to finance any facilities or services which such municipal corporation undertakes to provide under authority of this chapter, subject to the provisions of the Constitution of this state and the general laws applicable to such bonds or other financial obligations.
The provisions of this chapter are in addition to the powers heretofore or hereafter granted to any municipal corporation.
It is declared to be the intention of the General Assembly that the provisions of this chapter are general laws within the meaning of Article III, Section VI, Paragraph IV(a) of the Constitution. No local or special laws shall be enacted on subject matters over which municipal corporations are authorized to act pursuant to this chapter. Any provision of any municipal charter heretofore enacted covering subject matters over which municipal corporations are authorized to act pursuant to this chapter shall be amended, modified, superseded, or repealed only in accordance with subsection (b) of Code Section 36-35-3.
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as “The Municipal Home Rule Act of 1965.”
(a) No municipal corporation shall be incorporated, dissolved, merged, or consolidated with any other municipal corporation, or have its municipal boundaries changed except by local Act of the General Assembly or by such methods as may be provided by general law.
(b) Whenever any local Act of the General Assembly deannexes property lying within the boundaries of a municipal corporation, such property shall not be subject to annexation under Chapter 36 of this title by the municipal corporation from which the property was deannexed for a period of three years from such deannexation.
(a) The governing authority of each municipal corporation shall have legislative power to adopt clearly reasonable ordinances, resolutions, or regulations relating to its property, affairs, and local government for which no provision has been made by general law and which are not inconsistent with the Constitution or any charter provision applicable thereto. Any such charter provision shall remain in force and effect until amended or repealed as provided in subsection (b) of this Code section. This Code section, however, shall not restrict the authority of the General Assembly, by general law, to define this home rule power further or to broaden, limit, or otherwise regulate the exercise thereof. The General Assembly shall not pass any local law to repeal, modify, or supersede any action taken by a municipal governing authority under this Code section, except as authorized under Code Section 36-35-6.
(b) Except as provided in Code Section 36-35-6, a municipal corporation may, as an incident of its home rule power, amend its charter by following either of the following procedures:
(1) Municipal charters may be amended by ordinances duly adopted at two regular consecutive meetings of the municipal governing authority, not less than seven nor more than 60 days apart. A notice containing a synopsis of the proposed amendment shall be published in the official organ of the county of the legal situs of the municipal corporation or in a newspaper of general circulation in the municipal corporation once a week for three weeks within a period of 60 days immediately preceding its final adoption. The notice shall state that a copy of the proposed amendment is on file in the office of the clerk or the recording officer of the municipal governing authority and in the office of the clerk of the superior court of the county of the legal situs of the municipal corporation for the purpose of examination and inspection by the public. The recording officer of the municipal governing authority shall furnish anyone, upon written request, a copy of the proposed amendment. No amendment under this paragraph shall be valid to change or repeal an amendment adopted pursuant to a referendum as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection or to change or repeal a local Act of the General Assembly ratified in a referendum as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection or to change or repeal a local Act of the General Assembly ratified in a referendum by the electors of the municipal corporation unless at least 12 months have elapsed after such referendums. No amendment under this paragraph shall be valid if provision has been made therefor by general law; or
(2)(A) Amendments to charters or amendments to or repeals of ordinances, resolutions, or regulations adopted pursuant to subsection (a) of this Code section may be initiated by a petition, filed with the governing authority of the municipal corporation, containing, in cases of municipal corporations with a population of 5,000 or less, the signatures of at least 25 percent of the electors registered to vote in the last general municipal election; in cases of municipal corporations with a population of more than 5,000 but not more than 100,000, at least 20 percent of the electors registered to vote in the last general municipal election; and in cases of municipal corporations with a population of more than 100,000, at least 15 percent of the electors registered to vote in the last general municipal election. The petition shall specifically set forth the exact language of the proposed amendment or repeal. The governing authority shall determine the validity of such petition within 50 days of its filing with the governing authority. In the event that the governing authority determines that such petition is valid, it shall be the duty of such authority to issue the call for an election for the purpose of submitting such amendment or repeal to the registered electors of the municipal corporation for their approval or rejection. Such call shall be issued within one week after the determination of the validity of the petition. The governing authority shall set the date of the election as provided in Code Section 21-2-540. The governing authority shall cause a notice of the date of the election to be published in the official organ of the county of the legal situs of the municipal corporation or in a newspaper of general circulation in the municipal corporation once a week for two weeks immediately preceding such date. The notice shall also contain a synopsis of the proposed amendment or repeal and shall state that a copy thereof is on file in the office of the clerk or the recording officer of the municipal governing authority and in the office of the clerk of the superior court of the county of the legal situs of the municipal corporation, for the purpose of examination and inspection by the public. The recording officer of the municipal governing authority shall furnish anyone, upon written request, a copy of the proposed amendment. If more than one-half of the votes cast on the question are for approval of the amendment or the repeal, the same shall become of full force and effect; otherwise it shall be void and of no force and effect. The expense of the election shall be borne by the municipal corporation. It shall be the duty of the governing authority to hold and conduct such election. The election shall be held under the same laws and rules and regulations as govern special elections of the municipal corporation, except as otherwise provided in this subparagraph. It shall be the duty of the governing authority to canvass the returns and to declare and certify the result of the election. It shall be the further duty of the governing authority to certify the result thereof to the Secretary of State. A referendum on any such amendment or repeal shall not be held more often than once each year. No amendment under this subparagraph shall be valid if provision has been made therefor by general law.
(B) In the event that the governing authority determines that the petition is not valid, it shall publish in explicit detail the reasons why such petition is not valid. Such publication shall be in the official organ of the county of the legal situs of the municipal corporation or in a newspaper of general circulation in the municipal corporation, in the week immediately following the date on which the petition is declared to be not valid. In any proceeding in which the validity of the petition is at issue, the tribunal considering such issue shall not be limited by the reasons assigned.
(C) The sponsor of a petition authorized by this paragraph shall obtain copies of all official petitions from the clerk of the governing authority. The clerk of the governing authority shall approve all petitions as to form. The clerk of the governing authority shall provide a place on each form for the person collecting signatures to provide his or her name, street address, city, county, state, ZIP Code, and telephone number and to swear that he or she is a resident of the municipality affected by the petition and that the signatures were collected inside the boundaries of the affected municipality. The collection of signatures for the petition shall begin on the day the clerk of the governing authority provides official copies to the sponsor of the petition. A petition authorized by subparagraph (A) of this paragraph shall not be accepted by the governing authority for verification if more than 60 days have elapsed since the date the sponsor of the petition first obtained copies of the petition from the clerk of the governing authority. Any petition being circulated pursuant to subparagraph (A) of this paragraph on July 1, 1989, shall be filed with the clerk of the governing authority by not later than July 11, 1989. The clerk of the governing authority shall, within seven days, provide the sponsor with official petitions. The sponsor shall have 60 additional days after obtaining official petitions to collect the remaining number of required signatures. Nothing in this subparagraph shall invalidate otherwise valid signatures collected on or before July 1, 1989.
(c) Any other provisions of this chapter to the contrary notwithstanding, subsection (b) of this Code section shall not apply to any city-county consolidated government in existence on January 1, 1976, and any such city-county consolidated government shall not be authorized to amend its consolidated government charter pursuant to subsection (b) of this Code section.
(a) The governing authority of each municipal corporation is authorized to fix the salary, compensation, and expenses of its municipal employees and the members of its municipal governing authority and to provide insurance, retirement, and pension benefits, coverage under federal old-age, survivors and disability programs, hospitalization benefits, and workers' compensation benefits for its employees, their dependents, and their survivors and for members of the municipal governing authority, their dependents, and their survivors, when such benefits are provided to municipal employees. Any previous actions to extend insurance, federal old-age, survivors and disability programs, retirement, hospitalization, and workers' compensation benefits to members of the municipal governing authority are validated. With the exception of the provision of insurance, federal old-age, survivors and disability programs, retirement, hospitalization, and workers' compensation benefits, any action to increase the salary or compensation of the elective members of the municipal governing authority shall be subject to the following conditions and requirements:
(1) Any such increase shall not be effective until after the taking of office of those elected at the next regular municipal election which is held immediately following the date on which the action to increase the compensation was taken;
(2) Such action shall not be taken during the period of time beginning with the date that candidates for election to membership on the municipal governing authority may first qualify as such candidates and ending with the date members of the municipal governing authority take office following their election; and
(3) Such action shall not be taken until notice of intent to take the action has been published in a newspaper of general circulation designated as the legal organ in the county and in the municipal corporation at least once a week for three consecutive weeks immediately preceding the week during which the action is taken.
(b) As used in subsection (a) of this Code section, the phrase “elective members of the municipal governing authority” means, notwithstanding any terminology or designation of a municipal governing authority or governing body contained in any municipal charter, any elective municipal official who exercises any executive or legislative or executive and legislative powers of the municipal corporation, specifically including a mayor, vice-mayor, president or chairman of a municipal council, member of a municipal council, member of a board of aldermen, or member of a board of commissioners. Such phrase shall also include any person who is appointed to fill a vacancy in any such elective office.
(c) As used in subsection (a) of this Code section, the words “salary or compensation,” as applied to the elective members of a municipal governing authority, shall include any expense allowance or any form of payment or reimbursement of expenses, except reimbursement for expenses actually and necessarily incurred by members of a municipal governing authority in carrying out their official duties. The governing authority of each municipal corporation shall be authorized to provide by ordinance for the reimbursement of such actual and necessary expenses.
(d) As used in subsection (a) of this Code section, the words “retirement” and “pension” shall mean termination from municipal service with the right to receive a benefit based upon all or part of such municipal service in accordance with the terms of the ordinance or contract pursuant to which the municipality provides for payment of such benefits. The General Assembly declares and affirms that the Act approved April 17, 1981 (Ga. L. 1981, p. 1741) was intended to assure that prior advertisement of actions to provide insurance, federal old-age, survivors and disability programs, retirement, pension, hospitalization, and workers' compensation benefits to elected members of the municipal governing authority, their dependents, and their survivors is not required.
(a) Subject to the limitations provided by this Code section, the governing authority of any municipal corporation is authorized to reapportion the election districts from which members of the municipal governing authority are elected following publication of the United States decennial census of 1980 or any future such census. Such reapportionment of districts shall be effective for the election of members to the municipal governing authority at the next regular general municipal election following the publication of the decennial census; provided, however, that, if the publication of the decennial census occurs within 120 days of the next general or special municipal election, such reapportionment of districts shall be effective for any subsequent special election and the subsequent general municipal election.
(b) The municipal governing authority shall by ordinance amend its charter pursuant to paragraph (1) of subsection (b) of Code Section 36-35-3 to reapportion the districts in accordance with the following specifications:
(1) Each reapportioned district shall be formed of contiguous territory; and the boundary lines of such district shall be the center lines of streets or other well-defined boundaries;
(2) Variations in population among such districts shall comply with the one person-one vote requirements of the United States Constitution; and
(3) The reapportionment shall be limited to adjusting the boundary lines of the existing districts only to the extent reasonably necessary to comply with the requirements of paragraph (2) of this subsection; and the number of members of the municipal governing body and the manner of electing such members, except for the adjustment of district boundary lines, shall not be changed by the municipal governing authority.
(c) In addition to reapportionment following publication of the decennial census, a municipal governing authority shall reapportion districts pursuant to this Code section if the annexation of additional territory to the corporate boundaries of the municipality has the effect of denying electors residing within the newly annexed territory the right to vote for members of the municipal governing authority on substantially the same basis as the other electors of the municipality vote for members of the municipal governing authority. The reapportionment provided for in this subsection shall meet the criteria specified in subsection (b) of this Code section and shall be further limited to making only those adjustments in district boundary lines as may be reasonably necessary to include the newly annexed territory within such districts. Reapportionment under this subsection shall be effective for the next regular general municipal election following the annexation.
(d) This Code section shall not prohibit the General Assembly from enacting a local law at any time to amend the charter of a municipality to reapportion or otherwise change election districts from which members of the municipal governing authority are elected. If such action is taken by the General Assembly following publication of a decennial census, but before the first regular general municipal election following the publication of such census, the local Act of the General Assembly shall nullify the power given to the municipal governing authority by subsections (a) and (b) of this Code section to reapportion districts following publication of that decennial census. If such action is taken by the General Assembly in conjunction with the annexation, by local Act of the General Assembly, of additional territory to the corporate boundaries of the municipality, the local Act of the General Assembly shall nullify the power and duty given to the municipal governing authority by subsection (c) of this Code section to reapportion districts as a result of that annexation.
(e) In addition to reapportionment following publication of the decennial census, the governing authority of any municipal corporation with a population of 40,000 or more according to the latest United States decennial census is authorized not more than one time during the ten-year period between the publication of consecutive decennial censuses to reapportion or modify the election districts from which members of the municipal governing authority are elected; provided, however, that (1) no such reapportionment shall result in the redistricting of more than 600 persons, (2) no such reapportionment shall occur within 180 days of a general or special municipal election or primary, and (3) a map reflecting any changes and copies of any communications to or from the United States Department of Justice relating to such changes are furnished to the Secretary of State and the Legislative Reapportionment Office within 30 days after such change or communication. Such reapportionment of districts shall be effective for the election of one or more members to the municipal governing authority at the next regular general municipal election or special municipal election following such reapportionment.
No amendment or revision of any charter made pursuant to this chapter shall become effective until a copy of the amendment or revision, a copy of the required notice of publication, and an affidavit of a duly authorized representative of the newspaper in which the notice was published, to the effect that the notice has been published as provided in this chapter, has been filed with the Secretary of State and in the office of the clerk of the superior court of the county of the legal situs of the municipal corporation. The Secretary of State shall provide for the publication and distribution of all such amendments and revisions at least annually.
(a) The power granted to municipal corporations in subsections (a) and (b) of Code Section 36-35-3 shall not be construed to extend to the following matters or to any other matters which the General Assembly by general law has preempted or may hereafter preempt; but such matters shall be the subject of general law or the subject of local Acts of the General Assembly to the extent that the enactment of such local Acts is otherwise permitted under the Constitution:
(1) Action affecting the composition and form of the municipal governing authority, the procedure for election or appointment of the members thereof, and the continuance in office and limitation thereon for such members, except as authorized in Chapter 2 of Title 21 or as provided in Code Section 36-35-4.1;
(2)(A) Action defining any offense, which so defined, is also an offense under the criminal laws of Georgia;
(B) Action providing for confinement in excess of six months; and
(C) Action providing for fines and bond forfeitures in excess of $1,000.00;
(3) Action adopting any form of taxation beyond that authorized by law or by the Constitution;
(4) Action affecting the exercise of the power of eminent domain;
(5) Action expanding the power of regulation over any business activity regulated by the Public Service Commission beyond that authorized by charter or general law or by the Constitution;
(6) Action affecting the jurisdiction of any court; and
(7) Action changing charter provisions relating to the establishment and operations of an independent school system.
(b) The power granted in subsections (a) and (b) of Code Section 36-35-3 shall not include the power to take any action affecting the private or civil law governing private or civil relationships, except as is incident to the exercise of an independent governmental power.
(c) Nothing in this Code section shall affect Code Sections 36-35-4 and 36-35-5.
A municipality shall be prohibited from restricting the use of any language other than English on signs for privately owned businesses. This Code section shall not restrict the municipality's right to enact any other restrictions on signs.
It is declared to be the intention of the General Assembly that the provisions of this chapter are general laws within the meaning of Article III, Section VI, Paragraph IV(a) of the Constitution. No local or special laws shall be enacted on subject matters over which municipal corporations are authorized to act pursuant to this chapter. Any provision of any municipal charter heretofore enacted covering subject matters over which municipal corporations are authorized to act pursuant to this chapter shall be amended, modified, superseded, or repealed only in accordance with subsection (b) of Code Section 36-35-3.
In the event of a conflict between this chapter and Chapter 34 of this title, this chapter shall control.
The procedures set forth in this article shall apply to all annexations pursuant to this chapter and to annexation by local Act of the General Assembly.
(a) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this Code section, all annexation other than by local Act shall become effective for ad valorem tax purposes on December 31 of the year during which such annexation occurred and for all other purposes shall become effective on the first day of the month following the month during which the requirements of Article 2, 3, or 4 of this chapter, whichever is applicable, have been met.
(b) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this Code section, annexation by local Act shall become effective for ad valorem tax purposes on December 31 of the year in which such local Act is approved by the Governor or becomes law without such approval and for all other purposes shall become effective at the time such local Act becomes effective or such later date as provided in such local Act.
(c)(1) Where an independent school system exists within the boundaries of a municipality, other effective dates may be established by the municipality solely for the purpose of determining school enrollment.
(2) Unless otherwise agreed in writing by a county governing authority and the municipal governing authority, where property zoned and used for commercial purposes is annexed into a municipality with an independent school system, the effective date for the purposes of ad valorem taxes levied for educational purposes shall be December 31 of the year after the year in which the requirements of Article 2, 3, or 4 of this chapter, whichever is applicable, have been met.
(a) The clerk, city attorney, or other person designated by the governing authority of any municipality annexing property shall file a report identifying any property annexed with the Department of Community Affairs, the Legislative and Congressional Reapportionment Office of the General Assembly, and with the county governing authority of the county in which the property being annexed is located. Such reports shall be filed, at a minimum, not more than 30 days following the last day of the quarter in which the annexation becomes effective but may be filed more frequently. Each report shall include the following:
(1) The legal authority under which the annexation was accomplished, which shall be the ordinance or resolution number for any annexation effected pursuant to Article 2, 3, 4, or 6 of this chapter or the Act number if effected by local Act of the General Assembly;
(2) The name of the county in which the property being annexed is located; the total acreage annexed; the enactment date and effective date of the annexation ordinance, resolution, or local Act of the General Assembly;
(3) A letter from the governing authority of any municipality annexing property stating its intent to add the annexed area to maps provided by the United States Bureau of the Census during their next regularly scheduled boundary and annexation survey of the municipality and stating that the survey and map will be completed as instructed and returned to the United States Bureau of the Census;
(4) A list identifying roadways, bridges, and rights of way on state routes that are annexed and, if necessary, the total mileage annexed; and
(5) A digital shapefile of the annexed area.
(b) The submission of a report required under subsection (a) of this Code section shall be made in writing and in electronic format to the Department of Community Affairs, the Legislative and Congressional Reapportionment Office of the General Assembly, and to others as required by the submitting municipality.
(c)(1) The Department of Community Affairs shall notify the clerk, city attorney, or other person designated by the governing authority of the annexing municipality within 30 days after receipt of a report submitted under subsection (a) of this Code section if it determines the submission to be incomplete. The Legislative and Congressional Reapportionment Office of the General Assembly shall notify the clerk, city attorney, or other person designated by the governing authority of the annexing municipality within 60 days after receipt of a report submitted under subsection (a) of this Code section if it determines the submission to be incomplete. The annexing municipality shall file a corrected report with the department, Legislative and Congressional Reapportionment Office of the General Assembly, and the county governing authority where the annexed property is located within 45 days from the date of the notice of any deficiency.
(2) No annexed area shall be added to the state map until such report has been properly submitted to the Department of Community Affairs and the Legislative and Congressional Reapportionment Office of the General Assembly. The Department of Community Affairs shall not provide a certification of annexation to the United States Census Bureau unless the governing authority of the annexing municipality has filed a completed report as required under subsection (a) of this Code section.
(3) Compliance with the requirements of this Code section shall be construed to be merely ancillary to and not an integral part of the annexation procedure such that an annexation shall, if otherwise authorized by law, become effective even though required filings under this Code section are temporarily delayed.
(d) The Department of Community Affairs may provide technical assistance to any municipality with respect to the requirements of subsection (a) of this Code section.
(e) The Department of Community Affairs shall maintain the annexation reports submitted to it pursuant to this Code section for two years. Annexation reports shall be subject to disclosure and inspection under Article 4 of Chapter 18 of Title 50 while maintained in the possession of the Department of Community Affairs. Two years after receipt of an annexation report from a municipality, the Department of Community Affairs shall transfer possession of such report to the Division of Archives and History for permanent retention.
(f) In the event that any municipality annexing property cannot produce the digital shapefile required by paragraph (5) of subsection (a) of this Code section by utilizing its own geographic information system, the regional commission established pursuant to Article 2 of Chapter 8 of Title 50 for the county that includes such municipality shall assist such municipality in producing and providing such digital shapefile.
(g) The governing authority of any municipality annexing property shall add all annexed areas to maps provided by the United States Census Bureau during the next regularly scheduled boundary and annexation survey of the municipality, complete the survey and map as instructed, and return them to the United States Census Bureau within the time frame requested.
(a) The creation of unincorporated islands as described in paragraph (1), (2), or (3) of this subsection shall be prohibited:
(1) Annexation or deannexation which would result in the creation of an unincorporated area with its aggregate external boundaries abutting the annexing municipality;
(2) Annexation or deannexation which would result in the creation of an unincorporated area with its aggregate external boundaries abutting any combination of the annexing municipality and one or more other municipalities; or
(3) Annexation or deannexation which would result in the creation of an unincorporated area to which the county would have no reasonable means of physical access for the provision of services otherwise provided by the county governing authority solely to the unincorporated area of the county.
(b) When requested by resolution of the county governing authority, a municipality is authorized to provide any service or exercise any function within an unincorporated island. Such authority shall be in addition to any other authority of the municipality to provide extraterritorial services or functions. For purposes of this subsection, “unincorporated island” shall have the same meaning as contained in paragraph (3) of Code Section 36-36-90.
(c) The prohibition contained in subsection (a) of this Code section shall not apply to a local Act providing for deannexation of territory from a municipality that would create an unincorporated island where another local Act annexing the same territory into another municipality takes effect on the same date as the local Act providing for deannexation of such territory.
Upon accepting an application for annexation pursuant to Code Section 36-36-21 or a petition for annexation pursuant to Code Section 36-36-32, or upon adopting a resolution calling for an annexation referendum pursuant to Code Section 36-36-57, the governing authority of the annexing municipality shall within 30 days give written notice of the proposed annexation to the governing authority of the county wherein the area proposed for annexation is located. Such notice shall include a map or other description of the site proposed to be annexed sufficient to identify the area. Where the proposed annexation is to be effected by a local Act of the General Assembly, a copy of the proposed legislation shall be provided by the governing authority of the municipality to the governing authority of the county in which the property proposed to be annexed is located following the receipt of such notice by the governing authority of the municipality under subsection (b) of Code Section 28-1-14.
(a) Upon receiving notice of a proposed annexation pursuant to Code Section 36-36-6, the county governing authority shall notify the governing authority of the municipality within five business days of receipt of such notice if any county owned public facilities are located in the area proposed to be annexed.
(b) Except as otherwise provided in this Code section, ownership and control of county owned public properties and facilities are not diminished or otherwise affected by annexation of the area in which the county owned public property or facility is located.
(c) Whenever a municipality annexes land on both sides of a county road right of way, the annexing municipality shall assume the ownership, control, care, and maintenance of such right of way unless the municipality and the county agree otherwise by joint resolution.
(d) Whenever county owned property or a county owned facility within an area annexed by a municipality is no longer usable for service to the unincorporated area of the county as a result of the annexation, the annexing municipality shall be required to acquire said property from the county governing authority under the following conditions:
(1) The annexation must be final;
(2) The county property or facility must be funded by revenues derived from the unincorporated areas of the county and must be used to provide services solely to the unincorporated areas of the county;
(3) The county adopts a resolution declaring that the property or facility is no longer usable for service to the unincorporated area of the county as a result of the annexation; and
(4) Unless otherwise provided by mutual agreement, the county shall be compensated in an amount equal to the fair market value of the property or facility which is no longer usable for service to the unincorporated area. If the county and municipality fail to agree as to the fair market value of the property or facility within 180 days following adoption of the resolution required by paragraph (3) of this subsection, the question of fair market value shall be submitted to a special master appointed by the superior court of the county in which the property or facility is located for determination of value.
No annexation shall invalidate any utility service agreement between a county and an annexing municipality in effect on July 1, 1992, except by mutual written consent.
All notices to a municipal or county governing authority required pursuant to this chapter shall be sent by certified mail or statutory overnight delivery, return receipt requested.
It is the express intent of the General Assembly in enacting the provisions of this chapter to provide for alternative methods for annexing or deannexing an area or areas into or from the corporate limits of a municipality. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this chapter, no provision of this chapter relating to annexation or deannexation by any such alternate method is intended to or shall be construed to in any way restrict, limit, or otherwise impair the authority of the General Assembly to annex or deannex by local Act.
(a) The intent of this Code section is to provide a mechanism to resolve disputes over land use arising out of the rezoning of property to a more intense land use in conjunction with or subsequent to annexation in order to facilitate coordinated planning between counties and municipalities particularly with respect to areas contiguous to municipal boundaries; provided, however, that on and after September 1, 2007, such dispute resolutions shall be governed by the provisions of Article 7 of this chapter and the provisions of this Code section shall be limited to proceedings initiated prior to such date.
(b) As used in this Code section, the term “objection” means an objection to a proposed change in land use which results in a substantial change in the intensity of the allowable use of the property or a change to a significantly different allowable use.
(c)(1) When an initial zoning of property is sought pursuant to subsection (d) of Code Section 36-66-4 or when the rezoning of annexed property is sought within one year of the effective date of the annexation, the municipal corporation shall give notice to the county governing authority within seven calendar days of the filing of the application for initial zoning or rezoning. Upon receipt of such notice, the county governing authority shall have seven calendar days to notify the municipality in writing of its intent to raise an objection to the proposed zoning or rezoning of the property and shall specify the basis for the objection. If the county governing authority serves notice of its intent to object, then the county governing authority shall have ten calendar days from the date of the county's notice to document in writing the nature of the objection specifically identifying the basis for the objection including any increased service delivery or infrastructure costs. The absence of a written notice of intent to object or failure to document the nature of the objection shall mean the municipal corporation may proceed with the zoning or rezoning and no subsequent objections under this process may be filed for the zoning or rezoning under consideration.
(2) Commencing with the date of receipt by the municipality of the county's documented objections, representatives of the municipal corporation and the county shall have 21 calendar days to devise mitigating measures to address the county's specific objections to the proposed zoning or rezoning. The governing authority of the municipal corporation and the governing authority of the county may agree on mitigating measures or agree in writing to waive the objections at any time within the 21 calendar day period, in which event the municipal corporation may proceed with the zoning or rezoning in accordance with such agreement; or, where an initial zoning is proposed concurrent with annexation, the municipality may approve, deny, or abandon the annexation of all or parts of the property under review.
(3) If the representatives of the municipal corporation and the county fail to reach agreement on the objections and mitigating measures within the 21 calendar day period, either the governing authority of the municipal corporation or the governing authority of the county may insist upon appointment of a mediator within seven calendar days after the end of the 21 day period to assist in resolving the dispute. The mediator shall be mutually selected and appointed within seven calendar days of either party's timely, written insistence on a mediator. The party insisting on use of the mediator shall bear two-thirds of the expense of the mediation and the other party shall bear one-third of the expense of the mediation. If both the municipality and the county insist on mediation, the expenses of mediation shall be shared equally. The mediator shall have up to 28 calendar days to meet with the parties to develop alternatives to resolve the objections. If the municipal corporation and the county agree on alternatives to resolve the objections, the municipal corporation may proceed in accordance with the mediated agreement.
(4) If the objections are not resolved by the end of the 28 day period, the municipal governing authority or the county governing authority may, no later than seven calendar days after the conclusion of such 28 day period, request review by a citizen review panel. The citizen review panel shall be an independent body comprised of one resident of the municipal corporation appointed by the municipal governing authority, one resident of the county appointed by the county governing authority, and one nonresident of the county who is a land use planning professional mutually selected by the municipal and county appointees to the citizen review panel. No elected or appointed officials or employees, contractors, or vendors of a municipality or county may serve on the citizen review panel. If a request for review by a citizen review panel is made, the mediator shall make arrangements to appear personally at the first meeting of the panel and brief the panel members regarding the objections and proposed mitigating measures or provide a written presentation of such objections and proposed mitigating measures to the panel members on or before the date of such first meeting, whichever the mediator deems appropriate. The citizen review panel shall meet at least once but may conduct as many meetings as necessary to complete its review within a 21 calendar day period. All meetings of the citizen review panel shall be open to the public pursuant to Chapter 14 of Title 50. Within 21 calendar days of the request for review, the citizen review panel shall complete its review of the evidence submitted by the county and the municipality concerning the objections and proposed mitigating measures and shall issue its own recommendations.
(5) The citizen review panel shall recommend approval or denial of the zoning or rezoning and address the objections and proposed mitigating measures. Where an initial zoning is proposed concurrent with annexation, the panel may also recommend that the annexation be approved or abandoned. The findings and recommendations of the citizen review panel shall not be binding.
(6) Following receipt of the recommendations of the citizen review panel, the municipal corporation may:
(A) Zone or rezone all or parts of the property under review;
(B) Zone or rezone all or parts of the property under review with mitigating measures;
(C) Deny the zoning or rezoning of all or parts of the property under review; or
(D) Any combination of the foregoing.
Where an initial zoning is proposed concurrent with annexation, the municipality may also approve, deny, or abandon the annexation of all or parts of the property under review.
(7) At any time during the process set forth in this Code section, the county or municipality may file a petition in superior court seeking sanctions against a party for any objections or proposed mitigating measures that lack substantial justification or that were interposed for purposes of delay or harassment. Such petition shall be assigned to a judge, pursuant to Code Section 15-1-9.1 or 15-6-13, who is not a judge in the circuit in which the county is located. The judge selected may also be a senior judge pursuant to Code Section 15-1-9.2 who resides in another circuit. The visiting or senior judge shall determine whether any objections or proposed mitigating measures lack substantial justification or were interposed for delay or harassment and shall assess against the party raising such objection or proposing or objecting to such mitigating measures the full cost of attorney fees and other costs incurred by the other party in responding to the objections or proposed mitigating measures.
(8) Unless otherwise agreed, a zoning or rezoning decision made pursuant to this Code section shall not be effective until 28 calendar days following the completion of the process authorized by this Code section and the zoning or rezoning vote by the municipal governing authority.
(9) During the process set forth in this Code section, the municipal corporation may proceed with notice, hearings, and other requirements for zoning or rezoning in accordance with the municipality's zoning ordinance.
(d) If the annexation, zoning, or rezoning is denied or abandoned based in whole or in part on the county's objections, the county shall not zone or rezone the property or allow any use of a similar or greater density or intensity to that proposed for the property which had been objected to by the county pursuant to this Code section for a one-year period after the denial or abandonment.
(e) The process set forth in subsection (c) of this Code section specifies minimum procedures for addressing objections. However, a county and a municipality may agree to additional procedures by resolution of the county and municipal governing authorities. Notwithstanding subsections (c) and (d) of this Code section, any agreement to resolve county objections to a proposed land use of an area to be annexed into a municipality which agreement was in effect on January 1, 2004, and which includes a provision whereby the county and a municipality agree to be bound by the recommendations of an annexation appeals board shall remain in effect until the parties agree otherwise.
As used in this article, the term “used for residential purposes” means any lot or tract five acres or less in size on which is constructed a habitable dwelling unit.
(a) Local Acts of the General Assembly proposing annexation of any area composed of more than 50 percent by acreage of property used for residential purposes shall be adopted pursuant to the procedures of this article.
(b) Such bill may include a requirement for referendum approval of the annexation under such terms and conditions as specified in such local law; provided, however, that if the number of residents in the area to be annexed exceeds 3 percent of the population of the municipal corporation or 500 people, whichever is less, as determined by the most recent United States decennial census, referendum approval shall be required in the area to be annexed. The cost of holding the referendum required by this article shall be paid from funds of the municipality proposing the annexation.
(a) As used in this article, the term “contiguous area” means, at the time the annexation procedures are initiated, any area that meets the following conditions:
(1) At least one-eighth of the aggregate external boundary or 50 feet of the area to be annexed, whichever is less, either abuts directly on the municipal boundary or would directly abut on the municipal boundary if it were not otherwise separated from the municipal boundary by lands owned by the municipal corporation or some other political subdivision, by lands owned by this state, or by the definite width of:
(A) Any street or street right of way;
(B) Any creek or river; or
(C) Any right of way of a railroad or other public service corporation
which divides the municipal boundary and any area proposed to be annexed;
(2) The entire parcel or parcels of real property owned by the person seeking annexation is being annexed; provided, however, that lots shall not be subdivided in an effort to evade the requirements of this paragraph; and
(3) The private property annexed, excluding any right of way of a railroad or other public service corporation, complies with the annexing municipality's minimum size requirements, if any, to construct a building or structure occupiable by persons or property under the policies or regulations of the municipal development, zoning, or subdivision ordinances.
(b) Notwithstanding the limitations of subsection (a) of this Code section, an area may be annexed by agreement between the municipal corporation and the governing body of the county in which the territory proposed to be annexed is located.
(c) If, at the time annexation procedures are initiated, the entire area to be annexed is owned by the municipal governing authority to which the area is to be annexed and if the annexation of municipally owned property is approved by resolution of the governing authority of the county wherein the property is located, then the term “contiguous area” shall mean any area which, at the time annexation procedures are initiated, abuts directly on the municipal boundary or which would directly abut on the municipal boundary if it were not otherwise separated from the municipal boundary by lands owned by the municipal corporation or some other political subdivision, by lands owned by this state, or by the definite width or by the length of:
(1) Any street or street right of way;
(2) Any creek or river; or
(3) Any right of way of a railroad or other public service corporation
which divides the municipal boundary and any area proposed to be annexed.
Authority is granted to the governing bodies of the several municipal corporations of this state to annex to the existing corporate limits thereof unincorporated areas contiguous to the existing corporate limits at the time of such annexation, in accordance with the procedures provided in this article and in Article 1 of this chapter, upon the written and signed applications of all of the owners of all of the land, except the owners of any public street, road, highway, or right of way, proposed to be annexed, containing a complete description of the lands to be annexed. Lands to be annexed at any one time shall be treated as one body, regardless of the number of owners, and all parts shall be considered as adjoining the limits of the municipal corporation when any one part of the entire body abuts such limits. When such application is acted upon by the municipal authorities and the land is, by ordinance, annexed to the municipal corporation, an identification of the property so annexed shall be filed with the Department of Community Affairs and with the governing authority of the county in which the property is located in accordance with Code Section 36-36-3. When so annexed, such lands shall constitute a part of the lands within the corporate limits of the municipal corporation as completely and fully as if the limits had been marked and defined by local Act of the General Assembly. Except as provided in subsection (c) of Code Section 36-36-20, nothing in this article shall be construed to authorize annexation of the length of any public right of way except to the extent that such right of way adjoins private property otherwise annexed by the municipal corporation.
Authority is granted to the governing bodies of the several municipal corporations of this state to deannex an area or areas of the existing corporate limits thereof, in accordance with the procedures provided in this article and in Article 1 of this chapter, upon the written and signed applications of all of the owners of all of the land, except the owners of any public street, road, highway, or right of way, proposed to be deannexed, containing a complete description of the lands to be deannexed and the adoption of a resolution by the governing authority of the county in which such property is located consenting to such deannexation. Lands to be deannexed at any one time shall be treated as one body, regardless of the number of owners, and all parts shall be considered as adjoining the limits of the municipal corporation when any one part of the entire body abuts such limits. When such application is acted upon by the municipal authorities and the land is, by ordinance, deannexed from the municipal corporation, an identification of the property so deannexed shall be filed with the Department of Community Affairs and with the governing authority of the county in which the property is located in accordance with Code Section 36-36-3. When so deannexed, such lands shall cease to constitute a part of the lands within the corporate limits of the municipal corporation as completely and fully as if the limits had been marked and defined by local Act of the General Assembly.
(a) Annexation pursuant to this article by a municipal corporation into an adjoining county in which the municipality is not already located shall be accomplished in accordance with this Code section. Within ten business days of receiving an application for annexation, the municipal corporation shall provide written notice to the county governing authority of the adjoining county of its intent to annex into the county. Such notice shall include a map or other description of the land proposed for annexation sufficient for the county to identify the location of the proposed annexation. A meeting between the county governing authority and municipal governing authority shall be held to discuss the proposed annexation if the county governing authority files a written request for such meeting with the municipal governing authority within 15 days of receipt of the notice of the proposed annexation. The requested meeting shall be held within 15 days of the request by the county unless otherwise agreed to by the county and the municipality.
(b) No municipality may annex into an adjoining county in which the municipality is not already located unless otherwise agreed to by the county governing authority of the adjoining county. Such annexation shall be deemed approved, unless the county governing authority adopts a resolution opposing the annexation within 30 days following the earlier of:
(1) The completion of the meeting between the municipal and county governing authorities, if any, pursuant to subsection (a) of this Code section; or
(2) Thirty days after notice of the proposed annexation from the municipal corporation to the county governing authority, if no meeting is requested by the county governing authority.
(c) In making its decision, the county governing authority shall consider the following factors:
(1) Whether the annexation ordinance is reasonable for the long-range economic and overall well-being of the counties, school districts, and municipalities affected by the annexation;
(2) Whether the health, safety, and welfare of property owners and citizens of the county, municipalities, and area proposed to be annexed will be negatively affected by the annexation;
(3) Whether the proposed annexation has any negative fiscal impact on the county, school districts, and other municipalities that have not been mitigated by an agreement; and
(4) The interests of the property owner seeking annexation.
(d) If the county governing authority disapproves the annexation, the municipal corporation may challenge the disapproval by filing a complaint in the superior court of the adjoining county into which such annexation has been proposed. The challenge shall be heard by either a judge or senior judge who is not from the circuit in which either the county or the municipality is located. If the court finds by a preponderance of the evidence that the determination by the county based upon the factors enumerated in subsection (c) of this Code section is correct, then the denial by the county shall be sustained. If the denial is not sustained, the annexation may proceed.
As used in this article, the term “municipal corporation” means a municipal corporation which has a population of 200 or more persons according to the United States decennial census of 1960 or any future such census.
(a) As used in this article, the term “contiguous area” means any area of which at least one-eighth of the aggregate external boundary, at the time annexation procedures are initiated, directly abuts the municipal boundary. Any area shall also be a “contiguous area” if at least one-eighth of its aggregate external boundary would directly abut the municipal boundary if not otherwise separated, in whole or in part, from the municipal boundary by lands owned by the municipal corporation, by lands owned by a county, or by lands owned by this state or by the definite width of (1) any street or street right of way, (2) any creek or river, or (3) any right of way of a railroad or other public service corporation.
(b) For purposes of determining an area's aggregate external boundary, all real property which, at the time annexation procedures are initiated, (1) is owned by the same person who owns real property in the area to be annexed, (2) adjoins to any extent such owner's real property in the area to be annexed, (3) is in the same county as the real property in the area to be annexed, and (4) is not included within the boundaries of any municipal corporation shall have its area included in determining the aggregate external boundary of the area to be annexed.
(a) Authority is granted to the governing bodies of the several municipal corporations of this state to annex to the existing corporate limits thereof unincorporated areas which are contiguous to the existing corporate limits at the time of such annexation, in accordance with the procedures provided in this article and in Article 1 of this chapter, upon the written and signed application of not less than 60 percent of the electors resident in the area included in any such application and of the owners of not less than 60 percent of the land area, by acreage, included in such application. The authority granted in this Code section is in addition to existing authority and is intended to provide a cumulative method of annexing territory to municipal corporations in addition to those methods provided by present law.
(b) Each such application shall contain a complete description of the land proposed to be annexed. Lands to be annexed at any one time shall be treated as one body, regardless of the number of owners, and all parts shall be considered as adjoining the limits of the municipal corporation when any one part of the entire body abuts such limits.
(c) Each person signing an application for annexation shall also print or type thereon his name, address, and the date of signature. In addition, he shall indicate whether he is a landowner within the area to be annexed, an elector, or both.
(d) For the purpose of determining the percentage of electors signing such application, the municipal governing body shall obtain a list of electors residing in such area from the board of registrars of the county or counties in which the area lies. The list shall be compiled by the board of registrars and provided to the municipal governing body in accordance with Code Section 21-2-227. The municipal governing body shall bear the expense of the preparation of the list in the manner prescribed by such Code section.
(e) For the purpose of determining ownership of the property included within such application, the record titleholder of the fee simple title or his legal representative shall be considered the “owner” of the property.
(f) Signatures of owners of public roads and other public land within the area to be annexed shall not be required in satisfying the requirements of subsection (a) of this Code section and the acreage of such public properties shall be excluded from acreage calculations pertaining to the landowner approval required by subsection (a) of this Code section. This subsection applies only where the public properties are included in the area to be annexed.
(g) The necessary number of signatures of landowners and electors shall be obtained within one calendar year following the date of the first signature obtained. Failure to collect the required number within the one-year period shall invalidate previously collected signatures. Nothing in this subsection shall prohibit collection of signatures from the same persons on subsequent applications for annexation.
There shall be no annexation across the boundary lines of any county under this article.
Whenever the governing body of a municipal corporation receives an application pursuant to Code Section 36-36-32, it shall, after investigation, determine whether such application complies with the requirements of this article. If it is determined that the application does not comply with this article, the governing body shall notify in writing the persons presenting the application, stating wherein the application is deficient. If it is determined that the application does comply with this article, the municipal governing body shall proceed to act on the application in accordance with Code Section 36-36-36.
(a) A municipal corporation exercising authority under this article shall make plans for the extension of services to the area proposed to be annexed and, prior to the public hearing provided for in Code Section 36-36-36, shall prepare a report setting forth its plans to provide services to the area.
(b) The report required in subsection (a) of this Code section shall include:
(1) A map or maps of the municipality and adjacent territory, showing the present and proposed boundaries of the municipal corporation, the present major trunk water mains and sewer interceptors and outfalls, and the proposed extensions of such mains and outfalls as required in paragraph (2) of subsection (c) of this Code section; and
(2) A statement setting forth the plans of the municipal corporation for extending to the area to be annexed each major municipal service performed within the municipality at the time of annexation.
(c) The plans required in subsection (a) of this Code section shall:
(1) Provide for extending police protection, fire protection, garbage collection, and street maintenance services to the area to be annexed, on the date of annexation, on substantially the same basis and in the same manner as such services are provided within the rest of the municipal corporation prior to annexation; but if a water distribution system is not available in the area to be annexed, the plans must call for reasonably effective fire protection services until such time as water lines are made available in the area under existing municipal policies for the extension of water lines; and
(2) Provide for extension of major trunk water mains and sewer outfall lines into the area to be annexed within 12 months of the effective date of annexation, so that when such lines are constructed property owners in the area to be annexed will be able to secure public water and sewer service, according to the policies in effect in such municipal corporation for extending water and sewer lines to individual lots or subdivisions.
(d) The report required in subsection (a) of this Code section shall be prepared and made available to the public at least 14 days prior to the public hearing required by Code Section 36-36-36.
(a) The municipal governing body shall hold a public hearing on any application which has been determined to meet the requirements of this article. The hearing shall be held not less than 15 nor more than 45 days from the time the governing body makes a determination that the petition is valid. Notice of the time and place of the hearing shall be given in writing to the persons presenting the application and shall be advertised once a week for two consecutive weeks immediately preceding the hearing in a newspaper of general circulation in the municipal corporation and in the area proposed for annexation. Written notice of the time and place of the hearing shall also be sent by mail to the mailing address reflected in the property tax records for each property owner whose property is in the area proposed for annexation. The written notice required under this subsection shall be mailed not less than 15 nor more than 45 days before the date of the hearing required by this subsection.
(b) At the public hearing all persons resident or owning property in the municipal corporation or in the area proposed for annexation may be heard on the question of the annexation of the area by the municipal corporation.
(c) Any property owner or elector may withdraw his consent in writing postmarked or received within three business days after the public hearing required by this Code section.
(a) If, after the public hearing, the governing body determines that the annexation to the municipal corporation of the area proposed in the application would be in the best interest of the residents and property owners of the area proposed for annexation and of the citizens of the municipal corporation, the area may be annexed to the municipal corporation by the adoption of an annexing ordinance.
(b) The annexing ordinance authorized by subsection (a) of this Code section shall be adopted within 60 days following validation of the signature of the applicants.
(a) When an application pursuant to Code Section 36-36-32 is acted upon by the municipal authorities and the land, by ordinance, is annexed to the municipal corporation, an identification of the annexed property shall be filed with the Department of Community Affairs and with the county in which the property is located in accordance with Code Section 36-36-3.
(b) Municipal ad valorem taxes shall not apply to property within the annexed territory until January 1 of the following year.
(c) When so annexed, such lands shall constitute a part of the lands within the corporate limits of the municipal corporation as completely and fully as if the limits had been marked and defined by local Act of the General Assembly.
(a) Within 30 days of the effective date of the ordinance annexing land to the municipal corporation, any resident elector of the area so annexed or of the municipal corporation or any property owner of such area or of the municipal corporation may bring a petition for declaratory judgment, in the superior court of the county of the legal situs of the annexing municipal corporation, to determine the validity, in accordance with this article, of the application and the municipal corporation's action thereon. Whenever such a petition is filed, the municipal governing body shall file with the court the record of their official actions in regard to such application and a certified copy of the annexing ordinance.
(b) The judgment of the court on any such petition may declare the annexation ordinance null and void upon a finding that the application and the municipal corporation's action thereon are not in substantial compliance with this article. Upon a finding that procedural defects or defects in the plan for service to the annexed area exist, the court, where possible, shall frame a judgment to perfect such defect and uphold the ordinance.
(c) Actions provided for in this Code section shall be in accordance with Chapter 4 of Title 9.
(d) Any aggrieved party may obtain a review of a final judgment under this Code section as is provided by law in other cases.
Nothing within this article shall prohibit the municipal corporation from requiring the residents of the newly annexed area to use utilities owned by the municipal corporation when they are available.
It is declared to be the intention of the General Assembly in enacting this article to provide a method for annexing to municipal corporations areas which meet the legislative standards established by Code Section 36-36-54. This article is not intended to affect or restrict the present authority of the General Assembly to legislate regarding the annexation of any area contiguous to any municipal corporation in this state, nor to limit in any way the authority of the General Assembly to provide alternative methods for extending municipal boundaries. This article shall not affect legislation pending on July 1, 1970.
It is declared to be the policy in this state:
(1) That municipal corporations are created for the purpose of providing local governmental services and for ensuring the health, safety, and welfare of persons and the protection of property in areas being used primarily for residential, commercial, industrial, and institutional purposes;
(2) That the orderly growth of municipal corporations, based on the need for municipal services and the ability of the municipal corporation to serve, is essential to the economic progress of the state and to the well-being of its urban citizens;
(3) That the extension of municipal boundaries to accomplish orderly growth should be in accordance with standards established by the General Assembly; and
(4) That any areas included within municipal boundaries under this article should receive all services provided by the annexing municipal corporation as soon as possible after coming within its boundaries.
As used in this article, the term:
(1) “Contiguous area” means any area which, at the time annexation procedures are initiated, either abuts directly on the municipal boundary or is separated from the municipal boundary by a street or street right of way, a creek or river, the right of way of a railroad or other public service corporation, lands owned by the municipal corporation or some other political subdivision, or lands owned by this state.
(2) “Used for residential purposes” refers to any lot or tract five acres or less in size on which is constructed a habitable dwelling unit.
The governing body of any municipal corporation may extend the corporate limits of the municipal corporation to include any area which meets the standards of Code Section 36-36-56, under the conditions and procedure provided in this article and in accordance with the procedures provided in Article 1 of this chapter.
(a) A municipal governing body may extend the municipal corporate limits to include any area:
(1) Which meets the general standards of subsection (b) of this Code section; and
(2) Every part of which meets the requirements of either subsection (c) or subsection (d) of this Code section.
(b) The total area to be annexed must meet the following standards on the date of the adoption of the resolution:
(1) It must be adjacent or contiguous to the municipal corporation's boundaries at the time the annexation proceeding is begun;
(2) At least one-eighth of the aggregate external boundaries of the area must coincide with the municipal boundary;
(3) No part of the area shall be included within the boundary of another municipal corporation or county; and
(4) No part of the area shall, at the time notice of public hearing is given in accordance with Code Section 36-36-57, be receiving either water service or sewer service, or both, and also either police protection or fire protection from any unit of government other than the municipal corporation proposing annexation. This requirement may be waived by written agreement of the municipal corporation proposing annexation and of the other unit of government affected. Where a waiver of this requirement is applicable, a copy of the agreement shall be made a part of the report required by Code Section 36-36-56. Where contracts exist between counties and municipal corporations, both government entities must agree by mutual consent prior to annexation.
(c) Except as provided in subsection (d) of this Code section, the area to be annexed must be developed for urban purposes. An area developed for urban purposes is defined as any area which, on the date of the adoption of the annexation resolution, has a total resident population equal to at least two persons for each acre of land included within its boundaries and is subdivided into lots and tracts such that at least 60 percent of the total acreage consists of lots and tracts five acres or less in size and such that at least 60 percent of the total number of lots and tracts are one acre or less in size.
(d) In addition to areas developed for urban purposes, a governing body may include in the area to be annexed any area which does not meet the requirements of subsection (c) of this Code section if such area lies between the municipal boundary and an area developed for urban purposes such that the area developed for urban purposes is either not adjacent to the municipal boundary or cannot be served by the municipal corporation without extending services and water and sewer lines through the sparsely developed area and, if such area is adjacent, on at least 60 percent of its external boundary to any combination of the municipal boundary and the boundary of an area or areas developed for urban purposes as defined in subsection (c) of this Code section.
(e) In fixing new municipal boundaries, a municipal governing body shall, wherever practical, use natural topographic features, such as ridge lines, streams, and creeks, as boundaries. If a street is used as a boundary, the governing body shall, wherever practical, include within the municipal corporation land on both sides of the street; such outside boundary may not extend more than 200 feet beyond the right of way of the street, except to include all of a lot or parcel of land partially within 200 feet of the right of way.
In determining population and degree of land subdivision for purposes of meeting the requirements of Code Section 36-36-54, the municipal corporation shall use methods calculated to provide reasonably accurate results. In determining, on appeal to the superior court, whether the standards set forth in Code Section 36-36-54 have been met, the reviewing court shall accept the estimates of the municipal corporation:
(1) As to population, if the estimate is based on the number of dwelling units in the area multiplied by the average family size in the area or in the county or counties of which the area is a part, as determined by the last preceding federal census or based on a new enumeration carried out under reasonable rules and regulations by the annexing municipal corporation, provided that the court shall not accept such estimates if the petitioner on appeal demonstrates that the estimates are in error in the amount of 10 percent or more;
(2) As to total area, if the estimate is based on an actual survey, on county tax maps or records, on aerial photographs, or on some other reasonably reliable map used for official purposes by a governmental agency, unless the petitioner on appeal demonstrates that the estimates are in error in the amount of 5 percent or more; and
(3) As to degree of land subdivision, if the estimates are based on an actual survey, on county tax maps or records, on aerial photographs, or on some other reasonably reliable source, unless the petitioner on appeal shows that the estimates are in error in the amount of 5 percent or more.
(a) A municipal corporation exercising authority under this article shall make plans for the extension of services to the area proposed to be annexed and, prior to the public hearing provided for in Code Section 36-36-57, shall prepare a report setting forth its plans to provide services to such area.
(b) The report required in subsection (a) of this Code section shall include:
(1) A map or maps of the municipal corporation and adjacent territory, showing the present and proposed boundaries of the municipal corporation, the present major trunk water mains and sewer interceptors and outfalls, the proposed extensions of such mains and outfalls as required in paragraph (3) of this subsection, and the general land use pattern in the area to be annexed;
(2) A statement showing that the area to be annexed meets the requirements of Code Section 36-36-54; and
(3) A statement setting forth the plans of the municipal corporation for extending to the area to be annexed each major municipal service performed within the municipality at the time of annexation.
(c) The plans required in subsection (a) of this Code section shall:
(1) Provide for extending police protection, fire protection, garbage collection, and street maintenance services to the area to be annexed, on the date of annexation, on substantially the same basis and in the same manner as such services are provided within the rest of the municipality prior to annexation. If a water distribution system is not available in the area to be annexed, the plans must call for reasonable, effective fire protection services until such time as water lines are made available in such area under existing municipal policies for the extension of water lines;
(2) Provide for extension of major trunk water mains and sewer outfall lines into the area to be annexed so that when such lines are constructed property owners in the area to be annexed will be able to secure public water and sewer service, according to the policies in effect in such municipality for extending water and sewer lines to individual lots or subdivisions;
(3) If extension of major trunk water mains and sewer outfall lines into the area to be annexed is necessary, set forth a proposed timetable for construction of such mains and outfalls as soon as possible following the effective date of annexation. In any event, the plans shall call for contracts to be let and construction to begin within 18 months following the effective date of annexation; and
(4) Set forth the methods under which the municipal corporation plans to finance extension of services into the area to be annexed.
(a) Any municipal governing body desiring to annex territory pursuant to this article shall first pass a resolution stating the intent of the municipal corporation to consider annexation. The resolution shall describe the boundaries of the area under consideration and fix a date for a public hearing on the question of annexation. The date for the public hearing shall be not less than 30 days and not more than 60 days following passage of the resolution. The notice of the public hearing shall (1) fix the date, hour, and place of a public hearing, (2) describe clearly the boundaries of the area under consideration, and (3) state that the report required in Code Section 36-36-56 will be available at the office of the municipal clerk at least 14 days prior to the date of the public hearing. The notice shall be given by publication in a newspaper having general circulation in the municipality once a week for three successive weeks prior to the date of the hearing. The date of the last publication shall be not more than seven days preceding the date of public hearing. If there is no such newspaper, the municipal corporation shall post the notice in at least three public places within the municipality and in at least three public places in the area to be annexed for 30 days prior to the date of the public hearing.
(b) At least 14 days before the date of the public hearing, the governing body shall approve the report provided for in Code Section 36-36-56 and shall make it available to the public at the office of the municipal clerk. In addition, the municipal corporation may prepare a summary of the full report for public distribution.
(c) At the public hearing, a representative of the municipal corporation shall first make an explanation of the report required in Code Section 36-36-56. Following such explanation, all persons resident or owning property in the territory described in the notice of public hearing and all residents of the municipality shall be given an opportunity to be heard.
The municipal corporation shall issue a call for a referendum to ratify or reject the adoption of the annexation resolution. The referendum shall be held not less than 30 days nor more than 60 days after the date of the public hearing required by Code Section 36-36-57. The referendum shall be held, insofar as possible, under the procedures set forth in Chapter 2 of Title 21 for special elections. Only those persons registered to vote for members of the General Assembly residing, on the date of the adoption of the resolution, in the proposed area to be annexed shall vote in the referendum. If a majority of those voting vote in favor of annexation, the area shall become a part of the corporate limits of the municipality, but not otherwise. If a majority of those voting vote against the annexation, a period of two years must elapse before annexation of the same area or any portion thereof may be attempted again under authority of this article.
Whenever the limits of a municipal corporation are enlarged in accordance with this article, it shall be the duty of the clerk, city attorney, or other person designated by the governing authority of the municipal corporation to cause an identification of the annexed territory to be filed with the Department of Community Affairs, the Legislative and Congressional Reapportionment Office of the General Assembly, and with the governing authority of the county in which the property is located in accordance with Code Section 36-36-3.
Any municipal corporation initiating annexations under this article is authorized to make expenditures for surveys required to describe the property under consideration or for any other purpose necessary to plan for the study and annexation of unincorporated territory adjacent to the municipal corporation. In addition, following final passage of the annexation ordinance, the annexing municipal corporation shall have authority to proceed with expenditures for construction of water and sewer lines and other capital facilities and for any other purpose calculated to bring services into the annexed area in an effective and expeditious manner prior to the effective date of annexation.
This article shall not apply to any territory which has been a part of a municipal corporation for three years immediately preceding July 1, 1970, and which has been or is in the process of being deannexed from the corporate limits of any such municipal corporation.
A municipality that contains more than 85 square miles within its corporate limits shall not annex any territory on which a public airport operated by a county is located unless the governing authority of such county adopts a resolution approving such annexation within 90 days prior to the governing authority of the municipality holding a vote on such annexation.
As used in this article, the term:
(1) “Contiguous area” means any unincorporated area which, on or after January 1, 1999, had an aggregate external boundary directly abutting a municipal boundary. Any area shall be considered “contiguous” if the aggregate external boundary would directly abut the municipal boundary if not otherwise separated, in whole or in part, from the municipal boundary by lands owned by the municipal corporation, by lands owned by a county, or by lands owned by this state or by the definite width of:
(A) Any street or street right of way;
(B) Any creek or river; or
(C) Any right of way of a railroad or other public service corporation.
(2) “Municipal corporation” means a municipal corporation which has a population of 200 or more persons according to the United States decennial census of 1980 or any future such census.
(3) “Unincorporated island” means:
(A) An unincorporated area in existence on January 1, 1991, with its aggregate external boundaries abutting the annexing municipality;
(B) An unincorporated area in existence as of January 1, 1991, with its aggregate external boundaries abutting any combination of the annexing municipality and one or more other municipalities; or
(C) An unincorporated area in existence as of January 1, 1991, which the county governing authority has by resolution adopted not later than 90 days following July 1, 1992, that identifies any unincorporated area of the county to which the county has no reasonable means of physical access for the provision of services otherwise provided by the county governing authority solely to the unincorporated area of the county.
For the purposes of determining the aggregate external boundary of an unincorporated area, all real property in the area to be annexed, which at the time the annexation procedures are initiated, (1) is unincorporated, and (2) is in the same county as the annexing municipal corporation, shall have its area included in determining the aggregate external boundary.
(a) The governing body of each municipal corporation of the state may annex to the existing corporate limits thereof all or any portion of unincorporated islands which are contiguous to the existing limits at the time of such annexation upon compliance with the procedures set forth in this article and in accordance with the procedures provided in Article 1 of this chapter.
(b) Annexation of unincorporated islands as authorized in subsection (a) of this Code section shall be accomplished by ordinance at a regular meeting of the municipal governing authority within 30 days after written notice of intent to annex such property is mailed to the owner of such property at the last known address for such owner as it appears on the ad valorem tax records of the county in which such property is located. After the adoption of the annexation ordinance, an identification of the property annexed shall be filed with the Department of Community Affairs, the Legislative and Congressional Reapportionment Office of the General Assembly, and with the governing authority of the county in which the property is located, in accordance with Code Section 36-36-3.
(c) Annexation of an unincorporated island as authorized by subsection (a) of this Code section, which unincorporated island directly abuts more than one municipality, shall be by the municipality which abuts the unincorporated island along the greatest percentage of its external boundary as provided in this Code section, unless otherwise agreed to by the affected municipalities.
(d) Annexations under this article shall be at the sole discretion of the governing body of each municipality.
(e) Municipal services to the annexed area shall be provided on substantially the same basis and in the same manner as such services are provided within the rest of the municipal corporation; provided, however, that the extension of water and sewer services shall be according to the policies in effect in such municipal corporation for extending water and sewer lines to individual lots and subdivisions.
(f) The provisions of this article with regard to annexation of unincorporated islands are severable as to each city and to the annexation of each unincorporated island therein.
The procedures of this article shall apply to all annexations pursuant to this chapter but shall not apply to annexations by local Acts of the General Assembly.
As used in this article, the term:
(1) “Cost” or “costs” means expenses incurred by a county, municipality, and property owner or owners whose property is at issue, including, but not limited to, per diems, venue rental, teleconference charges, the use of court reporters or hearing officers, and arbitrators' fees and expenses.
(2) “Department” means the Department of Community Affairs.
(3) “Impacted school system” means a county or independent school system operating or providing services to the territory to be annexed or which would operate or provide services in a territory to be annexed.
(4) “Notice” or “notify” means a letter that includes a description of the property to be annexed, a description of the proposed zoning classification and land use of the area to be annexed, and pursuant to Code Section 36-36-4, information on the time and place of the public hearing on zoning of the property to be annexed.
(5) “Verifiable delivery” means hand delivery, electronic mail, certified mail, or statutory overnight delivery, provided that the means of delivery allows for verification of the delivery of such notice.
Within 30 days of a municipal corporation's acceptance of a petition of annexation, the municipal corporation shall notify the governing authority of the county and any impacted school system in which the territory to be annexed is located by verifiable delivery. Such notice shall include a copy of the annexation petition which shall include the proposed zoning and land use for such area. The municipal corporation shall take no final action on such annexation except as otherwise provided in this article.
If no objection is received as provided in Code Section 36-36-113, the annexation may proceed as otherwise provided by law; provided, however, that as a condition of the annexation, the municipal corporation shall not change the zoning or land use plan relating to the annexed property to a more intense density than that stated in the notice provided for in Code Section 36-36-111 for one year after the effective date of the annexation unless such change is made in the service delivery agreement or comprehensive plan and is adopted by the affected city and county and all required parties.
(a) The county governing authority may by majority vote, as defined by applicable general or local law, object to the annexation because of a material increase in burden upon the county directly related to any one or more of the following:
(1) The proposed change in zoning or land use;
(2) Proposed increase in density; and
(3) Infrastructure demands related to the proposed change in zoning or land use.
(b) Delivery of services may not be a basis for a valid objection but may be used in support of a valid objection if directly related to one or more of the subjects enumerated in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of subsection (a) of this Code section.
(c) The objection provided for in subsection (a) of this Code section shall document the nature of the objection specifically providing evidence of any financial impact forming the basis of the objection and shall be delivered to the municipal governing authority and the department by verifiable delivery to be received not later than the end of the forty-fifth calendar day following receipt of the notice provided for in Code Section 36-36-111.
(d) In order for an objection pursuant to this Code section to be valid, the proposed annexation must:
(1) Result in:
(A) A substantial change in the intensity of the allowable use of the property or a change to a significantly different allowable use; or
(B) A use which significantly increases the net cost of infrastructure or significantly diminishes the value or useful life of a capital outlay project, as such term is defined in Code Section 48-8-110, which is furnished by the county to the area to be annexed; and
(2) Authorize or result in a land use that differs substantially from the existing uses suggested for the property by the county's comprehensive land use plan or permitted for the property pursuant to the county's zoning ordinance or its land use ordinances.
(a) Not later than the fifteenth calendar day following the date the department received the first objection provided for in Code Section 36-36-113, an arbitration panel shall be appointed as provided in this Code section.
(b) The arbitration panel shall be composed of five members to be selected as provided in this subsection. The department shall develop three pools of arbitrators, one pool which consists of persons who are currently or within the previous six years have been municipal elected officials, one pool which consists of persons who are currently or within the previous six years have been county elected officials, and one pool which consists of persons with a master's degree or higher in public administration or planning and who are currently employed by an institution of higher learning in this state, other than the Carl Vinson Institute of Government of the University of Georgia. The pool shall be sufficiently large to ensure as nearly as practicable that no person shall be required to serve on more than four panels in any one calendar year and serve on no more than one panel in any given county in any one calendar year. The department is authorized to coordinate with the Georgia Municipal Association, the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, the Council of Local Governments, and similar organizations in developing and maintaining such pools.
(c) Upon receiving notice of a disputed annexation, the department shall choose at random four names from the pool of municipal officials, four names from the pool of county officials, and three names from the pool of academics; provided, however, that none of such selections shall include a person who is a resident of the county which has interposed the objection or any municipal corporation located wholly or partially in such county, and further provided that none of such selections shall include a person who has already served on four other arbitration panels in the then-current calendar year. The municipal corporation shall be permitted to strike or excuse two of the names chosen from the county officials pool; the county shall be permitted to strike or excuse two of the names chosen from the municipal officials pool; and the county and municipal corporation shall each be permitted to strike or excuse one of the names chosen from the academic pool.
(d) Prior to being eligible to serve on any of the three pools, persons interested in serving on such panels shall receive joint training in alternative dispute resolution together with zoning and land use training, which may be designed and overseen by the Carl Vinson Institute of Government of the University of Georgia in conjunction with the Association County Commissioners of Georgia and the Georgia Municipal Association, provided such training is available. Provided that the General Assembly appropriates sufficient funds in an applicable fiscal year, the Carl Vinson Institute of Government of the University of Georgia shall provide at least one training program per year to train new potential panel members.
(e) At the time any person is selected to serve on a panel for any particular annexation dispute, he or she shall sign the following oath: “I do solemnly swear or affirm that I will faithfully perform my duties as an arbitrator in a fair and impartial manner without favor or affection to any party, and that I have not and will not have any ex parte communication regarding the facts and circumstances of the matters to be determined, other than communications with my fellow arbitrators, and will only consider, in making my determination, those matters which may lawfully come before me.”
(f) The department shall develop and maintain a list of court reporters and hearing officers that may be employed by the department at the request of an arbitration panel to assist the panel in formulating the record before the panel. An arbitration panel may by majority vote of its members elect to employ court reporters and hearing officers from such list. Any costs or charges related to the employment of court reporters and hearing officers pursuant to this subsection shall be evenly divided between the city and the county.
(g) The department shall promulgate rules and regulations to provide for uniform procedures and operations of arbitration panels established pursuant to this article. Notwithstanding any provision of Chapter 13 of Title 50, the “Georgia Administrative Procedure Act,” to the contrary, such proposed rules and regulations shall be submitted to the chairperson of the House Governmental Affairs Committee and the Senate Committee on State and Local Government Operations.
(a)(1)(A) The arbitration panel appointed pursuant to Code Section 36-36-114 shall meet as soon after appointment as practicable and shall receive evidence and argument from the municipal corporation, the county, and the applicant or property owner and shall by majority vote render a decision which shall be binding on all parties to the dispute as provided for in this article not later than 60 days following such appointment, provided that the chairperson of the arbitration panel shall be authorized to extend such deadline one time for a period of up to ten business days. Notwithstanding anything in this subparagraph to the contrary, the municipal corporation and county may by mutual agreement, postpone the arbitration procession for a period of up to 180 days to negotiate a potential settlement, and such postponement shall stay the 60 day deadline provided herein.
(B) Meetings of the panel may occur in person, virtually, or via teleconference. The meetings of the panel in which evidence is submitted or arguments of the parties are made, whether such meeting is in person, virtual, or via teleconference, shall be open to the public pursuant to Chapter 14 of Title 50.
(C) The panel shall first determine the validity of the grounds for objection as specified in the objection. If an objection involves the financial impact on the county as a result of a change in zoning or land use or the provision of maintenance of infrastructure, the panel shall quantify such impact in terms of cost. As to any objection which the panel has determined to be valid, the panel, in its findings, may establish reasonable zoning, land use, or density conditions applicable to the annexation and propose any reasonable mitigating measures as to an objection pertaining to infrastructure demands.
(2) In arriving at its determination, the panel shall consider:
(A) The existing comprehensive land use plans of both the county and city;
(B) The existing land use patterns in the area of the subject property;
(C) The existing zoning patterns in the area of the subject property;
(D) Each jurisdiction's provision of infrastructure to the area of the subject property and to the areas in the vicinity of the subject property;
(E) Whether the county has approved similar changes in intensity or allowable uses on similar developments in other unincorporated areas of the county;
(F) Whether the county has approved similar developments in other unincorporated areas of the county which have a similar impact on infrastructure as complained of by the county in its objection; and
(G) Whether the infrastructure or capital outlay project which is claimed adversely impacted by the county in its objection was funded by a county-wide tax.
(3) The county shall provide supporting evidence that its objection is consistent with its land use plan and the pattern of existing land uses and zonings in the area of the subject property, which may include, but not be limited to, adopted planning documents and capital or infrastructure plans.
(4) The cost of the arbitration shall be equally divided between the city and the county; provided, however, that if the panel determines that any party has advanced a position that is not valid, the costs shall be borne by the party or parties that have advanced such position.
(5) The reasonable costs of participation in the arbitration process of the property owner or owners whose property is at issue shall be borne by the county and the city in the same proportion as costs are apportioned under paragraph (4) of this subsection.
(6) The panel shall deliver its findings and recommendations to the parties and the department by verifiable delivery. The department shall maintain a data base and record of arbitration panel results and at least annually publish a report on such decisions and make such report freely available on the department's website.
(b) If the decision of the panel contains zoning, land use, or density conditions, the findings and recommendations of the panel shall be recorded in the deed records of the county with a caption describing the name of the current owner of the property, recording reference of the current owner's acquisition deed and a general description of the property, and plainly showing the expiration date of any restrictions or conditions.
(c) The arbitration panel shall be dissolved on the tenth day after it renders its findings and recommendations but may be reconvened as provided in Code Section 36-36-116.
(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (b) of Code Section 45-7-21, the members of the arbitration panel shall receive the same per diem, expenses, and allowances for their service on the panel as authorized by law for members of the General Assembly.
(e) If the panel so agrees, any one or more additional annexation disputes which may arise between the parties prior to the panel's initial meeting may be consolidated for the purpose of judicial economy if there are similar issues of location or similar objections raised to such other annexations or the property to be annexed in such other annexations is within 2,500 feet of the subject property.
The municipal or county governing authority or an applicant for annexation may appeal the decision of the arbitration panel by filing an action in the superior court of the county within ten calendar days from receipt of the panel's findings and recommendations. The sole grounds for appeal shall be to correct errors of fact or of law, the bias or misconduct of an arbitrator, or the panel's abuse of discretion. The superior court shall schedule an expedited appeal and shall render a decision within 20 days from the date of filing. If the court finds that an error of fact or law has been made, that an arbitrator was biased or engaged in misconduct, or that the panel has abused its discretion, the court shall issue such orders governing the proposed annexation as the circumstances may require, including remand to the panel. Any unappealed order shall be binding upon the parties. The appeal shall be assigned to a judge who is not a judge in the circuit in which the county is located.
If the annexation is completed after final resolution of any objection, whether by agreement of the parties, act of the panel, or court order as a result of an appeal, the municipal corporation shall not change the zoning, land use, or density of the annexed property for a period of two years unless such change is made in the service delivery agreement or comprehensive plan and adopted by the affected city and county and all required parties. Following the conclusion of the dispute resolution process outlined in this article, the municipal corporation and an applicant for annexation may either accept the recommendations of the arbitration panel and proceed with the remaining annexation process or abandon the annexation proceeding. A violation of the conditions set forth in this Code section may be enforced thereafter at law or in equity until such conditions have expired as provided in this Code section.
If at any time during the proceedings the municipal corporation or applicant abandons the proposed annexation, the county shall not change the zoning, land use, or density affecting the property for a period of one year unless such change is made in the service delivery agreement or comprehensive plan and adopted by the affected city and county and all required parties. A violation of the conditions set forth in this Code section may be enforced thereafter at law or in equity until such period has expired. After final resolution of any objection, whether by agreement of the parties, act of the panel, or any appeal from the panel's decision, the terms of such decision shall remain valid for the two-year period and such annexation may proceed at any time during the two years without any further action or without any further right of objection by the county.
The county, the municipal governing authorities, and the property owner or owners shall negotiate in good faith throughout the annexation proceedings provided by this article and may at any time enter into a written agreement governing the annexation. Such agreement may provide for changing the zoning, land use, or density of the annexed property during a period of less than two years. If such agreement is reached after the arbitration panel has been appointed and before its dissolution, such agreement shall be adopted by the panel as its findings and recommendations. If such agreement is reached after an appeal is filed in the superior court and before the court issues an order, such agreement shall be made a part of the court's order. Any agreement reached as provided in this Code section shall be recorded as provided in Code Section 36-36-115. Copies of such agreement shall also be provided by the parties to the department in the same manner as the findings and recommendations of an arbitration panel.
The procedures of this article shall apply to deannexations pursuant to this article but shall not apply to deannexations by local Acts of the General Assembly.
(a) Authority is granted to the governing authority of any municipality to deannex an area or areas of the existing corporate limits thereof, in accordance with the procedures provided in this article and in Article 1 of this chapter, upon the written and signed applications of all of the owners of all of the land, except the owners of any public street, road, highway, or right of way, proposed to be deannexed, containing a complete description of the lands to be deannexed; provided, however, that no more than ten parcels of property may be deannexed in one action and only upon the adoption of a resolution by the governing authority of the county in which such property is located consenting to such deannexation. If the governing authority of the county consents to the deannexation and the deannexation conforms with the requirements of this article, the governing authority of the municipal corporation shall approve such deannexation unless it finds that the deannexation would be detrimental to the health, safety, and welfare of the residents and property owners of the area to be deannexed or to the area remaining within the municipality.
(b) Lands to be deannexed at any one time under this article shall be treated as one body, regardless of the number of owners, and all parts shall be considered as adjoining the limits of the municipality when any one part of the entire body abuts such limits; provided, however, that at least one-eighth of the aggregate external boundary or 50 feet of the area to be deannexed, whichever is less, either abuts directly on the municipal boundary or would directly abut on the municipal boundary if it were not otherwise separated from the municipal boundary by lands owned by the municipal corporation or some other political subdivision, by lands owned by this state, or by the definite width of:
(1) Any street or street right of way;
(2) Any creek or river; or
(3) Any right of way of a railroad or other public service corporation which divides the municipal boundary and any area proposed to be deannexed.
(c) When such application is acted upon by the municipal governing authority and the land is, by ordinance, deannexed from the municipality, an identification of the property so deannexed shall be filed with the Department of Community Affairs and with the governing authority of the county in which the property is located in accordance with Code Section 36-36-3.
(d) When so deannexed, such lands shall cease to constitute a part of the lands within the corporate limits of the municipality as completely and fully as if the limits had been marked and defined by local Act of the General Assembly.
(e)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection and Code Section 36-36-133, when so deannexed, the land shall be deannexed from the municipality effective for ad valorem tax purposes on December 31 of the year during which such application is submitted and for all other purposes on the first day of the next calendar quarter that begins at least one month after the month during which the requirements of this article have been met.
(2) Unless otherwise agreed in writing by the governing authority of the county and a municipal governing authority, where property zoned and used for commercial purposes is deannexed from a municipality with an independent school system, the effective date for the purposes of ad valorem taxes levied for educational purposes shall be December 31 of the year after the year in which the requirements of this article have been met.
(f) Property that has been deannexed from a municipality under this article shall not be annexed again until at least two calendar years after the effective date of such deannexation unless such annexation is accomplished by local Act of the General Assembly.
There shall be no deannexation under this article that results in the formation of one or more unincorporated islands or in part of the area remaining in the municipal corporation no longer being a contiguous area of such municipal corporation.
In the event that a municipality has outstanding general obligation bond or revenue bond indebtedness, property in such municipality is ineligible for deannexation pursuant to this article.
In the event of a deannexation pursuant to this article, a municipality may, but is not required to, continue to provide any services to the property which it was providing immediately prior to the deannexation, provided that the county and municipality have agreed to terms and conditions for the municipality continuing to provide such services.
(a) By appropriate conveyance, any person may devise, give, or grant to any municipal corporation of this state, in fee simple or in trust, or to other persons as trustees, lands dedicated by such conveyance in perpetuity to the public use as a park, pleasure ground, or for other public purpose. By such conveyance, any person may also devise, give, or grant in perpetuity to such corporations or persons other property, real or personal, for the development, improvement, and maintenance of such property.
(b) Any municipal corporation or other persons, natural or artificial, as trustees, to whom such devise, gift, or grant is made may accept the same in behalf of and for the benefit of the public. The municipal corporation or trustees shall have the right to improve, embellish, and ornament the land so granted as a public park or for other public use. Every municipal corporation to which such conveyance is made shall have the power, by appropriate police provision, to protect the public in the use and enjoyment thereof.
Each municipal corporation is authorized to receive any donations or gifts of real or personal property which may be made to it by deed of gift, will, or otherwise, subject to such conditions as may be specified in the instrument giving or donating the property, if the governing body of the municipal corporation approves of such conditions.
Municipal corporations may act as trustees under any conveyance or will donating or giving property for charitable or eleemosynary purposes.
Any person may convey to the mayor and council of any municipal corporation in this state any money or property to be held by the mayor and council in trust, the corpus or increase thereof to be expended, as directed by such conveyance, in the improvement or preservation and care of any cemetery or of the burial lots of such owner therein. The mayor and council shall receive and hold the property and execute such trusts, according to the terms thereof, as other trusts are executed under the laws of this state. They shall make annual returns to the judge of the probate court and shall be entitled to such commissions as are paid to other trustees, but they shall not be required to give bond.
Any municipal corporation of this state may act as trustee of any funds donated to any cemetery within the limits of the municipal corporation.
(a)(1) Except as otherwise provided in subsections (b) through (j) of this Code section, the governing authority of any municipal corporation disposing of any real or personal property of such municipal corporation shall make all such sales to the highest responsible bidder, either by sealed bids or by auction after due notice has been given. Any such municipal corporation shall have the right to reject any and all bids or to cancel any proposed sale. The governing authority of the municipal corporation shall cause notice to be published once in the official legal organ of the county in which the municipality is located or in a newspaper of general circulation in the community, not less than 15 days nor more than 60 days preceding the day of the auction or, if the sale is by sealed bids, preceding the last day for the receipt of proposals. The legal notice shall include a general description of the property to be sold if the property is personal property or a legal description of the property to be sold if the property is real property. If the sale is by sealed bids, the notice shall also contain an invitation for proposals and shall state the conditions of the proposed sale, the address at which bid blanks and other written materials connected with the proposed sale may be obtained, and the date, time, and place for the opening of bids. If the sale is by auction, the notice shall also contain the conditions of the proposed sale and shall state the date, time, and place of the proposed sale. Bids received in connection with a sale by sealed bidding shall be opened in public at the time and place stated in the legal notice. A tabulation of all bids received shall be available for public inspection following the opening of all bids. All such bids shall be retained and kept available for public inspection for a period of not less than 60 days from the date on which such bids are opened. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to any transactions authorized in subsections (c) through (j) of this Code section.
(2)(A) Municipal corporations may retain the services of a Georgia licensed real estate broker to assist in the disposition of surplus real property; said brokerage services shall be procured by request for proposals in response to an issued solicitation. The proposal shall include the minimum stated broker qualifications and experience.
(B) In the event a municipal corporation does retain the services of a qualified and experienced Georgia licensed real estate broker to assist in the disposition of surplus real property, the broker so retained shall:
(i) Represent the municipal corporation and comply with the requirements of this Code section, including, but not limited to, issuing a call or request for sealed bids from the public and causing notice to be published once in the official legal organ of the county in which the municipality is located or in a newspaper of general circulation in the community, not less than 15 days nor more than 60 days preceding the day of the auction or, if the sale is by sealed bids, preceding the last day for the receipt of proposals. The legal notice shall include a legal description of the real property to be sold. The notice shall also contain a request for proposals and shall state the conditions of the proposed sale, the address at which bid blanks and other written materials connected with the proposed sale may be obtained, and the date, time, and place for the opening of bids;
(ii) Actively market the disposition of the real property;
(iii) Comply with all federal, state, and local laws;
(iv) Create a website which posts: the request for sealed bids; questions submitted by interested parties; responses to submitted questions as prepared by the municipal corporation; dates the real property will be made available for public inspection; public information regarding the property; and other related communication and marketing information;
(v) Immediately forward the sealed bids to the governing authority of the municipal corporation, which shall open such bids at the specified date, time, and place;
(vi) Only serve in the capacity of a broker engaged by a seller as provided for in Code Section 10-6A-5. A real estate broker representing a municipal corporation shall be prohibited from working with or aiding a prospective buyer in connection with the disposition of real property for which the real estate broker was contracted; and
(vii) Agree to accept the agreed upon sales commission based on the highest responsive bid received as so adjudicated by the governing authority of the municipal corporation, in its sole discretion.
(C) In the event the municipal corporation decides to reject all bids and not award the sale to any of the bidders, the broker shall agree to accept the minimum payment in lieu of the commission as so agreed upon by the parties in an engagement contract.
(b) The governing authority of any municipal corporation is authorized to sell personal property belonging to the municipal corporation which has an estimated value of $500.00 or less and lots from any municipal cemetery, regardless of value, without regard to subsection (a) of this Code section. Such sales may be made in the open market without advertisement and without the acceptance of bids. The estimation of the value of any such personal property to be sold shall be in the sole and absolute discretion of the governing authorities of the municipal corporation or their designated agent.
(c) Nothing in this Code section shall prevent a municipal corporation from trading or exchanging real property belonging to the municipal corporation for other real property where the property so acquired by exchange shall be of equal or greater value than the property previously belonging to the municipal corporation; provided, however, that within six weeks preceding the closing of any such proposed exchange of real property, a notice of the proposed exchange of real property shall be published in the official organ of the municipal corporation once a week for four weeks. The value of both the property belonging to the municipal corporation and that to be acquired through the exchange shall be determined by appraisals and the value so determined shall be approved by the proper authorities of said municipal corporation.
(d) The governing authority of any municipal corporation is authorized to sell real property in established municipal industrial parks or in municipally designated industrial development areas for industrial development purposes without regard to subsection (a) or (b) of this Code section.
(e)(1) This Code section shall not apply to any municipal corporation which has a municipal charter provision setting forth procedures for the sale of municipal property and existing as of January 1, 1976, so long as such charter provision thereafter remains unchanged and as long as such charter provision contains the minimum notice requirements as set forth in subsection (a) of this Code section.
(2) This Code section shall not apply to the disposal of property:
(A) Which is acquired by deed of gift, will, or donation and is subject to such conditions as may be specified in the instrument giving or donating the property;
(B) Which is received from the United States government or from this state pursuant to a program which imposes conditions on the disposal of such property;
(C) Which is disposed of pursuant to the powers granted in Chapter 61 of this title, the “Urban Redevelopment Law,” or a homesteading program;
(D) Which is sold or transferred to another governing authority or government agency for public purposes; or
(E) Which is no longer needed for public road purposes and which is disposed of pursuant to Code Section 32-7-4.
(f) Notwithstanding any provision of this Code section or of any other law or any ordinance to the contrary, the governing authority of any municipal corporation is authorized to sell real property within its corporate limits for museum purposes to either a public authority or a nonprofit corporation which is classified as a public foundation (not a private foundation) under the United States Internal Revenue Code, for the purpose of building, erecting, and operating thereon a museum or facility for the development or practice of the arts. Such sale may be made in the open market or by direct negotiations without advertisement and without the acceptance of bids. The estimation of the value of any property to be sold shall be in the sole and absolute discretion of the governing authority of the municipality or its designated agent; provided, however, that nothing shall prevent a municipality from trading or swapping property with another property owner if such trade or swap is deemed to be in the best interest of the municipality.
(g) Notwithstanding any provision of this Code section or of any other law or ordinance to the contrary, the governing authority of any municipal corporation is authorized to sell and convey parcels of narrow strips of land, so shaped or so small as to be incapable of being used independently as zoned or under applicable subdivision or other development ordinances, or as streets, whether owned in fee or used by easement, to abutting property owners where such sales and conveyances facilitate the enjoyment of the highest and best use of the abutting owner's property without first submitting the sale or conveyance to the process of an auction or the solicitation of sealed bids; provided, however, that each abutting property owner shall be notified of the availability of the property and shall have the opportunity to purchase said property under such terms and conditions as set out by ordinance.
(h) Notwithstanding any provision of this Code section to the contrary or any other provision of law or ordinance to the contrary, whenever any municipal corporation determines that the establishment of a facility of the state or one of its authorities or other instrumentalities or of a bona fide nonprofit resource conservation and development council would be of benefit to the municipal corporation, by way of providing activities in an area in need of redevelopment, by continuing or enhancing local employment opportunities, or by other means or in other ways, such municipal corporation may sell or grant any of its real or personal property to the state or to any of its authorities or instrumentalities or to a bona fide nonprofit resource conservation and development council and, further, may sell or grant such lesser interests, rental agreements, licenses, easements, and other dispositions as it may determine necessary or convenient. These powers shall be cumulative of other powers and shall not be deemed to limit their exercise in any way.
(i)(1) As used in this subsection, the term “lake” means an impoundment of water in which at least 1,000 acres of land were to be submerged.
(2) Notwithstanding any provision of this Code section or any other law to the contrary, whenever any municipality has acquired property for the creation or development of a lake, including but not limited to property the acquisition of which was reasonably necessary or incidental to the creation or development of that lake, and the governing authority of such municipality thereafter determines that all or any part of the property or any interest therein is no longer needed for such purposes because of changed conditions, that municipality is authorized to dispose of such property or interest therein as provided in this subsection.
(3) In disposing of property, as authorized under this subsection, the municipality shall notify the owner of such property at the time of its acquisition or, if the tract from which the municipality acquired its property has been subsequently sold, shall notify the owner of abutting land holding title through the owner from whom the municipality acquired its property. The notice shall be in writing delivered to the appropriate owner or by publication if such owner's address is unknown; and such owner shall have the right to acquire, as provided in this subsection, the property with respect to which the notice is given. Publication, if necessary, shall be in a newspaper of general circulation in the municipality where the property is located.
(4) When an entire parcel acquired by the municipality or any interest therein is being disposed of, it may be acquired under the right created in paragraph (3) of this subsection at such price as may be agreed upon, but in no event less than the price paid for its acquisition. When only remnants or portions of the original acquisition are being disposed of, they may be acquired for the market value thereof at the time the municipality decides the property is no longer needed.
(5) If the right of acquisition is not exercised within 60 days after due notice, the municipality shall proceed to sell such property as provided in subsection (a) of this Code section. The municipality shall thereupon have the right to reject any and all bids, in its discretion, to readvertise, or to abandon the sale.
(j)(1) As used in this subsection, the term:
(A) “Conservation easement” shall have the same meaning as set forth in Code Section 44-10-2.
(B) “Holder” shall have the same meaning as set forth in Code Section 44-10-2.
(2) Notwithstanding any provision of this Code section or of any other law or ordinance to the contrary, whenever the governing authority of any municipal corporation determines that the establishment of a conservation easement would be of benefit to the municipal corporation and to its citizens, such governing authority may sell or grant to any holder a conservation easement over any of its real property, including but not limited to any of its real property set aside for use as a park. These powers shall be cumulative of other powers and shall not be deemed to limit their exercise in any way; provided, however, that a conservation easement may not be created, granted, or otherwise conveyed for the purpose of preventing, frustrating, or interfering with the exercise of the power of eminent domain by any public utility or other entity authorized to exercise the power of eminent domain.
(k)(1) Notwithstanding any provision of this Code section or any other law to the contrary, the General Assembly by local Act may authorize the governing authority of any municipal corporation to lease or enter into a contract for a valuable consideration for the operation and management, and renewals and extensions thereof, of any real or personal property comprising fairgrounds, ballfields, golf courses, swimming pools, or other like property used primarily for recreational purposes for a period not to exceed five years to a nonprofit corporation which is qualified as exempt from taxation under the provisions of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 that will covenant to use and operate the property for annual regional fair purposes or to continue the recreational purpose for which the property was formerly used and intended on a nondiscriminatory basis for the use and benefit of all citizens of the community; provided, however, that nothing in this subsection shall have the effect of authorizing alienation of title to such property in derogation of rights, duties, and obligations imposed by prior deed, contract, or like document of similar import or that would cause the divesting of title to property dedicated to public use and not subsequently abandoned; and provided further, that the lessee or contractee under a management contract shall not mortgage or pledge the property as security for any debt or incur any encumbrance that could result in a lien or claim of lien against the property. The lease or management contract may provide for options to renew such lease or management contract for not more than three renewal periods and each such renewal period shall not be greater than the original length of such lease or management contract. As a condition of any lease or management contract, the lessee or contractee shall provide and maintain in force and effect throughout the term of such lease or management contract sufficient liability insurance, in an amount not less than $1 million per claim, no aggregate, naming the municipality as a named insured; shall assume sole responsibility for or incur liability for any injury to person or property caused by any act or omission of such person while on the property; and shall agree to indemnify the municipality and hold it harmless from any claim, suit, or demand made by such person. As an additional condition of any such lease or management contract, the lessee or contractee shall provide to and maintain with the municipality a current copy of the liability insurance policy, including any changes in such policy or coverages as such changes occur, and shall provide proof monthly in writing to the municipality that the lessee or contractee has in force and effect the liability insurance required by this paragraph which the municipality shall retain on file. As a further condition of any lease or management contract, the lessee or contractee shall agree to indemnify the municipality and hold it harmless from any claim, suit, or demand arising out of any improvements to the property or any indebtedness or obligations incurred by the lessee or contractee in making any such improvements to such property. When the lessee or contractee charges any person to enter or go upon the land for the purpose of attending the annual regional fair or for attending or participating in recreational purposes, the consideration received by the municipal corporation for the lease or management contract shall not be deemed a charge within the meaning of Article 2 of Chapter 3 of Title 51.
(2) Any governing authority entering into a lease as provided in paragraph (1) of this subsection shall have the right unilaterally to terminate such lease after giving three months' notice of its intention to do so.
(3) Any lease entered into as provided in paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be automatically terminated upon conviction of the lessee or contractee for any offense involving the conduct of unlawful activity. In such event, any improvements to the property made by the lessee shall be forfeited. The municipality shall not be liable in any manner or subject to suit for any indebtedness or other obligations of the lessee or contractee associated with any such improvements to the property and shall take such improvements free and clear of any such indebtedness or other obligations.
(l)(1) Where not otherwise authorized by its charter or other applicable law, the governing authority of any municipal corporation may lease or enter into a contract for valuable consideration for the use, operation, or management of any real or personal property of the municipal corporation pursuant to the power granted by this subsection. The authority of any municipal corporation granted pursuant to its charter or other applicable law to enter into leases or contracts for the use, operation, or management of any real or personal property of the municipal corporation shall not be affected by this subsection and it shall not apply to any contracts or leases entered into pursuant to such authority. Where a municipal charter or other applicable law provides no authorization for leasing or contracting for the use, operation, or management of any real or personal property of the municipal corporation and this subsection is to be used as authorization for that purpose, the following shall apply:
(A) Any lease or contract for the use, operation, or management of any real or personal property for longer than 30 days shall be by sealed bids or by auction as provided in subsection (a) of this Code section. Easements and licenses for the use of municipal property in connection with construction projects of a municipal corporation shall be exempt from this subparagraph, provided that their term is less than one year;
(B) Nothing in this subsection shall have the effect of authorizing alienation of title to such property in derogation of rights, duties, and obligations imposed by prior deed, contract, or like document of similar import or shall cause the divesting of title to property dedicated to public use and not subsequently abandoned; and
(C) The lessee or contractee shall not mortgage or pledge the property, lease or contract the property as security for any debt, or incur any encumbrance that could result in a lien or claim of lien against the property, lease, or contract.
(2) Any lease or contract for the use, operation, or management of any real or personal property entered into pursuant to this subsection and for longer than 30 days shall contain the following terms:
(A) The lessee or contractee shall provide and maintain in force in effect throughout the term of such lease or contract sufficient liability insurance, in an amount not less than $1 million per claim, no aggregate, naming the municipality as a named insured;
(B) The lessee or contractee shall assume sole responsibility for or incur liability for any injury to person or property caused by any act or omission of any person while on the property and shall agree to indemnify the municipality and hold it harmless from any claim, suit, or demand made by any person; and
(C) The lessee or contractee shall agree to indemnify the municipality and hold it harmless from any claim, suit, or demand arising out of any improvements to the property or any indebtedness or obligations incurred by the lessee or contractee in making any such improvement to such property.
(3)(A) The initial term of a lease or contract for the use of real property entered into pursuant to this subsection shall be no longer than five years and there may be one renewal period of no longer than five years, after which the lease or contract shall again be subject to sealed bids or auction.
(B) When the lessee or contractee charges any person to enter or go upon the real property for recreational purposes, the consideration received by the municipal corporation for the lease or contract shall not be deemed a charge within the meaning of Article 2 of Chapter 3 of Title 51.
(C) Where real property is leased pursuant to this Code section for the erection of telecommunications towers, the initial term of a lease or contract for the use of such real property shall be no longer than ten years and there may be one renewal period of no longer than ten years, after which the lease or contract shall again be subject to sealed bids or auction; provided, however, that such lease shall also include provisions for the removal of the telecommunications tower structure.
(D) Where real property is leased pursuant to this Code section for the operation of an arena, sports field, stadium, or other recreational facility, the initial term of a lease or contract for the use of such real property shall be no longer than 20 years, and there shall not be a renewal period. After the initial term of a lease or contract, such lease or contract shall again be subject to sealed bids or auction.
(4) Where this subsection is applicable, it shall apply to any lease or contract entered into or renewed on or after July 1, 2011. This subsection shall not affect any provisions of subsection (k) of this Code section.
(5) Nothing contained in this Code section shall be construed so as to expand the powers of eminent domain or to otherwise provide for additional eminent domain authority for any municipal corporation. The ability for a governing authority of a municipal corporation to exercise eminent domain shall be subject to the limitations enumerated in Chapter 2 of Title 22 and the Georgia Constitution.
(m) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, a city may exchange property dedicated as a city park with an institution owning property in or abutting a federal National Historic Site for use in connection with such property, provided that the city receives property in fee simple that is of equal or greater acreage as the city property exchanged and that the city immediately dedicates the property as a public park.
(a) This Code section shall be applicable to incorporated municipalities of the State of Georgia having a population of more than 300,000 according to the United States decennial census of 1960 or any future such census.
(b) All such municipalities shall have authority to sell, exchange, or otherwise dispose of any real or personal property comprising parks, playgrounds, golf courses, swimming pools, or other like property used primarily for recreational purposes, provided that nothing in this Code section shall have the effect of authorizing alienation where such would be in derogation of rights, duties, and obligations imposed by prior deed, contract, or like document of similar import or where such alienation would cause divesting of title to a park, playground, golf course, swimming pool, or other like property that had been dedicated to public use and not subsequently abandoned.
(c)(1) All such municipalities shall have authority to lease out and grant easements over property used primarily for recreational purposes to others consistent with general park and recreational purposes for a period not exceeding 50 years and for a valuable consideration. Any such recreational property which was formerly used for annual regional fair purposes but is no longer so used may be leased by any such municipality to one or more private entities for terms of not more than 50 years each for development and use as motion picture and television production, processing, and related facilities together with all such support and service facilities as are necessary or convenient to such use.
(2) All such municipalities shall have authority to enter into contracts and renewals and extensions of contracts for the cooperative operation, maintenance, cooperative management, and funding of property which in no way limits the governance or the policy role of said municipalities which property is used primarily for recreational purposes consistent with general park and recreational purposes, for periods not exceeding ten years and for a valuable consideration.
(a) As used in this Code section, the term “governing body” means the mayor and city council, the commissioner and commissioners, or either or both as the case may be, or the “governing body” by whatever name called of any city coming under this Code section.
(b) Any city in this state having a population of 200,000 or more according to the United States decennial census of 1920 or any future such census may, through its governing body, purchase on time or partly for cash, with the balance on time or deferred payments, or otherwise acquire any real property or interest in real property within or outside the limits of such city, securing the note or claim for deferred payments and interest thereon with mortgages or deed of trust on the land purchased or with or by means of an instrument in writing retaining title thereto in the vendor, or enter into any other contractual arrangement whereby provision is made that such note, claim, or other instruments for deferred payment and interest thereon, and all lawful charges, shall not be a charge or charges against the general credit of the city, or be a general liability thereof, but that the liability shall only extend to and be a charge against the land so purchased or acquired. Such method of acquisition provided for in this Code section shall not be considered or deemed exclusive but shall be cumulative and in addition to all other methods of acquisition of lands or interests therein for public purposes provided heretofore, hereafter, or by other provisions of this Code section.
Municipalities are empowered and authorized, if they so desire, to sell, lease, or otherwise dispose of any or all electric, water, gas, or other municipally owned public utility plants or properties, on such terms and conditions as such municipalities deem proper, and to transfer title to such public utility properties by warranty deed, bill of sale, contract, or lease, in the manner provided by law; provided, however, that nothing contained in this Code section and Code Sections 36-37-8 through 36-37-10 shall be held or construed to affect the powers of any municipal corporation in the charter of which there is now contained any provision either authorizing or prohibiting the sale, lease, or other disposition of such properties by the municipality, so long as such provision remains in the charter of the municipality.
Notice of intention to make such sale, lease, or other disposition of a municipal waterworks or electric or gas plant, setting out the price and other general terms and conditions of the proposed sale, lease, or disposition, shall be given by publication once a week for three consecutive weeks in some newspaper published in the municipality and, if no newspaper is published in the municipality, then in some newspaper published in the county in which the municipality is located and, if there is no such newspaper, then in some newspaper having a general circulation in the municipality. After ten days from the last publication of such notice, the plant may be disposed of unless, within ten days after the last publication of the notice, a petition signed by not less than 20 percent of the qualified voters of the municipality is filed, objecting to and protesting against the sale, lease, or disposition. If the petition, so signed, is filed, the sale shall not be made unless submitted to a special election ordered for the purpose of determining whether a majority, which shall constitute two-thirds of those voting at the election, favors the sale, lease, or other disposition. Such election shall be ordered by the municipality to be held not less than 50 days after the date of the filing of the objecting petition with the municipality. The election shall be held in accordance with and in all respects be governed by the Acts of the General Assembly in regard to elections to determine whether municipalities shall issue bonds or not. The notice of the election shall state its purpose.
The ballots provided for the election shall have plainly written or printed thereon the words “Shall the waterworks, electric, or gas plant (as the case may be), be sold, leased, or disposed of (as the case may be)?” Beside such words shall be suitably placed, on separate lines, the words “Yes” and “No,” so that the voter may indicate the way he desires to vote on the question submitted.
If two-thirds of those voting in the election vote in favor of such sale, lease, or disposition, the proper officers of the municipal corporation may proceed to sell, lease, or dispose of such plant in accordance with the terms and conditions set out in the notice of proposed intention to sell, lease, or dispose of such plant. If such election is determined against the sale, lease, or disposition of the plant, the plant shall not be sold, leased, or disposed of but shall remain the property of the municipality.
Every municipal corporation and the officer or officers of any municipal corporation in this state who are charged with the custody of funds raised in pursuance of Article IX, Section V, Paragraph VI of the Constitution of this state are required, under the direction of the mayor and council of the municipal corporation or a duly constituted and authorized committee of the same, to invest, within six months from their collection, all sums collected by the municipal corporation under the requirements of such paragraph of the Constitution, for the purpose of paying the principal of the bonded indebtedness of the municipal corporation, which sums are not actually payable on such principal within 12 months from the date of collection thereof. Such sums may be invested in valid outstanding bonds of such municipal corporation or of some other municipal corporation in this state of equal or larger size, which bonds have been duly validated in accordance with law, or in county bonds of this state which have been duly validated, or in valid outstanding bonds of this state or of the United States. The officer or officers of the municipal corporation shall keep such funds so invested in such bonds, with the privilege of changing the investment from one character of the bonds named to another from time to time as the mayor and council may direct, until such time before the maturity of outstanding obligations as may be necessary to dispose of the same in order to meet such obligations at maturity.
Whenever a municipal corporation invests its sinking fund in bonds issued by itself, if such bonds mature at a date beyond the maturity of other bonds of such municipal corporation such later bonds may be sold by the municipal corporation or the sinking fund commission and the funds therefrom used to retire earlier municipal bonds as they mature.
Whenever and as soon as the sinking fund of any municipal corporation has been invested in municipal, county, state, or federal government bonds as required by Code Section 36-38-1, the officer or officers of such municipal corporation charged with the custody of its funds and securities shall proceed forthwith to have the securities in which such funds are so invested registered in the name of the municipal corporation, provided such bonds by their terms under the conditions of their issue are capable of being registered in the name of the owner.
Every issue of municipal bonds shall provide that at the owner's option the same may be registered in the owner's name, both as to principal and interest.
The authorities of any municipal corporation of this state are authorized to compromise their bonded debt, in accordance with this article, provided that this article shall not be construed to prejudice the rights of such creditors as may refuse to assent to the compromise.
Where there are outstanding bonds and coupons of any municipal corporation of this state, whether such bonds or coupons are due or to become due, the authorities may issue new bonds with coupons attached, to be exchanged and to stand in the place of such outstanding bonds and coupons, provided that the new bonds so issued shall not exceed in amount the previously existing total bonded debt, with interest thereon, of such municipal corporation.
When the authorities of a municipal corporation desire to avail themselves of the benefit of Code Sections 36-38-20 and 36-38-21 and this Code section, they are authorized and empowered to pass any ordinance or ordinances to provide for the issuance and exchange of new bonds to stand in the place and stead of outstanding bonds and coupons, to determine the mode and method of such issuance and exchange, and to fix the length of time such new bonds shall run and the rate of interest they shall bear. Such ordinance or ordinances shall have the force and effect of contracts between the municipal corporation and those who may receive or hold such new bonds so issued and exchanged.
If any municipal corporation availing itself of this article desires to provide a sinking fund for the redemption of such new bonds, the authorities may pass all ordinances necessary for that purpose and create a commission for the management of such sinking fund and its proper use and application. The commission shall be composed of not less than three nor more than five residents of the municipal corporation. The ordinance or ordinances providing for the sinking fund and for the commission, along with its management and application, the mode of appointing the members thereof, and its duties, shall have the force and effect of law and shall be held and considered as part of the contract between the municipal corporation and the acceptors or holders of the new bonds.
As used in this chapter, the term:
(1) “Frontage” means that side or limit of the lot or parcel of land in question which abuts on the improvement.
(2) “Governing body” means the mayor and council, board of aldermen, board of commissioners, or other chief legislative body of a municipal corporation.
(3) “Improve” and “improvement” include the grading, regrading, paving, repaving, macadamizing, and remacadamizing of streets, alleys, sidewalks, or other public places or ways and the construction, reconstruction, and altering of curbing, guttering, storm sewers, turnouts, water mains, and water, gas, or sewer connections therein.
(4) “Municipal corporation” means any city or town incorporated in this state, having a population of 600 or more.
(5) “Pave” includes storm draining, paving, macadamizing, and grading.
(6) “Streets” means streets, avenues, alleys, sidewalks, and other public places or ways.
The governing body of any municipal corporation in this state is authorized to hold an election or elections, at such time and under such conditions as may be determined by the governing body, for the purpose of adopting this chapter. When such election has been duly held, if a majority of the qualified electors voting therein voted in favor of such adoption, the election managers shall duly certify the results of the election to the governing body and the same shall be adopted and entered on the minutes thereof. Thereupon, the governing body of the municipal corporation shall be authorized and empowered to improve any street or streets in such municipal corporation whenever, in the judgment of the governing body, the public welfare or convenience requires such improvement, subject only to the conditions and limitations prescribed in this chapter.
(a) Whenever the governing body deems it necessary to improve any street or part thereof within the limits of the municipal corporation, either in length or in width, it shall, by resolution, declare such improvement necessary to be done and shall publish such resolution once a week for at least three consecutive weeks in the newspaper in which the sheriff's advertisements of the county in which the municipal corporation is located are published. If the owners of a majority of the lineal feet of frontage of the lands abutting on the proposed improvement, within 15 days after the last day of publication of the resolution, do not file with the clerk of the municipal corporation their protest in writing against the improvement, the governing body shall have the power to cause the improvement to be made, to contract therefor, and to make assessments and fix liens as provided for in this chapter. Any number of streets or any part or parts thereof to be so improved may be included in one resolution. Any protest or objection shall be made as to each street separately.
(b) If the owners of a majority of the lineal feet of frontage of the land liable to assessment for the improvement petition the governing body for the improvement, citing this chapter and designating by general description the improvement to be undertaken and the street or streets or part thereof to be improved, it shall thereupon be the duty of the governing body to proceed, as provided in this chapter, to cause such improvement to be made in accordance with the prayers of the petition and their own best judgment. In such cases the resolution mentioned in subsection (a) of this Code section shall not be required. The petition shall be lodged with the clerk of the municipal corporation, who shall investigate the sufficiency thereof, submit the petition to the governing body, and certify the result of his investigation.
(a) Each lot or parcel of land abutting upon the improvement shall be charged on a basis of lineal foot frontage at an equal rate per foot of such frontage with its just pro rata share of the entire cost of the improvement, less any amounts paid by street or steam railways or others; provided, however, that the cost of the sidewalks, curbs, and gutters shall be charged entirely to the lots or parcels of land abutting on that side of the street upon which the same are constructed.
(b) The frontage of intersecting streets shall be assessed as real estate abutting upon the improvement and the municipal corporation, for all purposes of this chapter, shall be deemed to be the owner thereof. The mayor or chairman of the board of commissioners of the municipal corporation shall have authority to sign the petition or file the objections provided for in this chapter as to improvements affecting such frontage. The governing body of the municipal corporation shall pay from the municipal corporation treasury, as other current bills are paid, its just pro rata share of the entire cost of such an improvement, unless the owners of a majority of the frontage in the petition provided for in subsection (b) of Code Section 36-39-3 agree to pay the entire cost of the improvement or unless in the resolution provided for in subsection (a) of Code Section 36-39-3 it is stated that the entire cost of the improvement is to be paid by the owners of the abutting property.
Whenever the abutting landowners of any street of the municipal corporation petition the governing body as set out in subsection (b) of Code Section 36-39-3 or whenever the governing body passes the resolution provided for in subsection (a) of Code Section 36-39-3 for the improvement of any street, where the county is owner of property on the street and where the governing body of the county has assented to the proposed improvement and has provided funds to pay in cash its proportionate part of the cost of the improvement, the frontage so owned shall be counted as if owned by an individual for all the purposes of this chapter. The chairman of the board of commissioners of the county is authorized to sign the petition or file objections in behalf of the county.
Any railroad or street railway having tracks located in a street at the time of a proposed improvement shall be required by the governing body to pave the width of its tracks and two feet on each side thereof. Such paving shall be done with the same material and in the same manner as the rest of the street to be paved, provided that the governing body may require such paving to be of a different material and manner of construction when, in its judgment, this is rendered necessary by the uses of the street by the railway. The work shall be performed under the supervision and subject to the approval of the city's municipal corporation's engineer. If the railway, within a period of 30 days after receipt of the notice to do such work, does not agree in writing to comply with such order or if the work is not completed to the satisfaction of the municipal corporation's engineer within such time as may be prescribed by the governing body, the governing body may have the work done and may charge the cost and expense thereof to the railway company. The governing body shall have a lien against the railway company for such cost and expense. Such lien shall have the same rank and priority and shall be enforced in the same manner as the liens provided for in Code Section 36-39-20.
Whenever the petition provided for in subsection (b) of Code Section 36-39-3 is presented or when the governing body has determined to improve any street and has passed the resolution provided for in subsection (a) of Code Section 36-39-3, the governing body shall have the power to enact all such ordinances and to establish all such rules and regulations as may be necessary to require the owners of all the property abutting on the improvement and of any railway in the street to pay the cost of such improvement and to cause to be put in and constructed all water, gas, or sewer pipe connections to connect with any existing water, gas, or sewer pipes in and underneath the streets where such improvement is to be made. All cost and expense of making water, gas, or sewer pipe connections shall be taxed solely against the property abutting on the improvement; but such cost and expense shall be included and made a part of the general assessment to cover the cost of the improvement.
After the expiration of the time for objection or protest on the part of the property owners, if no sufficient protest is filed, or on receipt of a petition for an improvement signed by the owners of a majority of the frontage of the land to be assessed, if the petition is found to be in proper form and properly executed, the governing body shall adopt a resolution reciting that no protest has been filed or that a petition was filed, as the case may be, and expressing the determination of the governing body to proceed with the improvement. The resolution shall state the kind of improvement, define the extent and character of the same, and specify such other matters as may be necessary to instruct the engineer employed by the municipal corporation in the performance of his or her duties in preparing for such improvement the necessary plans, plats, profiles, specifications, and estimates. The resolution shall set forth any and all such reasonable terms and conditions as the governing body deems proper to impose with reference to the letting of the contract and the provisions thereof. The governing body, by such resolution, shall provide that the contractor shall execute to the municipal corporation a good and sufficient bond, as provided in Part 3 of Article 3 of Chapter 91 of this title, and may also require a bond in an amount to be stated in the resolution for the maintenance of the good condition of the improvements for a period of not less than five years from the time of completion, in the discretion of the governing body. The resolution shall also direct the clerk of the municipal corporation to advertise for sealed proposals for furnishing the materials and performing the work necessary in making such improvements.
As an alternative to contracting for the improvement, the governing body shall have the right, at its option and in its discretion, to provide that the work necessary in making the improvement shall be done by the municipal corporation itself. In such event, the municipal corporation shall procure all materials, provide the machinery and equipment, and do all of the work necessary in making such improvement. If the governing body determines that the municipal corporation shall itself do the work necessary in making the improvement, the resolution expressing the determination of the governing body to proceed with the improvement shall so state; and such resolution shall fix a time and place at which the owners of the property affected by the proposed improvement shall have the right to file objections thereto. Notice of the resolution and of the intention of the governing body to cause the work to be done by the municipal corporation shall be published in at least six consecutive issues of a daily paper having a general circulation in the municipal corporation or once a week for two weeks in the newspaper in which the sheriff's advertisements for the county in which the municipal corporation is situated are published. The notice shall set out the time and place at which objections may be filed, which time shall be not less than ten days following the last publication of the notice. The owners of the lots or parcels of land fronting or abutting upon any street or portion thereof upon which such improvement is proposed to be made shall have the right, within the time prescribed, to file written objections to the performance of the work by the municipal corporation. In the event that the owners of a majority of the lineal frontage of the lots or parcels of land fronting or abutting upon any such street or portion thereof object to the doing of the work by the municipal corporation, the work shall be done under contract and the governing body shall proceed in the manner provided in this chapter for the letting of the work under contract. If no objections are filed by the owners of a majority of the lineal frontage of the lots or parcels of land fronting or abutting on any such street or portion thereof within the time prescribed, the municipal corporation itself shall proceed with the doing of the work necessary in making the improvement. Where the work of making the improvement is done by the municipal corporation, the cost thereof shall include the entire cost of all materials used and labor done in the performance of the work, shall include a reasonable rental for the use of machinery, equipment, and materials used in the doing of the work, and shall also include all engineering, legal, and other expenses incurred in connection with the doing of the work or the proceedings under which the same is done. When the work of making the improvement is done by the municipal corporation, the provisions of Code Section 36-39-8 relating to the letting of a contract and the provisions of Code Sections 36-39-10 and 36-39-11 shall not apply.
The notice of the proposals specified in Code Section 36-39-8 shall be published in at least six consecutive issues of a daily paper or at least two issues of a weekly paper having a general circulation in the municipal corporation. The notice shall state the street or streets to be improved, the kinds of improvements proposed, what bond or bonds will be required to be executed by the contractor, the time when and the place where the sealed proposals shall be filed, and when and where the same will be considered by the governing body.
At the time and place specified in the notice provided for in Code Section 36-39-10, the governing body shall examine all bids received. Without unnecessary delay, the contract shall be awarded to the lowest and best bidder, who will perform the work and furnish the materials which may be selected and perform all the conditions imposed by the governing body as prescribed in the resolutions and notice for proposals. The governing body shall have the right to reject any and all bids and readvertise for other bids when the bids submitted are not, in its judgment, satisfactory.
After the contract has been let or after the improvement has been made by the municipal corporation, in the event the governing body elects to have the work done by the municipal corporation, and after the cost for such improvement, which shall include all other expenses incurred by the municipal corporation incident to the improvement in addition to the contract price for the work and materials or in addition to the cost of all materials, labor, machinery, equipment, and services used in the making of each improvement, in the event the work is done by the municipal corporation, has been ascertained, the governing body shall, by resolution, appoint a board of appraisers, consisting of three members, to appraise and apportion the cost and expense of the same to the several tracts of land abutting on the improvement as provided in Code Sections 36-39-4 and 36-39-6.
Within 30 days from the date of the resolution appointing the board of appraisers, such board shall file with the clerk of the municipal corporation a written report of the appraisal and the assessment and cost upon the several lots and tracts of land abutting on such street, as well as upon the property of any street or steam railway whose tracks are located in such street where such railway has failed or refused to do the paving as provided in Code Section 36-39-6 when and as required by the governing body.
When the report of the appraisers has been returned and filed, the governing body shall appoint a time for the holding of a session or shall designate a regular meeting of its body for the hearing of any complaints or objections that may be made by any interested person concerning the appraisal, apportionment, and assessment. Notice of such session for the hearing shall be published by the clerk of the governing body once a week for two weeks in a newspaper having a general circulation in the municipal corporation. The notice shall provide for an inspection of the return by any property owner or other party interested in such return. The time fixed for the hearing shall be not less than five nor more than ten days from the date of the last publication of the notice. The governing body at the session shall have the power and duty to review and correct the appraisal, apportionment, and assessment, to hear objections to the same, and to confirm the same either as made by the board or as corrected by the governing body. The governing body, by ordinance, shall fix the assessment in accordance with the appraisal and apportionment, as so confirmed, against the several tracts of land liable therefor. The rate of interest to be taxed shall not exceed 1 percent per annum over and above the rate of interest stipulated in the bonds provided for in this chapter.
Assessment in conformity to the appraisal and apportionment as confirmed by the municipal corporation shall be payable to the treasurer of the municipal corporation in cash. If paid within 30 days from the date of the passage of the ordinance, such assessment shall be without interest.
If the owner of the land or of any street railway assessed, within 30 days from the passage of the ordinance making the assessment final, files with the clerk of the municipal corporation his written request asking that the assessments be payable in installments in accordance with the provisions of this Code section, the same shall thereupon be and become payable in equal annual installments over such period of years, not less than two nor more than ten, as shall be fixed and prescribed by the governing body of the municipal corporation. Such installments shall bear interest at a rate not exceeding 7 percent per annum until paid. Each installment, together with the interest on the entire amount remaining unpaid, shall be payable each year at such time and place as shall be provided by resolution of the governing body.
When the municipal corporation desires to pay any portion of the cost of the improvements contemplated in this chapter in addition to the amounts otherwise provided for, the balance may be assessed against the abutting property or the owners thereof or against the owners of any street or steam railway therein, as provided in this chapter.
If any assessment is found to be invalid or insufficient in whole or in part for any reason whatsoever, the governing body may at any time, in the manner provided for the making of an original assessment, proceed to cause a new assessment to be made and fixed. The new assessment shall have the same force and effect as an original assessment.
It shall be the duty of the treasurer, not less than 30 days and not more than 50 days before the maturity of any installment of the assessments, to publish at least one time, in a newspaper having a general circulation in the municipal corporation, a notice advising the owner of the property affected by the assessment of the date when such installment and interest will be due, designating the street or streets or other public places for the improvement of which such assessments have been levied and stating that, unless the installment and interest are promptly paid, proceedings will be taken to collect such installment and interest. In lieu of the publication, the treasurer may mail the notice within the time limits aforesaid to the owners of record of the property affected, at their last known address. The failure of the treasurer or clerk to publish or mail the notice of maturity of any installment of the assessment and interest shall in no wise affect the validity of the assessment and interest and the execution issued therefor.
The assessment and each installment thereof, along with the interest thereon and the expense of collection, are declared to be a lien against the lots and tracts of land so assessed, from the date of the ordinance levying the same, coequal with the lien of other taxes and prior to and superior to all other liens against such lots or tracts. Such lien shall continue until the assessment and the interest thereon are fully paid and shall be enforced in the same manner as are liens for municipal corporation taxes.
It shall be the duty of the treasurer, within 15 days after the date of the maturity of any installment of assessment or interest, to issue an execution against the lot or tract of land assessed for the improvement or against the party or person owning the same for the amount of the assessment or interest. The treasurer shall turn over the same to the marshal or chief of police of the municipal corporation or his deputy, who shall levy the same upon the abutting real estate liable for the assessment and previously assessed for the improvements. After advertisement and other proceedings as in case of sales for city taxes, the real estate shall be sold at public outcry to the highest bidder. Such sales shall vest an absolute title in the purchaser, subject to the lien of the remaining unpaid installments with interest and also subject to the right of redemption as provided in Article 3 of Chapter 4 of Title 48.
The defendant shall have the right to file an affidavit denying that the whole or any part of the amount for which the execution issued is due and stating what amount he admits to be due, which amount so admitted to be due shall be paid and collected before the affidavit is received and the affidavit shall be received for the balance. All affidavits, including those filed by railroads or street railways against whom execution is issued for the cost and expense of paving, shall set out in detail the reasons why the affiant claims the amount is not due. When received by the municipal marshal or chief of police, such affidavits shall be returned to the superior court of the county wherein the municipal corporation is located. They shall be tried and the issue shall be determined as in cases of illegality, subject to all the pains and penalties provided for in other cases of illegality for delay under the laws of this state.
The assessment provided for and levied under this chapter shall be payable as the several installments become due, together with the interest thereon, to the treasurer of the municipal corporation, who shall keep an accurate account of all such collections made by him. Such collections shall be kept in a special fund, to be used and applied for the payment of the bonds and the interest thereon and the expenses incurred incident thereto and for no other purpose until all the bonds are paid in full. The treasurer shall give bond in an amount to be fixed by the governing body, conditioned upon the faithful performance by him of the duties imposed in this chapter.
No action shall be sustained (1) to set aside any assessment, (2) to enjoin the governing body from making, fixing, or collecting the assessment or issuing or levying executions therefor or issuing bonds or providing for their payment, or (3) contesting the validity thereof on any grounds or for any reason other than the failure of the governing body to adopt and publish the preliminary resolution provided for in Code Section 36-39-3 in cases requiring such resolution and its publication or to give notice of the hearing of the return of the appraisers as provided for in Code Section 36-39-14, unless such action is commenced within 30 days after the passage of the ordinance making the assessment final.
The governing body, after the expiration of 30 days from the passage of the ordinance confirming and levying the assessment, shall, by resolution, provide for the issuance of bonds in the aggregate amount of the assessments remaining unpaid, bearing date not more than 30 days after the passage of the ordinance fixing the assessment and of such denomination as the governing body shall determine. Such bond or bonds, unless authority is thereafter granted and exercised for making them direct obligations of the municipal corporation, shall in no event become a liability of the municipal corporation or of the governing body of the municipal corporation issuing them. The bonds shall be payable in equal annual installments over the same period of years, not less than two nor more than ten, as has been fixed and provided by the governing body of the municipal corporation for the payment of the assessments in installments under Code Section 36-39-16. One installment of any such series of bonds, with interest upon the whole series to date, shall be payable on such day and at such place as may be determined by the governing body, and one installment thereof with the yearly interest upon the whole amount remaining unpaid shall be payable on the same day in each succeeding year, until all are paid. Such bonds shall bear interest at a rate not exceeding 10 percent per annum from their date until maturity, payable annually. They shall be designated as “street-improvement bonds” and on the face thereof shall recite the street or streets, the part of the street or streets, or other public places for the improvement of which they have been issued. Unless authority is thereafter granted and exercised for making them direct obligations of the municipal corporation, such bonds shall be payable solely from assessments which have been fixed upon the lots or tracts of land benefited by the improvement under authority of this chapter. The bonds shall be signed by the mayor or chairman of the board of commissioners and attested by the clerk of the governing body, shall have the impression of the corporate seal of the municipal corporation thereon, and shall have interest coupons attached. All bonds issued by authority of this chapter shall be payable at such place either within or outside this state as shall be designated by the governing body.
The bonds shall be sold by the governing body at not less than par and the proceeds thereof shall be applied to the payment of the contract price and other expenses incurred pursuant to this chapter. Alternatively, such bonds in the amount that is necessary for the purpose may be turned over and delivered to the contractor at par value in payment of the amount due him on his contract, and the portion thereof which is necessary to pay other expenses incident to and incurred in providing for the improvements shall be sold or otherwise disposed of as the governing body directs.
Any proceeds from the sale of the bonds remaining in the hands of the treasurer after the payment provided for in Code Section 36-39-26 shall go into the treasury of the municipal corporation as compensation for the services to be rendered by it as contemplated in this chapter.
At any time within 60 days after the assessments are finally determined and fixed, the municipal corporation may file a petition in the superior court of the county in which the municipal corporation is situated, along with a copy of the ordinance, in which petition shall be alleged the fact of the passage and approval of the ordinance, the street or part of a street affected thereby, the character of paving or other improvement intended, and the approximate estimate of the cost. The petition shall allege that the ordinance is authorized by law and that it will create a lien on all real property abutting on such street or part of a street for the payment by the owner of each lot or parcel of land so abutting of the pro rata share of expense assessed to each lot or parcel of land, as well as on any street or other railroad therein, if any such there are, and shall pray for a judgment by the court declaring the ordinance valid, legal, and binding and that the liens be set up as alleged. It shall not be necessary in such petition to allege the names of the owners of the abutting property or railroads to be affected, but it shall be sufficient to describe the street or portion thereof to be improved and to indicate that the property on the street is to be charged with the expense.
At or before the filing of the petition provided for in Code Section 36-39-28, the same shall be presented to the judge of the superior court, who shall thereupon enter an order calling upon all persons owning or interested in the real estate abutting on the street or on the designated part thereof to show cause, at a time and place to be named in the order, why the prayer of the petition should not be granted, the ordinance and assessments not declared valid, and the liens not be fixed as legal and binding. The hearing shall be not less than 30 nor more than 60 days after the entry of the order and shall be either in open court or at chambers. It shall be the duty of the clerk to publish once a week for four weeks, in the official newspaper of the county, a statement of the case and a copy of the order.
At the time and place named or at such other time and place as the hearing may be adjourned to, any interested person shall be heard to show cause in writing, which writing shall be filed with the clerk, why the prayer of the petition should not be granted. The court shall hear all questions of law or fact and all competent evidence may be offered as in other cases. The court shall thereupon enter an appropriate order finding and adjudging that the ordinance is lawful and valid and that the liens are legal and binding, or otherwise, as the law and facts may warrant.
The municipal corporation or any person appearing who is dissatisfied with the judgment may appeal to the Court of Appeals, as provided in Title 5.
If the final judgment of the superior court is in favor of the validity of the ordinance and of the liens claimed, the same shall forever be conclusive, and the matters so determined shall never thereafter be drawn in question in any court.
Bonds issued under this chapter after the judgment of the superior court shall have written or stamped thereon the words “Validated and confirmed by judgment of the superior court,” specifying also the date when the judgment was rendered and the court in which it was rendered and shall be signed by the clerk of the superior court. Such entry shall be original prima-facie evidence of the fact of the judgment and shall be receivable as such in any court of this state.
This chapter shall not be construed to repeal any special or local law or to affect any proceedings under such law for the making of improvements authorized in this chapter or for raising the funds therefor but shall be deemed to be additional and independent legislation for such purposes, to provide an alternative method of procedure for such purposes, and to be a complete law not subject to any limitations or restrictions contained in any other public or private law or laws except as otherwise provided in this chapter.
(a) In addition to any grant to which any municipal corporation of this state is entitled under Article 2 of this chapter in any fiscal year, and any other law to the contrary notwithstanding, any such municipal corporation which owns and maintains from local revenues a public facility which is found and declared by a resolution of the General Assembly to be of historical value to the state and which is in need of repairs which are reasonably estimated to cost in excess of $5 million and to require more than one year to plan and complete shall be authorized to receive an annual grant equal to one-fourth of the amount of local funds expended on or committed to such repairs by the governing body of such municipal corporation. The funds appropriated by the General Assembly for the purposes of this Code section shall be appropriated separately from funds appropriated for the purposes of Code Section 36-40-24.
(b) Funds made available under subsection (a) of this Code section shall be distributed in the same manner as other funds are distributed under Article 2 of this chapter. The certificate required by Code Section 36-40-22 shall include a statement of the amount of the annual grant under subsection (a) of this Code section, the total amount of local funds expended on or committed to the repairs specified in subsection (a) of this Code section as of the date of the certificate, and the total amount of grant funds under subsection (a) of this Code section already distributed to the municipal corporation under Article 2 of this chapter.
(c) No municipal corporation shall receive any grant under this Code section for a facility which was not found and declared eligible under subsection (a) of this Code section by April 24, 1977.
It is declared to be the purpose and intent of the General Assembly that state funds be made available to the governing bodies of certain municipal corporations of this state to be expended for any public purposes, except for the purpose of paying the salaries of elected municipal corporation officers.
As used in this article, the term “municipal corporation” means a municipal corporation whose population shall be based on the current United States decennial census of 1980 or any future such census, the governing body of which has held at least six regular meetings within the 12 months preceding the execution of the certificate required by Code Section 36-40-22 and which for a period of one year has levied and collected an ad valorem tax on the real property in such municipal corporation or which has, for such one-year period, performed at least two of the following municipal activities and services:
(1) Furnished water service;
(2) Furnished sewerage service;
(3) Furnished garbage collection;
(4) Furnished police protection;
(5) Furnished fire protection;
(6) Assessed and collected business licenses; or
(7) Furnished municipal street-lighting facilities.
(a) Each municipal corporation, as defined in Code Section 36-40-21, shall submit to the Office of the State Treasurer a certificate showing the number of regular meetings held within the preceding 12 months by the governing body of the municipal corporation and stating that ad valorem taxes on real property were levied and collected in such municipal corporation within the 12 months preceding such certificate or stating that the municipal corporation performed at least two of the activities and services enumerated in Code Section 36-40-21.
(b) Such certificate shall be substantially in the following form:
CERTIFICATE
“The undersigned, Mayor (Chairman of the Commission) of (Official Corporate Name), does hereby certify that _____ regular meetings of the governing body were held during the past 12 months and that ad valorem taxes were levied and collected during the past 12 months for the operation of the government of (Official Corporate Name) or that the municipal corporation performed the following two services:
_____ and _____.
The municipal treasurer or other official or officials authorized to receive municipal funds is (are)
| _______________________________________________________. | | | | --- | --- | --- | | ________________________________________ | | _____________________________________________________ | | Date | | Mayor (Chairman of Commission) | | | | | | Attest: | | | | | | | | ________________________________________ | | | | Clerk” | | |
(c) Such certificate shall be executed by the highest elective official, whether designated as mayor or by some other term (or as chairman of the commission in those municipal corporations having a commission form of government), and shall be attested by the clerk. The name of the municipal corporation used in the certificate shall be its official corporate name. The name of the municipal treasurer or other official or officials authorized to receive municipal funds shall be listed in the certificate and the instrument transferring funds to the municipal corporation shall be payable to such treasurer or other official or officials as listed in the certificate.
(d) The information contained in the certificate shall constitute the basis upon which the Office of the State Treasurer shall make the distribution of funds under this article.
(e) Any person willfully and knowingly signing a certificate containing false information shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
Prior to June 1 of each year, a certificate shall be filed which shall be the basis upon which payments shall be made of funds made available under this article for the immediately succeeding fiscal year beginning July 1 and ending June 30. If no certificate is filed within such time limitation in this Code section, the municipality shall not be entitled to and shall not be paid any funds for the applicable period and such municipality shall not be included in the formula for determining the amount of the grants as provided in Code Section 36-40-24.
(a) To the extent that funds are made available by any law, for the purposes set out in Code Section 36-40-20, the Office of the State Treasurer is authorized and directed to grant such funds to the municipal corporations of this state, as defined in Code Section 36-40-21, on the following basis:
(1) The total amount of the grant shall be divided by the total population of all municipal corporations, to arrive at an average per capita amount. Such per capita amount shall be multiplied in turn by the population of each municipal corporation with a population of 10,000 or less to arrive at the respective grants of such municipal corporations. Such grants shall be referred to as “paragraph (1) grants.”
(2) In addition to the amount it would receive under paragraph (1) grants, each municipal corporation with a population under 5,000 shall receive an additional grant equal to 50 percent of the amount it received as a paragraph (1) grant. Such grants shall be referred to as “paragraph (2) grants.”
(3) In addition to the amount it would receive under paragraph (1) grants, each municipal corporation with a population of not less than 5,000 and not more than 10,000 shall receive an additional grant equal to 25 percent of the amount it received as paragraph (1) grants. Such grants shall be referred to as “paragraph (3) grants.”
(4) The amount remaining for distribution after deducting the total amounts of paragraph (1) grants, paragraph (2) grants, and paragraph (3) grants shall then be divided by the total population of all remaining municipal corporations (eliminating those receiving paragraph (1), paragraph (2), and paragraph (3) grants), to arrive at a per capita amount for such remaining municipal corporations. The per capita amount as so determined shall then be multiplied by the population of each such remaining municipal corporation to arrive at its respective grant. Such grants shall be referred to as “paragraph (4) grants.”
(b) No municipal corporation which qualifies for state grants under this article shall receive less than $500.00 per annum.
(c) Whenever the term “population” is used in this article, it means population as determined according to the United States decennial census of 1980 or any future such census.
(d) The computation of individual municipal grants as called for in this article shall be prepared and certified by the Office of the State Treasurer, which shall make payments as called for in this Code section.
Funds distributed under this article shall be paid to the municipal corporation in the name of the municipal treasurer or other official or officials authorized to receive municipal funds, as listed in the certificate required by Code Section 36-40-22. Funds granted under Code Section 36-40-24 shall be expended by the municipal corporation only for the purposes prescribed in Code Section 36-40-20.
The term “municipal corporation,” as used in this article, means a municipal corporation, the population of which is based on the current United States decennial census, the governing body of which has held at least six regular meetings within the 12 months preceding the execution of the certificate required by Code Section 36-40-42, and which has levied taxes or levied fees of any type for the operation of the government of the municipal corporation or which has received a franchise tax from any utility, firm, or corporation within the 12 months preceding the execution of the certificate required by Code Section 36-40-42.
Pursuant to Article VII, Section III, Paragraph III of the Constitution of Georgia, relating to the granting of state funds to municipal corporations, such funds are authorized to be granted to certain municipal corporations as provided for in this article and may be used by such municipal corporations for purchasing, constructing, improving, maintaining, and repairing capital outlay items. Any funds granted to municipal corporations pursuant to the aforesaid provision of the Constitution shall be used only for the purposes provided for in this Code section.
(a) Each municipal corporation, as defined in Code Section 36-40-40, shall submit to the Office of the State Treasurer a certificate showing the number of regular meetings held within the preceding 12 months by the governing body of the municipal corporation and stating that taxes or fees were levied within the 12 months preceding the execution of such certificate for the operation of the municipal government.
(b) The certificate shall be substantially in the following form:
CERTIFICATE
“The undersigned, Mayor (Chairman of the Commission) of (Official Corporate Name), does hereby certify that _____
regular meetings of the governing body were held during the past 12 months and that taxes or fees were levied during the past 12 months for the operation of the government of (Official Corporate Name). The municipal treasurer or other official or officials authorized to receive municipal funds is (are) _____.
| ________________________________________ | | _____________________________________________________ | | --- | --- | --- | | Date | | Mayor (Chairman of Commission) | | | | | | Attest: | | | | | | | | ________________________________________ | | | | Clerk” | | |
(c) The certificate shall be executed by the highest elective official, whether designated as “mayor” or by some other term or as the “chairman of the commission” in those municipal corporations having a commission form of government, and shall be attested by the clerk. The name of the municipal corporation used in the certificate shall be its official corporate name. The name of the municipal treasurer or other official or officials authorized to receive municipal funds shall be listed in the certificate and the instrument transferring funds to the municipal corporation shall be payable to such treasurer or other official or officials as listed in the certificate.
(d) The information contained in the certificate shall constitute the basis upon which the Office of the State Treasurer shall make the distribution of funds under this article.
(e) Any person who willfully and knowingly signs a certificate containing false information shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
Prior to June 1 of each year, a certificate shall be filed which shall be the basis upon which payments shall be made of funds made available under this article for the immediately succeeding fiscal year beginning July 1 and ending June 30. If no certificate is filed within the time limitation specified in this Code section, the municipality shall not be entitled to and shall not be paid any funds for the applicable period and such municipality shall not be included in the formula for determining the amount of the grants as provided in Code Section 36-40-44.
(a) To the extent that funds are made available by any law for the purposes set out in Code Section 36-40-41, the Office of the State Treasurer is authorized and directed to grant such funds to the municipal corporations of this state, as defined in Code Section 36-40-40, on the following basis:
(1) An amount equal to five ten-thousandths of the total sum available at any given time for grants under this article shall be first determined, and each municipal corporation whose population is 500 or less shall receive as its total grant such portion of the five ten-thousandths amount so determined as its population proportionately bears to 500. Such grants shall be referred to as “paragraph (1) grants.”
(2) The amount remaining for distribution after deducting the total amount of paragraph (1) grants shall then be divided by the total population of all municipal corporations whose population exceeds 500, to arrive at a per capita amount. Such per capita amount shall be multiplied, in turn, by the population of each municipal corporation whose population exceeds 500. Any such municipal corporation whose population when so multiplied equals less than the five ten-thousandths amount as first determined under paragraph (1) of this Code section shall receive as its total grant the five ten-thousandths amount. Such grants shall be referred to as “paragraph (2) grants.”
(3) The amount remaining for distribution after deducting the total amount of paragraph (1) and paragraph (2) grants shall then be divided by the total population of all remaining municipal corporations (eliminating those receiving paragraph (1) and paragraph (2) grants), to arrive at a per capita amount for such remaining municipal corporations. The per capita amount as so determined shall then be multiplied by the population of each such remaining municipal corporation to arrive at its respective grant. Such grants shall be referred to as “paragraph (3) grants.”
(b) Whenever the term “population” is used in this article, it means population as determined according to the United States decennial census of 1980 or any future such census.
(c) The computation and payments of individual municipal grants as called for in this article shall be made by the Office of the State Treasurer.
Funds distributed under this article by the Office of the State Treasurer shall be paid to the municipal corporation in the name of the municipal treasurer or other official or officials authorized to receive municipal funds, as listed in the certificate required by Code Section 36-40-42. Such funds shall be expended by the municipal corporation only for the purposes prescribed in Code Section 36-40-41.
(a) The governing authority of each municipal corporation shall submit to the state auditor a copy of its regular annual audit not later than six months after the end of the fiscal year for which the audit was made. The state auditor shall compare the amount of funds distributed to each municipal corporation in such year under this article against the amount of funds expended by each municipal corporation in such year for the purposes authorized by such Code sections. If the state auditor determines that the amount so expended is less than the amount distributed, he shall certify such amount to the Office of the State Treasurer, which shall deduct and withhold the certified amount from the next funds to be distributed to the offending municipal corporation under this article. If, however, a municipal corporation expending less than the amount distributed to it certifies at the time of the submission of its audit that it is accumulating such funds for a specified allowable purpose and submits proof of the deposit or investment of such funds, then such municipal corporation will be deemed to have complied with the requirements of this Code section, except that the amount of such funds shall be added to the amount of funds distributed to such municipal corporation in the next succeeding year or years for the purpose of making the comparison and determination provided for in this Code section.
(b) Upon certification by the state auditor to the Office of the State Treasurer that the audit required by this Code section from any municipal corporation has not been received, the Office of the State Treasurer shall not distribute any further funds under this article to such offending municipal corporation until the state auditor again certifies to the Office of the State Treasurer that the delinquent audit has been filed. It shall be the duty of the state auditor to make such certification when no audit is received or when a delinquent audit is received.
(c) If any municipal corporation is not now having a regular annual audit made of its funds, the Office of the State Treasurer shall not distribute any further funds under this article to such municipal corporation until either:
(1) An audit has been made and submitted to the state auditor; or
(2) The mayor or clerk submits a statement under oath to the state auditor stating:
(A) That the municipal corporation does not now have a regular annual audit;
(B) That the funds received under this article have been deposited in and disbursed from a separate account; and
(C) That the funds have been expended for the purposes authorized by this article.
(d) Upon the request of the Governor or the commissioner of transportation, the state auditor is authorized to audit the books and records of each municipal corporation to verify the accuracy of the report so filed with him and to ensure that the expenditure of such funds has been made for the purposes intended.
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the “Urban Residential Finance Authorities Act for Large Municipalities.”
It is found, determined, and declared:
(1) That there exists within the large municipalities of the state a serious shortage of decent, safe, and sanitary housing which a significant portion of the persons and families residing or desiring to reside in such municipalities can afford. This shortage is inimical to the safety, health, and welfare of the residents of this state and the sound growth of its large municipalities. The cost of financing the ownership and rehabilitation of housing in such municipalities is a major factor affecting the ability of a person to obtain decent and safe housing therein. In order to remedy such housing shortages, it is necessary to implement a public program to reduce the cost of financing for the acquisition and rehabilitation of housing, in order to make the acquisition of housing feasible for all persons and families residing or desiring to reside in the large municipalities of the state;
(2) That it is necessary and essential that public corporations be created for such large municipalities of the state directly, or indirectly through qualified lending institutions, to make loans at rates below market to finance either the acquisition or rehabilitation or both of residential housing and to acquire mortgages in order to encourage investment in and upgrade urban areas;
(3) That it is necessary and in the best interests of the state to provide loans at rates below market for the acquisition and rehabilitation of housing which will:
(A) Provide for and promote the public health, safety, and welfare in the large municipalities of the state;
(B) Reduce unemployment and encourage the increase of industrial and commercial activities and economic development in the large municipalities;
(C) Provide for the efficient and well-planned growth and development of the large municipalities, including the elimination and prevention of slum areas and blight, and for the proper coordination of industrial facilities with public services, mass transportation facilities, and residential development, by providing an incentive for home ownership within the geographical limits of the large municipalities;
(D) Assist persons and families in acquiring and owning decent, safe, and sanitary housing which they can afford within the geographic limits of the large municipalities;
(E) Promote the integration of families of varying economic means in the large municipalities; and
(F) Preserve and increase the tax base of the large municipalities; and
(4) Accordingly, that it is a valid public purpose, as a matter of public health, safety, convenience, and welfare, to assist in providing financing for the acquisition, construction, or rehabilitation of housing in the large municipalities of the state and that the creation of public corporations and instrumentalities of the state is the most feasible method by which the state can accomplish such public purposes.
As used in this chapter, the term:
(1) “Authority” means any public corporation created by this chapter.
(2) “Bonds” means any bonds, including refunding bonds, or any notes or other obligations authorized to be issued by an authority pursuant to this chapter.
(3) “Eligible household” means any household which does not have sufficient income to afford to pay the amounts at which private enterprise, without federally aided, state aided, or authority aided mortgages, is providing a substantial supply of decent, safe, and sanitary housing and which satisfies the income limitations set by each authority in administrative guidelines and procedures established pursuant to subsection (c) of Code Section 36-41-5.
(4) “Federally aided mortgage” means any mortgage insured or guaranteed by an agency of the United States government or any mortgage receiving special benefits, directly or indirectly, under any federal laws designated specifically to encourage the purchase of housing.
(5) “Governing body” means the elected or duly appointed officials constituting the governing body of a large municipality.
(6) “Household” shall have that meaning specified by the United States Bureau of the Census in its 1980 census.
(7) “Income” shall have that meaning specified by the United States Bureau of the Census in its 1980 census.
(8) “Lending institution” means any bank or trust company, savings and loan association, building and loan association, savings bank, insurance company, mortgage banker, mortgage broker, or other financial institution, any governmental agency, or any holding company for any of the foregoing. Such lending institution shall have a place of business in this state and shall be authorized to do business in this state.
(9) “Median household income” shall have that meaning used in the United States decennial census for the Metropolitan Statistical Area of the particular municipality activating the particular authority as adjusted from time to time by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.
(10) “Mortgage” means a deed to secure debt, together with the promissory note, the repayment of which is secured by such deed to secure debt, which is held by either the authority or a lending institution, which deed to secure debt encumbers either a fee simple or leasehold estate located within the geographic boundaries of a large municipality activating the authority and improved by residential housing.
(11) “Municipality” means any municipal corporation of this state having a population of 350,000 or more according to the United States decennial census of 1980 or any future such census.
(12) “Nonprofit housing corporation” means a nonprofit or charitable private corporation providing safe and sanitary dwelling accommodations to persons of low income in such manner as to be essentially similar in operation and function to any authority or housing authority essential under this chapter.
(13) “Qualified housing sponsor” means an entity, whether organized for profit or not, meeting criteria established by the authority, which has undertaken to provide housing which will be available for sale or rent to eligible persons and families upon such terms and in conformity with administrative guidelines established by the authority. With respect to residential housing to be occupied substantially by students, the term “qualified housing sponsor” shall mean a nonprofit educational institution which is not owned or controlled by the state or any political subdivision, agency, instrumentality, district, or municipality thereof, which provides a program of education beyond the high school level, and which:
(A) Admits as regular students only individuals having a certificate of graduation from a high school, or the recognized equivalent of such a certificate;
(B) Provides an educational program for which it awards a bachelor's degree or provides an educational program, admission into which is conditioned upon the prior attainment of a bachelor's degree or its equivalent, for which it awards a postgraduate degree, or provides not less than a two-year program which is acceptable for full credit toward such a degree; and
(C) Is accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency or association or, if not so accredited, is an institution whose credits are accepted, on transfer, by the university system and its educational units for credit on the same basis as if transferred from an institution so accredited;
provided, however, that a nonprofit educational institution which is otherwise a qualified housing sponsor as defined in this paragraph shall be deemed to be a qualified housing sponsor notwithstanding such institution's maintenance of a special early admission policy for gifted high school students.
(14) “Real property” means all lands, franchises, and interests in land, including lands under water and riparian rights, space rights, and air rights, and any and all other things usually included within such term. The term “real property” shall include any and all interests in such property less than full title, such as easements, incorporeal hereditaments, and every estate or interest or right, legal or equitable, including terms for years.
(15) “Rehabilitation costs” means the total of all costs incurred by eligible households in the rehabilitation of residential housing which are approved by an authority as reasonable and necessary, which costs shall include, but shall not necessarily be limited to, the following: the cost of site preparation and development; fees for architectural, engineering, legal, accounting, and other services paid or payable in connection with the planning, reconstruction, and financing of residential housing; the cost of necessary surveys, plans, and permits; the cost of insurance, interest, financing, taxes, assessments, and other operating and carrying costs during rehabilitation; the cost of rehabilitation, reconstruction, fixturing, furnishing, and equipping residential housing; the cost of land improvements, including, but not limited to, landscaping and off-site improvements, whether or not any such cost has been paid in cash or in a form other than cash; and the cost of such other items as the authority shall determine to be reasonable and necessary for the rehabilitation of residential housing.
(16) “Residential housing” means any real property and improvement thereon, whether multifamily residential housing or single-family residential housing, within the geographic boundaries of a large municipality activating the authority, which is owned, in whole or in part, by an eligible household or which is providing or shall provide, in whole or in part, dwelling accommodations for eligible households; provided, however, that with respect to multifamily residential housing, such multifamily residential housing shall be deemed to be occupied by eligible households if at least 20 percent of the dwelling units of such multifamily residential housing are occupied by eligible households. The term “residential housing” shall include dormitories, apartment dwellings, or other housing facilities which shall be occupied primarily by students.
(17) “Security interest” means an interest in personal property installed or to be installed in residential housing, which interest secures, in whole or in part, the repayment of a promissory note, the holder of which interest and note is either an authority or a lending institution. The term “security interest” includes all documentation executed in connection with the creation of such interest and specifically includes both the aforesaid promissory note and a security agreement.
(18) “State” means the State of Georgia.
(19) “State aided mortgage” means a mortgage loan for housing for eligible households assisted under this chapter.
(20) “Student” means any individual who possesses a certificate of admission or enrollment at an institution for higher education that is a qualified housing sponsor.
There is created in and for each municipality of this state, as defined in paragraph (11) of Code Section 36-41-3, a public body corporate, which shall be deemed to be an instrumentality of the state, to be known as the “urban residential finance authority” of such municipality and which shall be governed by a board of not less than seven nor more than nine members. Each member of the board shall be a resident of the large municipality activating the authority. No more than two members of the board may be appointed by the mayor of the large municipality activating the authority with the remaining members appointed by the governing body of the municipality for such term and upon such conditions as specified by resolution of the governing body. Any member of the governing body of the large municipality, the mayor or other chief executive thereof, and the chief fiscal officer thereof may serve on the board. The provisions of Chapter 62A of this title relating to ethics and conflicts of interest shall apply to members of the board of each authority created under this Code section. No authority created under this Code section shall transact any business or exercise any powers under this chapter until the governing body of the large municipality activating the authority, by resolution, declares that there is need for an authority to function in such municipality. A copy of the resolution adopted by the governing body and copies of any resolution adopted by the governing body providing for filling vacancies in the membership of the board of the authority or making any changes in the membership of the board of the authority shall be filed with the Secretary of State. Appointments to fill vacancies on the board of any authority, either for an unexpired or full term as fixed in the original resolution creating the same, shall be made by the governing body of the municipality. The members of the board of each authority shall elect one of their members as chairman and another as vice-chairman and shall also elect a secretary-treasurer, who need not be a member of the board and need not be a resident of the municipality activating such authority. Each member of the board of each authority shall receive the same expense allowance per day as that received by a member of the General Assembly for each day such member is in attendance at a meeting of the authority, but shall receive the same for not more than 20 meeting days during any one fiscal year. For attendance at any conference in connection with the performance of their official duties, other than a meeting of the authority, members shall be reimbursed for actual expenses incurred and travel expenses in the same manner as provided by law for members of the General Assembly but shall receive the same for not more than ten days during any one fiscal year. However, if the secretary-treasurer is not a member of the board, then the secretary-treasurer may receive such compensation for his services as may be agreed upon by the members of the board. Each authority shall make rules and regulations for its government and may delegate to one or more of its members or its officers, agents, and employees such powers and duties as may be deemed necessary and proper.
(a) Except as otherwise limited by this chapter, each authority shall have the power:
(1) To bring and defend actions;
(2) To have a seal and alter the same at its pleasure;
(3) To make and execute contracts and all other instruments necessary or convenient for the exercise of its powers and functions under this chapter, including contracts with any agency or authority or nonprofit housing corporation within this state;
(4) To make and alter bylaws for its organization and internal management;
(5) To acquire, hold, and dispose of real and personal property for its corporate purposes;
(6) To appoint officers, agents, and employees, prescribe their duties and qualifications, and fix their compensation;
(7) To borrow money and to issue bonds, the term of which shall not exceed 40 years, and to provide for the rights of the holders thereof;
(8) To make loans pursuant to Code Section 36-41-6 for the financing, acquisition, or rehabilitation of residential housing, the repayment of which is secured by mortgages or security interests or other assets and funds of the authority or other security devices determined to be satisfactory by the authority; to participate in the making of loans secured by mortgages or security interests or other security devices determined to be satisfactory by the authority; to undertake commitments to make loans secured by mortgages or security interests or other security devices determined to be satisfactory by the authority; to acquire and, pursuant to Code Section 36-41-7, to contract to acquire mortgages or security interests or participations therein, owned by lending institutions, the Federal National Mortgage Association, or any federal or state agency; and to enter into advance commitments to such organizations for the purchase of such mortgages or security interests or participations;
(9) To sell mortgages and security interests at public or private sale; to negotiate modifications or alterations in mortgages and security interests; to foreclose on any mortgage or security interest in default or commence any action to protect or enforce any right conferred upon it by any law, mortgage, security interest, contract, or other agreement; and to bid for and purchase property which was the subject of such mortgage or security interest, at any foreclosure or at any other sale, to acquire or take possession of any such property; and, in the event that the authority takes possession of any such property, to complete, administer, and pay the principal and interest of any obligations incurred in connection with such property and to operate, manage, lease, dispose of, and otherwise deal with such property in such manner as may be necessary or desirable to protect the interests of the authority and the holders of its bonds and other obligations;
(10) To collect fees and charges in connection with its loans, commitments, and servicing, including, but not limited to, reimbursement of costs of financing as the authority shall determine to be reasonable and as shall be approved by the authority;
(11) To make and execute contracts for the servicing of mortgages made or acquired by the authority pursuant to this chapter and to pay the reasonable value of services rendered to the authority pursuant to those contracts;
(12) To accept gifts, grants, loans, or other aid from the federal government, the state or any county or municipality within the state or any persons or corporations and to agree and comply with any conditions attached to such financial assistance;
(13) Subject to any agreement with bondholders, to invest moneys of the authority not required for immediate use to carry out the purposes of this chapter, including the proceeds from the sale of any bonds and any moneys held in reserve funds, in obligations which shall be limited to the following:
(A) Bonds or other obligations of the state or bonds or other obligations, the principal and interest of which are guaranteed by the state;
(B) Bonds or other obligations of the United States or of subsidiary corporations of the United States government fully guaranteed by such government;
(C) Obligations of agencies of the United States government issued by the Federal Land Bank, the Federal Home Loan Bank, the Federal Intermediate Credit Bank, and the Bank for Cooperatives;
(D) Bonds or other obligations issued by any public housing agency or municipality in the United States, which bonds or obligations are fully secured as to the payment of bond principal and interest by a pledge of annual contributions under an annual contributions contract or contracts with the United States government, or project notes issued by any public housing agency, urban renewal agency, or municipality in the United States and fully secured as to payment of both principal and interest by a requisition, loan, or payment agreement with the United States government;
(E) Certificates of deposit of national or state banks which have deposits insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or the Georgia Deposit Insurance Corporation and certificates of deposit of federal savings and loan associations and state building and loan associations which have deposits insured by the Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation or the Georgia Deposit Insurance Corporation, including the certificates of deposit of any bank, savings and loan association, or building and loan association acting as depository, custodian, or trustee for any such bond proceeds; provided, however, that the portion of such certificates of deposit in excess of the amount insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or the Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation or the Georgia Deposit Insurance Corporation, if any such excess exists, shall be secured by deposit with the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, Georgia, the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta, Georgia, or with any national or state bank, of one or more of the following securities in an aggregate principal amount equal at least to the amount of such excess:
(i) Direct or general obligations of the state or of any county or municipality in the state;
(ii) Obligations of the United States or subsidiary corporations included in subparagraph (B) of this paragraph;
(iii) Obligations of agencies of the United States government included in subparagraph (C) of this paragraph; or
(iv) Bonds, obligations, or project notes of public housing agencies, urban renewal agencies, or municipalities included in subparagraph (D) of this paragraph;
(F) Interest-bearing time deposits, repurchase agreements, reverse repurchase agreements, rate guarantee agreements, or other similar banking arrangements with a bank or trust company having capital and surplus aggregating at least $50 million or with any government bond dealer reporting to, trading with, and recognized as a primary dealer by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York having capital aggregating at least $50 million or with any corporation which is subject to registration with the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System pursuant to the requirements of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, 1 provided that each such interest-bearing time deposit, repurchase agreement, reverse repurchase agreement, rate guarantee agreement, or other similar banking arrangement shall permit the moneys so placed to be available for use at the time provided with respect to the investment or reinvestment of such moneys; and
(G) Any and all other obligations of investment grade and having a national recognized market including, but not limited to, rate guarantee agreements, guaranteed investment contracts, or other similar arrangements offered by any firm, agency, business, governmental unit, bank, insurance company, or other entity, provided that each such obligation shall permit moneys so placed to be available for use at the time provided with respect to the investment or reinvestment of such moneys;
(14) To make and contract to make loans to lending institutions on such terms and conditions as it shall determine. All lending institutions are authorized to borrow from the authority in accordance with subsection (d) of Code Section 36-41-6 and the administrative guidelines established by the authority pursuant to criteria set forth in this chapter;
(15) To procure insurance against any loss in connection with its property and other assets;
(16) To do any and all things necessary or convenient to carry out its purposes and exercise the powers given and granted in this chapter;
(17) To make loans pursuant to Code Section 36-41-6 to finance the construction of residential housing;
(18) To engage in and assist in the development and operation of low and moderate income housing pursuant to Code Section 8-3-30;
(19) To participate in or administer federal programs for the issuance of mortgage credit and to do all things necessary or convenient to qualify as an issuer of mortgage credit certificates;
(20) To participate in or administer or participate in and administer any federal, state, county, or municipal program designed to assist in lowering the cost of housing for eligible households;
(21) To provide financing for housing projects, without regard to targeting for eligible households, which encourages the development of housing in accordance with the comprehensive development plan of the municipality activating the authority;
(22) To participate, own, lease, develop, operate, or manage residential housing or other real and personal property in cooperation, joint venture, partnership, or other contractual obligations with the federal government, state, or any county or municipality within the state, or any qualified housing sponsor; and
(23) To participate in, issue on behalf of, or jointly issue any bonds, notes, or other obligations with any public housing authority, downtown development authority, or development authority within the state or the Georgia Housing and Finance Authority.
(b) No authority shall have the power of eminent domain.
(c) Each authority shall establish administrative guidelines as to income limitations for eligible households for the purposes of paragraph (3) of Code Section 36-41-3 by taking into account the following considerations, among others determined by the authority to be appropriate:
(1) The size of the family or number of persons who intend to reside together;
(2) The conditions and costs of obtaining and maintaining existing and available housing within the geographic boundaries of the municipality activating the authority;
(3) The costs of obtaining and maintaining newly constructed or rehabilitated housing within the geographic boundaries of the municipality activating the authority, including considerations of the total rehabilitation costs of such housing and the costs of financing such housing as affected by prevailing and available financing terms and conditions relating to nonfederally aided and nonstate aided mortgages; and
(4) The age or physical condition of the persons who intend to reside in the residential housing.
(d) The administrative guidelines established by each authority pursuant to subsection (c) of this Code section may differ in order to reflect the varying tenant composition and economic and housing conditions within the jurisdiction of each authority.
1 12 U.S.C.A. § 1841 et seq.
(a) With respect to the power to make loans set forth in subsection (a) of Code Section 36-41-5, each authority may make loans to qualified housing sponsors or eligible households for the financing, acquisition, or rehabilitation of residential housing within the geographic boundaries of the large municipality activating the authority. Any such loan:
(1) Shall be used for all or part of the cost of financing, acquiring, or rehabilitating residential housing, including the construction of residential housing, in accordance with the rules of the authority; and
(2) Shall be secured in such manner and be repaid in such period, not exceeding 40 years, as may be determined by the authority and shall bear interest at a rate determined by the authority.
(b) Each authority may make and contract to make loans to lending institutions, on such terms and conditions as it shall determine, in accordance with the following criteria, and all lending institutions are authorized to borrow from the authority in accordance with administrative guidelines of the authority established pursuant to the following criteria:
(1) The authority shall require that each lending institution receiving a loan pursuant to this subsection shall issue and deliver to the authority evidence of its indebtedness to the authority, which shall constitute a general obligation of such lending institution and shall bear such date or dates, shall mature at the time or times, shall be subject to prepayment, and shall contain such other provisions consistent with this Code section as the authority shall determine;
(2) The interest rate or rates and other terms of such loans made from the proceeds of any issue of bonds of the authority shall be at least sufficient to assure the payment of the bonds and the interest thereon as the same become due;
(3) The authority may require that such loans shall be secured as to payment of both principal and interest by a pledge of collateral security in such amounts as the authority shall determine to be necessary to assure the payment of such loans and the interest thereon as the same become due. Such collateral security may consist of:
(A) Obligations for the payment of money by or guaranteed by the United States of America;
(B) Obligations for the payment of money by any of the following: the Bank for Cooperatives, the Federal Intermediate Credit Bank, the Federal Home Loan Bank System, the Export-Import Bank, the Federal Land Banks, the Federal National Mortgage Association, or the Government National Mortgage Association;
(C) Obligations for the payment of money by the state or any municipal corporation therein;
(D) Mortgages insured by the Federal Housing Administration or guaranteed by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs and such other mortgages insured or guaranteed by the federal government or by a private insurer as to payment of principal and interest as shall be approved by the authority;
(E) Conventional mortgages approved by the authority; or
(F) Any other security determined by the authority to protect the interests of the authority and the bondholders;
(4) The authority may require that collateral for such loans be deposited with a bank, trust company, or other financial institution acceptable to the authority located in the state and designated by the authority as custodian therefor. In the absence of such requirement and if required by the authority, each lending institution shall enter into an agreement with the authority containing such provisions as the authority shall deem necessary to:
(A) Identify adequately and maintain such collateral;
(B) Service such collateral; and
(C) Require the lending institution to hold such collateral as an agent for the authority and be accountable to the authority as the trustee of an express trust for the application and disposition thereof and the income therefrom. The authority may also establish such additional requirements as it shall deem necessary with respect to the pledging, assigning, setting aside, or holding of such collateral and the making of substitutions therefor or additions thereto and the disposition of income and receipts therefrom;
(5) The authority shall require as a condition of each loan to a lending institution that such lending institution, within such period after receipt of the loan proceeds as the authority may prescribe by regulation, shall have entered into written commitments to make and, within such period thereafter as the authority may prescribe by regulation, shall have disbursed the net loan proceeds in mortgage loans on residential housing in an aggregate principal amount equal to the net amount of such loan proceeds. Such mortgage loans shall have such terms and conditions as the authority may prescribe;
(6) The authority shall require each lending institution to which the authority has made a loan to submit evidence satisfactory to the authority of the making of new mortgage loans for residential housing as required by this Code section and in connection therewith may, through its employees or agents, inspect the books and records of any such lending institution;
(7) Compliance by any lending institution with the terms of its agreement with or undertaking to the authority with respect to the making of mortgage loans for residential housing may be enforced by the decree of any court of competent jurisdiction;
(8) To the extent that any provisions of this subsection may be inconsistent with any provision of law of the state governing the affairs of lending institutions, the provisions of this subsection shall control.
(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, each authority may finance residential housing under any provision of this chapter for occupancy by persons who, by virtue of age, physical condition, or other appropriate factors, are determined by the authority to require the assistance provided by such authority under this chapter, without regard to personal or family income.
(a) With respect to the power to purchase mortgages or security interests or participations therein from lending institutions as set forth in subsection (a) of Code Section 36-41-5, each authority may purchase mortgages or security interests from lending institutions, which shall in turn reinvest the proceeds in new mortgage loans made as rapidly as possible on residential housing. A mortgage or security interest or participation therein shall not be acquired under this chapter unless the rate of interest on such mortgage meets the rates of interest established by the authority. The authority shall establish such rates of interest, taking into consideration all of the following:
(1) The cost to the authority in obtaining funds;
(2) Allowances to be made to a lending institution as a service fee in acting as a servicing agent in the administration and collection of the mortgage;
(3) Administrative costs of the authority;
(4) Allowances for any necessary reserves of the authority; and
(5) Regulations of the Internal Revenue Service of the United States.
(b) The authority may purchase participations in mortgages or security interests and shall make such rules as will adequately secure the authority and its bondholders with respect to the purchase of participations in mortgages or security interests.
(c) If the authority purchases a mortgage or a security interest or a participation therein from a lending institution, the lending institution may act as servicing agent for the authority in the collection and administration of the mortgage or security interest, subject to the rules established by the authority under this chapter.
(d) Subject to the rights of bondholders, the authority shall fix the amount of the fee to be paid a servicing agent, in such amount as shall reasonably compensate the servicing agent for performing such services. The amount of such fee may be deductible from any interest payable and collected under the mortgage or security interest.
(e) The authority may make commitments to lending institutions to purchase a mortgage or security interest or participation therein prior to the date of its execution, and a mortgage which is made by a lending institution under a prior commitment from the authority to purchase the mortgage or security interest or a participation therein shall satisfy the requirement to reinvest the proceeds from the sale as quickly as possible in mortgage loans for residential housing. The authority shall establish such fees as are necessary to reimburse the authority for the administrative costs incurred in connection with making commitments to purchase and in purchasing mortgages or security interests or participations therein.
(f) The authority may require as a condition of a purchase of any mortgage or security interest from a lending institution that the lending institution represent and warrant to the authority any or all of the following:
(1) The unpaid principal balance and the interest rate thereon have been accurately stated to the authority and that the interest rate and all service charges in connection therewith are not usurious under the laws of the state;
(2) The amount of the unpaid principal balance is legally and validly due and owing;
(3) The lending institution has no notice of the existence of any counterclaim, offset, or defense asserted by the mortgagor or his successor in interest;
(4) Necessary documents have been properly recorded in the county in which the real estate lies;
(5) The mortgage or security interest constitutes a valid lien on the property described in the mortgage or security interest, subject only to such matters which do not adversely affect to a material degree the use or value of the property;
(6) The loan when made was lawful under the laws of the state or under federal law or both, whichever governed the making of the loan, and would be lawful on the date of purchase by the authority if made by the lending institution on that date in the amount of the unpaid principal balance;
(7) The mortgagor is not now in default in the payment of any installment of principal or interest, escrow funds, real property taxes, or otherwise in the performance of the mortgagor's obligations under the mortgage or security interest and has not, to the knowledge of the lending institution, been in default in the performance of any such obligation for a period of longer than 60 days;
(8) The mortgage or security interest requires that the property described therein be covered by a valid and subsisting policy of insurance issued by a responsible insurance company legally licensed and authorized to conduct and transact business in the state and providing fire and extended coverage to an amount not less than 80 percent of the insurable value of the property or in the amount of the mortgage or security interest, whichever the authority may determine;
(9) The insurance coverage referred to in paragraph (8) of this subsection is in full force and effect; and
(10) Subject to subsection (e) of this Code section, moneys received from the authority will be utilized for the financing, acquisition, or rehabilitation of residential housing within the geographic boundaries of the municipality activating the authority, and that certification by the lending institution to the effect that moneys have been reloaned as set forth in this chapter will be filed with the authority pursuant to the rules of the authority and will be available to the members of the public and to members of the General Assembly.
(g) Each lending institution shall be liable to the authority for any damages suffered by the authority by reason of the untruth of any representation or the breach of any warranty and, in the event that any representation shall prove to be untrue when made or in the event of any breach of warranty, the lending institution shall, at the option of the authority, repurchase the mortgage or security interest or participation for the original purchase price adjusted for amounts subsequently paid thereon, as the authority may determine.
(h) The authority may require the recording of an assignment of any mortgage purchased by it from a lending institution.
(a) Each authority shall have the power and is authorized, at one time or from time to time, to issue its revenue bonds in such principal amounts as, in the opinion of the authority, shall be necessary to provide sufficient funds for achieving the corporate purposes thereof, including the making and purchasing of loans for the acquisition, financing, construction, and rehabilitation of residential housing as provided in this chapter; the payment of interest on bonds of the authority; the establishment of reserves to secure such bonds; and all other expenditures of the authority incident to and necessary or convenient to carry out its corporate purposes and powers.
(b) The authority may retain the services of a qualified, independent financial advisor. The financial advisor shall not in any manner be involved in the underwriting of the revenue bonds or in the origination, sale, or servicing of mortgage loans for residential housing and shall serve only to advise the authority.
(c) The bonds of each issue shall be dated; shall bear interest at such rate or rates as shall be set by the authority (which may include the use of any formula or market-pricing mechanism determined by the authority to be reasonable), without limitation by any existing law of the state, payable at such times as the authority may determine; shall mature at such time or times as the authority may determine; shall be payable in such medium of payment as to both principal and interest as may be determined by the authority; and, at the option of the authority, may be made redeemable before maturity or exchangeable for other bonds of the same series at such price or prices and under such terms and conditions as may be fixed by the authority in the resolution or financing documents providing for the issuance of such bonds or both redeemable and exchangeable. The bonds may be issued as serial bonds or as term bonds with or without mandatory sinking fund provisions or as a combination thereof.
(d) The authority shall determine the form of the bonds, including any interest or principal coupons to be attached thereto, and shall fix the denomination or denominations of the bonds and the place or places of payment of principal and interest thereof, which may be at any bank or trust company inside or outside the state.
(e) All such bonds shall be executed in the name of the authority by the chairman or vice-chairman and secretary-treasurer of the authority and shall be sealed with the official seal of the authority or a facsimile thereof. Coupons shall be executed in the name of the authority by the chairman or vice-chairman of the authority. The facsimile signature of both the chairman or vice-chairman and the secretary-treasurer of the authority may be imprinted in lieu of the manual signatures if the authority so directs, and the facsimile of the chairman's or vice-chairman's signature shall be used on such coupons. Bonds and interest coupons appurtenant thereto bearing the manual or facsimile signature of a person in office at the time such signature was signed or imprinted shall be fully valid notwithstanding the fact that before or after the delivery thereof such person ceased to hold such office. In addition to the foregoing, the bonds shall bear the manual or facsimile signature of the clerk of the superior court of each county wherein is located a municipality activating an authority.
(f) The bonds may be issued in coupon or in registered form, or both, as the authority may determine, and provision may be made for the registration of any coupon bond as to principal alone and also as to both principal and interest. The authority may sell such bonds at public or private sale in such manner and for such price as it may determine to be for the best interest of the authority.
(g) Prior to the preparation of definitive bonds, the authority may issue interim receipts, interim certificates, or temporary bonds exchangeable for definitive bonds upon the issuance of the latter. The authority may also provide for the replacement of any bond which shall become mutilated or be destroyed or lost. Such revenue bonds may be issued without any other proceedings or the happening of any other conditions or things than those proceedings, conditions, and things which are specified or required by this chapter.
(h) Each authority is authorized to provide by resolution for the issue of refunding bonds of the authority for the purpose of refunding any bonds issued under this chapter and then outstanding, together with accrued interest thereon. The issuance of such refunding bonds, the maturities and all other details thereof, the rights of the holders thereof, and the duties of the authority in respect to the same shall be governed by this chapter insofar as the same may be applicable.
(i) If the authority so determines, the bonds may be issued pursuant to a trust indenture between the authority and a trustee, which trust indenture shall have such terms and provisions as may be determined by the authority.
(j) Except as provided in this Code section, all revenue bonds issued by the authority under this chapter shall be executed, confirmed, and validated under, and in accordance with, Article 3 of Chapter 82 of this title, except that, in lieu of specifying the maturities or the rate or rates of interest which revenue bonds to be issued by an authority are to bear, the petition and complaint filed in the validation proceeding may state that the bonds, when issued, will mature no later than 40 years from their issuance and bear interest at a rate not exceeding a maximum per annum rate of interest specified in such notices or that, in the event that bonds are to bear different rates of interest for different maturity dates, none of such rates will exceed the maximum rate specified in the notices; provided, however, that nothing contained in this subsection shall be construed as prohibiting or restricting the right of the authority to sell such bonds at a discount, even if in so doing the effective interest cost resulting therefrom would exceed the maximum per annum interest rate specified in such notices.
(k) In the event that no appeal is filed within the time prescribed by law or, if an appeal is filed, that the judgment is affirmed on appeal, the judgment of the superior court so confirming and validating the issuance of the bonds and the security therefor shall be forever conclusive upon the validity of the bonds and the security therefor against the authority and all other persons.
(l) The bonds are made securities in which all public officers and bodies of the state and all municipalities; all insurance companies and associations and other persons carrying on an insurance business; all banks, bankers, trust companies, savings banks, and savings associations, including savings and loan associations, building and loan associations, investment companies, and other persons carrying on a banking business; all administrators, guardians, executors, trustees, and other fiduciaries, and all other persons whatsoever who are now or may hereafter be authorized to invest in bonds or other obligations of the state may properly and legally invest funds, including capital in their control or belonging to them. The bonds are also made securities which may be deposited with and shall be received by all public officers and bodies of the state and all municipalities for any purposes of which the deposit of the bonds or other obligations of the state is now or may hereafter be authorized.
Each authority may pledge for the payment of its bonds such assets, funds, contract rights, and properties as the resolution providing for the issuance of its bonds may provide. Any such pledge made by the authority shall be valid and binding from the time when the pledge is made. The moneys or properties so pledged shall immediately be subject to the lien of such pledge without any physical delivery thereof or further act; and the lien of any such pledge shall be valid and binding as against all parties having claims of any kind against the authority, irrespective of whether such parties have notice thereof. No resolution or any other instrument by which a pledge is created need be recorded.
No bonds or other obligations of and no indebtedness incurred by any authority shall constitute an indebtedness or obligation of the state or any county, municipality, or political subdivision thereof, nor shall any act of any authority in any manner constitute or result in the creation of an indebtedness of the state or any such county, municipality, or political subdivision. All such bonds and obligations shall be payable solely from the sources established for the payment thereof in the resolution or financing documents authorizing the issuance of such bonds; and no holder or holders of any such bonds or obligations shall ever have the right to compel any exercise of the taxing power of the state or any county, municipality, or political subdivision thereof, nor to enforce the payment thereof against any property of the state or any such county, municipality, or political subdivision.
As each authority will be performing essential governmental functions in the exercise of the powers conferred upon it by this chapter, the state covenants with the holders of the bonds of an authority that the authority shall be required to pay no taxes or assessments upon any of the property acquired by it or under its jurisdiction, control, possession, or supervision or upon its activities in the operation or maintenance of any facilities maintained or acquired by it or any fees, rentals, or other charges for the use of such facilities or other income received by the authority and that the bonds and notes of the authority, their transfer, and the income therefrom shall at all times be exempt from taxation within the state. The exemption from taxation provided in this Code section shall not extend to tenants or lessees of the authority and shall not include exemptions from sales and use taxes on property purchased by the authority or for use by the authority. No authority shall be required to pay any intangible tax on the recording of any mortgage held or granted by the authority.
No authority shall compete with the Georgia Housing and Finance Authority to such an extent as to affect adversely the interests and rights of the holders of bonds issued by the Georgia Housing and Finance Authority.
Each authority and each trustee acting on behalf of an authority shall submit to an annual independent audit performed by a qualified firm selected by the members of such authority. Payment for this audit shall be paid from any funds held by the trustee for the authority.
This chapter may be referred to as the “Downtown Development Authorities Law.”
The revitalization and redevelopment of the central business districts of the municipal corporations of this state develop and promote for the public good and general welfare trade, commerce, industry, and employment opportunities and promote the general welfare of this state by creating a climate favorable to the location of new industry, trade, and commerce and the development of existing industry, trade, and commerce within the municipal corporations of this state. Revitalization and redevelopment of central business districts by financing projects under this chapter will develop and promote for the public good and general welfare trade, commerce, industry, and employment opportunities and will promote the general welfare of this state. It is, therefore, in the public interest and is vital to the public welfare of the people of this state, and it is declared to be the public purpose of this chapter, so to revitalize and redevelop the central business districts of the municipal corporations of this state. No bonds, notes, or other obligations, except refunding bonds, shall be issued by an authority under this chapter unless its board of directors adopts a resolution finding that the project for which such bonds, notes, or other obligations are to be issued will promote the foregoing objectives.
As used in this chapter, the term:
(1) “Authority” means each public body corporate and politic created pursuant to this chapter.
(2) “Cost of the project” or “cost of any project” means and includes:
(A) All costs of acquisition (by purchase or otherwise), construction, assembly, installation, modification, renovation, or rehabilitation incurred in connection with any project or any part of any project;
(B) All costs of real property, fixtures, or personal property used in or in connection with or necessary for any project or for any facilities related thereto, including, but not limited to, the cost of all land, estates for years, easements, rights, improvements, water rights, connections for utility services, fees, franchises, permits, approvals, licenses, and certificates; the cost of securing any such franchises, permits, approvals, licenses, or certificates; and the cost of preparation of any application therefor and the cost of all fixtures, machinery, equipment, furniture, and other property used in or in connection with or necessary for any project;
(C) All financing charges and loan fees and all interest on revenue bonds, notes, or other obligations of an authority which accrues or is paid prior to and during the period of construction of a project and during such additional period as the authority may reasonably determine to be necessary to place such project in operation;
(D) All costs of engineering, surveying, and architectural and legal services and all expenses incurred by engineers, surveyors, architects, and attorneys in connection with any project;
(E) All expenses for inspection of any project;
(F) All fees of fiscal agents, paying agents, and trustees for bondholders under any trust agreement, indenture of trust, or similar instrument or agreement; all expenses incurred by any such fiscal agents, paying agents, and trustees; and all other costs and expenses incurred relative to the issuance of any revenue bonds, notes, or other obligations for any project;
(G) All fees of any type charged by an authority in connection with any project;
(H) All expenses of or incidental to determining the feasibility or practicability of any project;
(I) All costs of plans and specifications for any project;
(J) All costs of title insurance and examinations of title with respect to any project;
(K) Repayment of any loans made for the advance payment of any part of any of the foregoing costs, including interest thereon and any other expenses of such loans;
(L) Administrative expenses of the authority and such other expenses as may be necessary or incidental to any project or the financing thereof or the placing of any project in operation; and
(M) The establishment of a fund or funds for the creation of a debt service reserve, a renewal and replacement reserve, or such other funds or reserves as the authority may approve with respect to the financing and operation of any project and as may be authorized by any bond resolution, trust agreement, indenture of trust, or similar instrument or agreement pursuant to the provisions of which the issuance of any revenue bonds, notes, or other obligations of the authority may be authorized.
Any cost, obligation, or expense incurred for any of the foregoing purposes shall be a part of the cost of the project and may be paid or reimbursed as such out of proceeds of revenue bonds, notes, or other obligations issued by the authority.
(3) “Downtown development area” means the geographical area within a municipal corporation designated as such by the resolution of the governing body activating the authority for such municipal corporation as modified by any subsequent resolution of the governing body of such municipal corporation.
(4) “Governing body” means the elected or duly appointed officials constituting the governing body of any municipal corporation in the State of Georgia.
(5) “Municipal corporation” means any city or town in this state.
(6) “Project” means:
(A) The acquisition, construction, installation, modification, renovation, or rehabilitation of land, interests in land, buildings, structures, facilities, or other improvements located or to be located within the downtown development area, and the acquisition, installation, modification, renovation, rehabilitation, or furnishing of fixtures, machinery, equipment, furniture, or other property of any nature whatsoever used on, in, or in connection with any such land, interest in land, building, structure, facility, or other improvement, any undertaking authorized by Chapter 43 of this title as part of a city business improvement district, any undertaking authorized in Chapter 44 of this title, the “Redevelopment Powers Law,” when the downtown development authority has been designated as a redevelopment agency, or any undertaking authorized in Chapter 61 of this title, the “Urban Redevelopment Law,” when the downtown development authority has been designated as an urban redevelopment agency, all for the essential public purpose of the development of trade, commerce, industry, and employment opportunities in its authorized area of operation; and
(B) The provision of financing to property owners for the purpose of installing or modifying improvements to their property in order to reduce the energy or water consumption on such property or to install an improvement to such property that produces energy from renewable resources.
A project may be for any industrial, commercial, business, office, parking, public, or other use, provided that a majority of the members of the authority determine, by a duly adopted resolution, that the project and such use thereof would further the public purpose of this chapter. Such term shall include any one or more buildings or structures used or to be used as a not for profit hospital, not for profit skilled nursing home, or not for profit intermediate care home subject to regulation and licensure by the Department of Community Health and all necessary, convenient, or related interests in land, machinery, apparatus, appliances, equipment, furnishings, appurtenances, site preparation, landscaping, and physical amenities.
(7) “Revenue bonds” or “bonds” means any bonds of an authority which are authorized to be issued under the Constitution and laws of Georgia, including refunding bonds but not including notes or other obligations of an authority.
There is created in and for each municipal corporation in this state a public body corporate and politic to be known as the downtown development authority of such municipal corporation, which shall consist of a board of seven directors. The governing body of the municipal corporation shall appoint two members of the first board of directors for a term of two years each, two for a term of four years each, and three for a term of six years each. The governing body of the municipal corporation may appoint one of its elected members as a member of the downtown development authority. After expiration of the initial terms, except for the director who is also a member of the governing body of the municipal corporation, the terms of all directors shall be six years; provided, however, that the terms shall be four years for those directors appointed or reappointed on or after July 1, 1994. The term of a director who is also a member of the governing body of a municipal corporation shall end when such director is no longer a member of the governing body of the municipal corporation. If at the end of any term of office of any director a successor to such director has not been elected, the director whose term of office has expired shall continue to hold office until a successor is elected. A majority of the board of directors shall constitute a quorum.
(a) No authority shall transact any business or exercise any powers under this chapter until the governing body of the municipal corporation shall, by proper resolution, declare that there is a need for an authority to function in such municipal corporation, thereby activating the authority. In its resolution, the governing body shall designate as the downtown development area that geographical area within the municipal corporation which, in the judgment of the governing body, constitutes the central business district and shall appoint the initial directors of the authority.
(b) A copy of the governing body's resolution shall be filed with the Secretary of State, who shall maintain a record of all authorities activated under this chapter, and with the Department of Community Affairs. The Department of Community Affairs may, but shall not be required to, furnish written comments to any authority within 30 days after the governing body's resolution is filed with the Department of Community Affairs. Any such comments shall be furnished by the authority to the governing body of the municipal corporation which activated the authority. Such comments shall be informational only and shall not affect any action taken or to be taken by any authority or governing body, and no action of the authority or the governing body shall be required in response to any such comments. The requirements of this subsection relating to filing with the Department of Community Affairs shall apply only to authorities originally activated after July 1, 1983.
The governing body of the municipal corporation may, by proper resolution adopted subsequent to its resolution activating its authority:
(1) Change its designation of the downtown development area to a geographical area within the municipal corporation which, in the judgment of the governing body, at the time constitutes the central business district, provided that any such change in the downtown development area shall be effective prospectively from the adoption of the resolution providing therefor and shall not affect any project of, or any action taken by, the authority within or with respect to the downtown development area as defined prior to such change becoming effective; and
(2) Appoint directors of the authority which the governing body of the municipal corporation is authorized to appoint; and
(3) Disapprove any proposed issue of revenue bonds, notes, or other obligations of the authority, in the manner provided in this chapter.
(a) Directors shall be:
(1) Taxpayers residing in the municipal corporation for which the authority is created;
(2) Owners or operators of businesses located within the downtown development area and who shall be taxpayers residing in the county in which is located the municipal corporation for which the authority is created; or
(3) Persons having a combination of the qualifications specified in paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection;
provided, however, that one of such directors may be a member of the governing body of the municipal corporation.
(b) Not less than four of the directors having the qualifications specified in subsection (a) of this Code section shall be persons who, in the judgment of the governing body of the municipal corporation, either have or represent a party who has an economic interest in the redevelopment and revitalization of the downtown development area. Successors to the directors shall be appointed by the governing body of the municipal corporation.
(c) The directors shall elect one of their members as chairman and another as vice chairman and shall also elect a secretary and a treasurer or a secretary-treasurer, either of whom may but need not be a director. The directors shall receive no compensation for their services but shall be reimbursed for actual expenses incurred by them in the performance of their duties.
(c.1) Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this Code section, one director appointed to the board may reside outside the county; provided, however, that such appointed director owns a business within the downtown development area and is a resident of the State of Georgia. If subsequently to his or her appointment to the board pursuant to this subsection, the director ceases to own a business within the downtown development area or reside in the State of Georgia, such director shall relinquish his or her seat on the board.
(d) Except for a director who is also a member of the governing body of a municipal corporation, each director shall attend and complete at least eight hours of training on downtown development and redevelopment programs within the first 12 months of a director's appointment to the downtown development authority. Directors in office on January 1, 1992, shall be exempt from this requirement unless reappointed for an additional term.
(a) Each authority shall have all of the powers necessary or convenient to carry out and effectuate the purposes and provisions of this chapter, including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the power:
(1) To bring and defend actions;
(2) To adopt and amend a corporate seal;
(3) To make and execute contracts, agreements, and other instruments necessary or convenient to exercise the powers of the authority or to further the public purpose for which the authority is created, including, but not limited to, contracts for construction of projects, leases of projects, contracts for sale of projects, agreements for loans to finance projects, contracts with respect to the use of projects, and agreements to join or cooperate with an urban residential finance authority, created by the municipal corporation within which the downtown development area is located pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 41 of this title, in the exercise, either jointly or otherwise, of any or all of its powers for the purpose of financing, including the issuance of revenue bonds, notes, or other obligations of the authorities, planning, undertaking, owning, constructing, operating, or contracting with respect to any projects located within the downtown development area or, for projects under subparagraph (B) of paragraph (6) of Code Section 36-42-3, within the territorial boundaries of the municipal corporation;
(4) To acquire by purchase, lease, or otherwise and to hold, lease, and dispose of real and personal property of every kind and character, or any interest therein, in furtherance of the public purpose of the authority;
(5) To finance (by loan, grant, lease, or otherwise), refinance, construct, erect, assemble, purchase, acquire, own, repair, remodel, renovate, rehabilitate, modify, maintain, extend, improve, install, sell, equip, expand, add to, operate, or manage projects and to pay the cost of any project from the proceeds of revenue bonds, notes, or other obligations of the authority or any other funds of the authority, or from any contributions or loans by persons, corporations, partnerships (whether limited or general), or other entities, all of which the authority is authorized to receive, accept, and use;
(6) To borrow money to further or carry out its public purpose and to execute revenue bonds, notes, other obligations, leases, trust indentures, trust agreements, agreements for the sale of its revenue bonds, notes, or other obligations, loan agreements, mortgages, deeds to secure debt, trust deeds, security agreements, assignments, and such other agreements or instruments as may be necessary or desirable, in the judgment of the authority, to evidence and to provide security for such borrowing;
(7) To issue revenue bonds, notes, or other obligations of the authority and use the proceeds thereof for the purpose of paying, or loaning the proceeds thereof to pay, all or any part of the cost of any project and otherwise to further or carry out the public purpose of the authority and to pay all costs of the authority incidental to, or necessary and appropriate to, furthering or carrying out such purpose;
(8) To make application directly or indirectly to any federal, state, county, or municipal government or agency or to any other source, whether public or private, for loans, grants, guarantees, or other financial assistance in furtherance of the authority's public purpose and to accept and use the same upon such terms and conditions as are prescribed by such federal, state, county, or municipal government or agency or other source;
(9) To enter into agreements with the federal government or any agency thereof to use the facilities or services of the federal government or any agency thereof in order to further or carry out the public purposes of the authority;
(10) To contract for any period, not exceeding 50 years, with the State of Georgia, state institutions, or any municipal corporation or county of this state for the use by the authority of any facilities or services of the state or any such state institution, municipal corporation, or county, or for the use by any state institution or any municipal corporation or county of any facilities or services of the authority, provided that such contracts shall deal with such activities and transactions as the authority and any such political subdivision with which the authority contracts are authorized by law to undertake;
(11) To extend credit or make loans to any person, corporation, partnership (whether limited or general), or other entity for the costs of any project or any part of the costs of any project, which credit or loans may be evidenced or secured by loan agreements, notes, mortgages, deeds to secure debt, trust deeds, security agreements, assignments, or such other instruments, or by rentals, revenues, fees, or charges, upon such terms and conditions as the authority shall determine to be reasonable in connection with such extension of credit or loans, including provision for the establishment and maintenance of reserve funds; and, in the exercise of powers granted by this chapter in connection with any project, the authority shall have the right and power to require the inclusion in any such loan agreement, note, mortgage, deed to secure debt, trust deed, security agreement, assignment, or other instrument of such provisions or requirements for guaranty of any obligations, insurance, construction, use, operation, maintenance, and financing of a project, and such other terms and conditions, as the authority may deem necessary or desirable;
(12) As security for repayment of any revenue bonds, notes, or other obligations of the authority, to pledge, mortgage, convey, assign, hypothecate, or otherwise encumber any property of the authority (including, but not limited to, real property, fixtures, personal property, and revenues or other funds) and to execute any lease, trust indenture, trust agreement, agreement for the sale of the authority's revenue bonds, notes, or other obligations, loan agreement, mortgage, deed to secure debt, trust deed, security agreement, assignment, or other agreement or instrument as may be necessary or desirable, in the judgment of the authority, to secure any such revenue bonds, notes, or other obligations, which instruments or agreements may provide for foreclosure or forced sale of any property of the authority upon default in any obligation of the authority, either in payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest or in the performance of any term or condition contained in any such agreement or instrument. The State of Georgia, on behalf of itself and each county, municipal corporation, political subdivision, or taxing district therein, waives any right it or such county, municipal corporation, political subdivision, or taxing district may have to prevent the forced sale or foreclosure of any property of the authority upon such default and agrees that any agreement or instrument encumbering such property may be foreclosed in accordance with law and the terms thereof;
(13) To receive and use the proceeds of any tax levied by a municipal corporation to pay the costs of any project or for any other purpose for which the authority may use its own funds pursuant to this chapter;
(14) To receive and administer gifts, grants, and devises of money and property of any kind and to administer trusts;
(15) To use any real property, personal property, or fixtures or any interest therein or to rent or lease such property to or from others or make contracts with respect to the use thereof, or to sell, lease, exchange, transfer, assign, pledge, or otherwise dispose of or grant options for any such property in any manner as it deems to the best advantage of the authority and the public purpose thereof;
(16) To acquire, accept, or retain equitable interests, security interests, or other interests in any real property, personal property, or fixtures by loan agreement, note, mortgage, deed to secure debt, trust deed, security agreement, assignment, pledge, conveyance, contract, lien, loan agreement, or other consensual transfer in order to secure the repayment of any moneys loaned or credit extended by the authority;
(17) To appoint, select, and employ engineers, surveyors, architects, urban or city planners, fiscal agents, attorneys, and others and to fix their compensation and pay their expenses;
(18) To encourage and promote the improvement and revitalization of the downtown development area and to make, contract for, or otherwise cause to be made long-range plans or proposals for the downtown development area in cooperation with the municipal corporation within which the downtown development area is located;
(19) To adopt bylaws governing the conduct of business by the authority, the election and duties of officers of the authority, and other matters which the authority determines to deal with in its bylaws;
(20) To exercise any power granted by the laws of this state to public or private corporations which is not in conflict with the public purpose of the authority;
(21) To do all things necessary or convenient to carry out the powers conferred by this chapter;
(22) To serve as an urban redevelopment agency pursuant to Chapter 61 of this title;
(23) To contract with a municipal corporation to carry out supplemental services in a city business improvement district established pursuant to Chapter 43 of this title; and
(24) To serve as a redevelopment agency pursuant to Chapter 44 of this title.
(b) The powers enumerated in each paragraph of subsection (a) of this Code section are cumulative of and in addition to those powers enumerated in the other paragraphs of subsection (a) of this Code section and elsewhere in this chapter; and no such power limits or restricts any other power of the authority except that, notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, no authority described in this chapter shall be granted the power of eminent domain.
(a) Revenue bonds, notes, or other obligations issued by an authority shall be paid solely from the property (including, but not limited to, real property, fixtures, personal property, revenues, or other funds) pledged, mortgaged, conveyed, assigned, hypothecated, or otherwise encumbered to secure or to pay such bonds, notes, or other obligations.
(b) All revenue bonds, notes, and other obligations shall be authorized by resolution of the authority, adopted by a majority vote of the directors of the authority at a regular or special meeting.
(c) Reserved.
(d) Revenue bonds, notes, or other obligations shall bear such date or dates, shall mature at such time or times (not more than 40 years from their respective dates), shall bear interest at such rate or rates (which may be fixed or may fluctuate or otherwise change from time to time), shall be subject to redemption on such terms, and shall contain such other terms, provisions, covenants, assignments, and conditions as the resolution authorizing the issuance of such bonds, notes, or other obligations may permit or provide. The terms, provisions, covenants, assignments, and conditions contained in or provided or permitted by any resolution of the authority authorizing the issuance of such revenue bonds, notes, or other obligations shall bind the directors of the authority then in office and their successors.
(e) The authority shall have power from time to time and whenever it deems it expedient to refund any bonds by the issuance of new bonds, whether or not the bonds to be refunded have matured, and may issue bonds partly to refund bonds then outstanding and partly for any other purpose permitted under this chapter. The refunding bonds may be exchanged for the bonds to be refunded, with such cash adjustments as may be agreed upon, or may be sold and the proceeds applied to the purchase or redemption of the bonds to be refunded.
(f) There shall be no limitation upon the amount of revenue bonds, notes, or other obligations which any authority may issue. Any limitations with respect to interest rates or any maximum interest rate or rates found in Article 3 of Chapter 82 of this title, the “Revenue Bond Law,” the usury laws of this state, or any other laws of this state shall not apply to revenue bonds, notes, or other obligations of an authority.
(a) All bonds issued by the authority under this chapter shall be issued and validated under and in accordance with Article 3 of Chapter 82 of this title, the “Revenue Bond Law,” except as provided in this chapter, provided that notes and other obligations of the authority may, but shall not be required to, be so validated.
(b) Bonds issued by an authority may be in such form, either coupon or fully registered, or both coupon and fully registered, and may be subject to such exchangeability and transferability provisions, as the bond resolution authorizing the issuance of such bonds or any indenture or trust agreement may provide.
(c) Bonds shall bear a certificate of validation. The signature of the clerk of the superior court of the county in which the issuing authority is located may be made on the certificate of validation of such bonds by facsimile or by manual execution, stating the date on which such bonds were validated; and such entry shall be original evidence of the fact of judgment and shall be received as original evidence in any court in this state.
(d) In lieu of specifying the rate or rates of interest which bonds to be issued by an authority are to bear, the notice to the district attorney or the Attorney General, the notice to the public of the time, place, and date of the validation hearing, and the petition and complaint for validation may state that the bonds when issued will bear interest at a rate not exceeding a maximum per annum rate of interest (which may be fixed or may fluctuate or otherwise change from time to time) specified in such notices and petition and complaint or may state that, in the event the bonds are to bear different rates of interest for different maturity dates, none of such rates will exceed the maximum rate (which may be fixed or may fluctuate or otherwise change from time to time) so specified; provided, however, that nothing in this Code section shall be construed as prohibiting or restricting the right of the authority to sell such bonds at a discount, even if in doing so the effective interest cost resulting therefrom would exceed the maximum per annum interest rate specified in such notices and in the petition and complaint.
(e) The terms “cost of the project” and “cost of any project” shall have the meaning prescribed in this chapter whenever those terms are referred to in bond resolutions of an authority, in bonds, notes, or other obligations of an authority, or in notices or proceedings to validate such bonds, notes, or other obligations of an authority.
(a) Subject to the limitations and procedures provided by this Code section and by Code Section 36-42-10, the agreements or instruments executed by an authority may contain such provisions not inconsistent with law as shall be determined by the board of directors of the authority.
(b) The proceeds derived from the sale of all bonds, notes, and other obligations issued by an authority shall be held and used for the ultimate purpose of paying, directly or indirectly as permitted in this chapter, all or part of the cost of any project, or for the purpose of refunding any bonds, notes, or other obligations issued in accordance with this chapter.
(c) Issuance by an authority of one or more series of bonds, notes, or other obligations for one or more purposes shall not preclude it from issuing other bonds, notes, or other obligations in connection with the same project or with any other projects; but the proceeding wherein any subsequent bonds, notes, or other obligations are issued shall recognize and protect any prior loan agreement, mortgage, deed to secure debt, trust deed, security agreement, or other agreement or instrument made for any prior issue of bonds, notes, or other obligations, unless in the resolution authorizing such prior issue the right is expressly reserved to the authority to issue subsequent bonds, notes, or other obligations on a parity with such prior issue.
(d) An authority shall have the power and is authorized, whenever bonds of the authority shall have been validated as provided in this chapter, to issue from time to time its notes in anticipation of such bonds as validated and to renew from time to time any such notes by the issuance of new notes, whether or not the notes to be renewed have matured. The authority may issue such bond anticipation notes only to provide funds which would otherwise be provided by the issuance of the bonds as validated. Such notes may be authorized, sold, executed, and delivered in the same manner as bonds. As with its bonds, the authority may sell such notes at public sale or at private sale. Any resolution or resolutions authorizing notes of the authority or any issue thereof may contain any provisions which the authority is authorized to include in any resolution or resolutions authorizing bonds of the authority to any issue thereof; and the authority may include in any notes any terms, covenants, or conditions which the authority is authorized to include in any bonds. Validation of such bonds shall be a condition precedent to the issuance of such notes, but it shall not be required that such notes be judicially validated. Bond anticipation notes shall not be issued in an amount exceeding the par value of the bonds in anticipation of which they are to be issued.
No bonds, notes, or other obligations of, and no indebtedness incurred by, an authority shall constitute an indebtedness or obligation of the State of Georgia or any county, municipal corporation, or political subdivision thereof, nor shall any act of any authority in any manner constitute or result in the creation of an indebtedness of this state or any county, municipal corporation, or political subdivision thereof. No holder or holders of any such bonds, notes, or other obligations shall ever have the right to compel any exercise of the taxing power of the state or any county, municipal corporation, or political subdivision thereof, nor to enforce the payment thereof against the state or any such county, municipal corporation, or political subdivision.
This chapter is enacted pursuant to authority granted the General Assembly by the Constitution of Georgia. Each authority created pursuant to this chapter is created for nonprofit and public purposes; and it is found, determined, and declared that the creation of each such authority and the carrying out of its corporate purposes is in all respects for the benefit of the people of this state and that each authority is an institution of purely public charity and will be performing an essential governmental function in the exercise of the power conferred upon it by this chapter; and for such reasons the state covenants with the holders from time to time of the bonds, notes, and other obligations issued under this chapter that no such authority shall be required to pay any taxes or assessments imposed by this state or any counties, municipal corporations, political subdivisions, or taxing districts thereof upon any property acquired by the authority or under its jurisdiction, control, possession, or supervision or leased by it to others or upon its activities in the operation or maintenance of any such property or on any income derived by the authority in the form of fees, recording fees, rentals, charges, purchase price, installments, or otherwise; and that the bonds, notes, and other obligations of each such authority, their transfer, and the income therefrom shall at all times be exempt from taxation within this state. The tax exemption provided for in this Code section shall not include any exemption from sales and use tax on property purchased by the authority or for use by the authority.
This chapter shall not affect any other authority existing as of April 17, 1981, or thereafter under general or local constitutional amendment or under general or local law.
This chapter shall be liberally construed to effect the purposes hereof. The offer, sale, or issuance of bonds, notes, or other obligations by any authority shall not be subject to regulation under Chapter 5 of Title 10, the “Georgia Uniform Securities Act of 2008.” No notice, proceeding, or publication except those required by this chapter shall be necessary to the performance of any act authorized by this chapter, nor shall any such act be subject to referendum.
Pursuant to Article IX, Section II, Paragraph VI of the Constitution of the State of Georgia, municipalities may create one or more special districts within the area of operation of a downtown development authority for the purpose of levying and collecting taxes, fees, or assessments to pay the cost of any project or to support the exercise of any other powers which the authority may possess.
(a) An assessment under Code Section 36-42-16 that relates to any project described in subparagraph (B) of paragraph (6) of Code Section 36-42-3 shall be levied and may be collected when:
(1) A written contract regarding such assessment is executed by the property owner, the authority, and the project administrator;
(2) Such contract is administratively acknowledged by the relevant local jurisdiction with the taxing authority; and
(3) A notice of assessment is recorded in the property records of the relevant local jurisdiction.
(b) A lien for any assessment under Code Section 36-42-16 that relates to any project under subparagraph (B) of paragraph (6) of Code Section 36-42-3 shall have the same priority as municipal liens under paragraph (4) of subsection (b) and subparagraph (g)(2)(B) of Code Section 48-2-56.
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the “City Business Improvement District Act.”
The General Assembly finds that many business districts within large cities in this state are in an economically depressed condition and that this condition adversely affects the economic and general well-being of the people of such large cities of the state. It is further found and declared that the establishment of city business improvement districts is an effective means for restoring and promoting commercial and other business activity within such business districts.
As used in this chapter, the term:
(1) “District” means a city business improvement district established pursuant to this chapter.
(2) “District plan” or “plan” means a proposal adopted by ordinance which includes all of the following:
(A) A map of the district;
(B) A description of the boundaries of the district proposed for creation or extension, such description to be sufficient to identify the lands included, the present and proposed uses of these lands, the supplemental services to be provided within the district, the maximum millage to be levied for providing supplemental services, the proposed time for implementation and completion of the plan, any design and rehabilitation standards which may be mandated for buildings located within each district, and any rules and regulations applicable to the district. Boundaries of any such district shall not include land on which is located telephone central office and switching facilities serving an area exceeding the boundaries of the district; and
(C) Any other item required to be incorporated therein by the governing authority.
(3) “Municipality” means any municipal corporation located wholly within this state.
(4) “Supplemental services” means those services provided for the improvement and promotion of the district, including, but not limited to, advertising, promotion, sanitation, security, and business recruitment and development.
(5) “Taxpayer” means any entity or person paying ad valorem taxes on real or personal property, whether on one or more businesses or one or more parcels of property within a district.
Upon the establishment of any city business improvement district pursuant to this chapter, the governing authority of any municipality to which this chapter is applicable shall have authority to exercise the following powers with respect to each such district, subject to this chapter:
(1) To adopt a district plan for the provision of supplemental services to the district and to adopt budgets for the implementation of such supplemental services;
(2) To fix and levy annually a millage upon real and personal property within the district, to make such assessments liens upon the properties, and to enforce such liens in the same manner as other city taxes;
(3) To provide supplemental services or to contract with nonprofit corporations or to contract with downtown development authorities established pursuant to Chapter 42 of this title for all or part of the supplemental services required to implement the plan;
(4) To mandate design and rehabilitation standards for buildings located within the district subject to any existing or established historic preservation requirements or ordinances; and
(5) To levy and collect a surcharge on existing business license and occupation taxes upon businesses and occupations within the district and to enforce liens for nonpayment of said surcharges in the same manner as other city taxes.
The governing authority of any municipality to which this chapter is applicable may create city business improvement districts by the adoption of district plans, as follows:
(1) No such plan may be adopted except upon a written petition signed and acknowledged by either:
(A) At least 51 percent of the municipal taxpayers (as shown by the most recent list of taxpayers billed by the municipality) of the district proposed for creation or extension; or
(B) Municipal taxpayers owning at least 51 percent (by assessed value as shown by the most recent assessment rolls of the municipality) of the taxable property subject to ad valorem real and personal property taxation in the district;
(2) Such petition must be accompanied by a proposed district plan, to include a budget, a formula for imposing assessments on the taxpayers within the district, and design and rehabilitation standards, if desired;
(3) The petition shall be presented to the governing authority of the municipality, which shall refer it to the appropriate municipal departments for review of its sufficiency, reasonableness of assessments, and financial feasibility of the plan. These departments shall submit to the governing authority reports which shall approve of, disapprove of, or give qualified approval with modifications to the district plan, with reasons therefor. The governing authority shall hold a public hearing on the issue of whether such district should be created, provided that notice of the hearing shall be placed in a newspaper of general circulation in the community at least ten days prior to the date of the hearing. The governing authority may approve, approve with modifications, or disapprove the plan; and
(4) Any district plan thus adopted may be amended from time to time or rescinded or its budget may be revised by ordinance.
The expense incurred in the provision of supplemental services within a district shall be financed in accordance with the district plan upon which the establishment or extension of the district was based, provided that the cost of supplemental services shall not include the cost to the district of services performed by the municipality on a city-wide basis. Any property tax charges or business license fee and occupation tax surcharges shall be levied and collected in the same manner, at the same time, and by the same officers as other city taxes and assessments.
No charges assessed and collected by a municipality pursuant to this chapter shall be spent for any purpose not authorized by the district plan of the district where such charges were assessed and collected, except for such costs as may be attributed to the billing and collection of such charges.
Upon the establishment of any district pursuant to this chapter, the governing authority of any municipality to which this chapter is applicable may mandate design and rehabilitation standards for buildings within districts if it finds that such standards are necessary to prevent or eliminate blight, to establish and improve property values, and to foster economic development within districts. The governing authority may establish deadlines for compliance with these standards and may provide for their enforcement.
Any district which is created or renewed pursuant to Code Section 36-43-5 shall terminate and cease to exist on a date specific no less than five years and no more than ten years from the date of its creation or renewal by ordinance.
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the “Redevelopment Powers Law.”
It is found and declared that economically and socially depressed areas exist within counties and municipalities of this state and that these areas contribute to or cause unemployment, limit the tax resources of counties and municipalities, and create a greater demand for governmental services and, in general, have a deleterious effect upon the public health, safety, morals, and welfare. It is, therefore, in the public interest that such areas be redeveloped to the maximum extent practicable to improve economic and social conditions therein in order to abate or eliminate such deleterious effects. To encourage such redevelopment, it is essential that the counties and municipalities of this state have additional powers to form a more effective partnership with private enterprise to overcome economic limitations that have previously impeded or prohibited redevelopment of such areas. It is the purpose of this chapter, therefore, to grant such additional powers to the counties and municipalities of this state, and it is the intention of the General Assembly that this chapter be liberally construed to carry out such purpose.
As used in this chapter, the term:
(1) “Ad valorem property taxes” means all ad valorem property taxes levied by each political subdivision and each county and independent board of education consenting to the inclusion of that board of education's property taxes as being applicable to a tax allocation district as provided by Code Section 36-44-9, except:
(A) Those ad valorem property taxes levied to repay bonded indebtedness;
(B) Unless otherwise provided in the resolution creating such district, those ad valorem property taxes levied on personal property or on motor vehicles; and
(C) Unless otherwise provided in the resolution creating such district, those ad valorem property taxes levied on the assessed value of property owned by public utilities and railroad companies, as determined pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 5 of Title 48.
(2) “Area of operation” means, in the case of a municipality or its redevelopment agency, the territory lying within the corporate limits of such municipality; in the case of a county or its redevelopment agency, the territory lying within the unincorporated area of the county; and, in the case of a consolidated government or its redevelopment agency, the area lying within the territorial boundaries of the consolidated government. In the case of a county or its redevelopment agency, such term may also include part or all of the territory within such county lying within the corporate limits of a municipality when authorized by a resolution of the governing authority of such municipality. Such term may also mean the combined areas of operation of political subdivisions which participate in the creation of a common redevelopment agency to serve such participating political subdivisions as provided in subsection (d) of Code Section 36-44-4.
(3) “Local legislative body” means the official or body in which the legislative powers of a political subdivision are vested.
(4) “Political subdivision” means any county, municipality, or consolidated government of this state.
(5) “Redevelopment” means any activity, project, or service necessary or incidental to achieving the development or revitalization of a redevelopment area or a portion thereof designated for redevelopment by a redevelopment plan or the preservation or improvement of historical or natural assets within a redevelopment area or a portion thereof designated for redevelopment by a redevelopment plan. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, redevelopment may include any one or more of the following:
(A) The construction of any building or other facility for use in any business, commercial, industrial, governmental, educational, charitable, or social activity;
(B) The renovation, rehabilitation, reconstruction, remodeling, repair, demolition, alteration, or expansion of any existing building or other facility for use in any business, commercial, industrial, governmental, educational, charitable, or social activity;
(C) The construction, reconstruction, renovation, rehabilitation, remodeling, repair, demolition, alteration, or expansion of public or private housing;
(D) The construction, reconstruction, renovation, rehabilitation, remodeling, repair, demolition, alteration, or expansion of public works or other public facilities necessary or incidental to the provision of governmental services;
(E) The identification, preservation, renovation, rehabilitation, reconstruction, remodeling, repair, demolition, alteration, or restoration of buildings or sites which are of historical significance;
(F) The preservation, protection, renovation, rehabilitation, restoration, alteration, improvement, maintenance, and creation of open spaces, green spaces, or recreational facilities;
(G) The construction, installation, preservation, renovation, rehabilitation, reconstruction, restoration, alteration, improvement, and maintenance of public art and arts and cultural facilities;
(H) The development, construction, reconstruction, repair, demolition, alteration, or expansion of structures, equipment, and facilities for mass transit;
(I) The development, construction, reconstruction, renovation, rehabilitation, repair, demolition, alteration, or expansion of telecommunication infrastructure;
(J) The development, construction, reconstruction, renovation, rehabilitation, repair, demolition, alteration, or expansion of facilities for the improvement of pedestrian access and safety;
(K) Improving or increasing the value of property; and
(L) The acquisition and retention or acquisition and disposition of property for redevelopment purposes or the use for redevelopment purposes of property already owned by a political subdivision or any agency or instrumentality thereof.
(6) “Redevelopment agency” means the local legislative body of a political subdivision or a public body corporate and politic created as the redevelopment agency of the political subdivision or an existing public body corporate and politic designated as the redevelopment agency of the political subdivision pursuant to Code Section 36-44-4.
(7) “Redevelopment area” means an urbanized area as determined by current data from the United States Bureau of the Census or an area presently served by sewer that qualifies as a “blighted or distressed area,” a “deteriorating area,” or an “area with inadequate infrastructure,” as follows:
(A) A “blighted or distressed area” is an area that is experiencing one or more conditions of blight as evidenced by:
(i) The presence of structures, buildings, or improvements that by reason of dilapidation; deterioration; age; obsolescence; inadequate provision for ventilation, light, air, sanitation, or open space; overcrowding; conditions which endanger life or property by fire or other causes; or any combination of such factors, are conducive to ill health, transmission of disease, infant mortality, high unemployment, juvenile delinquency, or crime and are detrimental to the public health, safety, morals, or welfare;
(ii) The presence of a predominant number of substandard, vacant, deteriorated, or deteriorating structures; the predominance of a defective or inadequate street layout or transportation facilities; or faulty lot layout in relation to size, accessibility, or usefulness;
(iii) Evidence of pervasive poverty, defined as being greater than 10 percent of the population in the area as determined by current data from the United States Bureau of the Census, and an unemployment rate that is 10 percent higher than the state average;
(iv) Adverse effects of airport or transportation related noise or environmental contamination or degradation or other adverse environmental factors that the political subdivision has determined to be impairing the redevelopment of the area; or
(v) The existence of conditions through any combination of the foregoing that substantially impair the sound growth of the community and retard the provision of housing accommodations or employment opportunities;
(B) A “deteriorating area” is an area that is experiencing physical or economic decline or stagnation as evidenced by two or more of the following:
(i) The presence of a substantial number of structures or buildings that are 40 years old or older and have no historic significance;
(ii) High commercial or residential vacancies compared to the political subdivision as a whole;
(iii) The predominance of structures or buildings of relatively low value compared to the value of structures or buildings in the surrounding vicinity or significantly slower growth in the property tax digest than is occurring in the political subdivision as a whole;
(iv) Declining or stagnant rents or sales prices compared to the political subdivision as a whole;
(v) In areas where housing exists at present or is determined by the political subdivision to be appropriate after redevelopment, there exists a shortage of safe, decent housing that is not substandard and that is affordable for persons of low and moderate income; or
(vi) Deteriorating or inadequate utility, transportation, or transit infrastructure; and
(C) An “area with inadequate infrastructure” means an area characterized by:
(i) Deteriorating or inadequate parking, roadways, bridges, pedestrian access, or public transportation or transit facilities incapable of handling the volume of traffic into or through the area, either at present or following redevelopment; or
(ii) Deteriorating or inadequate utility infrastructure either at present or following redevelopment.
(8) “Redevelopment costs” means any expenditures made or estimated to be made or monetary obligations incurred or estimated to be incurred to achieve the redevelopment of a redevelopment area or any portion thereof designated by a redevelopment plan or any expenditures made to carry out or exercise any powers granted by this chapter. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, redevelopment costs may include any one or more of the following:
(A) Capital costs, including the costs incurred or estimated to be incurred for the construction of public works or improvements, new buildings, structures, and fixtures, including facilities owned or operated by school districts and systems; the renovation, rehabilitation, reconstruction, remodeling, repair, demolition, alteration, or expansion of existing buildings, structures, and fixtures, including facilities owned or operated by school districts and systems; the acquisition of equipment; and the clearing and grading of land;
(B) Financing costs, including, but not limited to, all necessary and incidental expenses related to the issuance of obligations and which may include payment of interest on any obligations issued under this chapter occurring during the estimated period of construction of any project with respect to which any capital costs within the meaning of subparagraph (A) of this paragraph are financed in whole or in part by such obligations and for a period not to exceed 42 months after completion of any such construction and including reasonable reserves related thereto and all principal and interest paid to holders of evidences of indebtedness issued to pay for other redevelopment costs and any premium paid over the principal amount thereof because of the redemption of such obligations prior to maturity;
(C) Professional service costs, including those costs incurred for architectural, planning, engineering, financial, marketing, and legal advice and services;
(D) Imputed administrative costs, including reasonable charges for the time spent by public employees in connection with the implementation of a redevelopment plan;
(E) Relocation costs as authorized by a redevelopment plan for persons or businesses displaced by the implementation of a redevelopment plan, including but not limited to those relocation payments made following condemnation under Chapter 4 of Title 22, “The Georgia Relocation Assistance and Land Acquisition Policy Act”;
(F) Organizational costs, including the costs of conducting environmental impact and other studies, and the costs of informing the public with respect to the creation and implementation of redevelopment plans;
(G) Payments to a political subdivision or board of education in lieu of taxes to compensate for any loss of tax revenues or for any capital costs incurred because of redevelopment activity; provided, however, that any such payments to a political subdivision or board of education shall not exceed in any year the amount of the contribution to the tax allocation increment in that year by such political subdivision or board of education; and
(H) Real property assembly costs.
(9) “Redevelopment plan” means a written plan of redevelopment for a redevelopment area or a designated portion thereof which:
(A) Specifies the boundaries of the proposed redevelopment area;
(B) Explains the grounds for a finding by the local legislative body that the redevelopment area on the whole has not been subject to growth and development through private enterprise and would not reasonably be anticipated to be developed without the approval of the redevelopment plan or that the redevelopment area includes one or more natural, historical, or cultural assets which have not been adequately preserved, protected, or improved and such asset or assets would not reasonably be anticipated to be adequately preserved, protected, or improved without the approval of the redevelopment plan;
(C) Explains the proposed uses after redevelopment of real property within the redevelopment area;
(D) Describes any redevelopment projects within the redevelopment area proposed to be authorized by the redevelopment plan, estimates the cost thereof, and explains the proposed method of financing such projects;
(E) Describes any contracts, agreements, or other instruments creating an obligation for more than one year which are proposed to be entered into by the political subdivision or its redevelopment agency or both for the purpose of implementing the redevelopment plan;
(F) Describes the type of relocation payments proposed to be authorized by the redevelopment plan;
(G) Includes a statement that the proposed redevelopment plan conforms with the local comprehensive plan, master plan, zoning ordinance, and building codes of the political subdivision or explains any exceptions thereto;
(H) Estimates redevelopment costs to be incurred or made during the course of implementing the redevelopment plan;
(I) Recites the last known assessed valuation of the redevelopment area and the estimated assessed valuation after redevelopment;
(J) Provides that property which is to be redeveloped under the plan and which is either designated as a historic property under Article 2 of Chapter 10 of Title 44, the “Georgia Historic Preservation Act,” or is listed on or has been determined by any federal agency to be eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places will not be:
(i) Substantially altered in any way inconsistent with technical standards for rehabilitation; or
(ii) Demolished unless feasibility for reuse has been evaluated based on technical standards for the review of historic preservation projects,
which technical standards for rehabilitation and review shall be those used by the state historic preservation officer, although nothing in this subparagraph shall be construed to require approval of a redevelopment plan or any part thereof by the state historic preservation officer;
(K) Specifies the proposed effective date for the creation of the tax allocation district and the proposed termination date;
(L) Contains a map specifying the boundaries of the proposed tax allocation district and showing existing uses and conditions of real property in the proposed tax allocation district;
(M) Specifies the estimated tax allocation increment base of the proposed tax allocation district;
(N) Specifies ad valorem property taxes for computing tax allocation increments determined in accordance with Code Section 36-44-9 and supported by any resolution required under paragraph (3) of Code Section 36-44-8;
(O) Specifies the amount of the proposed tax allocation bond issue or issues and the term and assumed rate of interest applicable thereto;
(P) Estimates positive tax allocation increments for the period covered by the term of the proposed tax allocation bonds;
(Q) Specifies the property proposed to be pledged for payment or security for payment of tax allocation bonds which property may include positive tax allocation increments derived from the tax allocation district, all or part of general funds derived from the tax allocation district, and any other property from which bonds may be paid under Code Section 36-44-14, subject to the limitations of Code Sections 36-44-9 and 36-44-20;
(R) If the plan proposes to include in the tax allocation increment ad valorem taxes levied by a board of education, the plan shall contain a school system impact analysis addressing the financial and operational impact on the school system of the proposed redevelopment, including but not limited to an estimate of the number of net new public school students that could be anticipated as redevelopment occurs; the location of school facilities within the proposed redevelopment area; an estimate of educational special purpose local option sales taxes projected to be generated by the proposed redevelopment, if any; and a projection of the average value of residential properties resulting from redevelopment compared to current property values in the redevelopment area; and
(S) Includes such other information as may be required by resolution of the political subdivision whose area of operation includes the proposed redevelopment area.
(10) “Resolution” means a resolution or ordinance by which a local legislative body takes official legislative action and any duly adopted amendment thereto.
(11) “Special fund” means the fund provided for in subsection (c) of Code Section 36-44-11.
(12) “Tax allocation bonds” means one or more series of bonds, notes, or other obligations issued by a political subdivision to finance, wholly or partly, redevelopment costs within a tax allocation district and which are issued on the basis of pledging for the payment or security for payment of such bonds positive tax allocation increments derived from the tax allocation district, all or part of general funds derived from the tax allocation district, and any other property from which bonds may be paid under Code Section 36-44-14, as determined by the political subdivision subject to the limitations of Code Sections 36-44-9 and 36-44-20. Tax allocation bonds shall not constitute debt within the meaning of Article IX, Section V of the Constitution.
(13) “Tax allocation district” means a contiguous geographic area within a redevelopment area which is defined and created by resolution of the local legislative body of a political subdivision pursuant to subparagraph (B) of paragraph (3) of Code Section 36-44-8 for the purpose of issuing tax allocation bonds to finance, wholly or partly, redevelopment costs within the area.
(14) “Tax allocation increment” means that amount obtained by multiplying the total ad valorem property taxes, determined as provided in Code Section 36-44-9, levied within a tax allocation district in any year by a fraction having a numerator equal to that year's taxable value of all taxable property subject to ad valorem property taxes within the tax allocation district minus the tax allocation increment base and a denominator equal to that year's taxable value of all taxable property subject to ad valorem property taxes within the tax allocation district. In any year, a tax allocation increment is “positive” if the tax allocation increment base is less than that year's taxable value of all taxable property subject to ad valorem property taxes and “negative” if such base exceeds such taxable value.
(15) “Tax allocation increment base” means the taxable value of all taxable property subject to ad valorem property taxes, as certified by the state revenue commissioner, located within a tax allocation district on the effective date such district is created pursuant to Code Section 36-44-8.
(16) “Taxable property” means all real and personal property subject to ad valorem taxation by a political subdivision, including property subject to local ad valorem taxation for educational purposes.
(17) “Taxable value” means the current assessed value of taxable property as shown on the tax digest of the county in which the property is located.
(a) As an alternative to the creation of a redevelopment agency provided for by subsections (b) through (f) of this Code section, the local legislative body of a political subdivision, by resolution, may designate itself as its respective redevelopment agency and may exercise, within its respective area of operation, the redevelopment powers provided by this chapter.
(b) The local legislative body of a political subdivision may create a public body corporate and politic to serve as its redevelopment agency. Any such public corporation may be created by resolution adopted by the local legislative body of the political subdivision. Such resolution may provide for the membership of the board of directors of such public corporation and their terms of office, for the powers and duties of such public corporation, and for such other matters as may reasonably be necessary and convenient for the creation and activation of such public corporation as the redevelopment agency of the political subdivision.
(c) In the event a political subdivision has activated a public corporation as its “urban redevelopment agency” or designated a housing authority as its “urban redevelopment agency” pursuant to Code Sections 36-61-17 and 36-61-18 of the “Urban Redevelopment Law,” the local legislative body of such political subdivision may designate such public corporation as its redevelopment agency for the purposes of this chapter. Any action taken pursuant to the authority of this subsection shall be by resolution duly adopted by the local legislative body of the political subdivision.
(d) Any county, municipality, and consolidated government, or any combination of such political subdivisions, by resolution of their respective local legislative bodies, may jointly create a public corporation, or designate an existing public corporation which already exercises “redevelopment powers” under any other law, to serve as the common redevelopment agency on behalf of such political subdivisions. The membership of the board of directors and their terms of office of any such jointly created public corporation and the powers and duties of such public corporation shall be as mutually agreed upon by the local legislative bodies of the participating political subdivisions, as evidenced by a resolution duly adopted by each such local legislative body. In the event a public corporation is created or designated, as authorized in this Code section, to serve as the common redevelopment agency of two or more political subdivisions, then the area of operation of such redevelopment agency shall be the combined areas of operation of the political subdivisions jointly creating or designating such redevelopment agency.
(e) A political subdivision may participate in the creation or designation of a public corporation to serve as a common redevelopment agency as provided by subsection (d) of this Code section as well as create or designate a public corporation to serve as the redevelopment agency of the political subdivision. In such event, the members of the board of directors of the public corporation created or designated as the redevelopment agency of the political subdivision may also serve, in accordance with the provisions of the resolution of the local legislative body of the political subdivision participating in the creation or designation of a public corporation to serve as a common redevelopment agency, as members of the board of directors of the jointly created public corporation.
(f) For purposes of redevelopment in its downtown area, any municipality may designate a downtown development authority created pursuant to Chapter 42 of this title to serve as a redevelopment agency. Such designation shall not affect any other redevelopment agency that may exist as a part of the municipality. The area of operation of any downtown development agency designated as a redevelopment agency pursuant to this subsection shall not exceed the area of operation of the downtown development authority established pursuant to Chapter 42 of this title.
(a) Subject to the limitation of subsection (b) of this Code section, a political subdivision may exercise any powers necessary or convenient to carry out the purposes of this chapter, including, but not limited to, the power to:
(1) Describe the boundaries of one or more redevelopment areas within its area of operation, but any redevelopment area so described shall conform to the definition of a redevelopment area provided by paragraph (7) of Code Section 36-44-3;
(2) Cause redevelopment plans to be prepared, to approve by resolution the plans, and to implement the provisions and effectuate the purposes of the plans;
(3) Create within redevelopment areas tax allocation districts and define the boundaries thereof or designate an entire redevelopment area as a tax allocation district;
(4) Define the boundaries of portions of a redevelopment area or an entire redevelopment area for the implementation of redevelopment plans other than plans calling for the creation of tax allocation districts;
(5) Issue tax allocation bonds;
(6) Deposit moneys into and disburse moneys from the special fund of any tax allocation district;
(7) Enter into and execute any contracts, leases, mortgages, or other agreements, including agreements with bondholders or lenders, determined by the local legislative body to be necessary or convenient to implement the provisions and effectuate the purposes of redevelopment plans. The contracts or agreements may include conditions, restrictions, or covenants which either run with the land or otherwise regulate the use of land;
(8) Acquire and retain or acquire and dispose of property or interests therein for redevelopment purposes or use or dispose of property or interests therein presently owned by the political subdivision for redevelopment purposes; and any disposition of such property or interests therein may be by public or private sale or lease; and
(9) Exercise, for the purposes of this chapter, any powers conferred upon political subdivisions by Chapter 61 of this title, the “Urban Redevelopment Law.”
(b) The powers granted to political subdivisions by subsection (a) of this Code section and by this chapter and any powers delegated to a redevelopment agency pursuant to Code Section 36-44-6 may be exercised only for the purpose of adopting and implementing redevelopment plans, but this limitation shall not be construed to interfere with the exercise of any power now or hereafter possessed by a political subdivision which is granted by any other law.
(a) Subject to the limitations of subsection (b) of this Code section, the local legislative body of a political subdivision, by resolution, may delegate any of its redevelopment powers to its redevelopment agency created or designated pursuant to Code Section 36-44-4. The local legislative body shall have authority to delegate some or all such powers in such manner and pursuant to such terms and conditions as the local legislative body shall provide by resolution. Any such resolution shall specify any powers delegated to a redevelopment agency, and such resolution may be amended, modified, or repealed by the local legislative body adopting it.
(b) Any delegation of redevelopment powers pursuant to the authority of subsection (a) of this Code section shall be limited by the following requirements:
(1) Any redevelopment plan must be approved by resolution of the local legislative body of the political subdivision as a condition precedent to the implementation of said redevelopment plan, and such approval shall be subject to the requirements of Code Section 36-44-7;
(2) The boundaries of any redevelopment area must be described by resolution of the local legislative body of the political subdivision;
(3) A tax allocation district must be created by resolution of the local legislative body of the political subdivision;
(4) The issuance of any tax allocation bonds shall be by resolution of the local legislative body of the political subdivision;
(5) The power of eminent domain may only be exercised under this chapter by the local legislative body of a political subdivision; and
(6) A local legislative body may not delegate to a redevelopment agency created under subsection (b), (c), (d), or (e) of Code Section 36-44-4 any urban redevelopment project powers except those which may be conferred on an urban redevelopment agency under Code Section 36-61-17 of the “Urban Redevelopment Law.”
(a) A redevelopment plan may be proposed by the redevelopment agency of a political subdivision, but such plan may not be implemented until it is approved by the adoption of a resolution of the local legislative body of the political subdivision as provided in this chapter.
(b) When a proposed redevelopment plan is prepared, it shall be submitted by the redevelopment agency to the local legislative body. Within the 60 day period after the plan is submitted, the local legislative body shall hold at least one public hearing on the proposed redevelopment plan. The local legislative body shall cause the time, date, place, and purpose of each such public hearing to be advertised in one or more newspapers of general circulation within the area of operation of the political subdivision at least once during a period of five days immediately preceding the date of each public hearing.
(c) Within 45 days after completing the public hearings required by subsection (b) of this Code section, the local legislative body of the political subdivision shall schedule and hold a meeting of the local legislative body for the purpose of considering the approval of the redevelopment plan. The local legislative body shall cause the date, time, place, and purpose of such meeting to be advertised in one or more newspapers of general circulation within the area of operation of the political subdivision at least once during a period of five days immediately preceding the date of such meeting. At such meeting the redevelopment plan shall be approved as submitted, amended and approved, or rejected and returned to the redevelopment agency for further consideration. Any redevelopment plan rejected by the local legislative body shall be returned to the redevelopment agency and shall be subject to the public hearing requirements of subsection (b) of this Code section if it is again submitted to the local legislative body for approval, either in the same or amended form.
(d) Once approved by the local legislative body, a redevelopment plan may be amended only by the local legislative body of the political subdivision. The local legislative body shall cause the date, time, place, and purpose of any meeting of the local legislative body at which an amendment to a redevelopment plan is to be considered to be advertised in the same manner as prescribed by subsection (c) of this Code section for a meeting to consider the adoption of a redevelopment plan.
In order to create and carry out the purposes of a tax allocation district, the following steps are required:
(1) Preparation by the redevelopment agency of a redevelopment plan for the proposed tax allocation district and its submission for consent to the political subdivision or board of education required to consent, if the plan proposes to include in the tax allocation increment ad valorem property taxes levied by a political subdivision or board of education required to consent to such inclusion under Code Section 36-44-9, or if the plan proposes to pledge for payment or security for payment of tax allocation bonds and other redevelopment costs the general funds of a county required to consent to such inclusion under Code Section 36-44-9;
(2) Submission of the redevelopment plan to the local legislative body of the political subdivision whose area of operation will include the tax allocation district;
(3) Adoption by the local legislative body of a resolution approving the redevelopment plan and which:
(A) Describes the boundaries of the tax allocation district with sufficient definiteness to identify with ordinary and reasonable certainty the territory included. The boundaries shall include only those whole units of property assessed for ad valorem property tax purposes;
(B) Creates the district on December 31 following the adoption of the resolution or on December 31 of a subsequent year as determined by the local legislative body;
(C) Assigns a name to the district for identification purposes. The first district created shall be known as “Tax Allocation District Number 1,” followed by the name of the political subdivision within whose area of operation the district is located;
(D) Specifies the estimated tax allocation increment base;
(E) Specifies ad valorem property taxes to be used for computing tax allocation increments;
(F) Specifies the property proposed to be pledged for payment or security for payment of tax allocation bonds which property may include positive tax allocation increments derived from the tax allocation district, all or part of general funds derived from the tax allocation district, and any other property from which bonds may be paid under Code Section 36-44-14, as determined by the political subdivision subject to the limitations of Code Sections 36-44-9 and 36-44-20; and
(G) Contains findings that:
(i) The redevelopment area on the whole has not been subject to growth and development through private enterprise and would not reasonably be anticipated to be developed without the approval of the redevelopment plan or includes one or more natural, historical, or cultural assets which have not been adequately preserved or protected and such asset or assets would not reasonably be anticipated to be adequately preserved, protected, or improved without the approval of the redevelopment plan; and
(ii) The improvement of the area is likely to enhance the value of a substantial portion of the other real property in the district.
If any information required to be included in the resolution approving the redevelopment plan under subparagraphs (A) through (G) of this paragraph is contained in the redevelopment plan, then the resolution approving the redevelopment plan may incorporate by reference that portion of the redevelopment plan containing said information; and
(4) A certified copy of any resolution giving the consent required under paragraph (1) of this Code section must be submitted to the local legislative body of the political subdivision whose area of operation will include the tax allocation district prior to inclusion of such ad valorem property taxes or general funds in calculation of the tax allocation increment.
(a) When a tax allocation district is created within the area of operation of a municipality by the local legislative body of such municipality, property taxes for computing tax allocation increments shall be based on all ad valorem property taxes levied by the municipality. If the municipality has an independent school system, ad valorem property taxes levied for educational purposes by the municipality shall be included in computing the tax allocation increments if the local legislative body of the municipality is empowered to make the determination of the municipal ad valorem tax millage rate for educational purposes. If the board of education of the independent school system is empowered to set the ad valorem tax millage rate for educational purposes and the local legislative body of the municipality does not have the authority to modify such rate set by the board of education, the tax allocation increment shall not be computed on the basis of municipal taxes for educational purposes unless the board of education of the independent school system consents, by resolution duly adopted by said board of education, to the inclusion of educational ad valorem property taxes as a basis for computing tax allocation increments.
(b) County ad valorem property taxes may be included in the computation of tax allocation increments of a municipal tax allocation district if the local legislative body of the county consents to such inclusion by resolution duly adopted by said local legislative body. For those municipalities which do not have an independent school system, ad valorem property taxes levied for county school district purposes may be included in the computation of tax allocation increments of a municipal tax allocation district if the county board of education or the local legislative body of the county, whichever is authorized to establish the ad valorem tax millage rate for educational purposes, consents to such inclusion by resolution duly adopted by said board of education or local legislative body, respectively.
(c) When a tax allocation district is created within the area of operation of a county by the local legislative body of the county, property taxes for computing tax allocation increments shall be based on all county ad valorem property taxes levied for county governmental purposes. Ad valorem property taxes levied for county school district purposes may be included in the computation of tax allocation increments for a county tax allocation district if the board of education of the county school district or the local legislative body of the county, whichever is authorized to establish the ad valorem tax millage rate for educational purposes, consents to such inclusion by resolution duly adopted by said board of education or local legislative body, respectively.
(d) When a tax allocation district is created within the area of operation of a consolidated government by the local legislative body of the consolidated government, property taxes for computing tax allocation increments shall be based on all consolidated government ad valorem property taxes levied for consolidated government purposes. Ad valorem property taxes levied for school district purposes within the boundaries of the consolidated government may be included in the computation of tax allocation increments for a consolidated government tax allocation district if the board of education of such school district or the local legislative body of the consolidated government, whichever is authorized to establish the ad valorem tax millage rate for educational purposes within the school district, consents to such inclusion by resolution duly adopted by said board of education or local legislative body, respectively.
(e) The resolution of any county, municipality, consolidated government, or board of education consenting to the inclusion of ad valorem property taxes in the computation of tax increments shall not specify the inclusion of any ad valorem property taxes not specified in the resolution creating the tax allocation district.
(f) A county may pledge all or part of county general funds derived from a municipal tax allocation district for payment or security of payment of tax allocation bonds issued by the municipality and for payment of other redevelopment costs of the tax allocation district if the local legislative body of the county consents to the use of such general funds by resolution duly adopted by said local legislative body.
(g) Any consent by a local board of education to the inclusion of educational ad valorem property taxes as a basis for computing tax allocation increments and any authorization to use such funds for such purposes that was approved before January 1, 2009, and not rescinded or repealed prior to April 22, 2009, is ratified and confirmed pursuant to the authority granted by Article IX, Section II, Paragraph VII of the Constitution, as amended by a resolution ratified at the November, 2008 general election, Ga. L. 2008, p. 777, to authorize the use of county, municipal, and school tax funds, or any combination thereof, for redevelopment purposes and programs notwithstanding Article VIII, Section VI or any other provision of the Constitution and regardless of whether any county, municipality, or local board of education approved the use of such tax funds for such purposes and programs before or after January 1, 2009.
(a) No later than the effective date of the creation of the tax allocation district, the redevelopment agency shall apply, in writing, to the state revenue commissioner for a determination of the tax allocation increment base of the tax allocation district. Within a reasonable time, and not exceeding 60 days after the effective date of the creation of the tax allocation district, the state revenue commissioner shall certify such tax allocation increment base, as of the effective date of the creation of the tax allocation district, to the redevelopment agency, and such certification, unless amended pursuant to subsection (b) of this Code section, shall constitute the tax allocation increment base of the tax allocation district.
(b) If the local legislative body of a political subdivision adopts an amendment to the resolution which created a tax allocation district and such amendment changes the boundaries of that tax allocation district so as to cause additional redevelopment costs for which tax allocation increments may be received by the political subdivision, the tax allocation increment base for the revised or amended district shall be redetermined pursuant to subsection (a) of this Code section as of the effective date of such amendment. The tax allocation increment base as redetermined under this subsection is effective for the purposes of this chapter only if it exceeds the original tax allocation increment base determined under subsection (a) of this Code section.
(c) It is a rebuttable presumption that any property within a tax allocation district acquired or leased as lessee by the political subdivision, or any agency or instrumentality thereof, within one year immediately preceding the date of the creation of the district was so acquired or leased in contemplation of the creation of the district. The presumption may be rebutted by the political subdivision with proof that the property was so leased or acquired primarily for a purpose other than to reduce the tax allocation increment base. If the presumption is not rebutted, in determining the tax allocation increment base of the district, but for no other purpose, the taxable status of the property shall be determined as though such lease or acquisition had not occurred.
(d) For each political subdivision whose area of operation includes a tax allocation district, the county board of tax assessors, joint city-county board of tax assessors, or board of tax assessors for a consolidated government, as the case may be, shall identify upon the tax digests of the political subdivision those parcels of property which are within each existing tax allocation district, specifying the name of each district. A similar notation shall appear on tax digests submitted to the state revenue commissioner pursuant to Code Section 48-5-302, relative to the submission of tax digests to the state revenue commissioner.
(e) The county board of tax assessors, joint city-county board of tax assessors, or consolidated government board of tax assessors shall annually give notice to the county tax collector or tax commissioner and to the municipal official responsible for collecting municipal ad valorem property taxes as to both the current taxable value of property subject to ad valorem property taxes within each tax allocation district and the tax allocation increment base. The notice shall also explain that any taxes collected as a result of increases in the tax allocation increment base constitute tax allocation increments and shall be paid to the appropriate political subdivision as provided by subsection (b) of Code Section 36-44-11.
(a) Positive tax allocation increments of a tax allocation district shall be allocated to the political subdivision which created the district for each year from the effective date of the creation of the district until that time when all redevelopment costs and all tax allocation bonds of the district have been paid or provided for, subject to any agreement with bondholders. General funds derived from the tax allocation district which have been pledged for payment or security for payment of tax allocation bonds and other redevelopment costs of the tax allocation district shall also be allocated to the political subdivision which created the district for each year from the effective date of the creation of the district until that time when all redevelopment costs and all tax allocation bonds have been paid or provided for, subject to any agreement with bondholders.
(b)(1) Each county tax collector or tax commissioner, municipal official responsible for collecting municipal ad valorem property taxes, or consolidated government official responsible for collecting consolidated government ad valorem property taxes shall, on the dates provided by law for the payment of taxes collected to the respective political subdivisions, pay over to the appropriate fiscal officer of each political subdivision having created a tax allocation district, out of taxes collected on behalf of such political subdivision, including but not limited to taxes collected for a political subdivision or board of education consenting, pursuant to Code Section 36-44-9, to inclusion of its ad valorem property taxes in the computation of tax allocation increments for that tax allocation district, that portion, if any, which represents positive tax allocation increments payable to such political subdivision.
(2) In addition, each county shall, upon receipt, pay over to the appropriate fiscal officer of each municipality having created a tax allocation district that portion, if any, of its general funds derived from the tax allocation district which have been pledged for payment or security for payment of tax allocation bonds and for payment of other redevelopment costs of the tax allocation district pursuant to Code Section 36-44-9.
(c) All positive tax allocation increments received for a tax allocation district shall be deposited into a special fund for the district upon receipt by the fiscal officer of the political subdivision. All general funds derived from the tax allocation district which have been pledged for payment or security for payment of tax allocation bonds and other redevelopment costs of the tax allocation district shall be deposited upon receipt into the special fund. Any lease or other contract payments made under the district's redevelopment plan shall also be deposited upon receipt into the special fund. Moneys derived from positive tax allocation increments, general fund moneys, and moneys derived from lease or other contract payments shall be accounted for separately within the special fund. Moneys shall be paid out of the fund only to pay redevelopment costs of the district or to satisfy claims of holders of tax allocation bonds issued for the district. The local legislative body shall irrevocably pledge all or a part of such special fund to the payment of the tax allocation bonds. The special fund or designated part thereof may thereafter be used only for the payment of the tax allocation bonds and interest until they have been fully paid, and a holder of said bonds shall have a lien against the special fund or said designated part thereof pledged for payment of said bonds and may either at law or in equity protect and enforce the lien. General funds derived from the tax allocation district may be used for payment of tax allocation bonds only to the extent that positive tax allocation increments and lease or other contract payments in the special fund are insufficient at any time to pay principal and interest due on such bonds. Subject to any agreement with bondholders, moneys in the fund may be temporarily invested in the same manner as other funds of the political subdivision. Except as provided in Code Section 36-44-20, general funds derived from the tax allocation district may be used for payment of tax allocation bonds only to the extent that positive tax allocation increments and lease or other contract payments in the special fund are insufficient at any time to pay the principal and interest due on such bonds. After all redevelopment costs and all tax allocation bonds of the district have been paid or provided for, subject to any agreement with bondholders, if there remains in the fund any moneys derived from positive tax allocation increments, they shall be paid over to each county, municipality, consolidated government, or county or independent board of education whose ad valorem property taxes were affected by the tax allocation district in proportion to the aggregate contribution of such taxes by such political subdivision less aggregate payments to such political subdivision pursuant to subparagraph (G) of paragraph (8) of Code Section 36-44-3 and in the same manner as the most recent distribution by the county tax collector or tax commissioner, municipal official responsible for collecting municipal ad valorem property taxes, or consolidated government official responsible for collecting consolidated government ad valorem property taxes. If there remains in the fund any other moneys, they shall be paid over to each political subdivision which contributed to the fund in proportion to the respective total contribution each made to the fund.
The existence of a tax allocation district shall terminate when the local legislative body, by resolution, dissolves the district, but no such resolution may be adopted until all redevelopment costs have been paid.
Payment of redevelopment costs may be made by any of the following methods or any combination thereof:
(1) Payment by the political subdivision from the special fund of the tax allocation district;
(2) Payment from the general funds of a political subdivision subject to the limitations of Code Sections 36-44-9 and 36-44-20;
(3) Payment out of the proceeds of the sale of revenue bonds issued by the political subdivision pursuant to Chapter 61 of this title, the “Urban Redevelopment Law,” and revenue bonds may be issued under such law for redevelopment purposes within the meaning of this chapter;
(4) Payment out of the proceeds of the sale of tax allocation bonds issued by the political subdivision under this chapter;
(5) Payment from the proceeds from any loans made to a political subdivision pursuant to the authority of Code Section 36-44-16; and
(6) Lease payments and other payments pursuant to contracts under a redevelopment plan.
(a) Only for the purpose of paying redevelopment costs for a tax allocation district created under this chapter, the local legislative body may issue tax allocation bonds. Tax allocation bonds are declared to be negotiable instruments. Tax allocation bonds issued under the provisions of this chapter are declared to be issued for an essential public and governmental purpose and, together with interest thereon and income therefrom, shall be exempted from all taxes.
(b) All tax allocation bonds, notes, and other obligations shall be authorized by resolution of the local legislative body, adopted by a majority vote of the members thereof at a regular or special meeting and without the necessity of a referendum or any electoral approval. The resolution shall state the name of the tax allocation district and the aggregate principal amount of the tax allocation bonds authorized.
(c) Tax allocation bonds, notes, or other obligations issued by a local legislative body under this chapter shall be payable solely from the property pledged, mortgaged, conveyed, assigned, hypothecated, or otherwise encumbered to secure or to pay such bonds, notes, or other obligations, which property shall be limited to real or personal property acquired pursuant to this chapter and the proceeds from any source from which redevelopment costs may be paid under Code Section 36-44-13, but subject to the limitations of Code Sections 36-44-9 and 36-44-20. Each such bond, note, or other obligation shall contain recitals as are necessary to show that it is only so payable and that it does not otherwise constitute an indebtedness or a charge against the general taxing power of the political subdivision or county or independent board of education consenting to the use of property taxes as a basis for computing tax allocation increments or consenting to the use of general funds derived from the tax allocation district.
(d) To increase the security and marketability of tax allocation bonds, notes, or other obligations, a local legislative body may:
(1) Create a lien for the benefit of the bondholders upon any public improvements or public works financed thereby or the revenues therefrom; and
(2) Make covenants and do any and all acts not inconsistent with the Constitution or this chapter as may be necessary or convenient or desirable in order additionally to secure tax allocation bonds, notes, or other obligations or tend to make them more marketable according to the best judgment of the local legislative body.
(e) Tax allocation bonds, notes, or other obligations shall bear such date or dates, shall mature at such time or times not more than 30 years from their respective dates, shall bear interest at such rate or rates which may be fixed or may fluctuate or otherwise change from time to time, shall be subject to redemption on such terms, and shall contain such other terms, provisions, covenants, assignments, and conditions as the resolution authorizing the issuance of such bonds, notes, or other obligations may permit or provide. The terms, provisions, covenants, assignments, and conditions contained in or provided or permitted by any resolution of the local legislative body authorizing the issuance of such tax allocation bonds, notes, or other obligations shall bind the members of the local legislative body then in office and their successors.
(f) The local legislative body shall have power from time to time and whenever it deems it expedient to refund any tax allocation bonds by the issuance of new tax allocation bonds, whether or not the bonds to be refunded have matured, and may issue such bonds partly to refund bonds then outstanding and partly for any other purpose permitted under this chapter. The refunding bonds may be exchanged for the bonds to be refunded, with such cash adjustments as may be agreed upon, or may be sold at such price as the local legislative body may determine and the proceeds applied to the purchase or redemption of the bonds to be refunded.
(g) Tax allocation bonds may not be issued in an amount exceeding the estimated aggregated redevelopment costs for the tax allocation district. Any limitations with respect to interest rates or any maximum interest rate or rates found in Article 3 of Chapter 82 of this title, the “Revenue Bond Law,” the usury laws of this state, or any other laws of this state shall not apply to tax allocation bonds, notes, or other obligations of a local legislative body.
(h) All tax allocation bonds issued by a local legislative body under this chapter shall be issued and validated under and in accordance with Article 3 of Chapter 82 of this title, the “Revenue Bond Law,” except as provided in this chapter.
(i) Tax allocation bonds issued by a local legislative body may be in such form and may be subject to such exchangeability and transferability provisions as the bond resolution authorizing the issuance of such bonds or any indenture or trust agreement may provide.
(j) Tax allocation bonds shall bear a certificate of validation. The signature of the clerk of the superior court of the county in which the issuing local legislative body is located may be made on the certificate of validation of such bonds by facsimile or by manual execution, stating the date on which such bonds were validated; and such entry shall be original evidence of the fact of judgment and shall be received as original evidence in any court in this state.
(k) In lieu of specifying the rate or rates of interest which tax allocation bonds to be issued by a local legislative body are to bear, the notice to the district attorney or the Attorney General, the notice to the public of the time, place, and date of the validation hearing, and the petition and complaint for validation may state that the bonds when issued will bear interest at a rate not exceeding a maximum per annum rate of interest, which rate may be fixed or may fluctuate or otherwise change from time to time, specified in such notices and petition and complaint or may state that, in the event the bonds are to bear different rates of interest for different maturity dates, none of such rates will exceed the maximum rate so specified, which rate may be fixed or may fluctuate or otherwise change from time to time; provided, however, that nothing in this Code section shall be construed as prohibiting or restricting the right of a local legislative body to sell such tax allocation bonds at a discount, even if in doing so the effective interest cost resulting therefrom would exceed the maximum per annum interest rate specified in such notices and in the petition and complaint.
(l) The term “redevelopment costs” shall have the meaning prescribed in this chapter whenever that term is referred to in tax allocation bond resolutions of a local legislative body, in tax allocation bonds, notes, or other obligations of a local legislative body, or in notices or proceedings to validate such bonds, notes, or other obligations of a local legislative body.
(m) Subject to the limitations and procedures provided by this chapter, the agreements or instruments executed by a local legislative body may contain such provisions not inconsistent with law as shall be determined by the local legislative body.
(n) The proceeds derived from the sale of all tax allocation bonds, notes, and other obligations issued by a local legislative body shall be held and used for the ultimate purpose of paying, directly or indirectly as permitted in this chapter, redevelopment costs or for the purpose of refunding any tax allocation bonds, notes, or other obligations issued in accordance with this chapter.
(o) Issuance by a local legislative body of one or more series of tax allocation bonds, notes, or other obligations for one or more purposes shall not preclude it from issuing other tax allocation bonds, notes, or other obligations in connection with the same redevelopment plan or with any other redevelopment plan; but the proceeding wherein any subsequent bonds, notes, or other obligations are issued shall recognize and protect any prior loan agreement, mortgage, deed to secure debt, trust deed, security agreement, or other agreement or instrument made for any prior issue of bonds, notes, or other obligations, unless in the resolution authorizing such prior issue the right is expressly reserved to the local legislative body to issue subsequent bonds, notes, or other obligations on a parity with such prior issue. Once the political subdivision certifies by resolution that all tax allocation bonds contemplated by the redevelopment plan and all amendments thereto have been issued and all other redevelopment costs within a tax allocation district have been paid, all positive tax allocation increments collected within a tax allocation district shall be used to retire outstanding tax allocation bonds prior to their stated maturities, subject to any agreements made by the political subdivision with bondholders.
(p) A local legislative body shall have the power and is authorized, whenever tax allocation bonds of the local legislative body shall have been validated as provided in this chapter, to issue from time to time its notes in anticipation of such bonds as validated and to renew from time to time any such notes by the issuance of new notes, whether or not the notes to be renewed have matured. The local legislative body may issue such bond anticipation notes only to provide funds which would otherwise be provided by the issuance of the bonds as validated. Such notes may be authorized, sold, executed, and delivered in the same manner as bonds. As with its bonds, the local legislative body may sell such notes at public sale or at private sale. Any resolution or resolutions authorizing such notes of the local legislative body or any issue thereof may contain any provisions which the local legislative body is authorized to include in any resolution or resolutions authorizing bonds of the local legislative body to any issue thereof; and the local legislative body may include in any such notes any terms, covenants, or conditions which the local legislative body is authorized to include in any bonds. Validation of such bonds shall be a condition precedent to the issuance of such notes, but it shall not be required that such notes be judicially validated. Bond anticipation notes shall not be issued in an amount exceeding the par value of the bonds in anticipation of which they are to be issued.
For the purpose of fixing the tax millage rate to fund the annual budget of each political subdivision or county or independent board of education having the power to levy taxes or set ad valorem tax millage rates on property located within a tax allocation district, which has consented to the inclusion of its ad valorem property taxes for the computation of tax allocation increments as provided in Code Section 36-44-9, the taxable value of property subject to ad valorem property taxes within a tax allocation district shall not exceed the tax allocation increment base of the district until the district is terminated. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to freeze the ad valorem tax millage rate of any political subdivision or county or independent board of education consenting to the inclusion of its ad valorem property taxes as a basis for computing tax allocation increments, and any such rate may be increased or decreased at any time after the creation of a tax allocation district in the same manner and under the same authority that such rate has been previously fixed by such political subdivision or county or independent board of education.
As an additional source for financing redevelopment costs, a political subdivision or its redevelopment agency may borrow funds from financial institutions and, in connection therewith, may pledge or assign lease contracts or revenue received from lease contracts on property owned by the political subdivision or its redevelopment agency within a redevelopment area. A political subdivision or its redevelopment agency is authorized to enter into contracts with financial institutions for the purpose of exercising the authority provided by this Code section, and such contracts may obligate the political subdivision or its redevelopment agency for any number of years not exceeding 25. Contractual obligations incurred by a political subdivision pursuant to this Code section shall not constitute debt within the meaning of Article IX, Section V of the Constitution.
No political subdivision may create a tax allocation district when the total current taxable value of property subject to ad valorem property taxes within the proposed district plus the total current taxable value of property subject to ad valorem property taxes within all its existing tax allocation districts exceeds 10 percent of the total current taxable value of all taxable property located within the area of operation of the political subdivision.
It is specifically provided that Code Section 36-61-16 of the “Urban Redevelopment Law,” which Code section provides for cooperation among public bodies for redevelopment purposes under said law, shall be applicable to the exercise of redevelopment powers provided by this chapter.
A political subdivision may enter into any contract relating to the exercise of its redevelopment powers under this chapter with any private persons, firms, corporations, or business entities for any period not exceeding 30 years. Such contracts may include, without being limited to, contracts to convey or otherwise obligate real property for redevelopment under this chapter although that property has not yet been acquired at the time of contracting by the county or municipality.
(a) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter, a local legislative body may use, pledge, or otherwise obligate its general funds for payment or security for payment of tax allocation bonds issued or incurred under this chapter but only if those general funds are derived from a designated tax allocation district and used for payment or security for payment of tax allocation bonds issued or incurred under this chapter for redevelopment of that district and only to the extent that positive tax increments or lease or other contract payments in that district's special fund are insufficient at any time to pay principal and interest due on such bonds.
(b) The requirement of insufficiency provided for in subsection (a) of this Code section may be satisfied by adoption of a resolution of the local legislative body finding that positive tax increments or lease or other contract payments in the district's special fund will be insufficient to pay principal and interest on bonds to be issued to finance redevelopment costs for the redevelopment described in the redevelopment plan.
(a) No elected or appointed official or employee of a political subdivision or a board, commission, or redevelopment agency thereof shall voluntarily acquire any interest, direct or indirect, in any property included or planned to be included in a redevelopment area, or in any contract or transaction or proposed contract or transaction in connection with the redevelopment of that redevelopment area. Where such acquisition is not voluntary, the interest acquired shall be immediately disclosed in writing to the local legislative body and such disclosure shall be entered upon the minutes of the local legislative body. Any such elected or appointed official or employee who, within two years immediately prior to the date the plan is submitted to a local legislative body under subsection (b) of Code Section 36-44-7, acquires ownership or control of any interest, direct or indirect, in any property which is included in the redevelopment area designated in that plan and who retains that ownership or control at the time that such plan is so submitted shall, at least 30 days prior to the date scheduled for the local legislative body to adopt the plan, disclose the interest in writing to the local legislative body and such disclosure shall be entered upon the minutes of the local legislative body, and that person shall not participate in any action by the political subdivision, board, commission, or redevelopment agency thereof which affects that property. Any disclosure required to be made by this subsection shall concurrently be made to the redevelopment agency.
(b) Any contract or transaction in violation of subsection (a) of this Code section or disclosure of which is not made as provided in that subsection (a) shall be voidable by the local legislative body. This subsection shall not apply to any indenture, agreement, contract, or transaction which constitutes security, direct or indirect, for payment of bonds or other obligations incurred pursuant to a redevelopment plan, and the judgment and order confirming and validating any such bonds or other obligations shall constitute a final and conclusive adjudication as to any such security.
(c) Failure by an official or employee to comply with subsection (a) of this Code section shall constitute misconduct in office.
Redevelopment powers under this chapter may not be exercised by any political subdivision unless so authorized by a local law relating thereto, which local law may limit but may not expand those redevelopment powers established by this chapter as to the local political subdivision to which the local law is applicable. Such local law, and all amendments thereto, shall become effective only if approved in a special election by a majority of the qualified voters voting of each political subdivision directly affected, which special election shall be held as provided in that local law, but in conformity with the requirements for special elections pursuant to Title 21.
The powers provided by this chapter are intended by the General Assembly to be cumulative and supplemental to any powers heretofore provided by law for counties, municipalities, and consolidated governments of this state and not in lieu of any such heretofore existing powers.
This article shall be known and may be cited as the “Georgia Municipal Training Act.”
The General Assembly finds and declares that it is in the best interests of the citizens of this state to require newly elected members of a municipal governing authority to attend a course of training and education on matters pertaining to the administration and operation of municipal government. The purpose of such course shall be to instruct such individuals in the powers, duties, and responsibilities of their positions of public trust.
As used in this article, the term:
(1) “Institute” means the Harold F. Holtz Municipal Training Institute.
(2) “Municipal governing authority” means the governing authority of a municipal corporation.
(3) “State” means the State of Georgia and any department, board, bureau, commission, or other agency thereof.
(4) “Vinson Institute” means the Carl Vinson Institute of Government of the University of Georgia.
(a) All persons elected as members of a municipal governing authority who were not serving as members of a municipal governing authority on July 1, 1990, shall enroll in, attend, and satisfactorily complete a course of training and education on matters pertaining to the administration and operations of municipal governments. Such course of training and education shall include, but not be limited to, orientation in local government finance and budgeting; methods of taxation; planning; public works and utilities; parks and recreation; environmental management; public safety; personnel management; responsiveness to the community; the ethics, duties, and responsibilities of members of a municipal governing authority or a chief executive officer; and such other matters as may be deemed necessary and appropriate by the Vinson Institute.
(b) All expenses incurred by a newly elected member of a municipal governing authority related to the course of training and education authorized and required by subsection (a) of this Code section, including the reasonable costs of housing, travel, and meals, shall be paid from public funds appropriated for such purposes. All expenses not paid for by state funds shall be paid from municipal funds by the municipal governing authority whose newly elected member or members shall attend such course.
(a) There is created and established the Harold F. Holtz Municipal Training Institute. Except as otherwise provided in Code Sections 36-45-4 and 36-45-20, all costs of operating and conducting the institute shall be paid for from public funds appropriated for such purposes.
(b) The Vinson Institute shall establish, in consultation with the Georgia Municipal Association, a committee of elected municipal officials to design, implement, and administer the course of training and education required by Code Sections 36-45-4 and 36-45-20.
(c) The course of training and education required by Code Sections 36-45-4 and 36-45-20 shall be conducted by the institute under such rules, regulations, procedures, policies, requirements, and standards as prescribed from time to time by the committee established pursuant to subsection (b) of this Code section.
(d) The committee established pursuant to subsection (b) of this Code section shall establish guidelines and procedures to permit any person elected or appointed as a member of a municipal governing authority after January 1 of a calendar year or any person who is unable to attend or complete the course of training and education when offered by the institute due to medical disability, providential cause, or any other reason deemed sufficient by such committee, to comply with the requirements of Code Sections 36-45-4 and 36-45-20.
(e) The committee established pursuant to subsection (b) of this Code section shall perform such other duties and have such other powers and authority as may be necessary and proper or as prescribed by general law.
On or before February 1 of each year, the Vinson Institute shall file a report to the Governor, the chairperson of the Senate State and Local Governmental Operations Committee, and the chairperson of the House Committee on State Planning and Community Affairs. The report shall include a summary of the accomplishments of the institute during the preceding calendar year, including, but not limited to, the total number of members of a municipal governing authority who attended the course of training and education offered by the institute; an outline of the institute's programs for the current calendar year; an evaluation of the programs and services offered by the institute; and recommendations, if any, for legislation as may be necessary to improve the programs and services offered by the institute.
(a) For purposes of this article, the term “clerk of the governing authority of a municipality” means an individual holding the office of city clerk pursuant to a municipal charter and who is normally employed in that capacity for 40 hours per week.
(b) Any person hired or appointed to serve as the clerk of the governing authority of a municipality shall attend and complete a course of training on matters pertaining to the basic performance of his or her official duties. A city official who is an acting city clerk or who carries the dual responsibilities of both city manager and city clerk is exempt from such training.
(c) The personnel of the Carl Vinson Institute of Government are authorized to work with the members of the Georgia Municipal Clerks and Finance Officers Association and the Georgia Municipal Association in establishing and operating the training course provided for in subsection (b) of this Code section.
(d) All reasonable expenses of attending the training course required by this Code section shall be paid from funds appropriated by the municipal governing authority for such purposes.
(a) The governing authority of each county and municipal corporation is authorized to license the operation of self-service motor fuel dispensing pumps and to charge a fee for each license. If the governing authority determines that the operation of self-service motor fuel dispensing pumps will not be injurious to the health or welfare of the residents of the political jurisdiction affected, it shall grant a license to any applicant not otherwise disqualified by law who makes application on a form prescribed by the governing authority. The license shall be effective from January 1 to December 31 of each year.
(b) It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation to operate a self-service motor fuel dispensing pump unless an attendant is present at the pump's location and such person, firm, or corporation has obtained a valid license from the governing authority of the political jurisdiction affected. Any person, firm, or corporation violating this Code section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
(c) This Code section shall not apply to motor fuel dispensing units which are not open to the public.
In order to comply with applicable state and federal water pollution control standards and to be eligible for grants-in-aid or other allotments, notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, each municipal corporation and each county of this state is authorized, in the discretion of its governing authority, to enter into valid and binding contracts with each other and with private persons, firms, associations, or corporations, for any period of time not to exceed 50 years, to provide industrial waste-water treatment services to such private persons, firms, associations, or corporations, provided that such contracts shall provide that the charge for the services shall never be less than the actual cost to the municipal corporation or county for providing the services.
(a) As used in this Code section, the term:
(1) “Adult bookstore” means any commercial establishment in which is offered for sale any book or publication, film, or other medium which depicts sexually explicit nudity or sexual conduct.
(2) “Adult movie house” means any movie theater which on a regular, continuing basis shows films rated “X” by the Motion Picture Coding Association of America or any movie theater which presents for public viewing on a regular, continuing basis so-called “adult films” depicting sexual conduct.
(3) “Explicit media outlet” means any commercial establishment which has an inventory of goods that is composed of at least 50 percent of books, pamphlets, magazines, or other printed publications, films, or other media which depict sexually explicit nudity or sexual conduct.
(4) “Sexual conduct” means acts of masturbation, homosexuality, sodomy, sexual intercourse, or physical contact with a person's clothed or unclothed genitals, pubic area, buttocks, or, if such person is female, breast which, to the average person, applying contemporary community standards, taken as a whole, lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value and predominantly appeals to the prurient interest, that is, a shameful or morbid interest in nudity or sex.
(5) “Sexually explicit nudity” means a state of undress so as to expose the human male or female genitals or pubic area with less than a full opaque covering or the depiction of covered or uncovered male genitals in a discernibly turgid state which, to the average person, applying contemporary community standards, taken as a whole, lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value and predominantly appeals to the prurient interest, that is, a shameful or morbid interest in nudity or sex.
(b) The governing authority of each county and municipal corporation is authorized to enact, for their respective jurisdictions, ordinances which shall have the effect of restricting the operation of adult bookstores, explicit media outlets, and adult movie houses to areas zoned for commercial or industrial purposes; provided, however, that no explicit media outlet or adult movie house shall be located within 1,000 feet of any school building, school grounds, college campus, public place of worship, or area zoned primarily for residential purposes. As used in this subsection, the term “school building” shall apply only to public or private school buildings. The distance requirement provided in this subsection for explicit media outlets and adult movie houses shall not apply to said locations which hold lawful permits or business licenses on July 1, 1997. In determining the distance requirements provided for in this Code section, the measurement shall be from the closest property line on which the adult bookstore, explicit media outlet, or adult movie house is located to the closest property line on which the school, college, religious institution, public place of worship, or area zoned primarily for residential purposes is located. Nothing in this Code section shall be construed so as to prohibit the adoption by the governing authority of any county or municipality of restrictions relating to the location of adult bookstores, explicit media outlets, and adult movie houses which are more stringent than the requirements of this Code section.
(c) Any person, firm, or corporation violating any ordinance enacted pursuant to subsection (b) of this Code section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. Each day of operation in violation shall be deemed a separate offense.
(a) Each county and municipal corporation shall have the authority to provide by ordinance for the removal and disposal of any discarded, dismantled, wrecked, scrapped, ruined, or junked motor vehicles or parts thereof, when requested by the owner or when such motor vehicles are in such a condition that they constitute a health hazard or unsightly nuisance, notwithstanding the fact that such motor vehicles may be located upon private property.
(b) Each county and municipal corporation, in addition to the specific powers conferred upon it by this Code section, is vested with such additional powers as shall be necessary to carry out the purposes of this Code section and shall have the authority to adopt all reasonable ordinances in order to carry out and effectuate the purposes of this Code section. Additionally, each county and municipality shall have the power and authority to contract with private individuals and firms for the removal of discarded, dismantled, wrecked, scrapped, ruined, or junked motor vehicles or parts thereof.
(c) Nothing contained within this Code section shall be deemed to apply to any motor vehicle which is located within the premises of any junkyard complying with the laws of this state relating to the licensing and regulating of motor vehicle junkyards.
After July 1, 1978, each county and municipal corporation shall install all newly located grates upon any public roadway so as to accommodate bicycles traveling on the public road parallel to the lane of travel of vehicles proceeding over such roadways, except that this Code section shall not apply to limited access highways or other streets or roads on which bicycle travel is prohibited.
(a) Every private employer with more than ten employees shall register with and utilize the federal work authorization program, as defined by Code Section 13-10-90. The requirements of this subsection shall be effective on January 1, 2012, as to employers with 500 or more employees, on July 1, 2012, as to employers with 100 or more employees but fewer than 500 employees, and on July 1, 2013, as to employers with more than ten employees but fewer than 100 employees.
(b) For purposes of this Code section, the term “employee” shall have the same meaning as set forth in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1.1) of Code Section 48-13-5, provided that such person is also employed to work not less than 35 hours per week.
(c) Before any county or municipal corporation issues a business license, occupational tax certificate, or other document required to operate a business to any person engaged in a profession or business required to be licensed by the state under Title 43, the person shall provide evidence of such licensure to the appropriate agency of the county or municipal corporation that issues business licenses. No business license, occupational tax certificate, or other document required to operate a business shall be issued to any person subject to licensure under Title 43 without evidence of such licensure being presented.
(d)(1) Before any county or municipal corporation issues a business license, occupational tax certificate, or other document required to operate a business to any person, the person shall provide evidence that he or she is authorized to use the federal work authorization program or evidence that the provisions of this Code section do not apply. Evidence of such use shall be in the form of an affidavit as provided by the Attorney General in subsection (f) of this Code section attesting that he or she utilizes the federal work authorization program in accordance with federal regulations or that he or she employs fewer than 11 employees or otherwise does not fall within the requirements of this Code section. Whether an employer is exempt from using the federal work authorization program as required by this Code section shall be determined by the number of employees employed by such employer on January 1 of the year during which the affidavit is submitted. The affidavit shall include the employer's federally assigned employment eligibility verification system user number and the date of authority for use. The requirements of this subsection shall be effective on January 1, 2012, as to employers with 500 or more employees, on July 1, 2012, as to employers with 100 or more employees but fewer than 500 employees, and on July 1, 2013, as to employers with more than ten employees but fewer than 100 employees.
(2) Upon satisfying the requirements of paragraph (1) of this subsection, for all subsequent renewals of a business license, occupation tax certificate, or other document, the person shall submit to the county or municipality his or her federal work authorization user number or assert that he or she is exempt from this requirement, provided that the federal work authorization user number provided for the renewal is the same federal work authorization user number as provided in the affidavit under paragraph (1) of this subsection. If the federal work authorization user number is different than the federal work authorization user number provided in the affidavit under paragraph (1) of this subsection, then the person shall be subject to the requirements of subsection (g) of this Code section.
(e) Counties and municipal corporations subject to the requirements of this Code section shall provide an annual report to the Department of Audits and Accounts pursuant to Code Section 50-36-4 as proof of compliance with this Code section. Subject to funding, the Department of Audits and Accounts shall annually conduct an audit of no fewer than 20 percent of such reporting agencies.
(f) In order to assist private businesses and counties and municipal corporations in complying with the provisions of this Code section, the Attorney General shall provide a standardized form affidavit which shall be used as acceptable evidence demonstrating use of the federal employment eligibility verification system or that the provisions of subsection (b) of this Code section do not apply to the applicant. The form affidavit shall be posted by the Attorney General on the Department of Law's official website no later than January 1, 2012.
(g) Once an applicant for a business license, occupational tax certificate, or other document required to operate a business has submitted an affidavit with a federally assigned employment eligibility verification system user number, he or she shall not be authorized to submit a renewal application using a new or different federally assigned employment eligibility verification system user number, unless accompanied by a sworn document explaining the reason such applicant obtained a new or different federally assigned employment eligibility verification system user number.
(h) Any person presenting false or misleading evidence of state licensure shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. Any government official or employee knowingly acting in violation of this Code section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor; provided, however, that any person who knowingly submits a false or misleading affidavit pursuant to this Code section shall be guilty of submitting a false document in violation of Code Section 16-10-20. It shall be a defense to a violation of this Code section that such person acted in good faith and made a reasonable attempt to comply with the requirements of this Code section.
(i) Documents required by this Code section may be submitted electronically, provided the submission complies with Chapter 12 of Title 10.
(j) The Attorney General shall be authorized to conduct an investigation and bring any criminal or civil action he or she deems necessary to ensure compliance with the provisions of this Code section. The Attorney General shall provide an employer who is found to have committed a good faith violation of this Code section 30 days to demonstrate to the Attorney General that such employer has come into compliance with this Code section. During the course of any investigation of violations of this Code section, the Attorney General shall also investigate potential violations of Code Section 16-9-121.1 by employees that may have led to violations of this Code section.
When any county or municipal corporation of this state has voted, issued, and sold, or hereafter votes, issues, and sells bonds with the proceeds of which to match state and federal allocations and contributions and to build and equip a hospital in such county or municipal corporation, and because of increased contributions thereto by the state or the federal government the cost thereof is less than the architects or engineers estimate, or for other reasons there is an excess over the cost to such county or municipal corporation in the proceeds of the sale of such bonds, such county or municipal corporation, acting by and through its governing authority, may apply such excess to the cost of supplies for and of opening and operating such hospital or to the cost of constructing and equipping a nurses' home to be used in connection therewith. Such excess of bond issues may be used and so applied whether the hospital is built and equipped through a contract made by the county or municipal corporation directly or is made through a hospital authority under Article 4 of Chapter 7 of Title 31, of which such county or municipal corporation is a participating unit.
Whenever an audit of the financial affairs of a county or municipal corporation or of an officer, board, department, unit, or other political subdivision of a county or municipal corporation is made pursuant to a requirement or to an authorization otherwise provided by law, the audit report shall include the auditor's unqualified opinion upon the presentation of the financial position and the result of the operations of the governmental unit or office which is audited. If the auditor is unable to express an unqualified opinion, he or she shall so state and shall further detail the reasons for qualification or disclaimer of opinion. All such audits shall be conducted in conformity with generally accepted government auditing standards.
(a) No person shall investigate a business for the purpose of providing information to a county or municipal corporation of this state, which information is used in determining whether or not such business shall receive a business or similar license issued pursuant to the valid exercise of the police power of the county or municipal corporation, when such person is employed by or contracting with the county or municipal corporation to make investigations of the type specified in this subsection and such person has been employed by or is then employed by the particular individual business which the person is investigating.
(b) Any person who violates subsection (a) of this Code section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
(a) Representatives of the governing authority of any county in this state which contains the smaller portion of the population of a city with a total population of 350,000 or more according to the United States decennial census of 1970 or any future such census shall meet annually, prior to January 1, with representatives of the governing authority of such city to develop an agreement between the governing authorities on the following matters:
(1) The services to be provided during the following calendar year by the county and by the city to the portion of the city that lies within the county; and
(2) The method of dispatching services during the following calendar year to the portion of the city that lies within the county. Agreement on this matter shall provide a uniform procedure for dispatching services and shall include an agreement as to all street addresses in such portion of the city.
(b) Any agreements developed pursuant to subsection (a) of this Code section shall be in writing.
(c) The first annual meeting required by this Code section shall be held prior to January 1, 1977.
No county or municipal corporation shall install, service, maintain, operate, sell, or lease as lessor any burglar alarm system, fire alarm system, or other electronic security system on private property if a private contractor licensed to do business within the county or municipality offers such systems or services to the public within such county or municipality. The provisions of this Code section shall not prohibit a county or municipal corporation from installing, servicing, maintaining, or operating a burglar alarm system, fire alarm system, or other electronic security system on any property owned or leased by such county or municipal corporation. This Code section shall not apply to any county or municipality offering electronic security systems on January 1, 1988. This Code section shall not prevent volunteer fire departments from selling or leasing battery operated fire detection equipment or fire extinguishers in their service areas. Any person violating this Code section or expending county or municipal funds in violation of this Code section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
(a) As used in this Code section, the term “fence detection system” means a new or existing alarm system or electronic security system that interfaces with a monitored alarm device in a manner that enables the alarm system or electronic security system to transmit a signal intended to summon law enforcement or the property owner in response to an intrusion or burglary and has ancillary components or equipment attached to such system that include:
(1) A fence that is:
(A) Located on nonresidentially zoned property;
(B)(i) No more than ten feet in height; or
(ii) Two feet higher than a nonelectric perimeter fence or wall, whichever is taller; and
(C) Surrounded by a nonelectric perimeter fence or wall that is at least five feet in height upon which are placed conspicuous warning signs that are in no more than 30 foot intervals that read: “WARNING--ELECTRIC FENCE”;
(2) An energizer powered by a commercial storage battery not exceeding 12 volts that produces a short electric pulsed charge upon contact with the fence and that does not exceed energizer characteristics set for electric fence energizers by the International Electrotechnical Commission Standard 60335-2-76:2018; and
(3) A battery charging device used exclusively to charge the battery.
(b) Each county, consolidated government, and municipal corporation shall:
(1) Treat fence detection systems in all zoning and permitting matters exclusively as alarm systems as such term is defined in paragraph (.1) of Code Section 43-14-2; and
(2) Not, by ordinance or other regulation, prohibit the installation or use of fence detection systems that are consistent with requirements and standards described in subsection (a) of this Code section.
(a) Each county or municipality in this state shall be authorized to enter into multiyear lease, purchase, or lease-purchase contracts of all kinds for the acquisition of goods, materials, real and personal property, services, and supplies, provided that any such contract shall contain provisions for the following:
(1) The contract shall terminate absolutely and without further obligation on the part of the county or municipality at the close of the calendar or fiscal year in which it was executed and at the close of each succeeding calendar or fiscal year for which it may be renewed as provided in this Code section;
(2) The contract may provide for automatic renewal unless positive action is taken by the county or municipality to terminate such contract, and the nature of such action shall be determined by the county or municipality and specified in the contract;
(3) The contract shall state the total obligation of the county or municipality for the calendar or fiscal year of execution and shall further state the total obligation which will be incurred in each calendar or fiscal year renewal term, if renewed; and
(4) The contract shall provide that title to any supplies, materials, equipment, or other personal property shall remain in the vendor until fully paid for by the county or municipality.
(b) In addition to the provisions enumerated in subsection (a) of this Code section, any contract authorized by this Code section may include:
(1) A provision which requires that the contract will terminate immediately and absolutely at such time as appropriated and otherwise unobligated funds are no longer available to satisfy the obligations of the county or municipality under the contract; or
(2) Any other provision reasonably necessary to protect the interests of the county or municipality.
(c) Any contract developed under this Code section containing the provisions enumerated in subsection (a) of this Code section shall be deemed to obligate the county or municipality only for those sums payable during the calendar or fiscal year of execution or, in the event of a renewal by the county or municipality, for those sums payable in the individual calendar or fiscal year renewal term.
(d) No contract developed and executed pursuant to this Code section shall be deemed to create a debt of the county or municipality for the payment of any sum beyond the calendar or fiscal year of execution or, in the event of a renewal, beyond the calendar or fiscal year of such renewal.
(e) No contract developed and executed pursuant to this Code section may be delivered if the principal portion of such contract, when added to the amount of debt incurred by any county or municipality pursuant to Article IX, Section V, Paragraph I of the Constitution of Georgia, exceeds 10 percent of the assessed value of all taxable property within such county or municipality.
(f) No contract developed and executed pursuant to this Code section may be delivered if the real or personal property being so financed has been the subject of a referendum which failed to receive the approval of the voters of the county or municipality within the immediately preceding four calendar years, unless such real or personal property is required to be financed pursuant to a federal or state court order, or imminent threat thereof, as certified by the governing authority of the county or municipality.
(g) No contract developed and executed pursuant to this Code section with respect to the acquisition of real property may be delivered unless a public hearing has been held by the county or municipality after two weeks' notice published in a newspaper of general circulation within the county or municipality.
(h)(1) On or after July 1, 2000, no contract developed and executed or renewed, refinanced, or restructured pursuant to this Code section with respect to real property may be delivered if the lesser of either of the following is exceeded:
(A) The average annual payments on the aggregate of all such outstanding contracts exceed 7.5 percent of the governmental fund revenues of the county or municipality for the calendar year preceding the delivery of such contract plus any available special county 1 percent sales and use tax proceeds collected pursuant to Code Section 48-8-111; or
(B) The outstanding principal balance on the aggregate of all such outstanding contracts exceeds $25 million; provided, however, that with respect to any county or municipality in which, prior to July 1, 2000, the outstanding principal balance on the aggregate of outstanding contracts exceeds $25 million, such outstanding contracts may be renewed, refinanced, or restructured, but no new contracts shall be developed and executed until the outstanding principal balance on such outstanding contracts has been reduced so that the $25 million limitation of this subparagraph, or the limitation in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, whichever is lower, is not exceeded.
(2) Paragraph (1) of this subsection shall not apply to contracts developed and executed or renewed, refinanced, or restructured pursuant to this Code section which are for projects or facilities:
(A) For the housing of court services, where any other state law or laws authorize the project or facility to be financed and paid for from the collection of fines rather than from tax revenues; or
(B) Which have been previously approved in the most recent referendum calling for the levy of a special county 1 percent sales and use tax pursuant to Part 1 of Article 3 of Chapter 8 of Title 48.
(i) Any such contract may provide for the payment by the county or municipality of interest or the allocation of a portion of the contract payment to interest, provided that the contract is in compliance with this Code section.
(j) Nothing in this Code section shall restrict counties or municipalities from executing reasonable contracts arising out of their proprietary functions.
The governing body of each county or municipal corporation of this state is authorized to enter into one year, or less, contracts with private nonprofit organizations which are exempt from federal income taxes pursuant to Section 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(6) of the Internal Revenue Code to utilize such organizations to identify, attract, and locate new business and industry into the county or municipality for the purposes of increasing trade, industry, agribusiness, commerce, and tourism and the improvement of employment opportunities within the county or municipality and to otherwise promote the general welfare of the county or municipality; provided, however, that the authority provided under this Code section shall not affect or in any way apply to any contract under Code Section 48-13-51 regarding the expenditure of proceeds collected under Article 3 of Chapter 13 of Title 48 unless that contract is executed by the governing body of a county in which is imposed, prior to January 1, 2001, the homestead option sales and use tax authorized under Code Section 48-8-102.
Each county or municipality in this state is authorized to accept the title to property subject to a contract for lease purchase or installment purchase and is authorized to transfer title back to the vendor in the name of the county or municipality in the event that the contract is not fully consummated.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, any county or municipal corporation of this state is authorized, in the discretion of its governing authority, to enter into valid and binding leases and contracts with private persons, firms, associations, or corporations for any period of time not to exceed 20 years to provide for the operation and maintenance of all or a portion of its waste-water treatment system, storm-water system, water system, or sewer system, or any combination of such systems, which leases and contracts may include provisions for the design, construction, repair, reconditioning, replacement, maintenance, and operation of the system, or any combination of such services and functions. If a contract or lease to be awarded pursuant to this Code section includes provisions for the construction of public works, the laws relating to the procurement of such contracts shall also apply; provided, however, that any bonding requirements shall apply only to the construction provisions of the contract or lease. Prior to entering into a lease or contract pursuant to this Code section, the governing authority shall solicit competitive sealed proposals. The governing authority shall first establish criteria for evaluation of any applicants submitting proposals on such leases or contracts for the purpose of assisting the governing authority in making a review of such applicants' previous performance on projects of comparable magnitude, the environmental compliance record of such applicants, and any relevant civil or criminal penalties incurred by such applicants during the five years immediately preceding the execution of the lease or contract. The governing authority shall take into consideration such information to assist it in determining the eligibility of any applicant. The award of a lease or contract pursuant to this Code section shall be made to the responsible and responsive applicant whose proposal is determined in writing to be the most advantageous to the governmental entity, taking into consideration the evaluation factors set forth in the request for proposals. All information required by the county or municipality pursuant to this Code section shall be provided by the applicant under oath. For purposes of this Code section, “applicant” means any individual, firm, association, or corporation submitting a proposal on such leases or contracts.
No municipal and county consolidation shall become effective unless such consolidation is separately approved by a majority of the qualified voters voting in a referendum thereon in each affected county or counties and in each affected municipality or municipalities located within such county or counties containing at least 10 percent of the population of the county participating in the consolidation. No municipal and county consolidation approved pursuant to this Code section shall include within the consolidated government any municipality located within a county containing less than 10 percent of the population of such county unless such consolidation is separately approved by a majority of the qualified voters voting in a referendum thereon in such municipality. Referendums held pursuant to this Code section shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions and requirements of Title 21.
(a) No public or private water supplier shall refuse to supply water to any single or multifamily residential property for which water has been furnished through the use of a separate water meter for each residential unit on application of the owner or new tenant of such property because of the indebtedness of a prior owner, prior occupant, or prior lessee to the water supplier for water previously furnished to such property.
(b) For each new or current account to supply water, the public and private water suppliers shall maintain a record of identifying information on the applicant for the water service and shall seek reimbursement of unpaid charges for water service furnished initially from the person who incurred the charges.
(c)(1) Any real property owner or tenant, person having executed a contract for the purchase or occupancy of real property, attorney closing a real estate transaction for the purchase of real property, or lender considering the loan of funds to be secured by real property shall be entitled upon request to a statement from a public or private water supplier setting forth the amount of water charges currently and past due and any late charges and interest applicable for water supplied to such property. Such request shall:
(A) Be in writing;
(B) State the address of the real property for which water was supplied;
(C) Be delivered to the billing address of the public or private water supplier by certified mail, return receipt requested, statutory overnight delivery, or electronic means if electronic communication is permitted by such supplier; and
(D) State a return address or e-mail address to which the statement reflecting the moneys owed is to be directed.
(2) Any request transmitted by electronic means shall be considered received on the first business day following such transmission.
(3) The public or private water supplier shall furnish such statement to the requestor by certified mail, return receipt requested, statutory overnight delivery, or electronic means if electronic communication is provided by the requestor within ten business days of receipt of such request. Such supplier may charge a fee not to exceed $10.00 to provide the requested information.
(4) The failure of the public or private water supplier to provide such statement within such ten business day period shall:
(A) Cause any lien for unpaid charges provided by this Code section to be extinguished and to be of no force or effect as to the title acquired by the purchaser or lender, if any, and their respective successors and assigns in the transaction contemplated in connection with such request; and
(B) Prevent the public or private water supplier from denying water services to the new real property owner or tenant.
(5) The information specified in the public or private water supplier's statement shall be binding upon the public or private water supplier as of the date of the statement and for 30 days thereafter. When payment in full is tendered within such 30 day period, it shall extinguish any lien by operation of law which the public or private water supplier may have against such property.
(d) A public or private water supplier shall not impose a lien against real property to secure unpaid charges for water furnished unless the owner of such real property is the person who incurred the charges and shall not deny water services when such a lien has been extinguished.
(e) This Code section shall not apply to associations that are subject to Article 3 of Chapter 3 of Title 44 which supply water.
(f) A public or private supplier of gas, sewerage service, or electricity shall not impose a lien against real property to secure unpaid charges for gas, sewerage service, or electricity unless the owner of such real property is the person who incurred the charges.
(a) No county, municipality, or local authority shall require a single-family residential property owner or farm served by a private well to connect with or use water supplied by a public water system, except where necessary to preclude the use of water obtained from such private well that is demonstrably unfit for human consumption or other intended use; nor shall it require such single-family residential property owner or farm whose water lines are not connected with such public water system to pay any charge or fee for water supply services made available but not used.
(b) Nothing in subsection (a) of this Code section shall preclude or authorize the denial of the repair or maintenance of a well serving a single-family residence so as to meet the requirements for allowing use of the same by a single-family residential property owner or farm without connecting to a public water system or payment of charges or fees in accordance with subsection (a) of this Code section. Such repairs shall be the sole responsibility of such owner.
(c) Nothing in subsection (a) of this Code section shall preclude or authorize the denial of the installation of a well serving a single-family residence situated on a parcel of one acre or more so as to meet the requirements for allowing use of the same by a single-family residential property owner without connecting to a public water system or payment of charges or fees in accordance with subsection (a) of this Code section. Such repairs shall be the sole responsibility of such owner.
(d) Subsections (a), (b), and (c) of this Code section shall not apply to:
(1) Any public water system having more than a total of 70,000 active service connection accounts or more than 200 such accounts per square mile of total area served;
(2) A public water system with respect to a single-family residential property owner or farm who has been mailed written notice to his or her address of record on the property tax rolls by the appropriate county, municipality, or local authority by certified mail of his or her right to opt out of connecting with such system and paying charges or fees for system services made available but not used, if such property owner did not notify the county, municipality, or local authority in writing on a form provided thereby of his or her decision to exercise that option within 45 days after mailing of such notice by the county, municipality, or local authority;
(3) Any project of a public water system for which revenue bonds have been validated, issued, and sold prior to January 1, 2008; or
(4) Any public water system funded primarily through a federal or state grant that contains stipulations in such grant requiring the county, municipality, or local authority to levy a charge or fee for water supply services made available but not used. For all state grants, loans, or contracts for services issued on and after July 1, 2007, no state grant, loan, or contract for services funding any project of a public water system shall contain any stipulations requiring a county, municipality, or local authority to levy a charge or fee for water supply services made available but not used or requiring a county, municipality, or local authority to require single-family property owners or farms to connect with or use water supplied by a public water system, except where necessary to preclude the use of water obtained from another source that is demonstrably unfit for human consumption or other intended use. For the purposes of this paragraph, a federal grant is defined as money provided directly to a county or municipality. Federal money provided to a revolving loan fund or to the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority or such other mechanism shall not be considered a federal grant.
Land located within a railroad's right of way and covered with ballast and rail shall be exempt from any fees imposed by any county or municipality for the management, collection, or disposal of storm water; provided, however, that railroad stations, maintenance buildings, or other developed land used for railroad purposes shall not be exempt from storm-water fees.
No county or municipality within the county shall purchase or accept title to any real property located in an adjoining county, which property will be exchanged for certain property belonging to the federal government as authorized by federal law, without the written consent of the governing authority of such adjoining county wherein the real property is located; provided, however, that the provisions of this Code section shall not apply to the exercise of eminent domain by a county or municipality as authorized under the Constitution or other provisions of law; provided, further, that the provisions of this Code section shall not apply to any agreement entered into by two or more counties, municipal corporations, consolidated governments, or development authorities or any combination thereof prior to July 1, 1994, nor shall the transfer of any land pursuant to any such agreement be affected by this Code section.
(a) On and after January 1, 1999, every dispatch center operated by any county or municipality to receive, process, or transmit public safety information and dispatch law enforcement officers, firefighters, medical personnel, or emergency management personnel shall comply with the requirements of this Code section. Each such dispatch center shall have on duty at all times at least one communications officer who is certified as having been trained in the use of telecommunications devices for the deaf (TDD's), as provided for in subsection (d) of Code Section 35-8-23. However, a dispatch center which is staffed by ten or fewer communications officers shall be considered in compliance with this Code section; provided, however, that on and after January 1, 1999, no dispatch center shall be permitted to employ any additional or replacement communications officers who are not certified as having been trained in the use of telecommunications devices for the deaf (TDD's) as provided for in subsection (d) of Code Section 35-8-23.
(b) On and after January 1, 1999, no monthly 9-1-1 charge provided for in Code Section 46-5-133 may be imposed for the support of any dispatch center unless such dispatch center is in compliance with the requirements of this Code section.
(a) As used in this Code section, the term “political subdivision of the state” means any office, agency, department, commission, board, division, and institution of any county or municipality of the State of Georgia.
(b) A political subdivision of the state shall have no liability for losses from any failure or malfunction occurring before December 31, 2005, which is caused directly or indirectly by the failure of computer software or any device containing a computer processor to accurately or properly recognize, calculate, display, sort, or otherwise process dates or times, if the failure or malfunction causing the loss was unforeseeable or if the failure or malfunction causing the loss was foreseeable but the plan or design or both for identifying and preventing the failure or malfunction was prepared in substantial compliance with generally accepted computer and information system design standards in effect at the time of the preparation of the plan or design.
(a) The General Assembly finds that allowing local government to license, contract with, or both license and contract with private companies to finance, construct, maintain, improve, own, or operate, or any combination thereof, private toll roads and bridges can provide significant public benefits to the citizens of this state in facilitating transportation of the general public without the need for additional public tax revenues. The General Assembly also finds that such facilitation of transportation of the public by private enterprise is an important public purpose and function. The General Assembly further finds that general law impediments to such arrangements should be removed. To implement these findings, this Code section shall control the subject matter thereof notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary.
(b) As used in this Code section, the term:
(1) “Local government” means any county or municipality of this state.
(2) “Person” means any natural person, partnership, corporation, trust, association, or any other legal entity, other than the state or a political subdivision thereof.
(3) “Project” means a toll road or toll bridge.
(c) A local government may contract with, license, or both contract with and license a person to finance, construct, maintain, improve, own, or operate, or any combination thereof, a project along the boundaries of or within such local government. In furtherance of the enhanced transportation for its residents and others which such project can provide, such local government may finance, construct, maintain, improve, own, or operate, or any combination thereof, within the boundaries of such local government any necessary highway approaches to such project. Such contract, license, or contract and license may be executed by a local government without complying with the contracting requirements of Chapter 10 of this title. A contract, license, or contract and license authorized by this subsection may extend for any period as determined by the local government notwithstanding the provisions of Code Section 36-60-13 or any other provision of law. Such contract, license, or contract and license shall not impose any debt upon such local government unless that debt is incurred in conformity with Article IX, Section V of the Constitution. Such local government shall not lend its credit as part or in furtherance of such contract, license, or contract and license. Neither the local government nor the state shall make any improvements or otherwise expend public funds upon property owned by or leased to a person for a project.
(d) Any property or rights therein of another person which are necessary for the project authorized by such contract, license, or contract and license may be procured by such local government exercising its power of eminent domain on behalf of and for the project and may be leased or sold to the person whom the local government has contracted with, licensed, or contracted with and licensed for such project, unless such property or rights therein are owned by the state or a political subdivision of the state. In all other respects such power of eminent domain shall conform to the requirements imposed by law. Any such property or rights therein owned by the state or a political subdivision thereof may be leased by such owner for any period, as determined by such owner, or sold by such owner and may only be leased or sold for fair market value. In determining such valuation, at least three written appraisals of the value of the property or rights therein shall be obtained by the owning state or political subdivision. Those appraisals shall be made by any person familiar with property values in the area where the property is situated, at least one of which appraisals shall be made by a member of a nationally recognized appraisal organization. If the state is the owner, such lease or sale shall be executed by the State Properties Commission and may be executed without competitive bidding upon written determination by that commission that such lease or sale is necessary for the project and the public interest is served by such use of state property; provided, however, that if the Department of Transportation is the owner, such lease or sale shall be handled by the Department of Transportation in accordance with its normal procedures for the acquisition and disposal of department rights of way.
(e) A contract authorized under this Code section shall provide, in addition to any other requirements:
(1) The right to finance, construct, maintain, improve, own, or operate, or any combination thereof, the project and that such right shall be irrevocable but need not be exclusive;
(2) The right to own the project and to set, fix, change, and collect tolls;
(3) Rights of assignment and amendment;
(4) The duty of the person to provide for design and construction of the project and standards therefor;
(5) Provisions for maintenance and operation, liability, and other operational matters;
(6) Rights and duties of the parties regarding connecting roads, highways, streets, bridges, or transitways; and
(7) Such other matters as shall be deemed appropriate or necessary.
(f) A project operated pursuant to a contract, license, or contract and license authorized under this Code section shall not be subject to regulation as to toll amounts or any other matters by the Public Service Commission, the Department of Transportation, or the State Road and Tollway Authority, except those matters related to the regulation of safety or hazardous materials as provided for in Title 46.
(g) Nothing in this Code section shall limit the exercise of the power of eminent domain by the state or a local government regarding a project.
Any other provision of law to the contrary notwithstanding, if the director of the Environmental Protection Division of the Department of Natural Resources determines after a scientific analysis that such a quarry location has significant adverse impact on the water system, no person may commence the operation of a limestone or dolostone rock quarry within eight miles of any well or spring accessing an underground source of water which provides water to any county or municipality in an amount of at least 50 percent of such county's or municipality's water supply or two million gallons per day, whichever is less.
(a) As used in this Code section, the term “volunteer firefighter” means a person who is a volunteer firefighter, as defined in Code Section 47-7-1, relating to definitions regarding the Georgia Firefighters' Pension Fund, and who receives no compensation for services as a volunteer firefighter other than:
(1) Actual expenses incurred;
(2) A per diem for services;
(3) Contributions to the Georgia Firefighters' Pension Fund;
(4) Workers' compensation coverage under Chapter 9 of Title 34; or
(5) Any combination of items specified in paragraphs (1) through (4) of this subsection.
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of Code Section 36-30-4, 45-2-2, or any other provision of law to the contrary, a volunteer firefighter for a county or municipal corporation shall be eligible to serve as a member of the governing authority of that county or municipal corporation.
(c) Nothing in this Code section shall require a county or municipal governing authority to make any of the payments or offer the benefits to volunteer firefighters specified in subsection (a) of this Code section.
(a) The governing authority of a county or municipal corporation shall not prohibit the sale or use or ignition of consumer fireworks or other products or services which are lawful under Chapter 10 of Title 25, unless such prohibition is expressly authorized by general law.
(b) If the sale of a product or service is regulated by Chapter 10 of Title 25, the governing authority of a county or municipal corporation shall not enact additional regulation of the sale or use or ignition of such product or service, unless such additional regulation is expressly authorized by general law.
(c) Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (b) of this Code section, the governing authority of a county or municipal corporation may provide for permits or licenses for the sale or use of consumer fireworks as provided for under subsection (c) of Code Section 25-10-5.1.
(d) Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (b) of this Code section, the governing authority of a county or municipal corporation may further regulate the sale of consumer fireworks from temporary consumer fireworks retail sales stands until January 31, 2018.
(e) The governing authority of a county or municipal corporation shall not unreasonably delay or deny an application for a temporary consumer fireworks retail sales stand.
(f) For purposes of this subsection, the terms “consumer fireworks” and “consumer fireworks retail sales stand” shall have the same meanings as provided in Code Section 25-10-1.
(g) Any ordinance enacted before, on, or after July 1, 2006, by a county or municipal corporation in violation of this Code section is void.
(a) Each county and municipal corporation may require the owner or operator of a taxicab to obtain a certificate of public necessity and convenience or medallion in order to operate such taxicab within the unincorporated areas of the county or within the corporate limits of the municipal corporation, respectively, and may exercise its authority under Code Section 48-13-9 to require such owners or operators to pay a regulatory fee to the county or municipal corporation. The General Assembly finds and declares that any county or municipality exercising the powers granted in this Code section is legitimately concerned with the qualifications and records of drivers of taxicabs; with the location, accessibility, and insured state of companies operating taxicabs; and with the safety and comfort of taxicabs. Without limitation, each such county or municipality may exercise the powers granted in this Code section by ordinance to the same extent as the ordinances reviewed by the Georgia Court of Appeals in the case of Hadley v. City of Atlanta, 232 Ga. App. 871, 875 (1998), and each certificate of public convenience and necessity issued under those ordinances shall remain in full force and effect.
(b) Each certificate of public necessity and convenience or medallion issued at any time by a county or municipal corporation shall be fully transferable pursuant to a purchase, gift, bequest, or acquisition of the stock or assets of a corporation to any person otherwise meeting the requirements of the applicable local ordinance. Each such certificate of public necessity and convenience or medallion may be used as collateral to secure a loan and each lending institution making such a loan shall have all rights of secured parties with respect to such loan.
(c) Counties and municipalities which have adopted and have valid ordinances as of July 1, 2014, requiring taxicabs to have certificates of public necessity and convenience or medallions to operate within each such county or municipality may continue to require such certificates or medallions. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, no county or municipality shall enact, adopt, or enforce any ordinance or regulation which requires taxicabs to have certificates of public necessity and convenience or medallions to operate within such county or municipality.
(d) No person shall operate a taxicab for the purpose of carrying or transporting passengers for hire unless such person has a for-hire license endorsement or private background check certification pursuant to Code Section 40-5-39. Counties and municipalities shall not impose further licensing requirements or background checks on such persons to operate taxicabs in their jurisdictions.
(e) As used in this subsection, the term “stage” means to stop, park, or otherwise place a vehicle for hire, other than a taxicab, in the loading or curbside area of any business for the purpose of soliciting a fare when such vehicle is not engaged in a prearranged round-trip or prearranged one-way fare. It shall be illegal to stage limousine carriers, as defined in paragraph (5) of Code Section 40-1-151, or ride share drivers, as defined in paragraph (3) of Code Section 40-1-190. A person who violates this subsection shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
(f) No person shall operate a taxicab for the purpose of carrying or transporting passengers for hire unless such person maintains insurance from an insurance company licensed under Title 33, through a surplus line broker licensed under Title 33, or is qualified as a self-insurer pursuant to Code Section 33-34-5.1.
(a) It shall be unlawful for any county, municipal corporation, or other issuing authority to issue any backdated license, permit, or other authorizing document, including but not limited to any building permit, sign permit, occupation tax certificate, zoning action, subdivision of land, final plat, or other similar authorization, in any territorial or geographic area which, due to the formation of a county, incorporation of a municipality, annexation or deannexation of territory, or other action, is no longer within the regulatory jurisdiction of said issuing authority. For purposes of this Code section, a license, permit, or other authorizing document shall be considered to be backdated if it in any manner purports to have been issued or have become effective prior to its actual date of issuance.
(b) A license, permit, or other authorizing document in violation of this Code section shall be void in its entirety, and no person shall acquire any rights thereunder.
(c) Any county or municipal officer or employee who knowingly violates this Code section shall be upon conviction guilty of a misdemeanor.
(a) As used in this Code section, the term:
(1) “Bank” shall have the same meaning as provided in paragraph (7) of Code Section 7-1-4.
(2) “Department” means the Department of Community Affairs.
(3) “Local government” means any county or municipality of this state.
(b) Upon submission of an application by a local government, the department may designate a banking improvement zone within the jurisdiction of such local government for the purpose of encouraging the establishment of branches or representative offices of a bank within an area which is underserved by banking services. Application to establish a banking improvement zone shall be made to the department in such form as shall be prescribed by the department. The department may exercise its discretion in its consideration to approve a local government as eligible for a banking improvement zone; provided, however, that prior to the designation of a banking improvement zone, the department shall make a determination whether any potential gains to a bank from a below rate interest agreement authorized pursuant to subsection (c) of this Code section is ample consideration for a substantial public benefit in compliance with Article III, Section VI, Paragraph VI(a) of the Georgia Constitution. Such decision shall also take into consideration:
(1) The location, number, and proximity of sites where banking services are available in the proposed banking improvement zone;
(2) Consumer needs for banking services in the proposed banking improvement zone;
(3) The economic viability and local credit needs of the local government in the proposed banking improvement zone;
(4) The existing commercial development in the proposed banking improvement zone; and
(5) The impact additional banking services would have on potential economic development in the proposed banking improvement zone.
(c) Upon approval of a banking improvement zone, the governing body of a local government may, through ordinance or resolution, designate a bank to be located within a banking improvement zone as the depository for local government funds, provided that applicable standards for deposits of public funds set forth in Chapter 8 of Title 45 have been satisfied. Subject to agreement between the governing body of a local government and a bank, such ordinance or resolution shall designate a fixed interest rate that is at or below the posted two-year certificate of deposit rate at the bank.
(a) As used in this Code section, the term:
(1) “Alarm system” shall have the same meaning as provided in Code Section 43-14-2.
(2) “Alarm system contractor” shall mean any alarm system monitoring business or alarm system installation and repair business.
(3) “Alarm system installation and repair business” means any person engaged in leasing, maintaining, servicing, repairing, altering, replacing, installing or inspecting any alarm system, or in causing any alarm system to be leased, maintained, serviced, repaired, altered, replaced, or installed in any building, structure, or facility.
(4) “Alarm system monitoring business” means any company that intercepts signals indicating the activation of an alarm system and relays this information to a public safety agency.
(5) “False alarm” means the activation of any alarm system that results in a request for police assistance for which the responding public safety agency finds no evidence of criminal activity.
(6) “Local government” means any county or municipality of this state.
(7) “Public safety agency” shall have the same meaning as provided in Code Section 16-10-28.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a local government may enact, adopt, or enforce any ordinance, resolution, or regulation requiring any alarm system contractor to pay for or be responsible for any fines, fees, or other penalties relative to false alarms only in situations when the false alarm is attributed to an error of the alarm system contractor or improper installation by the alarm system contractor or if the alarm system contractor cannot provide evidence of telephone logs, other electronic means, or visual evidence that the alarm verification process as provided in Code Section 35-1-9 was followed. In cases where the alarm system contractor was in compliance with such provisions, a local government may require that the alarm user responsible for the false alarm pay for or be responsible for any fines, fees, or other penalties relative to false alarms.
(a)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, the governing authority of a municipality that has established a municipal police force shall not decrease the annual budgetary appropriation for such police force by more than 5 percent of the previous fiscal year's appropriation for such police force.
(2)(A) Paragraph (1) of this subsection shall not apply if actual or anticipated revenues of the municipality for the applicable fiscal year decrease by more than 5 percent. In such event, the governing authority shall be authorized to decrease the budgetary appropriation for such police force, but in no event shall the budget of the police force be decreased by a greater percentage than the overall percentage decrease in actual or anticipated revenues of the municipality.
(B) Paragraph (1) of this subsection shall not apply if during the previous fiscal year the municipality made a one-time capital public safety facility, equipment, or software purchase or incurred a one-time legal obligation that increased the annual budgetary appropriation of such police force by more than 4 percent above the annual budgetary appropriation for such police force for the fiscal year immediately preceding the previous fiscal year and the current fiscal year.
(b)(1) Except as provided for in paragraph (2) of this subsection, the governing authority of a municipality that has established a municipal police force shall ensure that the annual budgetary appropriations for such police force during a rolling five-year period shall not decrease by more than 5 percent during such time period.
(2) Paragraph (1) of this subsection shall not apply if actual or anticipated revenues of the municipality for the applicable time period decrease by more than 5 percent. In such event, the governing authority shall be authorized to decrease the budgetary appropriation for such police force, but in no event shall the budget of the police force be decreased by a greater percentage than the overall percentage decrease in actual or anticipated revenues of the municipality.
(c) Subsections (a) and (b) of this Code section shall not apply if:
(1) The governing authority ensures that an equal or greater level of law enforcement services will be provided to the municipality by another local government pursuant to an intergovernmental agreement;
(2) During the applicable time period, the municipality is ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction to begin providing a public service at a level such municipality was not providing prior to the issuance of such court order necessitating city-wide budgetary adjustments; or
(3) Whenever a governing authority shall propose to adopt a police department budget which would exceed any limits provided for in subsections (a) and (b) of this Code section, it shall adopt that budget rate at an advertised public meeting and at a time and place convenient to the taxpayers of the taxing jurisdiction. The governing authority shall also place an advertisement in a newspaper of general circulation serving the residents of the unit of local government and post such advertisement on the website of the governing authority, which describes the proposed percentage reduction in police services from the previous year's appropriation for police services. At least one week prior to the meeting of the governing authority at which adoption of the budget rate will be considered, the governing authority shall conduct a public hearing, at which time any persons wishing to be heard on the budget reduction may appear.
(d) This Code section shall also apply to any consolidated government that operates a police force, and such police force shall be considered a municipal police force for the purposes of this Code section.
(e) This Code section shall not apply to any municipal police force employing less than 25 full-time or part-time certified law enforcement officers.
(a) This Code section shall be known and may be cited as the “Landscape Equipment and Agricultural Fairness (LEAF) Act.”
(b) The General Assembly finds that:
(1) Prudent regulation of gasoline-powered leaf blowers is crucial to the welfare of Georgia's economy;
(2) Urban agriculture, homeowners, and landscape service professionals are sensitive to the costs and regulation of gasoline-powered leaf blowers; and
(3) If individual political subdivisions of the state regulate gasoline-powered leaf blowers, there exists the potential for confusing and varying regulations which could lead to unnecessary increased costs for urban agriculture, homeowners, and landscape service professionals to comply with such regulations.
(c) As used in this Code section, the term “gasoline-powered leaf blowers” means any machine that is powered by a two-stroke or four-stroke engine and uses as fuel gasoline or a blend of gasoline and oil, used to blow leaves, dirt, or other debris off of sidewalks, driveways, lawns, or other surfaces.
(d) Any local prohibition or regulation regarding the use, disposition, or sale or any imposition of any restriction, fee imposition, or taxation at the retail, manufacturer, or distributor setting shall not create differing standards for or distinguish gasoline-powered leaf blowers from any other gasoline-powered, electric, or similar such equipment or any other type of leaf blower. Nothing in this subsection shall apply to the use of gasoline-powered leaf blowers on property owned by a county or municipality.
(e) Nothing in this Code section shall be construed to prohibit or limit any county or municipal program to encourage the use of alternative leaf blower equipment, such as battery powered tools.
(a) A county or municipal corporation shall not adopt or enforce any written policy under which the county or municipal corporation prohibits the enforcement of any order or ordinance prohibiting unauthorized public camping, sleeping, or obstruction of sidewalks.
(b) A county or municipal corporation shall not adopt a written policy prohibiting a peace officer or prosecuting attorney who is employed by or otherwise under the direction or control of such county or municipal corporation from enforcing any order or ordinance prohibiting unauthorized public camping, sleeping, or obstruction of sidewalks.
(c) The provisions of this Code section shall not be construed to prohibit a county or municipal corporation from adopting a policy that encourages diversion programs or that offers the provision of services in lieu of citation or arrest.
(d)(1) The Attorney General shall be authorized to bring a civil action in any court of competent jurisdiction against any county or municipal corporation to enjoin a violation of this Code section.
(2) The Attorney General may recover reasonable expenses incurred in any successful civil action brought pursuant to this Code section, including court costs, reasonable attorney's fees, investigative costs, witness fees, and deposition costs.
(3) A person may bring a writ of mandamus for a violation of this Code section for the person and for the state. The person may recover court expenses and fees if successful in their writ.
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the “Urban Redevelopment Law.”
As used in this chapter, the term:
(1) “Agency” or “urban redevelopment agency” means a public agency created by Code Section 36-61-18.
(2) “Area of operation” means the area within the corporate limits of the municipality or county and the area within five miles of such limits, except that it shall not include any area which lies within the territorial boundaries of another incorporated municipality or another county unless a resolution is adopted by the governing body of such other municipality or county declaring a need therefor.
(3) “Board” or “commission” means a board, commission, department, division, office, body, or other unit of the municipality or county.
(4) “Bonds” means any bonds (including refunding bonds), notes, interim certificates, certificates of indebtedness, debentures, or other obligations.
(5) “Clerk” means the clerk or other official of the municipality or county who is the custodian of the official records of such municipality or county.
(6) “County” means any county in this state.
(7) “Downtown development authority” means an authority created pursuant to Chapter 42 of this title.
(8) “Federal government” means the United States of America or any agency or instrumentality, corporate or otherwise, of the United States of America.
(9) “Housing authority” means a housing authority created by and established pursuant to Article 1 of Chapter 3 of Title 8, the “Housing Authorities Law.”
(10) “Local governing body” means the council or other legislative body charged with governing the municipality and the board of commissioners or governing authority of the county.
(11) “Mayor” means the mayor of a municipality or other officer or body having the duties customarily imposed upon the executive head of a municipality.
(12) “Municipality” means any incorporated city or town in this state.
(13) “Obligee” includes any bondholder, agents, or trustees for any bondholders, or any lessor demising to the municipality or county property used in connection with an urban redevelopment project, or any assignee or assignees of such lessor's interest or any part thereof, and the federal government when it is a party to any contract with the municipality or county.
(14) “Person” means any individual, firm, partnership, corporation, company, association, joint-stock association, or body politic and includes any trustee, receiver, assignee, or other person acting in a similar representative capacity.
(15) “Pocket of blight” means an area in which there is a predominance of buildings or improvements, whether residential or nonresidential, which by reason of dilapidation, deterioration, age, or obsolescence; inadequate provision for ventilation, light, air, sanitation, or open spaces; high density of population and overcrowding; existence of conditions which endanger life or property by fire and other causes; or any combination of such factors, are conducive to ill health, transmission of disease, infant mortality, juvenile delinquency, or crime and detrimental to the public health, safety, morals, or welfare. Pocket of blight also means an area which by reason of the presence of a substantial number of deteriorated or deteriorating structures; predominance of defective or inadequate street layout; faulty lot layout in relation to size, adequacy, accessibility, or usefulness; unsanitary or unsafe conditions; deterioration of site or other improvements; tax or special assessment delinquency exceeding the fair value of the land; the existence of conditions which endanger life or property by fire and other causes; having development impaired by airport or transportation noise or other environmental hazards; or any combination of such factors, substantially impairs or arrests the sound growth of a municipality or county, retards the provisions of housing accommodations, or constitutes an economic or social liability and is a menace to the public health, safety, morals, or welfare in its present condition and use.
(16) “Pocket of blight clearance and redevelopment” may include:
(A) Acquisition of a pocket of blight or portion thereof;
(B) Rehabilitation or demolition and removal of buildings and improvements;
(C) Installation, construction, or reconstruction of streets, utilities, parks, playgrounds, and other improvements necessary for carrying out in the area the urban redevelopment provisions of this chapter in accordance with the urban redevelopment plan; and
(D) Making the land available for development or redevelopment by private enterprise or public agencies, including sale, initial leasing, or retention by the municipality or county itself, at its fair value for uses in accordance with the urban redevelopment plan.
(17) “Public body” means the state or any municipality, county, board, commission, authority, district, housing authority, urban redevelopment agency, or other subdivision or public body of the state.
(18) “Real property” includes all lands, including improvements and fixtures thereon and property of any nature appurtenant thereto or used in connection therewith, and every estate, interest, right, and use, legal or equitable, therein, including terms for years and liens by way of judgment, mortgage, or otherwise.
(19) “Rehabilitation” or “conservation” may include the restoration and redevelopment of a pocket of blight or portion thereof, in accordance with an urban redevelopment plan, by:
(A) Carrying out plans for a program of voluntary or compulsory repair and rehabilitation of buildings or other improvements;
(B) Acquisition of real property and rehabilitation or demolition and removal of buildings and improvements thereon where necessary to eliminate unhealthful, unsanitary, or unsafe conditions, to lessen or increase density, to reduce traffic hazards, to eliminate obsolete or other uses detrimental to the public welfare, to otherwise remove or prevent the spread of pockets of blight or deterioration, or to provide land for needed public facilities or improvements, including, but not limited to, surface transportation projects;
(C) Installation, construction, or reconstruction of streets, transit facilities and improvements, sidewalks, streetscapes, trails, bicycle facilities, utilities, parks, playgrounds, and other improvements necessary for carrying out in the area the urban redevelopment provisions of this chapter; and
(D) The disposition of any property acquired in such urban redevelopment area, including sale, initial leasing or retention by the municipality or county itself, at its fair value for uses in accordance with the urban redevelopment plan.
(20) “Slum clearance and redevelopment” may include:
(A) Acquisition of a slum area or portion thereof;
(B) Rehabilitation or demolition and removal of buildings and improvements;
(C) Installation, construction, or reconstruction of streets, transit facilities, sidewalks, streetscapes, trails, bicycle facilities, utilities, parks, playgrounds, and other public facilities and improvements necessary for carrying out in the area the urban redevelopment provisions of this chapter in accordance with the urban redevelopment plan; and
(D) Making the land available for development or redevelopment by private enterprise or public agencies (including sale, initial leasing, or retention by the municipality or county itself) at its fair value for uses in accordance with the urban redevelopment plan.
(21) “Sponsoring local government” means the municipality or county which approves and is, directly or indirectly, providing the greatest percentage of the public funding, exclusive of federal funding, for a surface transportation project.
(22) “Surface transportation project” means a project for public improvement and any related public facilities which is planned to impact 10,000 or more acres and at least ten transit miles within the area of operation of the sponsoring local government, including any related facilities, systems, parks, trails, streets, greenspace, and any other integrated public or private development features included within any adopted infrastructure or transportation plan, urban redevelopment plan, strategic implementation plan, redevelopment plan, workable programs, or comprehensive plans; provided that the location of such surface transportation project is wholly within a county or counties that have approved a referendum pursuant to Section 24 of an Act creating the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority, approved March 10, 1965 (Ga. L. 1965, p. 2243), as amended; and provided, further, that the project is within one-half mile of a transportation/communications/utilities corridor, which has been designated by the local governing body on or before January 1, 2015, or within the boundaries of a tax allocation district authorized under the provisions of Chapter 44 of this title in effect as of January 1, 2015.
(23) “Urban redevelopment area” means a pocket of blight which the local governing body designates as appropriate for an urban redevelopment project.
(24) “Urban redevelopment plan” means a plan, as it exists from time to time, for an urban redevelopment project, which plan shall:
(A) Conform to the general plan for the municipality or county as a whole; and
(B) Be sufficiently complete to indicate such land acquisition, demolition and removal of structures, redevelopment, improvements, and rehabilitation as may be proposed to be carried out in the urban redevelopment area; zoning and planning changes, if any; land uses; maximum densities; building requirements; and the plan's relationship to definite local objectives respecting appropriate land uses, improved traffic, public transportation, public utilities, recreational and community facilities, and other public improvements.
(25) “Urban redevelopment project” may include undertakings or activities of a municipality or county in an urban redevelopment area for the elimination and for the prevention of the development or spread of pockets of blight and may involve pocket of blight clearance and redevelopment in an urban redevelopment area, rehabilitation or conservation in an urban redevelopment area, the implementation of public improvements, including, but not limited to, surface transportation projects, or any combination or part thereof, in accordance with an urban redevelopment plan. Although the power of eminent domain may not be exercised for the following purposes, such undertakings or activities may include:
(A) Acquisition, without regard to any requirement that the area be a pocket of blight, of air rights in an area consisting of lands and highways, railway or subway tracks, bridge or tunnel entrances, or other similar facilities which have a blighting influence on the surrounding area and over which air rights sites are to be developed for the elimination of such blighting influences and for the provision of housing and related facilities and uses designed for, and limited primarily to, families and individuals of low or moderate income; and
(B) Construction of foundations and platforms necessary for the provision of air rights sites of housing and related facilities and uses designed for, and limited primarily to, families and individuals of low or moderate income or construction of foundations necessary for the provision of air rights sites for development of nonresidential facilities.
(a) It is found and declared that there exist in municipalities and counties of this state pockets of blight, as defined in paragraph (15) of Code Section 36-61-2, which constitute a serious and growing menace, injurious to the public health, safety, morals, and welfare of the residents of this state; that the existence of such areas contributes substantially and increasingly to the spread of disease and crime, constitutes an economic and social liability, substantially impairs or arrests the sound growth of municipalities and counties, retards the provision of housing accommodations, aggravates traffic problems, and substantially impairs or arrests the elimination of traffic hazards and the improvement of traffic facilities; and that the prevention and elimination of pockets of blight is a matter of state policy and state concern, in order that this state and its municipalities and counties shall not continue to be endangered by areas which are local centers of disease, promote juvenile delinquency, and, while contributing little to the tax income of this state and its municipalities and counties, consume an excessive proportion of its revenues because of the extra services required for police, fire, accident, hospitalization, and other forms of public protection, services, and facilities.
(b) It is further found and declared that certain pockets of blight or portions thereof may require acquisition, clearance, and disposition, subject to use restrictions, as provided in this chapter, since the prevailing condition of decay may make impracticable the reclamation of the area by conservation or rehabilitation; that the other areas or portions thereof, through the means provided in this chapter, may be susceptible of conservation or rehabilitation in such a manner that the conditions and evils enumerated in subsection (a) of this Code section may be eliminated, remedied, or prevented and that, to the extent that is feasible, salvable pockets of blight should be conserved and rehabilitated through voluntary action and the regulatory process.
(c) It is further found and declared that the powers conferred by this chapter are for public uses and purposes for which public money may be expended and the power of eminent domain may be exercised. The necessity, in the public interest, for the provisions enacted in this chapter is declared as a matter of legislative determination.
(a) As used in this Code section, the term “public use” shall have the meaning specified in Code Section 22-1-1.
(b) Any exercise of the power of eminent domain under this chapter must:
(1) Be for a public use; and
(2) Be approved by resolution of the governing body of the municipality or county in conformity with the procedures specified in Code Section 22-1-10.
(a) A municipality or county, to the greatest extent it determines to be feasible in carrying out the provisions of this chapter, shall afford maximum opportunity, consistent with the sound needs of the municipality or county as a whole, to the rehabilitation or redevelopment of the urban redevelopment area by private enterprise. A municipality or county shall give consideration to this objective in exercising its powers under this chapter, including: the formulation of a workable program; the approval of urban redevelopment plans consistent with the general plan for the municipality or county; the adoption and enforcement of ordinances as provided for in Code Section 36-61-11; the exercise of its zoning powers; the enforcement of other laws, codes, and regulations relating to the use of land and the use and occupancy of buildings and improvements; the disposition of any property acquired; and the provision of necessary public improvements.
(b) Notwithstanding anything in this chapter or other provisions of law to the contrary, and in order to give effect to the encouragement of private enterprise contemplated in this Code section, the following shall apply to contracts and agreements for surface transportation projects entered into pursuant to this chapter:
(1) In addition to other methods of procurement authorized by law, the sponsoring local government, urban redevelopment agency, or other governing body shall be authorized to utilize the procedures of this chapter to provide for the planning, design, finance, construction, acquisition, leasing, operation, and maintenance of surface transportation projects. The provisions of this chapter shall be an alternative to such other methods to be exercised at the option of each sponsoring local government or public body;
(2) One or more public bodies may participate in the consideration and implementation of a surface transportation project at the discretion of the sponsoring local government. Where more than one public body agrees to participate in the consideration or implementation of a surface transportation project, the participants may designate one or more representatives of each such participating public body, as agreed to by the sponsoring local government or the urban redevelopment agency;
(3)(A) An urban redevelopment agency designated by the sponsoring local government may evaluate a project to determine the appropriate or desirable levels of public and private participation in planning, designing, financing, constructing, operating, maintaining, or facilitating, or any combination thereof, for the execution of such project. Such urban redevelopment agency may designate a public nonprofit, private corporation, body, or entity to perform this function and to otherwise perform the activities contemplated in this Code section.
(B) A sponsoring local government or an urban redevelopment agency shall be authorized to issue, individually or in sequenced stages, written requests for expressions of interest, qualifications, or proposals, or any combination thereof, or other similar methods of procurement or solicitation. Such requests shall indicate the scope of the project, the proposed public and private financial participation in the project, including, but not limited to, the rights, responsibilities, obligations, revenue sharing features, any lease, license, availability or other payment rights, and any other allocations of interests and federal and state income tax benefits in respect of real and personal property relating to a project. Such requests shall include the factors to be used in evaluating responses, the relative importance of any applicable evaluation factors, and other contractual terms and conditions expected, including any unique capabilities or qualifications that will be required of respondents, as determined in the sole discretion of the designated representative of the sponsoring local government. Public notice of such requests shall be made at least 30 days prior to the date set for the release of said request by posting a legal notice on the websites and weekly in the legal organ of the sponsoring local government and the public body implementing the project, in substantially the same manner utilized by such public bodies in order to solicit requests for proposals, with a copy of such notice provided simultaneously to each affected public body.
(C)(i) The public body implementing the project and the sponsoring local government, with the participation of any designated representatives of other participating public bodies as determined by the sponsoring local government, may engage in individual discussions and interviews with each respondent deemed fully qualified, responsible, and suitable on the basis of initial responses and with emphasis on professional competence and ability to meet the level of private financial participation as called for in such request. Repetitive interviews may be conducted. Any such interviews shall be deemed to be a part of the procurement process.
(ii)(I) At the conclusion of the final stage, on the basis of evaluation factors published in the request and all information developed in the selection process, the public body implementing the surface transportation project, in an open and public meeting subject to the provisions of Chapter 14 of Title 50, shall rank the proposals in accordance with the factors set forth in the request for proposal or invitation for bids.
(II) After ranking the proposals, the public body implementing the project shall begin negotiations with the first ranked private entity. If such public body and first ranked private entity do not reach a comprehensive agreement or interim agreement, such public body may conduct negotiations with the next ranked private entity. Such process shall continue until such public body either voluntarily abandons the process or executes a comprehensive agreement or interim agreement with a private entity. Negotiations conducted with one or more selected respondents pursuant to this Code section shall continue to be deemed an active procurement until the execution of the final, definitive agreement with the selected respondent or respondents.
(iii) The public body implementing the project shall select for approval the respondent offering the most satisfactory and advantageous contract terms for the project based upon a thorough assessment of any one or more of the following: experience and reputation with similar projects; engineering and design quality; value; projected savings during, before, or after construction; and the ability of the final project's characteristics to meet the goals of the sponsoring local government, consistent with applicable plans and programs. The fair market value of any property included as a part of the procurement may be based on the consideration of the above factors, but it shall not be less than the initial cost to obtain the property. Before making such selection, the designated representative shall consult in an open and public meeting subject to the provisions of Chapter 14 of Title 50 with the representatives of any participating local governing authority, participating local authority, participating state agency, department, or authority, and affected local government. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the terms and conditions for multiple awards are included in the request, the implementing public body may award contracts to more than one respondent. Should the implementing public body determine in writing that only one respondent is fully qualified, or that one respondent is clearly more highly qualified and suitable than the other respondents under consideration, a contract may be negotiated and awarded to that respondent.
(iv) Upon approval of the selection by the implementing public body, a contract or contracts not exceeding 50 years in duration may be entered into by the urban redevelopment agency or any one or more of the participating public bodies and the selected respondent or respondents. The private financial data or financial plans which qualify as trade secrets pursuant to Code Section 10-1-761 and paragraph (34) of subsection (a) of Code Section 50-18-72 provided by the respondents shall remain exempt from Code Section 50-18-72 during and after the conclusion of the related selection process.
(D) A dispute over the award of a contract under this chapter shall be resolved by the filing of a petition in the superior court of the county in which the sponsoring local government is located within 30 days of the awarding of such contract and shall be determined through the use of a special master appointed by the judge of the superior court of the county in which the sponsoring local government is located. The special master shall not be authorized to enjoin or otherwise delay or suspend the execution of the contract and any work to be performed under such contract. The decision of the special master with regard to such dispute shall be appealable for a de novo review to the superior court of the county in which the sponsoring local government is located within 30 days following the decision of the special master.
(E) Nothing in this chapter shall require the designated representatives, the sponsoring local government, the implementing public body, or any participating public body to continue negotiations or discussions arising out of any request or any other procurement initiated under the provisions of this Code section.
(F) Every public body shall be authorized to promulgate reasonable rules and regulations to assist in its evaluation of responses and to implement the purposes of this chapter; provided, however, that unsolicited proposals shall not be permitted;
(4) No public officer, employee, or member of any participating public body, with respect to contracts of such public body, or the General Assembly shall serve as an agent, lobbyist, or board member for any private entity directly or indirectly under a contract or negotiating a contract provided for by this chapter for one year after leaving his or her position as a public officer, employee, or member of the public body or the General Assembly; and
(5) Contracts entered into with a private enterprise in respect to the design, construction, operation, financing, or management of the public components of a surface transportation project shall not constitute the acquisition of property for a private use, nor shall such contracts be deemed a sale, lease, or other disposition of the related interests in property under any provisions of this chapter or other provision of applicable law, and such public components of a surface transportation project shall be deemed a public use for all purposes under applicable provisions of law, including, without limitation, Code Sections 36-61-9 and 36-61-10.
No municipality or county shall exercise any of the powers conferred upon municipalities and counties by this chapter until after its local governing body has adopted a resolution finding that:
(1) One or more pockets of blight exist in such municipality or county; and
(2) The rehabilitation, conservation, or redevelopment, or a combination thereof, of such area or areas is necessary in the interest of the public health, safety, morals, or welfare of the residents of the municipality or county.
For the purposes of this chapter, a municipality or county may formulate a workable program for utilizing appropriate private and public resources, including those specified in Code Section 36-61-11, to eliminate and prevent the development or spread of pockets of blight, to encourage needed urban rehabilitation, to provide for the redevelopment of pockets of blight, or to undertake such of the aforesaid activities or such other feasible municipal or county activities as may be suitably employed to achieve the objectives of such workable program. Such workable program may include, without limitation, provision for the prevention of the spread of pockets of blight into areas of the municipality or county which are free from pockets of blight, through diligent enforcement of housing, zoning, and occupancy controls and standards; the rehabilitation or conservation of pockets of blight or portions thereof by replanning, removing congestion, providing parks, playgrounds, and other public improvements, including without limitation surface transportation projects, encouraging voluntary rehabilitation, and compelling the repair and rehabilitation of deteriorated or deteriorating structures; and the clearance and redevelopment of pockets of blight or portions thereof.
(a) A municipality or county shall not approve an urban redevelopment plan for an urban redevelopment area unless the governing body, by resolution, has determined such area to be a pocket of blight and designated such area as appropriate for an urban redevelopment project. Authority is vested in every municipality and county to prepare, to adopt, and to revise, from time to time, a general plan for the physical development of the municipality or county as a whole (giving due regard to the environs and metropolitan surroundings), to establish and maintain a planning commission for such purpose and related municipal and county planning activities, and to make available and to appropriate the necessary funds therefor. A municipality or county shall not acquire real property for an urban redevelopment project unless the local governing body has approved the urban redevelopment plan in accordance with subsection (d) of this Code section.
(b) The municipality or county may itself prepare or cause to be prepared an urban redevelopment plan; alternatively, any person or agency, public or private, may submit a plan to a municipality or county.
(c) The local governing body of the municipality or county shall hold or shall cause some agency of the municipality or county to hold a public hearing on an urban redevelopment plan or a substantial modification of an approved urban redevelopment plan, after public notice thereof by publication in a newspaper having a general circulation in the area of operation of the municipality or county. The notice shall describe the time, date, place, and purpose of the hearing, shall generally identify the urban redevelopment area covered by the plan, and shall outline the general scope of the urban redevelopment project under consideration.
(d) Following such hearing, the local governing body may approve an urban redevelopment plan if it finds that:
(1) A feasible method exists for the relocation of families who will be displaced from the urban redevelopment area in decent, safe, and sanitary dwelling accommodations within their means and without undue hardship to such families;
(2) The urban redevelopment plan conforms to the general plan of the municipality or county as a whole; and
(3) The urban redevelopment plan will afford maximum opportunity, consistent with the sound needs of the municipality or county as a whole, for the rehabilitation or redevelopment of the urban redevelopment area by private enterprise.
(e) An urban redevelopment plan may be modified at any time, provided that, if modified after the lease or sale by the municipality or county of real property in the urban redevelopment project area, such modification shall be subject to such rights at law or in equity as a lessee or purchaser or his or her successor or successors in interest may be entitled to assert. Any proposed modification which will substantially change the urban redevelopment plan as previously approved by the local governing body shall be subject to the requirements of this Code section, including the requirement of a public hearing, before it may be approved.
(f) Upon the approval of an urban redevelopment plan by a municipality or county, the provisions of the plan with respect to the future use and building requirements applicable to the property covered by the plan shall be controlling with respect thereto.
Every municipality and every county shall have all the powers necessary or convenient to carry out and effectuate the purposes and provisions of this chapter, including the following powers in addition to others granted in this chapter:
(1) To undertake and carry out urban redevelopment projects within its area of operation; to make and execute contracts and other instruments necessary or convenient to the exercise of its powers under this chapter; and to disseminate pocket of blight clearance and urban redevelopment information;
(2) To provide, to arrange, or to contract for the furnishing or repair by any person or agency, public or private, of services, privileges, works, streets, roads, public utilities, or other facilities for or in connection with an urban redevelopment project and to install, construct, and reconstruct streets, utilities, parks, playgrounds, and other public improvements, provided that neither the municipality or county itself nor an urban redevelopment agency or housing authority or downtown development authority acting pursuant to an election under Code Section 36-61-17 shall provide, install, or construct any public utility of the same kind or character as an existing utility operating in the municipality or county if such existing utility is providing reasonably adequate and proper service, as determined by the Public Service Commission; and to agree to any conditions that it may deem reasonable and appropriate attached to federal financial assistance and imposed pursuant to federal law relating to the determination of prevailing salaries or wages or to compliance with labor standards in the undertaking or carrying out of an urban redevelopment project, and to include, in any contract let in connection with such a project, provisions to fulfill such conditions as it may deem reasonable and appropriate;
(3) Within its area of operation, to enter upon any building or property in any urban redevelopment area in order to make surveys, appraisals, soundings, or test borings, and to obtain an order for this purpose from a court of competent jurisdiction in the event entry is denied or resisted; to acquire, by purchase, lease, option, gift, grant, bequest, devise, or otherwise, any real property (or personal property for its administrative purposes) together with any improvements thereon; to hold, improve, clear, or prepare for redevelopment any such property; to mortgage, pledge, hypothecate, or otherwise encumber or dispose of any real property; to insure or provide for the insurance of any real or personal property or operations of the municipality or county against any risks or hazards, and to pay premiums on any such insurance; and to enter into any contracts necessary to effectuate the purposes of this chapter; provided, however, that no statutory provision with respect to the acquisition, clearance, or disposition of property by public bodies shall restrict a municipality or county or other public body exercising powers under this chapter in the exercise of such functions with respect to an urban redevelopment project, unless the General Assembly shall specifically so state;
(4) To invest any urban redevelopment project funds held in reserves or sinking funds or any such funds not required for immediate disbursement in property or securities in which savings banks may legally invest funds subject to their control; and to redeem such bonds as have been issued pursuant to Code Section 36-61-12 at the redemption price established therein or to purchase such bonds at less than redemption price, all such bonds so redeemed or purchased to be canceled;
(5) To borrow money and to apply for and accept advances, loans, grants, contributions, and any other form of financial assistance from the federal government, the state, county, or other public body, or from any sources, public or private, for the purposes of this chapter, and to give such security as may be required and to enter into and carry out contracts in connection therewith. A municipality or county may include in any contract for financial assistance with the federal government for an urban redevelopment project such conditions imposed pursuant to federal law as the municipality or county may deem reasonable and appropriate and which are not inconsistent with the purposes of this chapter;
(6) Within their area of operation, to make or have made all plans necessary to the carrying out of the purposes of this chapter and to contract with any person, public or private, in making and carrying out such plans and to adopt or approve, modify, and amend such plans. Such plans may include, without limitation:
(A) A general plan for the locality as a whole;
(B) Urban redevelopment plans;
(C) Plans for carrying out a program of voluntary or compulsory repair and rehabilitation of buildings and improvements, to include but not to be limited to making loans and grants from funds received from the federal government, as well as from funds received from the repayment of such loans and interest thereon, to persons, public or private, owning private housing for the purpose of financing the rehabilitation of such housing;
(D) Plans for the enforcement of state and local laws, codes, and regulations relating to the use of land and the use and occupancy of buildings and improvements and to the compulsory repair, rehabilitation, demolition, or removal of buildings and improvements; and
(E) Appraisals, title searches, surveys, studies, and other preliminary plans and work necessary to prepare for the undertaking of urban redevelopment projects.
The municipality or county is authorized to develop, test, and report methods and techniques and to carry out demonstrations and other activities for the prevention and elimination of pockets of blight and to apply for, accept, and utilize grants of funds from the federal government for such purposes;
(7) To prepare plans and provide reasonable assistance for the relocation of families displaced from an urban redevelopment area, to the extent essential for acquiring possession of and clearing such area or parts thereof to permit the carrying out of the urban redevelopment project;
(8) To appropriate such funds and make such expenditures as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter and to levy taxes and assessments for such purposes; to close, vacate, plan, or replan streets, roads, sidewalks, ways, or other places; to plan or replan, zone, or rezone any part of the municipality or county or make exceptions from building regulations; and to enter into agreements, under Code Section 36-61-17, with a housing authority, a downtown development authority, or an urban redevelopment agency vested with urban redevelopment project powers, which agreements may extend for up to 50 years respecting action to be taken by such municipality or county pursuant to any of the powers granted by this chapter. The reasonable costs of removing, relocating, and rearranging public utility facilities within urban renewal areas may constitute a cost of carrying out the purposes of this chapter, and every municipality and county may, in their discretion, pay such reasonable costs or any portion thereof;
(9) Within their areas of operation, to organize, coordinate, and direct the administration of the provisions of this chapter as they apply to such municipality or county, in order that the objective of remedying pockets of blight and preventing the causes thereof within the municipality or county may be most effectively promoted and achieved, and to establish such new office or offices of the municipality or county or to reorganize existing offices in order to carry out such purpose most effectively; and
(10) To exercise all or any part or combination of powers granted in this Code section.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (c) of this Code section, a municipality or county shall have the right to acquire, by exercise of the power of eminent domain, any real property which it may deem necessary for its purposes under this chapter, after the adoption by it of a resolution declaring that the acquisition of the real property described therein is necessary for such purposes. A municipality or county may exercise the power of eminent domain in the manner provided in Title 22; or it may exercise the power of eminent domain in the manner provided by any other applicable statutory provisions for the exercise of the power of eminent domain. Property already devoted to a public use may be acquired, provided that no real property belonging to the municipality, the county, the state, or any political subdivision thereof may be acquired without its consent.
(b) Whenever condemnation proceedings are instituted and carried on by a municipality or county in accordance with subsection (a) of this Code section or through any other method of condemnation provided by law, upon the payment by the municipality or county seeking condemnation of the amount of the award and final judgment on appeal the municipality or county shall become vested with a fee simple indefeasible title to the property to which the condemnation proceedings relate. Such payment may be offset in whole or in part by the amount of any municipal or county tax liens on the condemned property and by any existing special assessments tax liens on the condemned property, including without limitation education or special district taxes collected by the municipality or county; provided, however, that any such setoff shall be subject to any existing tax liens having higher priority pursuant to Code Section 48-2-56 and to the interest in the condemned property of any known beneficiary of a year's support pursuant to former Code Section 53-5-2 as such existed on December 31, 1997, if applicable, or Code Sections 53-3-1, 53-3-2, 53-3-4, 53-3-5, and 53-3-7; provided, further, that where the condemned property is subject to a valid deed to secure debt, such setoff shall only be allowed for tax liens which arose as a result of an assessment against such property. It is declared to be necessary, to enable such municipalities and counties to exercise their powers under this Code section, that upon the condemnation proceedings being had, the municipalities and counties shall become vested with fee simple indefeasible title to the property involved in the proceedings.
(c) Unless the property is to be acquired for the purpose of devoting it to a public use, a municipality or county may not acquire real property through the exercise of the power of eminent domain pursuant to subsection (a) of this Code section until the following conditions and requirements have been met:
(1) The municipality or county which adopted the urban redevelopment plan has approved a resolution authorizing the exercise of the power of eminent domain by the agency to acquire the property;
(2) The municipality or county shall, in writing, notify the owner of the real property proposed to be acquired of the planned rehabilitation of the property as set forth in the urban redevelopment plan for the urban redevelopment area wherein the property is located;
(3) Within 30 days after being so notified, the owner of the property shall have the option of notifying the municipality or county, in writing, of his willingness and intention to rehabilitate and maintain the property in accordance with the urban redevelopment plan. In the event of multiple ownership of the property, unanimous agreement by the owners shall be required; and the failure of any one owner to notify the municipality or county, within the time limitation specified in this paragraph, of his willingness and intention to rehabilitate and maintain the property in accordance with the urban redevelopment plan shall be deemed to be a failure to exercise the option provided in this paragraph; and
(4) The owner of the property may execute an agreement with the municipality or county to rehabilitate the property in accordance with the urban redevelopment plan. Any such agreement shall be as the municipality or county deems necessary and appropriate as to form and content; in connection therewith, the municipality or county shall have the right to require sufficient performance, payment, and completion bonds. In the event that any such owner, at any time, fails to comply with or defaults in the performance of the provisions of the agreement, such property shall no longer be subject to the agreement, the option provided by paragraph (3) of this subsection shall no longer apply, and the property may be acquired by the municipality or county by purchase or through the exercise of the power of eminent domain. In the alternative, the municipality or county may either specifically enforce the agreement, exercise any rights under any bonds which may have been required, and obtain any other legal or equitable relief as may be available to the municipality or county or, if the owner fails to exercise the option to rehabilitate the property or defaults on the agreement to rehabilitate the property, the municipality or county may implement those portions of the urban development plan with respect to such property to the extent the municipality or county deems necessary and the costs of implementing such plan shall be a lien against the property enforceable in the same manner as tax liens.
(a) A municipality or county may sell, lease, or otherwise transfer real property in an urban redevelopment area or any interest therein acquired by it and may enter into contracts with respect thereto, for residential, recreational, commercial, industrial, or other uses or for public use; or the municipality or county may retain such property or interest for public use, in accordance with the urban redevelopment plan, subject to such covenants, conditions, and restrictions, including covenants running with the land and including the incorporation by reference therein of the provisions of an urban redevelopment plan or any part thereof, as it may deem to be in the public interest or necessary or desirable to assist in preventing the development or spread of future pockets of blight or to otherwise carry out the purposes of this chapter. Such sale, lease, other transfer, or retention and any agreement relating thereto may be made only after the approval of the urban redevelopment plan by the local governing body. The purchasers or lessees and their successors and assigns shall be obligated to devote such real property only to the uses specified in the urban redevelopment plan and may be obligated to comply with such other requirements as the municipality or county may determine to be in the public interest, including the obligation to begin within a reasonable time any improvements on the real property required by the urban redevelopment plan. Such real property or interest shall be sold, leased, otherwise transferred, or retained at not less than its fair value for uses in accordance with the urban redevelopment plan. In determining the fair value of real property for uses in accordance with the urban redevelopment plan, a municipality or county shall take into account and give consideration to the uses provided in such plan; the restrictions upon and the covenants, conditions, and obligations assumed by the purchaser or lessee or by the municipality or county retaining the property; and the objectives of such plan for the prevention of the recurrence of pockets of blight. The municipality or county in any instrument of conveyance to a private purchaser or lessee may provide that such purchaser or lessee shall be without power to sell, lease, or otherwise transfer the real property without the prior written consent of the municipality or county until he or she has completed the construction of any and all improvements which he or she has obligated himself or herself to construct thereon. Real property acquired by a municipality or county which, in accordance with the provisions of the urban redevelopment plan, is to be transferred shall be transferred as rapidly as feasible in the public interest consistent with the carrying out of the provisions of the urban redevelopment plan. The inclusion in any such contract or conveyance to a purchaser or lessee of any such covenants, restrictions, or conditions, including the incorporation by reference therein of the provisions of an urban redevelopment plan or any part thereof, shall not prevent the filing of the contract or conveyance in the land records of the county in such manner as to afford actual or constructive notice thereof.
(b)(1) A municipality or county may dispose of real property in an urban redevelopment area to private persons only under such reasonable competitive bidding procedures as it shall prescribe, as are provided in this subsection or, solely with respect to and for the benefit of advancing surface transportation projects, as provided in Code Section 36-61-4. A municipality or county, by public notice by publication once each week for two consecutive weeks in a newspaper having a general circulation in the community, prior to the execution of any contract to sell, lease, or otherwise transfer real property and prior to the delivery of any instrument of conveyance with respect thereto under this Code section, may invite proposals from and make available all pertinent information to private redevelopers or any persons interested in undertaking to redevelop or rehabilitate an urban redevelopment area or any part thereof. The notice shall identify the area or portion thereof and shall state that such further information as is available may be obtained at such office as shall be designated in the notice. The municipality or county shall consider all such redevelopment or rehabilitation proposals and the financial and legal ability of the persons making such proposals to carry them out and may negotiate with any persons for proposals for the purchase, lease, or other transfer of any real property acquired by the municipality or county in the urban redevelopment area. The municipality or county may accept such proposal as it deems to be in the public interest and in furtherance of the purposes of this chapter. The municipality or county may execute contracts in accordance with subsection (a) of this Code section and deliver deeds, leases, and other instruments and take all steps necessary to effectuate such contracts.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions or requirements of this Code section, any municipality or county may exchange real property or land, whether vacant or improved, in any urban redevelopment area for real property or land, whether vacant or improved, owned by any post, barracks, encampment, chapter, subsidiary, or any other division or unit of any veterans' organization chartered by the United States Congress, provided such real property or land was owned by the veterans' organization on March 6, 1962, and, provided, further, that the municipality or county owning such urban redevelopment area desires to obtain the real property or land owned by the veterans' organization for civic improvements, including, but not limited to, the building of art theaters, stadiums, parks, playgrounds, auditoriums, civic theaters, and performing arts theaters.
(c) A municipality or county may temporarily operate and maintain real property acquired in an urban redevelopment area, pending the disposition of the property for redevelopment, without regard to subsection (a) of this Code section, for such uses and purposes as may be deemed desirable, even if such uses and purposes are not in conformity with the urban redevelopment plan.
Any municipality or county may, by ordinance, require the repair, closing, or demolition of dwellings or other structures intended for human habitation which are, as defined in the ordinance, unfit for human habitation or which may imperil the health, safety, or morals of the occupants thereof or of surrounding areas. Such ordinances may include the following:
(1) Definition of the construction, condition, facilities, ventilation, and other conditions which shall render such structures unfit for human habitation or a nuisance;
(2) Designation of a public official or officials with authority to enforce such ordinances and establishment of procedures therefor;
(3) Provision for the enforcement of such ordinances by the municipal court of the municipality, as defined in Code Section 41-2-5, which may include provision for the abatement thereof as nuisances, as provided in such Code section; and
(4) Provision for the posting of notices on dwellings and other structures intended for human habitation, indicating the actions taken by enforcement officials or the court with respect thereto, and the fixing of penalties for the defacing, destruction, or removal of such notices; provided, however, that no such notice shall be posted on any property then designated by proper governmental authority for acquisition by eminent domain.
(a) A municipality or county shall have power to issue bonds, in its discretion, from time to time, to finance the undertaking of any urban redevelopment project under this chapter, including, without limiting the generality thereof, the payment of principal and interest upon any advances for surveys and plans for urban redevelopment projects and shall also have power to issue refunding bonds for the payment of retirement of such bonds previously issued by it. Such bonds shall be made payable, as to both principal and interest, solely from the income, proceeds, revenues, and funds of the municipality or county derived from or held in connection with its undertaking and carrying out of urban redevelopment projects under this chapter; provided, however, that payment of such bonds, both as to principal and interest, may be further secured by a pledge of any loan, grant, or contribution from the federal government or other source, in aid of any urban redevelopment projects of the municipality or county under this chapter, and by a mortgage of any such urban redevelopment projects or any part thereof, title to which is in the municipality, county, or redevelopment agency.
(b) Bonds issued under this Code section shall not constitute an indebtedness within the meaning of any constitutional or statutory debt limitation or restriction and shall not be subject to the provisions of any other law or charter relating to the authorization, issuance, or sale of bonds. Bonds issued under this chapter are declared to be issued for an essential public and governmental purpose and, together with interest thereon and income therefrom, shall be exempted from all taxes.
(c) Bonds issued under this Code section shall be authorized by resolution or ordinance of the local governing body. They may be issued in one or more series and shall bear such date or dates, be payable upon demand or mature at such time or times, bear interest at such rate or rates, be in such denomination or denominations, be in such form either coupon or registered, carry such conversion or registration privileges, have such rank or priority, be executed in such manner, be payable in such medium of payment, at such place or places, be subject to such terms of redemption (with or without premium), be secured in such manner, and have such other characteristics as may be provided by the resolution of the local governing body or by the trust indenture or mortgage issued pursuant thereto.
(d) All revenue bonds, but not notes or other obligations, issued under this Code section shall be issued and validated under and in accordance with the procedure set forth in Article 3 of Chapter 82 of this title. The provisions of any resolution or ordinance authorizing the issuance of bonds under this Code section shall be a contract with every holder of such bonds and enforceable by any bondholder by mandamus or other appropriate action or proceeding at law or in equity.
(e) If any of the public officials of the municipality or county whose signatures appear on any bonds or coupons issued under this chapter cease to be such officials before the delivery of the bonds, such signatures, nevertheless, shall be valid and sufficient for all purposes, the same as if the officials had remained in office until the delivery. Any provision of any law to the contrary notwithstanding, any bonds issued pursuant to this chapter shall be fully negotiable.
(f) In any suit, action, or proceeding involving the validity or enforceability of any bond issued under this chapter or the security therefor, any such bond reciting in substance that it has been issued by the municipality or county in connection with an urban redevelopment project, as defined in paragraph (25) of Code Section 36-61-2, shall be conclusively deemed to have been issued for such purpose and such project shall be conclusively deemed to have been planned, located, and carried out in accordance with this chapter.
(g) Any urban redevelopment agency or housing authority which a municipality or county has elected to exercise powers under Code Section 36-61-17 may also issue bonds, as provided in this Code section, in the same manner as a municipality or county, except that such bonds shall be authorized and the terms and conditions thereof shall be prescribed by the commissioners of such urban redevelopment agency or housing authority in lieu of the local governing body.
All banks, trust companies, bankers, savings banks and institutions, building and loan associations, savings and loan associations, investment companies, and other persons carrying on a banking or investment business; all insurance companies, insurance associations, and other persons carrying on an insurance business; and all executors, administrators, curators, trustees, and other fiduciaries may legally invest any sinking funds, moneys, or other funds belonging to them or within their control in any bonds or other obligations issued by a municipality or county pursuant to this chapter or by any urban redevelopment agency or housing authority vested with urban redevelopment project powers under Code Section 36-61-17, provided that such bonds and other obligations shall be secured by an agreement between the issuer and the federal government, in which the issuer agrees to borrow from the federal government and the federal government agrees to lend to the issuer, prior to the maturity of the bonds or other obligations, moneys in an amount which (together with any other moneys irrevocably committed to the payment of interest on the bonds or other obligations) will suffice to pay the principal of the bonds or other obligations with interest to maturity thereon, which moneys under the terms of the agreement are required to be used for the purpose of paying the principal of and the interest on the bonds or other obligations at their maturity. Such bonds and other obligations shall be authorized security for all public deposits. It is the purpose of this Code section to authorize any persons, political subdivisions, and officers, public or private, to use any funds owned or controlled by them for the purchase of any such bonds or other obligations. Nothing contained in this Code section with regard to legal investments shall be construed as relieving any person of any duty of exercising reasonable care in selecting securities.
(a) All property of a municipality or county, including funds owned or held by it for the purposes of this chapter, shall be exempt from levy and sale by virtue of an execution, and no execution or other judicial process shall issue against the same, nor shall judgment against a municipality or county be a charge or lien upon such property; provided, however, that this Code section shall not apply to or limit the right of obligees to pursue any remedies for the enforcement of any pledge or lien given pursuant to this chapter by a municipality or county on its rents, fees, grants, or revenues from urban redevelopment projects.
(b) The property of a municipality, county, or any other public body, acquired or held for the purpose of this chapter, is declared to be public property used for essential public and governmental purposes and such property shall be exempt from all taxes of the municipality, the county, the state, or any political subdivision thereof. Such tax exemption shall terminate when the municipality or county sells, leases, or otherwise disposes of property in an urban redevelopment area to a purchaser or lessee who or which is not a public body.
Any instrument executed by a municipality or county and purporting to convey any right, title, or interest in any property under this chapter shall be conclusively presumed to have been executed in compliance with this chapter insofar as title or other interest of any bona fide purchasers, lessees, or transferees of such property is concerned.
(a) For the purpose of aiding in the planning, undertaking, or carrying out of an urban redevelopment project located within the area in which it is authorized to act, any public body, upon such terms, with or without consideration, as it may determine, may:
(1) Dedicate, sell, convey, or lease any of its interest in any property or grant easements, licenses, or other rights or privileges therein to a municipality or county;
(2) Incur the entire expense of any public improvements made by such public body in exercising the powers granted in this Code section;
(3) Do any and all things necessary to aid or cooperate in the planning or carrying out of an urban redevelopment plan;
(4) Lend, grant, or contribute funds to a municipality or county;
(5) Enter into agreements (which may extend over any period, notwithstanding any provision or rule of law to the contrary) with a municipality or county or other public body respecting action to be taken pursuant to any of the powers granted by this chapter, including the furnishing of funds or other assistance in connection with an urban redevelopment project and other provisions allocating legal responsibility for matters arising under or in connection with transactions entered into pursuant to Code Section 36-61-4; and
(6) Cause public buildings and public facilities, including parks, trails, greenspace, playgrounds, recreational, community, education, transit, water, sewer, or drainage facilities, or any other works which it is otherwise empowered to undertake, to be furnished; furnish, dedicate, close, vacate, pave, install, grade, regrade, plan, or replan streets, roads, sidewalks, ways, or other places; plan, replan, zone, or rezone any part of the public body or make exceptions from building regulations; and cause administrative and other services to be furnished to the municipality or county.
If at any time title to or possession of any urban redevelopment project is held by any public body or governmental agency, other than the municipality or county, which is authorized by law to engage in the undertaking, carrying out, or administration of urban redevelopment projects, including any agency or instrumentality of the United States of America, the provisions of the agreements referred to in this subsection shall inure to the benefit of and may be enforced by such public body or governmental agency. As used in this subsection, the terms “municipality” and “county” shall also include an urban redevelopment agency or a housing authority vested with all of the urban redevelopment project powers pursuant to Code Section 36-61-17.
(b) Any sale, conveyance, lease, or agreement provided for in this Code section may be made by a public body without appraisal, public notice, advertisement, or public bidding.
(c) For the purpose of aiding in the planning, undertaking, or carrying out of an urban redevelopment project of an urban redevelopment agency or a housing authority under this chapter, a municipality or county may, in addition to their other powers and upon such terms, with or without consideration, as they may determine, do and perform any or all of the actions or things which, by subsection (a) of this Code section, a public body is authorized to do or perform, including the furnishing of financial and other assistance.
(d) For the purposes of this Code section or for the purpose of aiding in the planning, undertaking, or carrying out of an urban redevelopment project of a municipality or county, such municipality or county may, in addition to any authority to issue bonds pursuant to Code Section 36-61-12, issue and sell its general obligation bonds. Any bonds issued by a municipality or county pursuant to this Code section shall be issued in the manner and within the limitations prescribed by the laws of this state for the issuance and authorization of bonds by such municipality and county for public purposes generally.
(a) A municipality or county may itself exercise its “urban redevelopment project powers,” as defined in subsection (b) of this Code section, or may, if the local governing body by resolution determines such action to be in the public interest, elect to have such powers exercised by the urban redevelopment agency created by Code Section 36-61-18 or by a housing authority, if one exists or is subsequently established in the community, or by an existing or subsequently established downtown development authority. In the event that the local governing body makes such determination, the urban redevelopment agency or the housing authority or downtown development authority, as the case may be, shall be vested with all of the “urban redevelopment project powers” of the municipality or county conferred in this chapter, in the same manner as though all such powers were conferred on the agency or authority instead of the municipality or county; and any public body may cooperate with the urban redevelopment agency or housing authority or the downtown development authority to the same extent that it could cooperate with the municipality or county itself if the municipality or county were exercising its urban redevelopment project powers. If the local governing body does not elect to make such determination, the municipality or county in its discretion may exercise its urban redevelopment project powers through a board or commissioner or through such officers of the municipality or county as the local governing body may by resolution determine.
(b) As used in this Code section, the term “urban redevelopment project powers” shall include all of the rights, powers, functions, duties, privileges, immunities, and exemptions granted to a municipality or county under this chapter, except the following:
(1) The power to determine an area to be a pocket of blight and to designate such area as appropriate for an urban redevelopment project;
(2) The power to approve and amend urban redevelopment plans;
(3) The power to establish a general plan for the locality as a whole;
(4) The power to formulate a workable program under Code Section 36-61-6;
(5) The powers, duties, and functions referred to in Code Section 36-61-11;
(6) The power to make the determinations and findings provided for in Code Section 36-61-4, Code Section 36-61-5, and subsection (d) of Code Section 36-61-7;
(7) The power to issue general obligation bonds; and
(8) The power to appropriate funds, to levy taxes and assessments, and to exercise other powers provided for in paragraph (8) of Code Section 36-61-8.
(a) There is created in each municipality and in each county a public body corporate and politic to be known as the “urban redevelopment agency” of the municipality or county. Such agency shall not transact any business or exercise its powers under this Code section until or unless the local governing body has made the finding prescribed in Code Section 36-61-5 and has elected to have the urban redevelopment project powers exercised by an urban redevelopment agency as provided in Code Section 36-61-17.
(b) If the urban redevelopment agency is authorized to transact business and exercise powers under this Code section, the mayor, by and with the advice and consent of the local governing body, or the board of commissioners or other governing body of the county shall appoint a board of commissioners of the urban redevelopment agency, which shall consist of such number of commissioners, with such terms of office, as shall be determined by the local governing body. If the governing body of a municipality designates members of a downtown development authority as an urban redevelopment agency, the method of appointment, number of commissioners, and terms of office shall be in conformity with the requirements of Code Section 36-42-4.
(c) A commissioner shall receive no compensation for his services but shall be entitled to the necessary expenses, including traveling expenses, incurred in the discharge of his duties. Each commissioner shall hold office until his successor has been appointed and has qualified. A certificate of the appointment or reappointment of any commissioner shall be filed with the clerk of the municipality or county and such certificate shall be conclusive evidence of the due and proper appointment of such commissioner.
(d) The powers of an urban redevelopment agency shall be exercised by the commissioners thereof. A majority of the commissioners shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of conducting business and exercising the powers of the agency and for all other purposes. Action may be taken by the agency upon a vote of a majority of the commissioners present, unless in any case the bylaws require a larger number. Any person may be appointed as commissioner if he resides within the area of operation of the agency, which shall be coterminous with the area of operation of the municipality or county, and is otherwise eligible for such appointments under this chapter.
(e) The mayor or the board of commissioners or other governing body of the county shall designate a chairman and vice-chairman from among the commissioners. An agency may employ an executive director, technical experts, and such other agents and employees, permanent and temporary, as it may require and may determine their qualifications, duties, and compensation. For such legal service as it may require, an agency may employ or retain its own counsel and legal staff. An agency authorized to transact business and exercise powers under this chapter shall file with the local governing body, on or before March 31 of each year, a report of its activities for the preceding calendar year, which report shall include a complete financial statement setting forth its assets, liabilities, income, and operating expense as of the end of such calendar year. At the time of filing the report, the agency shall publish in a newspaper of general circulation in the community a notice to the effect that such report has been filed with the municipality or county and that the report is available for inspection during business hours in the office of the city or county clerk and in the office of the agency.
(f) For inefficiency, neglect of duty, or misconduct in office, a commissioner may be removed, but only after a hearing. He shall be given a copy of the charges at least ten days prior to such hearing and shall have an opportunity to be heard in person or by counsel.
(a) No public official or employee of a municipality or county or of a board or commission thereof and no commissioner or employee of a housing authority or urban redevelopment agency which has been vested by a municipality or county with urban redevelopment project powers under Code Section 36-61-17 shall voluntarily acquire any interest, direct or indirect, in any urban redevelopment project of such municipality or county or in any property included or planned to be included in any such urban redevelopment project or in any contract or proposed contract in connection with such urban redevelopment project. Where such acquisition is not voluntary, the interest acquired shall be immediately disclosed in writing to the local governing body and such disclosure shall be entered upon the minutes of the governing body. If any such official, commissioner, or employee presently owns or controls, or owned or controlled within the preceding two years, any interest, direct or indirect, in any property which he knows is included or planned to be included in an urban redevelopment project, he shall immediately disclose this in writing to the local governing body, and such disclosure shall be entered upon the minutes of the governing body; any such official, commissioner, or employee shall not participate in any action by the municipality or county or a board or commission thereof, the housing authority, or the urban redevelopment agency affecting such property. Any disclosure required to be made by this Code section to the local governing body shall concurrently be made to a housing authority or urban redevelopment agency which has been vested with urban redevelopment project powers by the municipality or county pursuant to Code Section 36-61-17.
(b) Directors of a downtown development authority designated as an urban redevelopment agency pursuant to this chapter and other public officers of the municipality or county may serve as commissioners of the urban redevelopment agency, provided that such persons comply with the provisions of subsection (a) of this Code section.
(c) Any violation of this Code section shall constitute misconduct in office.
This chapter may be referred to as the “Development Authorities Law.”
As used in this chapter, the term:
(1) “Authority” means each public corporation created pursuant to this chapter.
(2) “Cost of project” includes:
(A) All costs of construction, purchase, or other form of acquisition;
(B) All costs of real or personal property required for the purposes of such project and of all facilities related thereto, including land and any rights or undivided interest therein, easements, franchises, water rights, fees, permits, approvals, licenses, and certificates and the securing of such franchises, permits, approvals, licenses, and certificates and the preparation of applications therefor;
(C) All machinery, equipment, initial fuel, and other supplies required for such project;
(D) Financing charges and interest prior to and during construction and during such additional period as the authority may reasonably determine to be necessary for the placing of such project in operation;
(E) Costs of engineering, architectural, and legal services;
(F) Fees paid to fiscal agents for financial and other advice or supervision;
(G) Cost of plans and specifications and all expenses necessary or incidental to the construction, purchase, or acquisition of the completed project or to determining the feasibility or practicability of the project; and
(H) Administrative expenses and such other expenses as may be necessary or incidental to the financing authorized in this chapter.
There may also be included, as part of such cost of project, the repayment of any loans made for the advance payment of any part of such cost, including the interest thereon. The cost of any project may also include a fund or funds for the creation of a debt service reserve, a renewal and replacement reserve, and such other reserves as may be reasonably required by the authority with respect to the financing and operation of its projects and as may be authorized by any bond resolution or trust agreement or indenture pursuant to the provisions of which the issuance of any such bonds may be authorized. Any obligation or expense incurred for any of the foregoing purposes shall be regarded as a part of the cost of the project and may be paid or reimbursed as such out of the proceeds of revenue bonds or notes issued under this chapter.
(3) “County” means any county of this state.
(4) “Governing body” means the elected or duly appointed officials constituting the governing body of each municipal corporation and county in the state.
(5) “Municipal corporation” means each city and town in the state.
(6) “Project” includes:
(A) Any one or more buildings or structures to be used in the production, manufacturing, processing, assembling, storing, or handling of any agricultural, manufactured, mining, or industrial product or any combination of the foregoing, in every case with all necessary or useful furnishings, machinery, equipment, parking facilities, landscaping, and facilities for outdoor storage, all as determined by the authority, which determination shall be final and not subject to review; and there may be included as part of any such project all improvements necessary to the full utilization thereof, including site preparation, roads and streets, sidewalks, water supply, outdoor lighting, belt line railroad sidings and lead tracks, bridges, causeways, terminals for railroad, automotive, and air transportation, transportation facilities incidental to the project, and the dredging and improving of harbors and waterways, none of which foregoing descriptive words shall be construed to constitute a limitation, provided that none of the improvements described in this sentence shall be the primary purpose of any project;
(B) The acquisition, construction, leasing, or equipping of new industrial facilities or the improvement, modification, acquisition, expansion, modernization, leasing, equipping, or remodeling of existing industrial facilities located or to be located within the area of operation of the authority;
(C) The acquisition, construction, improvement, or modification of any property, real or personal, which any industrial concern might desire to use, acquire, or lease in connection with the operation of any plant or facility located or to be located within the area of operation of the authority;
(D) The acquisition, construction, improvement, or modification of any property, real or personal, used as air or water pollution control facilities which any federal, state, or local agency having jurisdiction in the premises shall have certified as necessary for the continued operation of the industry or industries which the same is to serve and which is necessary for the public welfare, provided that for the purposes of this subparagraph, the term “air pollution control facility” means any property used, in whole or in substantial part, to abate or control atmospheric pollution or contamination by removing, altering, disposing of, or storing atmospheric pollutants or contaminants, if such facility is in furtherance of applicable federal, state, or local standards for abatement or control of atmospheric pollutants or contaminants; and provided, further, that for the purpose of this subparagraph, the term “water pollution control facility” means any property used, in whole or in substantial part, to abate or control water pollution or contamination by removing, altering, disposing, or storing pollutants, contaminants, wastes, or heat, including the necessary intercepting sewers, outfall sewers, pumping, power, and other equipment, holding ponds, lagoons, and appurtenances thereto, if such facility is in the furtherance of applicable federal, state, or local standards for the abatement or control of water pollution or contamination;
(E) The acquisition, construction, improvement, or modification of any property, real or personal, used as or in connection with a sewage disposal facility or a solid waste disposal facility which any federal, state, or local agency having jurisdiction in the premises shall have certified as necessary for the continued operation of the industries which the same is to serve and which is necessary for the public welfare, provided that if such facility is to be operated by, or is to serve related facilities of, a political subdivision or municipal corporation of this state or an agency, authority, or instrumentality thereof, for its general constituency, the certification need only state that such facility is necessary for the public welfare; provided, further, that for the purposes of this subparagraph, the term “sewage disposal facility” means any property used for the collection, storage, treatment, utilization, processing, or final disposal of sewage; for the purposes of this subparagraph, the term “solid waste disposal facility” means any property used for the collection, storage, treatment, utilization, processing, or final disposal of solid waste; for the purposes of this subparagraph, the term “solid waste” means garbage, refuse, or other discarded solid materials, including solid waste materials resulting from industrial and agricultural operations and from community activities but does not include solids or dissolved materials in domestic sewage or other significant pollutants in water resources, such as salt, dissolved or suspended solids in industrial waste-water effluents, and dissolved materials in irrigation return flows; and for the purposes of this subparagraph, the word “garbage” includes putrescible wastes, including animal and vegetable matters, animal offal and carcasses, and recognizable industrial by-products but excludes sewage and human wastes; and the word “refuse” includes all nonputrescible wastes;
(F) The acquisition, construction, improvement, or modification of any property, real or personal or both, used as a peak shave facility, provided that “peak shave facility” shall have the meaning generally accepted and understood in the natural gas distribution industry as that term is generally understood to describe a storage facility for the purpose of avoiding undesirable consequences in the distribution system during peak periods of consumption; and any project involving a “peak shave facility” may be undertaken as otherwise provided in this chapter;
(G) The acquisition, construction, leasing, improvement, or modification of any facilities and any property, real or personal or both, useful or necessary in the transportation of persons or property by air, provided that such projects shall not include the creation of airports or airport terminal facilities or improvements thereon, except as incidentally related to the furnishing of transportation of persons or property by air as provided in this subparagraph; such projects may include, but shall not be limited to, aircraft, aircraft maintenance and reconditioning equipment, aircraft communications equipment and facilities for the maintenance and repair of such equipment, ground support equipment and facilities used by aircraft, any necessary or useful real or personal property or rights to such property, all licenses, storage facilities including storage and distribution facilities for fuel, and the acquisition, modernization, or expansion of existing facilities or systems for transportation of persons or property by air, all as determined by the authority, which determination shall be final and not subject to review; such projects for the transportation of persons or property by air are authorized to assist state and local governments to secure adequate systems of transportation of passengers for hire as authorized by law and for the development of trade, commerce, industry, and employment opportunities; and such projects for the transportation of persons or property by air may be undertaken to the same extent and on the same conditions as otherwise provided in this chapter for other facilities, except that such projects may be authorized only for air transportation systems which are not eligible to receive subsidies from the federal government at the time the project is undertaken, only where the corporate headquarters, the general maintenance, repair, support, and communication facilities, the general reservations, scheduling, and dispatch facilities, and the personal residence of the majority of the employees are all located within the geographic jurisdiction of the authority, and only if the aircraft are routinely dispatched from and returned to the geographic jurisdiction of the authority, provided that the operation of flight equipment and incidental ground support facilities and equipment and the location of employees of such a project outside of the geographic jurisdiction of the authority shall not be prohibited if the conditions specified in this subparagraph are met; and provided, further, that no city, county, political subdivision, or any development authority may ever operate any such facility and the same must be acquired and operated by a private company or individual who shall guarantee the repayment of any obligations assumed, who shall be fully responsible for all operating expenses and losses, and who shall be taxable as any other private undertaking would be;
(H) The acquisition, construction, improvement, or modification of any property, real or personal, which shall be suitable for or used as or in connection with:
(i) Sports facilities, including private training and related office and other facilities when authorized by the governing authority of the political subdivision or municipal corporation in which the facility is to be constructed and maintained if such sports facilities promote trade, commerce, industry, and employment opportunities by hosting regional, state-wide, or national events;
(ii) Convention or trade show facilities;
(iii) Airports, docks, wharves, mass commuting facilities, parking facilities, or storage or training facilities directly related to any of the foregoing;
(iv) Facilities for the local furnishing of electric energy or gas;
(v) Facilities for the furnishing of water, if available, on reasonable demand to members of the general public;
(vi) Hotel and motel facilities for lodging which also may provide meals, provided that such facilities are constructed in connection with and adjacent to convention, sports, or trade show facilities. No project as defined by this division shall be exempt from any ad valorem taxation; and
(vii) Amphitheaters with seating capacity exceeding 1,000 patrons and any facilities directly related to the operation of such amphitheaters, if such amphitheaters promote trade, commerce, industry, and employment opportunities by hosting regional, state-wide, or national events;
(I) The acquisition or development of land as the site for an industrial park, provided that for purposes of this subparagraph, the term “development of land” includes the provision of water, sewage, drainage, or similar facilities or transportation, power, or communication facilities which are incidental to use of the site as an industrial park but, except with respect to such facilities, does not include the provision of structures or buildings;
(J) The acquisition, construction, leasing, or financing of:
(i) An office building facility and related real and personal property for use by any business enterprise or charitable corporation, association, or similar entity which will further the development of trade, commerce, industry, or employment opportunities in this state and which shall be adjacent to or used in conjunction with any other existing or proposed project defined in this paragraph, which existing or proposed project is located within the area of operation of the authority and which is used or intended to be used by such business enterprise or charitable corporation, association, or similar entity; or
(ii) A separate office building facility and related real and personal property for use by any business enterprise or charitable corporation, association, or similar entity which will further the development of trade, commerce, industry, or employment opportunities in this state.
No such office building facility as defined in this subparagraph shall be undertaken by an authority unless the authority determines that the business enterprise or charitable corporation, association, or similar entity to use such facility will be the primary tenant;
(K) Any one or more buildings or structures used or to be used as a skilled nursing home or intermediate care home subject to regulation and licensure by the Department of Community Health and all necessary, convenient, or related interests in land, machinery, apparatus, appliances, equipment, furnishings, appurtenances, site preparation, landscaping, and physical amenities;
(K.1) The provision of financing to property owners for the purpose of installing or modifying improvements to their property in order to reduce the energy or water consumption on such property or to install an improvement to such property that produces energy from renewable resources;
(L) The acquisition, construction, design, engineering, improvement, leasing, maintenance, modification, rebuilding, and repair of any facilities and any property utilized in connection with a community antenna television system or any combination of the foregoing, including all necessary or useful land or rights in land and all necessary or useful furnishings, machinery, vehicles, equipment, and parking facilities, all as determined by the authority, which determination shall be final and not subject to review; such projects are authorized to promote the expansion and development of the cable communication industry, to enhance employment opportunities throughout this state, and to encourage local origination programming by community antenna television systems on one or more channels, to include, but not be limited to, public access, government, and education programs; and the installation of such community antenna television systems shall not occur in areas adequately served by private enterprise;
(M) The acquisition, construction, equipping, improvement, modification, or expansion of any property, real or personal, for use as or in connection with research and development facilities. As used in this subparagraph, the term “research and development facilities” means any property used in whole or in substantial part in conducting basic and applied research for commercial, industrial, or governmental institutions in connection with institutions of higher education, which research is determined by the authority to contribute to the development and promotion of trade, commerce, industry, and employment opportunities for the public good and general welfare in furtherance of the purposes for which the authority was created. The authority's determination as to such matters shall be final and not subject to review; and
(N) The acquisition, construction, installation, modification, renovation, or rehabilitation of land, interests in land, buildings, structures, facilities, or other improvements and the acquisition, installation, modification, renovation, rehabilitation, or furnishing of fixtures, machinery, equipment, furniture, or other property of any nature whatsoever used on, in, or in connection with any such land, interest in land, building, structure, facility, or other improvement, all for the essential public purpose of the development of trade, commerce, industry, and employment opportunities. A project may be for any industrial, commercial, business, office, parking, public, or other use, provided that a majority of the members of the authority determines, by a duly adopted resolution, that the project and such use thereof would further the public purpose of this chapter.
This chapter is passed pursuant to authority granted the General Assembly by Article IX, Section VI, Paragraph III of the Constitution of this state. Each authority created by this chapter is created for nonprofit and public purposes, and it is found, determined, and declared that the creation of each such authority and the carrying out of its corporate purposes is in all respects for the benefit of the people of this state and that the authority is an institution of purely public charity and will be performing an essential governmental function in the exercise of the power conferred upon it by this chapter. For such reasons, the state covenants, from time to time, with the holders of the bonds issued under this chapter that such authority shall be required to pay no taxes or assessments imposed by the state or any of its counties, municipal corporations, political subdivisions, or taxing districts upon any property acquired by the authority or under its jurisdiction, control, possession, or supervision or leased by it to others (other than property leased for the purposes of a “project” as defined in subparagraph (J) or (K) of paragraph (6) of Code Section 36-62-2, which shall be taxable by the state and its counties, municipal corporations, political subdivisions, and taxing districts) or upon its activities in the operation or maintenance of any such property or on any income derived by the authority in the form of fees, recording fees, rentals, charges, purchase price, installments, or otherwise, and that the bonds of such authority, their transfer, and the income therefrom shall at all times be exempt from taxation within this state. The tax exemption provided in this Code section shall not include any exemption from sales and use tax on property purchased by the authority or for use by the authority.
(a) There is created in and for each county and municipal corporation in the state a public body corporate and politic to be known as the “development authority” of such county or municipal corporation, which shall consist of a board of not less than seven and not more than nine directors to be appointed by resolution of the governing body of the county or municipal corporation. At the expiration of the current terms of office of the first four members of the board of directors, the governing body of the county or municipal corporation shall elect successors to such members to serve for initial terms of two years and shall elect successors to the remaining members of the board for initial terms of four years. Thereafter, the terms of all directors shall be for four years. The terms of any directors added to the original seven directors shall be four years. If, at the end of any term of office of any director, a successor thereto has not been elected, the director whose term of office has expired shall continue to hold office until his or her successor is so elected.
(b) A majority of the directors shall constitute a quorum, but no action may be taken by the board without the affirmative vote of a majority of the full membership of the board.
(c) No authority shall transact any business or exercise any powers under this chapter until the governing body of the county or municipal corporation, by proper resolution, declares that there is a need for an authority to function in the county or municipal corporation. A copy of the resolution shall be filed with the Secretary of State, who shall maintain a record of all authorities activated under this chapter.
(d) In each county of this state having a population of not less than 41,700 nor more than 42,300 according to the United States decennial census of 1990 or any future such census, the board of directors of an industrial development authority in such county which is created directly by the Constitution of Georgia shall assume all the powers, duties, and responsibilities of and shall become the board of directors of any development authority created under this chapter which is located in such county or in any municipal corporation in such county.
(e) In each county of this state having a population of not less than 24,000 nor more than 26,000 according to the United States decennial census of 1990 or any future such census, the board of directors of an industrial development authority in such county which is created directly by the Constitution of Georgia may assume all the powers and responsibilities of and may become the board of directors of any development authority created under this chapter which is located in such county or in any municipal corporation in such county. Such joint boards shall have the authority to transfer any and all assets of the development authority created under this chapter to the industrial development authority which is created directly by the Constitution of Georgia; provided, however, that the governing authority of said county or municipal corporation shall approve the assumption of such powers and responsibilities.
(a) The directors shall be taxpayers residing in the county or municipal corporation for which the authority is created, and their successors shall be appointed as provided by the resolution provided for in Code Section 36-62-4. The governing authority of a county or municipality may appoint no more than one member of the governing authority as a director.
(b) The directors shall elect one of their members as chairman and another as vice-chairman and shall also elect a secretary and a treasurer or a secretary-treasurer, either of whom may, but need not, be a director.
(c) The directors shall receive no compensation for their services but shall be reimbursed for their actual expenses incurred in the performance of their duties; provided, however, that the directors of the development authority activated by counties having a population of 550,000 or more according to the United States decennial census of 1980 or any future such census shall be paid a per diem allowance to be determined by the governing authority of such counties for each day, or part thereof, spent in the performance of their duties and further provided that any such per diem allowance shall not exceed the per diem allowance set for members of the General Assembly in paragraph (22) of subsection (a) of Code Section 45-7-4.
(d) The authority may make bylaws and regulations for its governance and may delegate to one or more of its officers, agents, and employees such powers and duties as may be deemed necessary and proper.
(e)(1)(A) The provisions of Code Sections 45-10-3 and 45-10-4 shall apply to all directors of the authority, and a director of the authority shall not engage in any transaction with the authority.
(B) The provisions of paragraph (9) of Code Section 45-10-3 and subparagraph (A) of this paragraph shall be deemed to have been complied with and the authority may purchase from, sell to, borrow from, loan to, contract with, or otherwise deal with any director or any organization or person with which any director of the authority is in any way interested or involved, provided (1) that any interest or involvement by such director is disclosed in advance to the directors of the authority and is recorded in the minutes of the authority, (2) that any interest or involvement by such director with a value in excess of $200.00 per calendar quarter is published by the authority one time in the legal organ in which notices of sheriffs' sales are published in each county affected by such interest, at least 30 days in advance of consummating such transaction, (3) that no director having a substantial interest or involvement may be present at that portion of an authority meeting during which discussion of any matter is conducted involving any such organization or person, and (4) that no director having a substantial interest or involvement may participate in any decision of the authority relating to any matter involving such organization or person. As used in this subsection, a “substantial interest or involvement” means any interest or involvement which reasonably may be expected to result in a direct financial benefit to such director as determined by the authority, which determination shall be final and not subject to review.
(2) Nothing contained in paragraph (1) of this subsection or in Code Section 45-10-3 shall be deemed to prohibit any director who is present at any meeting or who participates in any decision of the authority from providing legal services in connection with any of the undertakings of the authority or from being paid for such services.
(3)(A) Concurrent jurisdiction to enforce this subsection is granted to the State Ethics Commission created under Code Section 21-5-4.
(B) Upon formal charges being filed with an alternate enforcement authority provided for in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph relative to a violation of this subsection on the part of a member of any such development authority, the enforcement authority or its designated agent shall conduct a hearing for the purpose of receiving evidence relative to the merits of such charges. The development authority member so charged shall be given at least 30 days’ notice prior to such hearing. If such charges are found to be true, the enforcement authority shall forthwith remove such member from office and the vacancy shall be filled as provided by law. Such hearing shall be held in accordance with Chapter 13 of Title 50, the “Georgia Administrative Procedure Act,” and judicial review of any such decision shall be in accordance with such chapter.
(C) The State Ethics Commission is vested with the same powers with respect to this Code section as enumerated in Code Section 21-5-6.
(f) Each development authority shall provide to its respective county or municipal fiscal officer, as the case may be, an audited financial statement if such audit has been required by the respective county or municipality within six months of the end of the previous fiscal year.
(a) By proper resolution of the local governing bodies, an authority may be created and activated by:
(1) Any two or more municipal corporations;
(2) Any two or more counties;
(3) One or more municipal corporations and one or more counties; or
(4) Any county in this state and any contiguous county in an adjoining state.
(b) A joint authority so created shall be governed by this chapter in the same manner as other authorities created pursuant to this chapter, except as specifically provided otherwise in this Code section.
(c) The resolutions creating and activating a joint authority shall specify the number of members of the authority, the number to be appointed by each participating county or municipal corporation, their terms of office, and their residency requirements.
(d) The resolutions creating and activating joint authorities may be amended by appropriate concurrent resolutions of the participating governing bodies.
(e)(1) A joint authority created by two or more contiguous counties pursuant to this Code section must be an active, bona fide joint authority; must have a board of directors; must meet at least quarterly; and must develop an operational business plan. A county may belong to more than one such joint authority.
(2) A business enterprise as defined under subsection (a) of Code Section 48-7-40 located within the jurisdiction of a joint authority established by two or more contiguous counties shall qualify for an additional $500.00 tax credit for each new full-time employee position created. The $500.00 job tax credit authorized by this paragraph shall be subject to all the conditions and limitations specified under Code Section 48-7-40, as amended; provided, however, that a business enterprise located in a county that belongs to more than one joint authority shall not qualify for an additional tax credit in excess of $500.00 for each new full-time employee position created.
(f) With respect to a joint authority created on or before March 31, 1995, and notwithstanding any provision of this Code section to the contrary, any taxpayer eligible for a tax credit pursuant to subsection (e) of this Code section shall have the option of electing to utilize for a given project the tax credit formerly authorized under this Code section for taxable years beginning prior to January 1, 1995, in lieu of the tax credit otherwise available pursuant to this Code section for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 1995. Such election shall be made for each committed project in writing on or before July 1, 1995, to the commissioner of community affairs. Such election shall not be effective unless approved in writing by the commissioner of community affairs. The Board of Community Affairs shall promulgate regulations necessary for the implementation of this subsection.
(g)(1) By May 15, 2019, and then by February 15, 2020, and annually thereafter, each joint authority with established revenue sharing agreements between the joint authority and its participating local governments and revenue emanating pursuant to such an agreement shall furnish to the state revenue commissioner and the state auditor:
(A) A statement that identifies and separately states all real and personal property and all property interests that are owned, in part or in full, by such joint authority together with the nature of any encumbrances, liens, or covenants on such property;
(B) A complete copy of all current agreements or contracts related to such joint authority that are between or among one or more counties, municipalities, joint authorities, or private parties that references matters related to taxation, payments in lieu of taxation, tax abatements, leasehold interests or estates, leaseback agreements, or the sharing of revenue, funds, fees, taxes, assessments, fines, or any other income; and
(C) All additional information determined by the state revenue commissioner or state auditor to be necessary to accurately determine the net taxable digest of each county or municipality participating in such joint authority and any affected school district.
(2) The information compiled by the state auditor pursuant to this subsection shall be utilized in determining any equalized adjusted property tax digest prepared pursuant to Code Section 48-5-274.
(3) On or before July 1, 2019, and then on or before April 1, 2020, and annually thereafter, a report that compiles the information gathered by the state auditor and that sets out the net impact of the total activities of the joint authority on the tax digest of each affected taxing jurisdiction shall be furnished to the tax commissioner of each affected county, to the governing authority of each affected county or municipality, to each affected local board of education, to the joint development authority, and to the State Board of Education. Each tax commissioner shall utilize such net impact to adjust the net assessed value of each of his or her taxing jurisdictions in order to fully account for activities of any joint authority in digest values submitted pursuant to Code Sections 48-5-32 and 48-5-32.1.
(4) The state revenue commissioner and the state auditor shall be authorized to:
(A) Conduct audits of any joint authority subject to the requirements of this subsection; and
(B) Promulgate rules and regulations necessary to administer, implement, and enforce this Code section.
(a) As used in this Code section, the term “participating counties” means all counties party to a proper joint resolution as set forth in subsection (b) of this Code section.
(b) By proper joint resolution of the local governing bodies, an authority, to be known as a regional industrial development authority, may be created and activated by any group of three to five contiguous counties, provided that at least one-half of the members of the governing body from each county have completed a basic economic development training course certified by the Department of Community Affairs as meeting certain minimum educational standards, which such department shall prescribe by rule and regulation.
(c) A regional industrial development authority so created shall be governed by this chapter in the same manner as other authorities created pursuant to this chapter, except as specifically provided otherwise in this Code section.
(d) A joint resolution creating and activating a regional industrial development authority shall specify the total number of members of the governing body of the authority, the number of such members to be appointed by each participating county, their respective terms of office, and their residency requirements.
(e) A joint resolution creating and activating a regional industrial development authority may be amended from time to time by appropriate concurrent joint resolutions of the regional industrial development authority and all of the participating counties.
(f) Each regional industrial development authority created pursuant to this Code section shall:
(1) Be an active, bona fide authority;
(2) Have a board of directors;
(3) Meet at least quarterly;
(4) Develop an operational business plan;
(5) Own property lying within one or more of the participating counties with all of the participating counties; and
(6) Maintain among itself and the participating counties an active intergovernmental agreement that provides for sharing:
(A) The operating expenses for all real property described in paragraph (5) of this subsection; and
(B) The proceeds generated from ad valorem taxes assessed and collected on all such real property, excluding the proceeds that are pledged to secure bonded indebtedness or dedicated by law to specific purposes inconsistent with such sharing.
(g) A county shall not belong to more than one regional industrial development authority.
(h) A taxpayer whose qualified investment property, as such terms are defined in Code Section 48-7-40.17, is located on property as described in paragraph (5) of subsection (f) of this Code section shall be eligible for a tax credit for each new quality job at such location as provided by Code Section 48-7-40.17 for the lowest tier participating county within the regional industrial development authority; provided, however, that the tax credit authorized by this paragraph shall be subject to all other conditions and limitations provided by Code Section 48-7-40.17.
(a) Each authority shall have all of the powers necessary or convenient to carry out and effectuate the purposes and provisions of this chapter, including, but without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the power:
(1) To bring and defend actions;
(2) To adopt and amend a corporate seal;
(3) To make and execute contracts and other instruments necessary to exercise the powers of the authority, any of which contracts may be made with the county in which the authority is located or with any one or more municipal corporations in such county; each such county and all municipal corporations therein are authorized to enter into contracts with the authority;
(4) To receive and administer gifts, grants, and devises of any property and to administer trusts;
(5) To acquire, by purchase, gift, or construction, any real or personal property desired to be acquired as part of any project or for the purpose of improving, extending, adding to, reconstructing, renovating, or remodeling any project or part thereof already acquired or for the purpose of demolition to make room for such project or any part thereof;
(6) To sell, lease, exchange, transfer, assign, pledge, mortgage, dispose of, or grant options for any real or personal property or interest therein for any such purposes;
(7) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (7.1) of this Code section, to dispose of any real property for fair market value, regardless of prior development of such property as a project, whenever the board of directors of the authority may deem such disposition to be in the best interests of the authority if the board of directors of the authority prior to such disposition shall determine that such real property no longer can be used advantageously as a project for the development of trade, commerce, industry, and employment opportunities;
(7.1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter to the contrary, to dispose of any real property for fair market value or any amount below fair market value as determined by the board of directors of the authority, regardless of prior development of such property as a project, whenever the board of directors of the authority may deem such disposition to be in the best interests of the authority if the board of directors of the authority prior to such disposition shall determine that such real property no longer can be used advantageously as a project for the development of trade, commerce, industry, and employment opportunities and if title to such real property is to be transferred to the state;
(8) To mortgage, convey, pledge, or assign any properties, revenues, income, tolls, charges, or fees owned or received by the authority;
(9) To appoint officers and retain agents, engineers, attorneys, fiscal agents, accountants, and employees and to provide for their compensation and duties;
(10) To extend credit or make loans to any person, firm, corporation, or other industrial entity for the planning, design, construction, acquisition, or carrying out of any project, which credit or loans shall be secured by loan agreements, mortgages, security agreements, contracts, and all other instruments, fees, or charges, upon such terms and conditions as the authority shall determine reasonable in connection with such loans, including provision for the establishment and maintenance of reserves and insurance funds; and, in the exercise of powers granted by this Code section in connection with a project for such person, firm, corporation, or other industrial entity, to require the inclusion in any contract, loan agreement, security agreement, or other instrument, of such provisions for guaranty, insurance, construction, use, operation, maintenance, and financing of a project as the authority may deem necessary or desirable;
(11) To acquire, accept, or retain equitable interests, security interests, or other interest in any property, real or personal, by mortgage, assignment, security agreement, pledge, conveyance, contract, lien, loan agreement, or other consensual transfer, in order to secure the repayment of any moneys loaned or credit extended by the authority;
(12) To construct, acquire, own, repair, remodel, maintain, extend, improve, and equip projects located on land owned or leased by the authority or land owned or leased by others and to pay all or part of the cost of any such project from the proceeds of revenue bonds of the authority or from any contribution or loans by persons, firms, or corporations or any other contribution, all of which the authority is authorized to receive, accept, and use;
(13) To borrow money and issue its revenue bonds and bond anticipation notes from time to time and to use the proceeds thereof for the purpose of paying all or part of the cost of any project, including the cost of extending, adding to, or improving the project, or for the purpose of refunding any such bonds of the authority theretofore issued and to otherwise carry out the purposes of this chapter and to pay all other costs of the authority incident to or necessary and appropriate to such purposes, including the providing of funds to be paid into any fund or funds to secure such bonds and notes, provided that all such bonds and notes shall be issued in accordance with the procedures and subject to the limitations set forth in Code Section 36-62-8;
(14) As security for repayment of authority obligations, to pledge, mortgage, convey, assign, hypothecate, or otherwise encumber any property, real or personal, of such authority and to execute any trust agreement, indenture, or security agreement containing any provisions not in conflict with law, which trust agreement, indenture, or security agreement may provide for foreclosure or forced sale of any property of the authority upon default, on such obligations, either in payment of principal or interest or in the performance of any term or condition, as are contained in such agreement or indenture. This state, on behalf of itself and each county, municipal corporation, political subdivision, or taxing district therein, waives any right which it or such county, municipal corporation, political subdivision, or taxing district may have to prevent the forced sale or foreclosure of any property of the authority so mortgaged or encumbered, and any such mortgage or encumbrance may be foreclosed in accordance with law and the terms thereof;
(15) If any authority authorizing an air transportation facility, to contract with any county or municipal corporation in the state; and any county or municipal corporation in the state is empowered to contract with any such authority to furnish air transportation services where such service is not otherwise in existence;
(16) To expend for the promotion of industry, agriculture, and trade within its area of operations any funds of the authority determined by the authority to be in excess of those needed for the other corporate purposes of the authority; and
(17) To do all things necessary or convenient to carry out the powers expressly conferred by this chapter.
(b) This Code section shall not be construed as authorizing an authority as defined in this chapter to exercise the power of eminent domain.
No development authority of a county or municipality within the county or joint development authority within the county shall purchase or accept title to any real property located in an adjoining county, which property will be exchanged for certain property belonging to the federal government as authorized by federal law, without the written consent of the governing authority of such adjoining county wherein the real property is located; provided, however, that the provisions of this Code section shall not apply to any agreement entered into by two or more counties, municipal corporations, consolidated governments, or development authorities or any combination thereof prior to July 1, 1994, nor shall the transfer of any land pursuant to any such agreement be affected by this Code section.
No project acquired under this chapter shall be operated by an authority or any municipal corporation, county, or other governmental subdivision. Such a project shall be leased or sold to, or managed by, one or more persons, firms, or private corporations. Any disposition of real property by an authority pursuant to paragraph (7) of subsection (a) of Code Section 36-62-6 shall be made to one or more persons, firms, corporations, or governmental or public entities. If revenue bonds or other obligations are to be issued to pay all or part of the cost of the project, the project must be so leased or the contract for its sale or management must be entered into prior to or simultaneously with the issuance of the bonds or obligations; provided, however, that the acquisition and development of land by an authority as the site for an industrial park as provided in this chapter or the acquisition and development of land by an authority as the site for a sports facility or amphitheater in accordance with Code Section 36-62-2 and the operation of such a sports facility or amphitheater shall not be deemed to be the operation of a project and, notwithstanding anything in this chapter to the contrary, an authority shall not be required to enter into a lease of such a project or a contract for its sale or management as a condition to the issuance of bonds or other obligations of the authority to provide financing therefor. If sold, the purchase price may be paid at one time or in installments falling due over not more than 40 years from the date of transfer of possession. The lessee or purchaser shall be required to pay all costs of operating and maintaining the leased or purchased property and to pay rentals or installments in amounts sufficient to pay the principal of and the interest and premium, if any, on all of its bonds and other obligations as such principal and interest become due. If the project is managed, the management contract must contain a term not less than the final maturity date of any bonds or other obligations of the authority to provide financing for the managed project and must provide that all costs of operating and maintaining the managed project, including all management fees payable under the management contract, shall be paid solely from the revenues of the managed project and from the proceeds of any bonds or other obligations of the authority to provide financing for the managed project. Any such management contract may contain provisions allowing the authority to terminate the management contract, but if the authority exercises any right to terminate a management contract, it must immediately enter into another management contract meeting the requirements of this Code section.
(a) Subject to the limitations and procedures provided by this Code section, the obligations of any authority evidenced by bonds, bond anticipation notes, trust indentures, deeds to secure obligations, security agreements, or mortgages executed in connection therewith may contain such provisions not inconsistent with law as shall be determined by the board of directors of the authority. The authority, in such instruments, may provide for the pledging of all or any part of its revenues, income, or charges and for the mortgaging, encumbering, or conveying of all or any part of its real or personal property; may covenant against pledging any or all of its revenues, income, or charges; and may further provide for the disposition of proceeds realized from the sale of any bonds and bond anticipation notes, for the replacement of lost, destroyed, stolen, or mutilated bonds and notes, and for the payment and redemption of such bonds and notes. Similarly, subject to the limitations and procedures of this Code section, undertakings of an authority may prescribe the procedure by which bondholders and noteholders may enforce rights against the authority and may provide for rights upon breach of any covenant, condition, or obligation of the authority; and bonds, resolutions, trust indentures, mortgages, or deeds to secure obligations executed by an authority and bond anticipation notes executed by an authority may contain such provisions not otherwise contrary to law as the authority shall deem necessary or desirable.
(b) The proceeds derived from the sale of all bonds and bond anticipation notes issued by an authority shall be held and used for the ultimate purpose of paying, directly or indirectly as permitted in this chapter, all or part of the cost of any project, including the cost of extending, financing, adding to, or improving the project, for the purpose of refunding any bond anticipation notes issued in accordance with this chapter or refunding any previously issued bonds of the authority.
(c) All bonds and bond anticipation notes issued by an authority shall be revenue obligations of the authority and may be made payable out of any revenues or other receipts, funds, or moneys of the authority, subject only to any agreements with the holders of other bonds or bond anticipation notes or to particular security agreements pledging any particular revenues, receipts, funds, or moneys.
(d) Issuance by an authority of one or more series of bonds or bond anticipation notes for one or more purposes shall not preclude it from issuing other bonds or notes in connection with the same project or with any other projects; but the proceeding wherein any subsequent bonds or bond anticipation notes are issued shall recognize and protect any prior pledge or mortgage made in any prior security agreement or made for any prior issue of bonds or bond anticipation notes, unless in the resolution authorizing such prior issue the right is expressly reserved to the authority to issue subsequent bonds or bond anticipation notes on a parity with such prior issue.
(e) An authority shall have the power and is authorized, whenever revenue bonds of the authority have been validated as provided in this chapter, to issue, from time to time, its notes in anticipation of the issuance of such bonds as validated and to renew, from time to time, any such notes by the issuance of new notes, whether the notes to be renewed have or have not matured. The authority may issue notes only to provide funds which would otherwise be provided by the issuance of the bonds as validated. The notes may be authorized, sold, executed, and delivered in the same manner as bonds. As with its bonds, the authority may sell such notes at public or private sale. Any resolution or resolutions authorizing notes of the authority or any issue thereof may contain any provisions which the authority is authorized to include in any resolution or resolutions authorizing bonds of the authority or any issue thereof; and the authority may include in any notes any terms, covenants, or conditions which it is authorized to include in any bonds. Validation of such bonds shall be a condition precedent to the issuance of the notes, but it shall not be required that such notes be judicially validated. Bond anticipation notes shall not be issued in an amount exceeding the par value of the bonds in anticipation of which they are to be issued.
(f) The interest rate on or rates to be borne by any bonds, notes, or other obligations issued by the authority shall be fixed by the board of directors of the authority. Any limitations with respect to interest rates found in Article 3 of Chapter 82 of this title or the usury laws of this state shall not apply to obligations issued under this chapter.
(g) All revenue bonds issued by an authority under this chapter shall be issued and validated under and in accordance with Article 3 of Chapter 82 of this title, except as provided in subsection (f) of this Code section and except as specifically set forth below:
(1) Revenue bonds issued by an authority may be in such form, either coupon or fully registered, or both coupon and fully registered, and may be subject to such exchangeability and transferability provisions as the bond resolution authorizing the issuance of such bonds or any indenture or trust agreement may provide;
(2) Revenue bonds shall bear a certificate of validation. The signature of the clerk of the superior court of the judicial circuit in which the issuing authority is located may be made on the certificate of validation of such bonds by facsimile or by manual execution, stating the date on which such bonds were validated; and such entry shall be original evidence of the fact of judgment and shall be received as original evidence in any court in this state;
(3) The notice to the district attorney or the Attorney General and the notice to the public of the time, place, and date of the validation hearing need not state the rate of interest the bonds will bear;
(4) The term “cost of project” shall have the meaning prescribed in paragraph (2) of Code Section 36-62-2 whenever referred to in bond resolutions of an authority, bonds and bond anticipation notes issued by an authority, or notices and proceedings to validate such bonds.
The purposes of this chapter are to develop and promote trade, commerce, industry, and employment opportunities for the public good and the general welfare and to promote the general welfare of the state. No bonds or bond anticipation notes, except refunding bonds, shall be issued by an authority under this chapter unless its board of directors adopts a resolution finding that the project for which such bonds or notes are to be issued will promote the foregoing objectives and will increase or maintain employment in the territorial area of such authority. Notwithstanding the foregoing requirement:
(1) Bonds or bond anticipation notes may be issued to finance projects for air and water pollution control facilities and for sewage and solid waste disposal facilities, as provided in this chapter, without a finding that the project will increase or maintain employment, so long as the appropriate certification described in this chapter has been secured from the federal, state, or local agency having jurisdiction in the premises; and
(2) Bonds or bond anticipation notes may also be issued by an authority to finance the acquisition or development of land as the site for an industrial park as provided in this chapter without a finding that the project will increase or maintain employment if its board of directors shall adopt a resolution finding that the tract of land to be included in the project is not intended for use by a single enterprise; will be suitable primarily for use as building sites for a group of enterprises engaged in industrial, distribution, or wholesale businesses; and that either:
(A) The control and administration of the tract is to be vested in the authority or in another county or joint county and municipal development authority (or in a corporation organized under Chapter 3 of Title 14, the “Georgia Nonprofit Corporation Code”) having as one of its purposes the development of trade, commerce, industry, and employment opportunities; or
(B) The uses of such tract of land are to be regulated by protective restrictions to be approved by the authority and determined by the authority to be appropriate to encourage and facilitate use thereof by business enterprises engaged in industrial, distribution, or wholesale businesses.
No bonds or other obligations of and no indebtedness incurred by any authority shall constitute an indebtedness or obligation of the State of Georgia or of any county, municipal corporation, or political subdivision thereof, nor shall any act of any authority in any manner constitute or result in the creation of an indebtedness of this state or of any such county, municipal corporation, or political subdivision. All such bonds and obligations shall be payable solely from the revenues therein pledged to such payment, including pledged rentals, sales proceeds, insurance proceeds, and condemnation awards; and no holder or holders of any such bonds or obligations shall ever have the right to compel any exercise of the taxing power of this state or of any county, municipal corporation, or political subdivision thereof, nor to enforce the payment thereof against any property of the state or of any such county, municipal corporation, or political subdivision.
This chapter shall be liberally construed to effect the purposes hereof, and insofar as this chapter may be inconsistent with the provisions of any other law, including the charter of any municipal corporation, this chapter shall be controlling. The sale or issuance of bonds by any authority shall not be subject to regulation under Chapter 5 of Title 10, the “Georgia Uniform Securities Act of 2008,” or any other law. No proceeding or publication not required in this chapter shall be necessary to the performance of any act authorized in this chapter, nor shall any such act be subject to referendum.
Any public corporation, industrial development authority, or payroll authority created prior to March 28, 1969, by legislative Act or constitutional amendment shall not be affected by this chapter but shall be entitled to continue in existence and exercise all powers heretofore or hereafter granted thereto.
The real and personal property of any development authority which was created for a county prior to July 1, 1983, by constitutional amendment and which was dissolved by operation of law pursuant to Article XI, Section I, Paragraph IV(c) of the Constitution shall by operation of law become the property of any development authority subsequently created by such county pursuant to this chapter or, in the absence thereof, shall become the property of the county.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in this Code section, an authority created pursuant to this chapter shall have perpetual existence.
(b) If an authority does not have any outstanding unpaid bonds or bond anticipation notes, the authority may be dissolved as provided in this subsection. If the authority was activated for a single county or municipal corporation as provided in Code Section 36-62-4, the authority may be dissolved by adoption of an appropriate resolution by the governing authority of such county or municipal corporation. If the authority was activated for two or more local governments as provided in Code Section 36-62-5.1, the authority may be dissolved by the adoption of appropriate concurrent resolutions by the governing authorities of all such local governments.
(c) If an authority previously activated for a single county or municipal corporation is so dissolved, all assets and debts and rights and obligations of the former authority shall devolve to the parent county or municipal corporation. If an authority previously activated for two or more local governments is so dissolved, all assets and debts and rights and obligations of the former authority shall devolve to the parent local governments in such proportions and manner as shall be specified in the concurrent resolutions dissolving the authority.
(d) Where an authority is dissolved as provided in this Code section, it shall cease to exist as of the effective date specified in the appropriate resolution or resolutions. The dissolution of an authority, however, shall not prevent the subsequent activation of a new authority under this chapter for the same local government or local governments, in the same manner as otherwise specified in this chapter.
(a)(1) All directors and members of any downtown development authority created pursuant to Chapter 42 of this title, known as the “Downtown Development Authorities Law,” or of any authority created by or pursuant to a local constitutional amendment, whether for the purpose of promoting the development of trade, commerce, industry, and employment opportunities or for other purposes, to the extent that the Constitution of Georgia authorizes the General Assembly by law to define further and to enlarge or restrict the powers and duties of any such authority created by or pursuant to a local constitutional amendment shall comply with the provisions of Code Section 45-10-3, relating to a code of ethics of members of boards, commissions, and authorities and shall not engage in any transaction with the authority.
(2) The provisions of paragraph (9) of Code Section 45-10-3 and of paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be deemed to have been complied with and any such authority may purchase from, sell to, borrow from, loan to, contract with, or otherwise deal with any director or member or any organization or person with which any director or member of said authority is in any way interested or involved, provided (1) that any interest or involvement by such director or member is disclosed in advance to the directors or members of the authority and is recorded in the minutes of the authority, (2) that any interest or involvement by such director with a value in excess of $200.00 per calendar quarter is published by the authority one time in the legal organ in which notices of sheriffs' sales are published in each county affected by such interest, at least 30 days in advance of consummating such transaction, (3) that no director having a substantial interest or involvement may be present at that portion of an authority meeting during which discussion of any matter is conducted involving any such organization or person, and (4) that no director having a substantial interest or involvement may participate in any decision of the authority relating to any matter involving such organization or person. As used in this subsection, a “substantial interest or involvement” means any interest or involvement which reasonably may be expected to result in a direct financial benefit to such director or member as determined by the authority, which determination shall be final and not subject to review.
(b) Nothing contained in subsection (a) of this Code section or in Code Section 45-10-3 shall be deemed to prohibit any director who is present at any decision of the authority from providing legal services in connection with any of the undertakings of the authority or from being paid for such services.
As used in this article, the term “development authority” means any authority created by law or by constitutional amendment for one or more counties or municipalities, or any combination thereof, for the purpose of promoting the development of trade, commerce, industry, and employment opportunities or for other purposes. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, such term shall specifically include all authorities created pursuant to Chapter 62 of this title.
Except for a director who is also a member of the governing body of a municipal corporation or county, each director or member of the governing board or body of a development authority shall attend and complete at least eight hours of training on development and redevelopment programs within the first 12 months of the director's or member's appointment to the development authority. Directors and members in office on January 1, 2000, shall be exempt from this requirement unless reappointed for an additional term.
This article shall not apply to directors of downtown development authorities created pursuant to Chapter 42 of this title, required training for such directors being as provided for in that chapter.
This chapter may be referred to as the “Resource Recovery Development Authorities Law.”
(a) The recovery and utilization of resources contained in sewage sludge and solid waste and the generation of electrical and other forms of energy from water resources promotes trade, commerce, industry, and employment opportunities by creating a new industry to recover and utilize such resources and by creating a climate highly favorable to the location of new industrial facilities in areas where such resources are recovered or available by providing additional sources of energy and a method of processing and disposing of sewage and solid waste in an efficient and environmentally sound manner. It is therefore in the public interest and is vital to the public welfare of the people of the State of Georgia, and it is declared to be the purpose of this chapter, to create resource recovery development authorities to recover and utilize resources contained in sewage sludge, solid waste, and water resources. It is likewise in the public interest and is vital to the public welfare of the people of the State of Georgia, and it is declared to be the intent of this chapter to preserve and do nothing to interfere with the practice of recycling solid waste for use again by industry and the public thereby preserving and reusing important natural and other resources, except as specifically provided for in this chapter.
(b) It is the clearly articulated and affirmatively expressed policy of the State of Georgia that any resource recovery development authority, other authority, municipal corporation, county, other governmental body or agency, or private party shall be authorized, with respect to any solid waste, sewage sludge, or resources contained therein which the owner or generator thereof makes available to such resource recovery development authority, other authority, municipal corporation, county, or other governmental body or agency or private party to enter into agreements or in the case of a county or municipal corporation to enact ordinances or resolutions in furtherance of a project granting, directing, or providing for an exclusive right or rights in any of the foregoing parties with respect to such solid waste, sewage sludge, or resources contained therein, including, but not limited to, the exclusive right to collect, acquire, receive, transport, store, treat, process, utilize, sell, or dispose of discarded solid waste, sewage sludge, or resources contained therein; provided, however, excluded from such authorization shall be any rights to materials or substances contained in such solid waste, sewage sludge, or resources contained therein as may be separated for recycling at any time prior to pick up by or delivery to such resource recovery development authority, other authority, municipal corporation, county, or other governmental body or agency or private party of such discarded solid waste, sewage sludge, or resources contained therein.
This chapter is enacted pursuant to authority granted to the General Assembly by the Constitution of Georgia. Each authority created by this chapter is created for nonprofit and public purposes; and it is found, determined, and declared that the creation of each such authority and the carrying out of its corporate purposes is in all respects for the benefit of the people of this state and that the authority is an institution of purely public charity and will be performing an essential governmental function in the exercise of the power conferred upon it by this chapter. For such reasons, the state covenants from time to time with the holders of the bonds issued under this chapter that such authority shall be required to pay no taxes or assessments imposed by the state or any of its counties, municipal corporations, political subdivisions, or taxing districts upon any property acquired by the authority or under its jurisdiction, control, possession, or supervision or leased by it to others; or upon its activities in the operation or maintenance of any such property or on any income derived by the authority in the form of fees, recording fees, rentals, charges, purchase price, installments, or otherwise; and that the bonds of such authority, their transfer, and the income therefrom shall at all times be exempt from taxation within the state. The tax exemption provided in this Code section shall not include any exemption from sales and use tax on property purchased by the authority or for use by the authority.
As used in this chapter, the term:
(1) “Authority” means each public corporation created pursuant to this chapter.
(2) “Collection” means the aggregating of solid waste from its primary source and includes all activities up to such time as the waste is delivered to the place at which it is to be processed.
(3) “Cost of project” means all costs of site preparation and other start-up costs; all costs of construction; all costs of real and personal property required for the purposes of the project and facilities related thereto, including land and any rights or undivided interest therein, easements, franchises, fees, permits, approvals, licenses, and certificates and the securing of such permits, approvals, licenses, and certificates, and all machinery and equipment, including motor vehicles which are used for project functions; financing charges and interest prior to and during construction and during such additional period as the authority may reasonably determine to be necessary for the placing of the project in operation; costs of engineering, architectural, and legal services; cost of plans and specifications and all expenses necessary or incident to determining the feasibility or practicability of the project; administrative expenses; and such other expenses as may be necessary or incidental to the financing authorized in this chapter. The costs of any project may also include funds for the creation of a debt service reserve, a renewal and replacement reserve, and such other reserves as may be reasonably required by the authority for the operation of its projects and as may be authorized by any bond resolution or trust agreement or indenture pursuant to the provisions of which the issuance of any such bonds may be authorized. Any obligation or expense incurred for any of the foregoing purposes shall be regarded as a part of the cost of the project and may be paid or reimbursed as such out of the proceeds of revenue bonds or notes issued under this chapter for such project.
(4) “County” means any county of this state or a governmental entity formed by the consolidation of a county and one or more municipal corporations.
(5) “Governing body” means the elected or duly appointed officials constituting the governing body of each municipal corporation and county in the state.
(6) “Municipal corporation” means each city and town in this state.
(7) “Project” means:
(A) The collection and transportation of solid waste and sewage sludge and it shall also mean any property, real or personal, used as or in connection with a facility for the extraction, collection, storage, treatment, processing, utilization, or final disposal of resources contained in sewage sludge or solid waste, including the conversion of sewage sludge, solid waste, or resources contained therein into steam, electricity, oil, charcoal, gas, or any other product or energy source and the collection, storage, treatment, utilization, processing, or final disposal of sewage sludge and solid waste in connection with the foregoing; and
(B) Any property, real or personal, used as or in connection with a facility for the extraction, collection, storage, treatment, processing, or utilization of water resources and the conversion of such resources into any useful form of energy.
(8) “Resources” means any natural or synthetic substance contained in sewage sludge or solid waste which can be processed and reused in the same or a different form or which can be converted into usable energy and water resources which can be used as energy or converted into usable energy.
(9) “Sewage sludge” means all solid or dissolved materials in domestic or industrial sewage or other significant pollutants in water resources, such as salt, dissolved or suspended solids in waste-water effluents, human wastes, dissolved materials in irrigation return flows, and silt, after they are extracted from the medium in which they are contained.
(10) “Solid waste” means garbage, refuse, or other discarded solid materials, including solid waste materials resulting from industrial and agricultural operations and from community and domestic activities. For purposes of this paragraph, the term “garbage” shall include putrescible wastes, including animal and vegetable matters, animal offal and carcasses, and industrial by-products, and the term “refuse” shall include all nonputrescible wastes.
(a) There is created in and for each county and municipal corporation in this state a public body corporate and politic, to be known as the “resource recovery development authority” of such county or municipal corporation. No authority shall transact any business or exercise any powers under this chapter until the governing body of the county or municipal corporation, by proper ordinance or resolution, declares that there is a need for an authority to function in the county or municipal corporation.
(b) Any number of counties and municipal corporations, whether or not located in the same county or within a county participating in the formation of a joint authority, may jointly form an authority, to be known as the “joint resource recovery development authority” for such counties and municipal corporations. No authority shall transact any business or exercise any powers under this chapter until the governing authorities of the units of local government involved declare, by ordinance or resolution, that there is a need for an authority to function and until the governing authorities authorize the chief elected official of the unit of local government to enter into an agreement with the other units of local government for the activation of an authority and such agreement is executed.
(c) A copy of such ordinances, resolutions, and agreements shall be filed with the Secretary of State, who shall maintain a record of all authorities activated under this chapter.
Control and management of the authority shall be vested in a board of five directors who shall be residents of the county or municipal corporation and shall serve at the pleasure of the governing authority of the county or municipal corporation. Directors shall be appointed, and may be reappointed, for terms of four years. In the case of a joint resource recovery development authority, each unit of local government participating in the authority shall appoint two members, with an additional member to be appointed by the directors themselves. The directors shall elect one of their members as chairman and another as vice-chairman and shall also elect a secretary and a treasurer or a secretary-treasurer, either of whom may but need not be a director. The directors shall receive no compensation for their services but shall be reimbursed for their actual expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. The directors may make bylaws and regulations for the governing of the authority and may delegate to one or more of the officers, agents, and employees of the authority such powers and duties as may be deemed necessary and proper.
A majority of the directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business of the authority. However, any action with respect to any project of the authority must be approved by the affirmative vote of not less than a majority of the directors.
(a) Each authority shall have all of the powers necessary or convenient to carry out and effectuate the purposes and provisions of this chapter, including, but without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the power:
(1) To bring and defend actions;
(2) To adopt and amend a corporate seal;
(3) To acquire, construct, improve, or modify, to place into operation, and to operate or cause to be placed into operation and operated, either as owner of all or of any part in common with others, a project or projects within the county in which the authority is activated and, subject to execution of agreements with the appropriate political subdivisions affected, within other counties, and to pay all or part of the cost of any such project or projects from the proceeds of revenue bonds of the authority or from any contribution or loans by persons, firms, or corporations or any other contribution, all of which the authority is authorized to receive, accept, and use;
(4) To acquire, in its own name, by purchase on such terms and conditions and in such manner as it may deem proper or by gift, grant, lease, or otherwise, real property or rights and easements therein and franchises and personal property necessary or convenient for its corporate purposes, which purposes shall include, but shall not be limited to, the constructing or acquiring of a project, the improving, extending, adding to, reconstructing, renovating, or remodeling of any project or part thereof already constructed or acquired, or demolition to make room for such project or any part thereof, and to insure the same against any and all risks as such insurance may, from time to time, be available; the authority may also use such property and rent or lease the same to or from others or make contracts with respect to the use thereof or sell, lease, exchange, transfer, assign, pledge, or otherwise dispose of or grant options for any such property in any manner which the authority deems to the best advantage of itself and its purposes; provided that the powers to acquire, use, and dispose of property as set forth in this paragraph shall include the power to acquire, use, and dispose of any interest in such property, whether divided or undivided, which acquisition may result in the ownership of such property or any part thereof in common with any other party or parties, public or private; and title to any such property of the authority, however, shall be held by the authority exclusively for the benefit of the public;
(5) To make contracts and leases and to execute all instruments necessary or convenient, including contracts for construction of projects and leases of projects or contracts with respect to the use of projects which it causes to be acquired or constructed; provided that all private persons, firms, and corporations, this state, and all political subdivisions, departments, instrumentalities, or agencies of the state or of local government are authorized to enter into contracts, leases, or agreements with the authority, upon such terms and for such purposes as they deem advisable; and without limiting the generality of the above, authority is specifically granted to municipal corporations and counties and to the authority to enter into contracts, lease agreements, or other undertakings relative to the furnishing of project activities and facilities or either of them by the authority to such municipal corporations and counties and by such municipal corporations and counties to the authority for a term not exceeding 50 years;
(6) To exercise any one or more of the powers, rights, and privileges conferred by this Code section either alone or jointly or in common with one or more other public or private parties or public and private parties; in any such exercise of such powers, rights, and privileges jointly or in common with others with respect to the construction, operation, and maintenance of project facilities, the authority may own an undivided interest in such facilities with any other party with which it may jointly or in common exercise the rights and privileges conferred by this chapter; the authority may enter into an agreement or agreements with respect to any such project facility with the other party or parties participating therein; any such agreement may contain such terms, conditions, and provisions, consistent with this chapter, as the parties thereto shall deem to be in their best interests; any such agreement may include, but need not be limited to, provisions for the construction, operation, and maintenance of such project facility by any one or more party of the parties to such agreement, which party or parties shall be designated in or pursuant to such agreement as agent or agents on behalf of itself and one or more of the other parties thereto, or by such other means as may be determined by the parties thereto, and may include provisions for a method or methods of determining and allocating, among or between the parties, costs of construction, operation, maintenance, renewals, replacements, improvements, and disposals with respect to such facility; in carrying out its functions and activities as such agent with respect to construction, operation, and maintenance of such a facility, such agent shall be governed by the laws and regulations applicable to such agent as a separate legal entity and not by any laws or regulations which may be applicable to any of the other participating parties; provided, however, the agent shall act for the benefit of the public; notwithstanding anything contained in any other law to the contrary, pursuant to the terms of any such agreement, the authority may delegate its powers and duties with respect to the construction, operation, and maintenance of such facility to the party acting as agent; and all actions taken by such agent in accordance with the provisions of such agreement may be binding upon the authority without further action or approval of the authority;
(7) To extend credit or make loans to any person, firm, corporation, or other industrial entity for the planning, design, construction, acquisition, or carrying out of any project, which credit or loans shall be secured by loan agreements, mortgages, security agreements, contracts, and all other instruments or fees or charges, upon such terms and conditions as the authority shall determine reasonable in connection with such loans, including provision for the establishment and maintenance of reserves and insurance funds, and in the exercise of powers granted by this Code section in connection with a project for such person, firm, corporation, or other industrial entity, to require the inclusion in any contract, loan agreement, security agreement, or other instrument of such provisions for guaranty, insurance, construction, use, operation, maintenance, and financing of a project as the authority may deem necessary or desirable;
(8) To acquire, accept, or retain equitable interests, security interests, or other interest in any property, real or personal, by mortgage, assignment, security agreement, pledge, conveyance, contract, lien, loan agreement, or other consensual transfer, in order to secure the repayment of any moneys loaned or credit extended by the authority;
(9) To accept, receive, and administer gifts, grants, appropriations, and donations of money, materials, and property of any kind, including loans and grants from the United States of America or this state, or a unit of local government, or any agency, department, authority, or instrumentality of either upon such terms and conditions as the United States of America, this state, a unit of local government, or such agency, department, authority, or instrumentality shall impose, to administer trusts, and to sell, lease, transfer, convey, appropriate, and pledge any and all of its property and assets;
(10) To invest any accumulation of its funds in any fund or reserve in any manner that public funds of this state or its political subdivisions may be invested;
(11) To do any and all things necessary or proper for the accomplishment of the objectives of this chapter and to exercise any power usually possessed by private corporations performing similar functions which is not in conflict with the Constitution and laws of this state, including the power to employ professional and administrative staff and personnel and to retain legal, engineering, fiscal, accounting, and other professional services; the power to purchase all kinds of insurance, including, without limitation, insurance against tort liability and against risks of damage to property; the power to borrow money for any of the corporate purposes of the authority; the power to indemnify and hold harmless any parties contracting with the authority or its agents from damage to persons or property; and the power to act as self-insurer with respect to any loss or liability; provided, however, that obligations of the authority other than revenue bonds, for which provision is made in this chapter, shall be payable from the general funds of the authority and shall not be a charge against any special fund allocated to the payment of revenue bonds;
(12) To mortgage, convey, pledge, or assign any properties, revenues, income, tolls, charges, or fees owned or received by the authority;
(13) To borrow money and issue its revenue bonds and bond anticipation notes from time to time and to use the proceeds thereof for the purpose of paying all or part of the cost of any project, including the cost of extending, adding to, or improving such project, or for the purpose of refunding any such bonds of the authority theretofore issued; and to otherwise carry out the purposes of this chapter and to pay all other costs of the authority incident to, or necessary and appropriate to, such purposes, including the providing of funds to be paid into any fund or funds to secure such bonds and notes, provided that all such bonds and notes shall be issued in accordance with the procedures and subject to the limitations set forth in Code Section 36-63-9; and
(14) As security for repayment of authority obligations, to pledge, mortgage, convey, assign, hypothecate, or otherwise encumber any property, real or personal, of such authority and to execute any trust agreement, indenture, or security agreement containing any provisions not in conflict with law, which trust agreement, indenture, or security agreement may provide for foreclosure or forced sale of any property of the authority upon default on such obligations either in payment of principal or interest or in the performance of any term or condition contained in such agreement or indenture; this state, on behalf of itself and each county, municipal corporation, political subdivision, or taxing district therein waives any right which it or such county, municipal corporation, political subdivision, or taxing district may have to prevent the forced sale or foreclosure of any property of the authority so mortgaged or encumbered, and any such mortgage or encumbrance may be foreclosed in accordance with law and the terms thereof.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter, an authority is prohibited from bidding or paying compensation for solid wastes being privately processed or reused.
(a) Subject to the limitations and procedures provided by this Code section, the obligations of any authority evidenced by bonds, bond anticipation notes, trust indentures, deeds to secure obligations, security agreements, or mortgages executed in connection therewith may contain such provisions not inconsistent with law as shall be determined by the board of directors of the authority. The authority, in such instruments, may provide for the pledging of all or any part of its revenues, income, or charges and for the mortgaging, encumbering, or conveying of all or any part of its real or personal property; may covenant against pledging any or all of its revenues, income, or charges; and may further provide for the disposition of proceeds realized from the sale of any bonds and bond anticipation notes, for the replacement of lost, destroyed, stolen, or mutilated bonds and notes, and for the payment and redemption of such bonds and notes. Similarly, subject to the limitations and procedures of this Code section, undertakings of an authority may prescribe the procedure by which bondholders and noteholders may enforce rights against the authority and provide for rights upon breach of any covenant, condition, or obligation of the authority. Bonds, resolutions, trust indentures, mortgages, or deeds to secure obligations executed by an authority and bond anticipation notes executed by an authority may contain such provisions not otherwise contrary to law as the authority shall deem necessary or desirable.
(b) The proceeds derived from the sale of all bonds and bond anticipation notes issued by an authority shall be held and used for the ultimate purpose of paying, directly or indirectly as permitted in this chapter, all or part of the cost of any project, including the cost of extending, financing, adding to, or improving such project, or for the purpose of refunding any bond anticipation notes issued in accordance with this chapter or refunding any previously issued bonds of the authority.
(c) All bonds and bond anticipation notes issued by an authority shall be revenue obligations of such authority and may be made payable out of any revenues or other receipts, funds, or moneys of the authority, subject only to any agreements with the holders of other bonds or bond anticipation notes or to particular security agreements pledging any particular revenues, receipts, funds, or moneys.
(d) Issuance by an authority of one or more series of bonds or bond anticipation notes for one or more purposes shall not preclude it from issuing other bonds or notes in connection with the same project or with any other projects, but the proceeding wherein any subsequent bonds or bond anticipation notes shall be issued shall recognize and protect any prior pledge or mortgage made in any prior security agreement or made for any prior issue of bonds or bond anticipation notes, unless in the resolution authorizing such prior issue the right is expressly reserved to the authority to issue subsequent bonds or bond anticipation notes on a parity with such prior issue.
(e) An authority shall have the power and is authorized, whenever revenue bonds of the authority have been validated as provided in this chapter, to issue, from time to time, its notes in anticipation of the issuance of such bonds as validated and to renew from time to time any such notes by the issuance of new notes, whether the notes to be renewed have or have not matured. The authority may issue notes only to provide funds which would otherwise be provided by the issuance of the bonds as validated. The notes may be authorized, sold, executed, and delivered in the same manner as bonds. As with its bonds, the authority may sell such notes at public or private sale. Any resolution or resolutions authorizing notes of the authority or any issue thereof may contain any provisions which the authority is authorized to include in any such resolution or resolutions; and the authority may include in any notes any terms, covenants, or conditions which it is authorized to include in any bonds. Validation of such bonds shall be a condition precedent to the issuance of the notes, but it shall not be required that such notes be judicially validated. Bond anticipation notes shall not be issued in an amount exceeding the par value of the bonds in anticipation of which they are to be issued.
(f) The interest rate on or rates to be borne by any bonds, notes, or other obligations issued by the authority shall be fixed by the board of directors of the authority. Any limitations with respect to interest rates found in Article 3 of Chapter 82 of this title or in the usury laws of this state shall not apply to obligations issued under this chapter.
(g) All revenue bonds issued by an authority under this chapter shall be issued and validated under and in accordance with Article 3 of Chapter 82 of this title, except as provided in subsection (f) of this Code section and except as specifically set forth below in this subsection:
(1) Revenue bonds issued by an authority may be in such form, either coupon or fully registered, or both coupon and fully registered, and may be subject to such exchangeability and transferability provisions as the bond resolution authorizing the issuance of such bonds or any indenture or trust agreement may provide;
(2) Revenue bonds shall bear a certificate of validation. The signature of the clerk of the superior court of the judicial circuit in which the issuing authority is located may be made on the certificate of validation of such bonds by facsimile or by manual execution, stating the date on which such bonds were validated; and such entry shall be original evidence of the fact of judgment and shall be received as original evidence in any court in this state;
(3) In lieu of specifying the rate or rates of interest which revenue bonds to be issued by an authority are to bear, the notice to the district attorney or the Attorney General and the notice to the public of the time, place, and date of the validation hearing may state that the bonds, when issued, will bear interest at a rate not exceeding a minimum per annum rate of interest specified in such notices or, in the event the bonds are to bear different rates of interest for different maturity dates, that none of such rates will exceed the maximum rate specified in the notices; provided, however, that nothing contained in this paragraph shall be construed as prohibiting or restricting the right of the authority to sell such bonds at a discount, even if in so doing the effective interest cost resulting therefrom would exceed the maximum per annum interest rate specified in such notices;
(4) The term “cost of project” shall have the meaning prescribed in paragraph (3) of Code Section 36-63-4 whenever referred to in bond resolutions of an authority, bonds and bond anticipation notes issued by an authority, or notices and proceedings to validate such bonds.
No bonds or other obligations of and no indebtedness incurred by any authority shall constitute an indebtedness or obligation of the State of Georgia or of any county, municipal corporation, or political subdivision thereof, nor shall any act of any authority in any manner constitute or result in the creation of an indebtedness of this state or of any such county, municipal corporation, or political subdivision. All such bonds and obligations shall be payable solely from the revenues therein pledged to such payment, including pledged rentals, sales proceeds, insurance proceeds, and condemnation awards; and no holder or holders of any such bonds or obligations shall ever have the right to compel any exercise of the taxing power of this state or of any county, municipal corporation, or political subdivision thereof, nor to enforce the payment thereof against any property of the state or of any such county, municipal corporation, or political subdivision.
(a) This chapter shall be liberally construed to effect the purposes hereof. Sale or issuance of bonds by any authority shall not be subject to regulation under Chapter 5 of Title 10, the “Georgia Uniform Securities Act of 2008,” or any other law. Any sale or disposition of any useful form of energy produced from a solid waste project financed by revenue bonds issued on or before August 8, 1985, and which is substantially constructed as of January 1, 1987, which sale or disposition is made in the county wherein the project is located shall not be subject to the provisions of Part 3 of Article 1 of Chapter 3 of Title 46, “The Georgia Cogeneration and Distributed Generation Act of 2001.” In the event that the immediately preceding sentence of this subsection shall for any reason be held invalid, the remaining provisions of this subsection and this Code section shall remain in full force and effect. No proceeding or publication not required in this chapter shall be necessary to the performance of any act authorized in this chapter, nor shall any such act be subject to referendum.
(b) A municipal corporation, a county, or any number of counties and municipal corporations shall have the right to activate an authority under this chapter, notwithstanding the existence of any other development authority within the county or municipal corporation created pursuant to any general law or amendment to the Constitution of this state. However, nothing in this chapter shall be construed as repealing, amending, superseding, or altering the organization of or abridging the powers of such authorities as are now in existence.
As used in this chapter, the term “governing body” means the mayor and city council, the commissioner and commissioners, or either or both as the case may be, or the governing body, by whatever name called, of any municipality or county coming under this chapter.
The governing body of any municipality or county may dedicate and set apart for use as parks, playgrounds, and recreation centers and for other recreation purposes any lands or buildings or both, owned or leased by such municipality or county and not dedicated or devoted to another or inconsistent public use. Such municipality or county, in such manner as may now or hereafter be authorized or provided by law for the acquisition of lands or buildings for public purposes by the municipality or county, may acquire or lease lands or buildings or both, within or beyond the corporate limits of the municipality, for parks, playgrounds, recreation centers, and other recreational purposes. When the governing body of the municipality so dedicates, sets apart, acquires, or leases lands or buildings for such purposes, it may, on its own initiative, provide for their conduct, equipment, and maintenance, according to this chapter, by making an appropriation from the general municipal or county funds.
The governing body of any county or municipality may establish a system of supervised recreation. It may, by resolution or ordinance, vest the power to provide, maintain, and conduct parks, playgrounds, recreation centers, and other recreational activities and facilities in the board of education, park board, or other existing body or in a recreation board, as the governing body may determine. Any board so designated shall have the power to maintain and equip parks, playgrounds, recreation centers, and the buildings thereon; to develop, maintain, and operate all types of recreation facilities; and to operate and conduct facilities on properties controlled by other authorities. It may, for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this chapter, employ playleaders, playground or community center directors, supervisors, recreation superintendents, or such other officers or employees as it deems are needed. The recreation authority is authorized to develop a program of recreational activities and services designated to meet the various leisure time interests of all people.
(a) As used in this Code section, the term “governing authority of any recreation system” shall mean the governing body of a municipality or county, a recreation board, or any other authority, board, or commission which is vested with the power to provide, establish, conduct, and maintain a supervised recreation system and facilities.
(b) The governing authority of any recreation system shall be empowered, for the purpose of producing hydroelectric power for ultimate sale to the public, to take all necessary or appropriate actions to permit the renovation, reconstruction, and operation of existing dam sites located on property which is owned by the governing authority, including land that has been dedicated for public recreational or park use, without regard to whether such public use has been previously abandoned.
(c) Without limiting the foregoing provisions of this Code section, the governing authority of any recreation system shall have the power, for the purposes specified in subsection (b) of this Code section, to grant or convey, and to grant an option to obtain, a leasehold interest, a fee simple title, or other property interest in any such dam site and in such immediately adjacent land as may be necessary to accommodate facilities for the generation of hydroelectric power, together with all easements, rights of way, and rights to flood adjacent lands as may be necessary or appropriate, to electric utilities or other entities organized for the purpose of generating or distributing electricity for public use.
(d) The governing authority of any recreation system also shall have the power, for the purposes specified in subsection (b) of this Code section, to enter into any contracts necessary or appropriate to determine the feasibility of renovating an existing dam for the generation of hydroelectric power; to enter into any contracts with electric utilities or other entities organized for the purpose of generating or distributing electricity for public use which are necessary or appropriate for the construction, use, operation, and maintenance of a hydroelectric facility at an existing dam site located on property owned by the governing authority; and to take all actions necessary or appropriate to obtain, and to transfer its rights under, any governmental license or other approval or exemption required or desired for a hydroelectric project.
(e) All conveyances and other contracts, including those extending over a period of years, which are entered into by the governing authority of any recreation system for the purposes specified in subsection (b) of this Code section shall be binding upon such governing authority and its successors.
(f) Any net revenue derived by the governing authority of a recreation system from such conveyances and other contracts shall be used only for recreational purposes.
(g) This Code section shall apply to and control the activities of a governing authority of any recreation system in connection with the renovation, reconstruction, and operation of any dam site located on property owned by the governing authority, notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in this chapter or in Code Section 36-30-3 or in any other laws; provided, however, that nothing in this Code section shall be construed as impairing the obligation of any contract provision, whether by way of reversionary clause or otherwise.
Any two or more counties, any two or more municipalities, any county and municipality, any county or municipality, or combination thereof may jointly provide, establish, maintain, and conduct a recreation system and jointly acquire property for and establish and maintain playgrounds, recreation centers, parks, and other recreational facilities and activities. Any school board may join with any municipality, county, or any other school board in conducting and maintaining a recreation system.
If the governing body of any county or municipality determines that the power to provide, establish, conduct, and maintain a recreation system should be exercised by a park or recreation board, such governing body, by resolution or ordinance, shall establish a recreation board in such municipality or county which shall possess all the powers and be subject to all the responsibilities of local authorities under this chapter. The board, when established, shall consist of a minimum of five persons and a maximum of nine persons, serving without pay, to be appointed by the mayor or presiding officer of the county or municipality. The terms of office of the members of the board shall be for five years or until their successors are appointed and qualified, except that the appointing authority, in making initial appointments or in filling vacancies, is authorized and directed to vary the initial terms of members or the terms of persons appointed to fill vacancies in such a manner that thereafter the term of at least one member shall expire annually. Immediately after its appointment, the board shall meet and organize by electing one of its members president and such other officers as may be necessary. Vacancies in the board occurring otherwise than by expiration of term shall be filled by the mayor or presiding officer of the governing body only for the unexpired term, except as otherwise provided in this chapter.
A park or recreation board or other authority in which is vested the power to provide, establish, maintain, and conduct a recreation program may accept any grant or devise of real estate or any gift or bequest of money or other personal property or any donation, the principal or income of which is to be applied for either temporary or permanent use for playgrounds or recreation purposes. If the acceptance thereof for such purposes will subject the county or municipality to additional expense for improvements, maintenance, or renewal, the acceptance of any grant or devise of real estate shall be subject to the approval of the governing body of the county or municipality. Money received for such purposes, unless otherwise provided by the terms of the gift or bequest, shall be deposited with the treasurer of the county or municipality to the account of the recreation board or commission or other body having charge of such work or shall be deposited directly with the recreation board; it shall be withdrawn and paid out by such body in the same manner as money appropriated for recreation purposes.
The governing body of any municipality or county, pursuant to law, may provide that the bonds of the municipality or county may be issued, in the manner provided by law for the issuance of bonds for other purposes, for the purpose of acquiring lands or buildings for parks, playgrounds, recreation centers, and other recreational purposes and for the equipment thereof.
(a) Whenever a petition signed by at least 10 percent of the qualified and registered voters in any municipality or county is filed in the office of the clerk of the municipality or county, requesting the governing body of the municipality or county to provide, establish, maintain, and conduct a supervised recreation system and to levy an annual tax on the taxable property within the municipality or county for the conduct and maintenance thereof, it shall be the duty of the governing body to appropriate funds for and to provide for the establishment, maintenance, and conduct of a supervised recreation system or, if the question of a special tax is raised by the petition, to cause the question of the establishment, maintenance, and conduct of such supervised recreation system to be submitted to the voters to be voted upon at the next general or special election of the municipality or county; provided, however, that such question shall not be voted upon at the next general or special election unless such petition has been filed at least 30 days prior to the date of such election.
(b) In addition to the method provided in subsection (a) of this Code section, the governing authority of any municipality or county, upon its own motion, may appropriate funds for and provide for the establishment, maintenance, and conduct of a supervised recreation system or, if a special tax is necessary, upon its own motion may cause the question of the establishment, maintenance, and conduct of such supervised recreation system to be submitted to the voters to be voted upon at the next general or special election of the municipality or county, provided such motion has been made at least 30 days prior to the date of such election.
(c) Nothing in this chapter shall permit the levying of a tax in excess of any limitation contained in a municipal charter or, with reference to a county, in excess of the authority set out by the Constitution and laws of this state; provided, however, that any municipality is authorized to levy a tax in excess of any limitation contained in its municipal charter if a referendum is held and a majority of the qualified voters of the municipality voting in such election vote in favor of the millage increase.
Upon the adoption of the proposition at an election conducted pursuant to Code Section 36-64-8, the governing body of the municipality or county, by resolution or ordinance, shall provide for the establishment, maintenance, and conduct of the supervised recreation system as they may deem it advisable and practicable to provide and maintain out of the tax money thus voted. The governing body, by appropriate resolution or ordinance, may designate the board or commission to be vested with the powers, duties, and obligations necessary for the establishment, maintenance, and conduct of such recreation system, as provided in this chapter.
The governing body of any municipality or county or school district adopting the provisions of this chapter at an election shall thereafter annually levy and collect a tax sufficient to provide for an adequate recreation program for the area specified, of not less than the minimum nor more than the maximum amount set out in the petition for the election, which tax shall be designated as the “recreation tax” and shall be levied and collected in the same manner as the general tax of the municipality, county, or school district.
The cost and expense of the establishment, maintenance, and conduct of a supervised recreation system of parks, playgrounds, recreation centers, and other recreational facilities and activities shall be paid out of taxes or other money received for this purpose. The recreation board or commission or other authority in which is vested the power to provide, establish, conduct, and maintain a supervised recreation system and facilities shall have exclusive control of all moneys collected or donated to the credit of the “recreation fund.”
Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, it shall not be mandatory that a municipality or county establish, maintain, or conduct a recreation system.
This chapter shall apply to all counties and municipalities in this state.
This chapter shall not apply to recreation or playground commissions, boards, or systems which are created by special Acts of the General Assembly.
(a) If a municipality or county has adopted the provisions of this chapter at an election, thereby establishing a minimum recreation tax, a maximum recreation tax, or a minimum and maximum recreation tax, then such minimum or maximum or both may be removed as provided in this Code section.
(b) In order to so remove the minimum or maximum or both, the governing body of the municipality or county shall adopt a resolution to that effect, subject to approval by a majority of the voters of the municipality or county at the next general or special election of the municipality or county which is held more than 45 days after the date of the adoption of the resolution by the governing body. Such resolution shall specify the ballot language to be used in presenting the question and the governing body shall provide a copy of the resolution to the appropriate election officials. If a majority of the voters voting on the question of removal vote in favor, the minimum or maximum or both shall be removed as presented to the voters.
(c) Where a minimum or maximum or both has or have been removed as authorized by this Code section, the amount of municipal or county funding for the recreation system of the municipality or county shall thereafter be determined by the governing body of the municipality or county in its discretion; and the municipal or county governing body shall assume budgetary control over the recreation fund and any moneys therein.
It is declared by the General Assembly of Georgia that in the exercise of powers specifically granted to them by law, local governing authorities of cities and counties are acting pursuant to state policy.
This chapter is intended to articulate clearly and express affirmatively the policy of the State of Georgia that in the exercise of such powers, such local governing authorities shall be immune from antitrust liability to the same degree and extent as enjoyed by the State of Georgia.
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the “Zoning Procedures Law.”
(a) While recognizing and confirming the authority of local governments to exercise zoning power within their respective territorial boundaries, it is the intention of this chapter to establish as state policy minimum procedures governing the exercise and means of judicial review of the exercise of that power. The purpose of these minimum procedures is to assure that due process is afforded to the general public when local governments regulate the uses of property through the exercise of the zoning power. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to invalidate any zoning decision made by a local government prior to July 1, 2023, or to require a local government to exercise its zoning power.
(b) Consistent with the minimum procedures required by this chapter, local governments may:
(1) Provide by ordinance or resolution for such administrative officers, boards, or agencies as may be expedient for the efficient exercise of delegated, quasi-judicial zoning powers and to establish procedures and notice requirements for hearings before such quasi-judicial officers, boards, or agencies that are consistent with the minimum procedures provided for in this chapter to assure due process is afforded the general public; and
(2) Provide by ordinance or resolution for procedures and requirements in addition to or supplemental to those required by this chapter and, where so adopted, thereby establish the minimum procedures for such local government's exercise of zoning powers.
As used in this chapter, the term:
(1) “Local government” means any county or municipality which exercises zoning power within its territorial boundaries.
(1.1) “Quasi-judicial officers, boards, or agencies” means an officer, board, or agency appointed by a local government to exercise delegated, quasi-judicial zoning powers including hearing appeals of administrative decisions by such officers, boards, or agencies and hearing and rendering decisions on applications for variances, special administrative permits, special exceptions, conditional use permits, or other similar permits not enumerated herein as a zoning decision, pursuant to standards for the exercise of such quasi-judicial authority adopted by a local government.
(2) “Territorial boundaries” means, in the case of counties, the unincorporated areas thereof and any area defined in paragraph (5.1) of Code Section 36-70-2, and, in the case of municipalities, the area lying within the corporate limits thereof except any area defined in paragraph (5.1) of Code Section 36-70-2.
(3) “Zoning” means the power of local governments to provide within their respective territorial boundaries for the zoning or districting of property for various uses and the prohibition of other or different uses within such zones or districts and for the regulation of development and the improvement of real estate within such zones or districts in accordance with the uses of property for which such zones or districts were established.
(4) “Zoning decision” means final legislative action by a local government which results in:
(A) The adoption or repeal of a zoning ordinance;
(B) The adoption of an amendment to a zoning ordinance which changes the text of the zoning ordinance;
(C) The adoption or denial of an amendment to a zoning ordinance to rezone property from one zoning classification to another;
(D) The adoption or denial of an amendment to a zoning ordinance by a municipal local government to zone property to be annexed into the municipality;
(E) The grant or denial of a permit relating to a special use of property; or
(F) The grant or denial of a variance or conditions concurrent and in conjunction with a decision pursuant to subparagraph (C) or (E) of this paragraph.
(5) “Zoning ordinance” means an ordinance or resolution of a local government establishing procedures and zones or districts within its respective territorial boundaries which regulate the uses and development standards of property within such zones or districts. The term also includes the zoning map adopted in conjunction with a zoning ordinance which shows the zones and districts and zoning classifications of property therein.
(a) A local government taking action resulting in a zoning decision shall provide for a hearing on the proposed action. Where the proposed action includes any combination of zoning decisions under subparagraph (C), (E), or (F) of paragraph (4) of Code Section 36-66-3 for the same property, only one hearing shall be required under this Code Section. At least 15 but not more than 45 days prior to the date of the hearing, the local government shall cause to be published within a newspaper of general circulation within the territorial boundaries of the local government a notice of the hearing. The notice shall state the time, place, and purpose of the hearing.
(b) If a zoning decision of a local government is for the rezoning of property and the rezoning is initiated by a party other than the local government, then:
(1) The notice, in addition to the requirements of subsection (a) of this Code section, shall include the location of the property, the present zoning classification of the property, and the proposed zoning classification of the property; and
(2) A sign containing information required by local ordinance or resolution shall be placed in a conspicuous location on the property not less than 15 days prior to the date of the hearing.
(c) If the zoning decision of a local government is for the rezoning of property and the amendment to the zoning ordinance to accomplish the rezoning is defeated by the local government, then the same property may not again be considered for rezoning until the expiration of at least six months immediately following the defeat of the rezoning by the local government.
(d) If the zoning is for property to be annexed into a municipality, then:
(1) Such municipal local government shall complete the procedures required by this chapter for such zoning, except for the final vote of the municipal governing authority, prior to adoption of the annexation ordinance or resolution or the effective date of any local Act but no sooner than the date the notice of the proposed annexation is provided to the governing authority of the county as required under Code Section 36-36-6;
(2) The hearing required by subsection (a) of this Code section shall be conducted prior to the annexation of the subject property into the municipality;
(3) In addition to the other notice requirements of this Code section, the municipality shall cause to be published within a newspaper of general circulation within the territorial boundaries of the county wherein the property to be annexed is located a notice of the hearing as required under the provisions of subsection (a) or (b), as applicable, of this Code section and shall place a sign on the property when required by subsection (b) of this Code section; and
(4) The zoning classification approved by the municipality following the hearing required by this Code section shall become effective on the later of:
(A) The date the zoning is approved by the municipality;
(B) The date that the annexation becomes effective pursuant to Code Section 36-36-2; or
(C) Where a county has interposed an objection pursuant to Code Section 36-36-11, the date provided for in paragraph (8) of subsection (c) of said Code section.
(e) A qualified municipality into which property has been annexed may provide, by the adoption of a zoning ordinance, that all annexed property shall be zoned by the municipality, without further action, for the same use for which that property was zoned immediately prior to such annexation. A qualified county which includes property which has been deannexed by a municipality may provide, by the adoption of a zoning ordinance, that all deannexed property shall be zoned by the county, without further action, for the same use for which that property was zoned immediately prior to such deannexation. A municipality shall be a qualified municipality only if the municipality and the county in which is located the property annexed into such municipality have a common zoning ordinance with respect to zoning classifications. A county shall be a qualified county only if that county and the municipality in which was located the property deannexed have a common zoning ordinance with respect to zoning classifications. A zoning ordinance authorized by this subsection shall be adopted in compliance with the other provisions of this chapter. The operation of such ordinance to zone property which is annexed or deannexed shall not require any further action by the adopting municipality, adopting county, or owner of the property annexed or deannexed. Property which is zoned pursuant to this subsection may have such zoning classification changed upon compliance with the other provisions of this chapter.
(f) When a proposed zoning decision relates to or will allow the location or relocation of a halfway house, drug rehabilitation center, or other facility for treatment of drug dependency, a public hearing shall be held on the proposed action. Such public hearing shall be held at least six months and not more than nine months prior to the date of final action on the zoning decision. The hearing required by this subsection shall be in addition to any hearing required under subsection (a) of this Code section. The local government shall give notice of such hearing by:
(1) Posting notice on the affected premises in the manner prescribed by subsection (b) of this Code section; and
(2) Publishing in a newspaper of general circulation within the territorial boundaries of the local government a notice of the hearing at least 15 days and not more than 45 days prior to the date of the hearing.
Both the posted notice and the published notice shall include a prominent statement that the proposed zoning decision relates to or will allow the location or relocation of a halfway house, drug rehabilitation center, or other facility for treatment of drug dependency. The published notice shall be at least six column inches in size and shall not be located in the classified advertising section of the newspaper.
(g) A local government delegating decision-making power to a quasi-judicial officer, board, or agency shall provide for a hearing on each proposed action described in paragraph (1.1) of Code Section 36-66-3. Notice of such hearing shall be provided at least 30 days prior to the quasi-judicial hearing, with such notice being made as provided for in subsection (a) of this Code section and with additional notice being mailed to the owner of the property that is the subject of the proposed action.
(h)(1) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter to the contrary, when a proposed zoning decision relates to an amendment of the zoning ordinance to revise one or more zoning classifications or definitions relating to single-family residential uses of property so as to authorize multifamily uses of property pursuant to such classification or definitions, or to grant blanket permission, under certain or all circumstances, for property owners to deviate from the existing zoning requirements of a single-family residential zoning, such zoning decision must be adopted in the following manner:
(A) The zoning decision shall be adopted at two regular meetings of the local government making the zoning decision, during a period of not less than 21 days apart; and
(B) Prior to the first meeting provided for in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, at least two public hearings shall be held on the proposed action. Such public hearings shall be held at least three months and not more than nine months prior to the date of final action on the zoning decision. Furthermore, at least one of the public hearings must be held between the hours of 5:00 P.M. and 8:00 P.M. The hearings required by this paragraph shall be in addition to any hearing required under subsection (a) of this Code section. The local government shall give notice of such hearing by:
(i) Posting notice on each affected premises in the manner prescribed by subsection (b) of this Code section; provided, however, that when more than 500 parcels are affected, in which case posting notice is required every 500 feet in the affected area; and
(ii) Publishing in a newspaper of general circulation within the territorial boundaries of the local government a notice of each hearing at least 15 days and not more than 45 days prior to the date of the hearing.
Both the posted notice and the published notice shall include a prominent statement that the proposed zoning decision relates to or will authorize multifamily uses or give blanket permission to the property owner to deviate from the zoning requirements of a single-family residential zoning of property in classification previously relating to single-family residential uses. The published notice shall be at least nine column inches in size and shall not be located in the classified advertising section of the newspaper. The notice shall state that a copy of the proposed amendment is on file in the office of the clerk or the recording officer of the local government and in the office of the clerk of the superior court of the county of the legal situs of the local government for the purpose of examination and inspection by the public. The local government shall furnish anyone, upon written request, a copy of the proposed amendment, at no cost.
(2) The provisions of paragraph (1) of this subsection shall also apply to any zoning decisions that provide for the abolition of all single-family residential zoning classifications within the territorial boundaries of a local government or zoning decisions that result in the rezoning of all property zoned for single-family residential uses within the territorial boundaries of a local government to multifamily residential uses of property.
(3) This subsection shall not apply to zoning decisions for the rezoning of property from a single-family residential use of property to a multifamily residential use of property when the rezoning is initiated by the owner or authorized agent of the owner of such property.
(a) Local governments shall adopt policies and procedures which govern calling and conducting hearings required by Code Section 36-66-4, and printed copies of such policies and procedures shall be available for distribution to the general public. Such policies and procedures shall specify a minimum time period at hearings on proposed zoning decisions or quasi-judicial decisions for presentation of data, evidence, and opinion by proponents of each zoning decision and an equal minimum time period for presentation by opponents of each proposed zoning decision, such minimum time period to be no less than ten minutes per side.
(b) In addition to policies and procedures required by subsection (a) of this Code section, each local government rendering a zoning decision shall adopt standards governing the exercise of the zoning power, and such standards may include any factors which the local government finds relevant in balancing the interest in promoting the public health, safety, morality, or general welfare against the right to the unrestricted use of property. Such standards shall be printed and copies thereof shall be available for distribution to the general public.
(b.1) In addition to policies and procedures required by subsection (a) of this Code section, each local government providing for a quasi-judicial officer's, board's, or agency's grant, denial, or review of a quasi-judicial matter may adopt specific standards and criteria governing the exercise of such quasi-judicial decision-making authority, and such standards shall include the factors by which the local government directs the evaluation of a quasi-judicial matter. Such standards shall be printed and copies thereof made available for distribution to the general public.
(c) The policies and procedures required by subsection (a) of this Code section and the adoption of standards required by subsection (b) and permitted by subsection (b.1) of this Code section shall be included in and adopted as part of the zoning ordinance. Prior to the adoption of any zoning ordinance enacted on or after July 1, 2022, a local government shall conduct a public hearing on a proposed action which may be advertised and held concurrent with the hearing required by subsection (a) of Code Section 36-66-4 for the adoption of a zoning ordinance. The provisions of subsection (a) of Code Section 36-66-4 relating to notices of public hearings for the purposes of that subsection shall also apply to public hearings required by this subsection.
(a) To ensure that the general public is afforded due process in an orderly way to petition the courts for review of a local government's exercise of zoning, administrative, or quasi-judicial powers as guaranteed by Article I, Section I, Paragraphs IX and XII of the Constitution, the General Assembly, pursuant to its authority under Article VI, Section IV, Paragraph I of the Constitution, provides the following mechanism by which each of the powers described in this chapter may be reviewed by the superior court of the county wherein such property is located:
(1) Zoning decisions as described in this chapter, being legislative in nature, shall be subject to direct constitutional challenge regarding the validity of maintaining the existing zoning on the subject property or the validity of conditions or an interim zoning category other than what was requested in the superior court pursuant to its original jurisdiction over declaratory judgments pursuant to Chapter 4 of Title 9 and equity jurisdiction under Title 23. Such challenges shall be by way of a de novo review by the superior court wherein such review brings up the whole record from the local government and all competent evidence shall be admissible in the trial thereof, whether adduced in a local government process or not and employing the presumption that a governmental zoning decision is valid and can be overcome substantively by a petitioner showing by clear and convincing evidence that the zoning classification is a significant detriment to the petitioner and is insubstantially related to the public health, safety, morality, or general welfare; or
(2) Quasi-judicial decisions as described in this chapter and zoning decisions under subparagraph (E) of paragraph (4) of Code Section 36-66-3 shall be subject to appellate review by the superior court pursuant to its appellate jurisdiction from a lower judicatory body and shall be brought by way of a petition for such review as provided for in Title 5. Such matters shall be reviewed on the record which shall be brought to the superior court as provided in Title 5.
(b) All such challenges or appeals shall be brought within 30 days of the written decision of the challenged or appealed action.
(c) To ensure that the citizens of this state are not unnecessarily burdened by the review process as a mechanism of appeal, local governments shall designate by ordinance or resolution:
(1) The officer of the quasi-judicial board or agency who shall have authority, without additional board or agency action, to approve or issue any form or certificate necessary to perfect the petition described in Title 5 for review of lower judicatory bodies and upon whom service of such petition may be effected or accepted on behalf of the lower judicatory board or agency, during normal business hours, at the regular offices of the local government; and
(2) The elected official or his or designee who shall have authority to accept service and upon whom service of an appeal of a quasi-judicial decision may be effected or accepted on behalf of the local governing authority, during normal business hours, at the regular offices of the local government.
(d) An appeal or challenge by an opponent filed pursuant to this chapter shall stay all legal proceedings in furtherance of the action appealed from or challenged, unless the local government, officer, board, or agency from which or from whom the appeal or challenge is taken certifies that, by reason of the facts stated in the certificate, a stay would cause imminent peril to life or property. In such actions, the applicant for the zoning decision or the quasi-judicial decision shall be a necessary party and shall be named as a defendant in the action and served in accordance with the requirements of Title 5 or Title 9, as appropriate.
(a) In any local government which has established a planning department or other similar agency charged with the duty of reviewing zoning proposals, such planning department or other agency shall, with respect to each proposed zoning decision involving land that is adjacent to or within 3,000 feet of any military base or military installation or within the 3,000 foot Clear Zone and Accident Prevention Zones Numbers I and II as prescribed in the definition of an Air Installation Compatible Use Zone of a military airport, investigate and make a recommendation with respect to each of the matters enumerated in subsection (b) of this Code section, in addition to any other duties with which the planning department or agency is charged by the local government. The planning department or other agency shall request from the commander of such military base, military installation, or military airport a written recommendation and supporting facts relating to the use of the land being considered in the proposed zoning decision at least 30 days prior to the hearing required by subsection (a) of Code Section 36-66-4. If the base commander does not submit a response to such request by the date of the public hearing, there shall be a presumption that the proposed zoning decision will not have any adverse effect relative to the matters specified in subsection (b) of this Code section. Any such information provided shall become a part of the public record.
(b) The matters with which the planning department or agency shall be required to make such investigation and recommendation shall be:
(1) Whether the zoning proposal will permit a use that is suitable in view of the use of adjacent or nearby property within 3,000 feet of a military base, military installation, or military airport;
(2) Whether the zoning proposal will adversely affect the existing use or usability of nearby property within 3,000 feet of a military base, military installation, or military airport;
(3) Whether the property to be affected by the zoning proposal has a reasonable economic use as currently zoned;
(4) Whether the zoning proposal will result in a use which will or could cause a safety concern with respect to excessive or burdensome use of existing streets, transportation facilities, utilities, or schools due to the use of nearby property as a military base, military installation, or military airport;
(5) If the local government has an adopted land use plan, whether the zoning proposal is in conformity with the policy and intent of the land use plan; and
(6) Whether there are other existing or changing conditions affecting the use of the nearby property as a military base, military installation, or military airport which give supporting grounds for either approval or disapproval of the zoning proposal.
(a) As used in this Code section, the term:
(1) “Manufactured home” has the same meaning as provided in Code Section 8-2-131.
(2) “Mobile home” has the same meaning as provided in Code Section 8-2-131.
(3) “New home” means a manufactured home or mobile home that is purchased from either the original manufacturer or a dealer in the ordinary course of such dealer's business and has never been titled or previously occupied.
(4) “Single-family dwelling” means a manufactured home or mobile home used as a single-family residence.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, when there is a replacement of a preexisting manufactured home or mobile home with a new home within a manufactured home community or mobile home park, or on any other residential land, a local government shall not adopt or enforce any zoning decision or zoning ordinance, or any other regulation or restriction, or impose any conditions on the new home, the property upon which the home sits, or the owner's property that were not required of the preexisting home, home site, or property, that would prevent the continuance of the property owner's lawful nonconforming use that had existed relating to the preexisting home, the property upon which the home sat, or the owner's property.
(c) The provisions of subsection (b) of this Code section shall not apply if:
(1) A discontinuance is necessary for the safety of life or property;
(2) The nonconforming use has been discontinued for the period of time established by ordinance which shall not be less than 12 months, unless such discontinuance is caused by circumstances outside the control of the property owner;
(3) The replacement home would result in a change from the lawful nonconforming use as a single-family dwelling to any other type of dwelling; or
(4) The replacement home results in an obstruction to a shared driveway or shared sidewalk providing vehicular or pedestrian access to other homes and uses, unless the property owner makes modifications to such shared driveway or shared sidewalk that extinguishes such obstruction or the effects of such obstruction.
As used in this chapter, the term:
(1) “Development rights” means the development that would be allowed on the sending property under any comprehensive or specific plan or local zoning ordinance of a municipality or county in effect on the date the municipality or county adopts an ordinance pursuant to this chapter. Development rights may be calculated and allocated in accordance with factors including dwelling units, area, floor area, floor area ratio, height limitations, traffic generation, or any other criteria that will quantify a value for the development rights in a manner that will carry out the objectives of this Code section.
(2) “Person” means any natural person, corporation, partnership, trust, foundation, nonprofit agency, or other legal entity.
(3) “Receiving area” means an area identified by an ordinance as an area authorized to receive development rights transferred from a sending area.
(4) “Receiving property” means a lot or parcel within which development rights are increased pursuant to a transfer of development rights. Receiving property shall be appropriate and suitable for development and shall be sufficient to accommodate the transferable development rights of the sending property without substantial adverse environmental, economic, or social impact to the receiving property or to neighboring property.
(5) “Sending area” means an area identified by an ordinance as an area from which development rights are authorized to be transferred to a receiving area.
(6) “Sending property” means a lot or parcel with special characteristics, including farm land; woodland; desert land; mountain land; a flood plain; natural habitats; wetlands; ground-water recharge area; marsh hammocks; recreation areas or parkland, including golf course areas; or land that has unique esthetic, architectural, or historic value that a municipality or county desires to protect from future development.
(7) “Transfer of development rights” means the process by which development rights from a sending property are affixed to one or more receiving properties.
(8) “Transfer ratio” means the ratio of the number of development rights that may be allocated to and transferred from a lot or parcel in a sending area to the number of development credits that may be allocated to and used upon a lot or parcel in a receiving area.
(a) Pursuant to the provisions of this Code section, the governing body of any municipality or county by ordinance may, in order to conserve and promote the public health, safety, and general welfare, establish procedures, methods, and standards for the transfer of development rights within its jurisdiction.
(b) Any proposed transfer of development rights shall be subject to the approval and consent of the property owners of both the sending and receiving property.
(c) Prior to any transfer of development rights, a municipality or county shall adopt an ordinance providing for:
(1) The issuance and recordation of the instruments necessary to sever development rights from the sending property and to affix development rights to the receiving property. These instruments shall be executed by the affected property owners and lienholders and recorded in the county superior court clerk's office and in a separate registry maintained by the municipal or county governing authority;
(2) The preservation of the character of the sending property and assurance that the prohibitions against the use and development of the sending property shall bind the landowner and every successor in interest to the landowner;
(3) The severance of transferable development rights from the sending property and the delayed transfer of development rights to a receiving property, which may include the transfer of development rights in accordance with any transfer ratio established by the local government for sending areas, receiving areas, or both;
(4) The purchase, sale, exchange, or other conveyance of transferable development rights prior to the rights being affixed to a receiving property;
(5) A system for monitoring the severance, ownership, assignment, and transfer of transferable development rights;
(6) The right of a municipality or county to purchase development rights and to hold them for conservation purposes or resale;
(7) The right of a person to purchase development rights and to hold them for conservation purposes or resale;
(8) Development rights made transferable pursuant to this Code section shall be interests in real property and shall be considered as such for purposes of conveyancing and taxation. Once a deed of transferable development rights created pursuant to this Code section has been sold, conveyed, or otherwise transferred by the owner of the parcel from which the development rights were derived, the transfer of development rights shall vest in the grantee and become freely alienable. For the purposes of ad valorem real property taxation, the value of a transferable development right shall be deemed appurtenant to the sending property until the transferable development right is registered as a distinct interest in real property with the appropriate tax assessor or the transferable development right is used at a receiving property and becomes appurtenant thereto;
(9) A map or other description of areas designated as sending and receiving areas for the transfer of development rights between properties; and
(10) Such other provisions as the municipality or county deems necessary to aid in the implementation of the provisions of this chapter.
(d)(1) Prior to the enactment of an ordinance as provided in subsection (c) of this Code section, the local governing authority shall provide for a hearing on the proposed ordinance. At least 15 but not more than 45 days prior to the date of the hearing, the local governing authority shall cause to be published in a newspaper of general circulation within the territorial boundaries of the political subdivision a notice of the hearing. The notice shall state the time, place, and purpose of the hearing.
(2) Prior to any changes in an area designated in an ordinance as a sending or receiving area, the local governing authority shall provide for notice and a hearing as provided in paragraph (1) of this subsection.
(e) Proposed transfers of development rights shall become effective upon the recording of the conveyance with the appropriate deed-recording authorities and the filing of a certified copy of such recording with the local governing authority of each political subdivision in which a sending or receiving area is located in whole or in part.
(f) Municipalities and counties which are jointly affected by development are authorized to enter into intergovernmental agreements for the purpose of enacting interdependent ordinances providing for the transfer of development rights between or among such jurisdictions, provided that such agreements otherwise comply with applicable laws. Any ordinances enacted pursuant to this subsection may provide for additional notice and hearing and signage requirements applicable to properties within the sending and receiving areas in each participating political subdivision.
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the “Mobile Broadband Infrastructure Leads to Development (BILD) Act.”
(a) The General Assembly finds that the enactment of this chapter is necessary to:
(1) Ensure the safe and efficient integration of facilities necessary for the provision of broadband and other advanced wireless communication services throughout this state;
(2) Ensure the ready availability of reliable wireless communication services to the public to support personal communications, economic development, and the general welfare;
(3) Encourage where feasible the modification or collocation of wireless facilities on existing wireless support structures over the construction of new wireless support structures in the deployment or expansion of commercial wireless networks; and
(4) Allow the deployment of critical wireless infrastructure to ensure that first responders can provide for the health and safety of all residents of Georgia.
(b) While recognizing and confirming the purview of local governments to exercise zoning, land use, and permitting authority within their territorial boundaries with regard to the location, construction, and modification of wireless communication facilities, it is the intent of this chapter to establish procedural standards for the exercise of such authority so as to streamline and facilitate the construction, collocation, or modification of such facilities, including the placement of new or additional wireless facilities on existing wireless support structures. It is not the intent of this chapter to limit or preempt the scope of a local government's review of zoning, land use, or permitting applications for the siting of wireless facilities or wireless support structures or to require a local government to exercise its zoning power.
As used in this chapter, the term:
(1) “Accessory equipment” means any equipment serving or being used in conjunction with a wireless facility or wireless support structure and includes, but is not limited to, utility or transmission equipment, power supplies, generators, batteries, cables, equipment buildings, cabinets, and storage sheds, shelters, or similar structures.
(2) “Antenna” means communications equipment that transmits, receives, or transmits and receives electromagnetic radio signals used in the provision of all types of wireless communication services.
(3) “Application” means a formal request submitted to the local governing authority to construct, collocate, or modify a wireless support structure or a wireless facility.
(4) “Collocate” or “collocation” means the placement or installation of new wireless facilities on previously approved and constructed wireless support structures, including monopoles and towers, both self-supporting and guyed, in a manner that negates the need to construct a new freestanding wireless support structure. Such term includes the placement of accessory equipment within an existing equipment compound.
(5) “Complete application” means an application containing all documents, information, and fees specifically enumerated in or required by the local governing authority's regulations, ordinances, and forms pertaining to the location, construction, collocation, modification, or operation of wireless facilities.
(6) “Equipment compound” means an area surrounding or adjacent to the base of a wireless support structure within which accessory equipment is located.
(7) “Local governing authority” means a municipality or county that has adopted land use or zoning regulations for all or the majority of land uses within its jurisdiction or has adopted separate regulations pertaining to the location, construction, collocation, modification, or operation of wireless facilities.
(8) “Modification” or “modify” means the improvement, upgrade, expansion, or replacement of existing wireless facilities on an existing wireless support structure or within an existing equipment compound, provided such improvement, upgrade, expansion, or replacement does not increase the height of the wireless support structure or increase the dimensions of the equipment compound.
(9) “Registry” means any official list, record, or register maintained by a local governing authority of wireless facilities, equipment compounds, or wireless support structures.
(10) “Utility” means any person, corporation, municipality, county, or other entity, or department thereof or entity related or subordinate thereto, providing retail or wholesale electric, data, cable, or telecommunications services.
(11) “Wireless facility” means the set of equipment and network components, exclusive of the underlying wireless support structure, including antennas, transmitters, receivers, base stations, power supplies, cabling, and accessory equipment, used to provide wireless data and wireless telecommunication services.
(12) “Wireless support structure” means a freestanding structure, such as a monopole, tower, either guyed or self-supporting, or suitable existing or alternative structure designed to support or capable of supporting wireless facilities. Such term shall not include any telephone or electrical utility pole or any tower used for the distribution or transmission of electrical service.
(a) Applications for collocation or modification of a wireless facility entitled to streamlined processing under this Code section shall be reviewed for conformance with applicable site plan and building permit requirements, including zoning and land use conformity, but shall not otherwise be subject to the issuance of additional zoning, land use, or special use permit approvals beyond the initial zoning, land use, or special permit approvals issued for such wireless support structure or wireless facility. The intent of this Code section is to allow previously approved wireless support structures and wireless facilities to be modified or collocations thereto to be accepted without additional zoning or land use review beyond that which is typically required by the local governing authority for the issuance of building or electrical permits.
(b) The streamlined process set forth in subsection (a) of this Code section shall apply to applications for proposed modifications and to applications for proposed collocations that meet the following requirements:
(1) The proposed modification or collocation shall not increase the overall height or width of the wireless support structure to which the wireless facilities are to be attached;
(2) The proposed modification or collocation shall not increase the dimensions of the equipment compound initially approved by the local governing authority;
(3) The proposed modification or collocation shall comply with applicable conditions of approval, if any, applied to the initial wireless facilities and wireless support structure, as well as any subsequently adopted amendments to such conditions of approval; and
(4) The proposed modification or collocation shall not exceed the applicable weight limits for the wireless support structure, as demonstrated by a letter from a structural engineer licensed to practice in this state.
(c) A local governing authority's review of an application to modify or collocate wireless facilities on an existing wireless support structure shall not include an evaluation of the technical, business, or service characteristics of such proposed wireless facilities. A local governing authority shall not require an applicant to submit radio frequency analyses or any other documentation intended to demonstrate the proposed service characteristics of the proposed wireless facilities, to illustrate the need for such wireless facilities, or to justify the business decision to collocate such wireless facilities; provided, however, that the local governing authority may require the applicant to provide a letter from a radio frequency engineer certifying the applicant's proposed wireless facilities will not interfere with public safety emergency communications.
(d) Within 90 calendar days of the date an application for modification or collocation of wireless facilities is filed with the local governing authority, unless another date is specified in a written agreement between the local governing authority and the applicant, the local governing authority shall:
(1) Make its final decision to approve or disapprove the application; and
(2) Advise the applicant in writing of its final decision.
(e) Within 30 calendar days of the date an application for modification or collocation is filed with the local governing authority, the local governing authority shall determine if it is a complete application and, if it determines the application is not a complete application, notify the applicant in writing of any information required to complete such application. To the extent additional information is required to complete the application, the time required by the applicant to provide such information shall not be counted toward the 90 calendar day review period set forth in subsection (d) of this Code section. Information requested to complete the application may only include the documents, information, and fees specifically enumerated in the local governing authority's regulations, ordinances, and forms pertaining to the location, construction, collocation, modification, or operation of wireless facilities.
(a) Within 150 calendar days of the date an application for a new wireless support structure is filed with the local governing authority, unless another date is specified in a written agreement between the local governing authority and the applicant, the local governing authority shall:
(1) Make its final decision to approve or disapprove the application; and
(2) Advise the applicant in writing of its final decision.
(b) Within 30 calendar days of the date an application for a new wireless support structure is filed with the local governing authority, the local governing authority shall determine if it is a complete application and, if it determines the application is not a complete application, notify the applicant in writing of any information required to complete such application. To the extent additional information is required to complete the application, the time required by the applicant to provide such information shall not be counted toward the calendar day review period set forth in subsection (a) of this Code section. Information requested to complete the application may only include the documents, information, and fees specifically enumerated in the local governing authority's existing regulations, ordinances, and forms pertaining to the location, construction, collocation, modification, or operation of wireless facilities.
In the regulation of the placement or construction of any new wireless facility or wireless support structure, a local governing authority shall not:
(1) Condition the approval of any application for a new wireless support structure on a requirement that a modification or collocation to such structure be subject to a review that is inconsistent with the requirements of Code Section 36-66B-4;
(2) Require the removal of existing wireless support structures or wireless facilities as a condition to approval of an application for a new wireless facility or wireless support structure unless such existing wireless support structure or wireless facility is abandoned and owned by the applicant; or
(3) Require the applicant to place an antenna or other wireless communications equipment on publicly owned land or on a publicly or privately owned water tank, building, or electric transmission tower as an alternative to the location proposed by the applicant.
A local governing authority shall not:
(1) Charge an applicant a zoning, permitting, or other fee for review or inspection of a new or existing wireless facility or wireless support structure in an amount greater than the amount authorized by subsection (a) of Code Section 48-13-9;
(2) Charge an applicant a zoning, permitting, or other fee for review or inspection of a collocation or modification in excess of $500.00;
(3) Seek reimbursement from the applicant for any application fees, consultation fees, registry fees, or audit fees with respect to a wireless facility or wireless support structure that are based on a contingency fee arrangement; or
(4) Charge a wireless service provider or wireless infrastructure provider any rental, license, or other fees in excess of the fair market value for rental or use of similarly situated property to renew or extend the term of a lease or other agreement for a wireless facility or wireless support structure on such local governing authority's property.
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the “Streamlining Wireless Facilities and Antennas Act.”
As used in this chapter, the term:
(1) “Administrative review” means review by an authority, including authority staff, of an application to determine whether the issuance of a permit is in conformity with the applicable provisions of this chapter.
(2) “Antenna” means:
(A) Communications equipment that transmits, receives, or transmits and receives electromagnetic radio frequency signals used in the provision of wireless services or other wireless communications; or
(B) Communications equipment similar to equipment described in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph used for the transmission, reception, or transmission and reception of surface waves.
Such term shall not include television broadcast antennas, antennas designed for amateur radio use, or satellite dishes for residential or household purposes.
(3) “Applicable codes” means uniform building, fire, safety, electrical, plumbing, or mechanical codes adopted by a recognized national code organization to the extent such codes have been adopted by the state or an authority or are otherwise applicable in the jurisdiction in which the application is submitted.
(4) “Applicant” means any person that submits an application.
(5) “Application” means a written request submitted by an applicant to an authority for a permit to:
(A) Collocate a small wireless facility in a right of way; or
(B) Install, modify, or replace a pole or decorative pole in a right of way on which a small wireless facility is or will be collocated.
(6) “Authority” means any county, consolidated government, or municipality or any agency, district, subdivision, or instrumentality thereof. Such term shall not include an electric supplier.
(7) “Authority pole” means a pole owned, managed, or operated by or on behalf of an authority. Such term shall not include poles, support structures, electric transmission structures, or equipment of any type owned by an electric supplier.
(8) “Class I Authority” means any county which has 100,000 parcels or more of real property within the unincorporated area of such county, any consolidated government which has 100,000 parcels or more of real property within the consolidated area, or any municipality which has 100,000 parcels or more of real property within the municipality.
(9) “Class II Authority” means any county which has at least 10,000 parcels but less than 100,000 parcels of real property within the unincorporated area of such county, any consolidated government which has at least 10,000 parcels but less than 100,000 parcels of real property within the consolidated area, or any municipality which has at least 10,000 parcels but less than 100,000 parcels of real property within the municipality.
(10) “Class III Authority” means any county which has less than 10,000 parcels of real property within the unincorporated area of such county, any consolidated government which has less than 10,000 parcels of real property within the consolidated area, or any municipality which has less than 10,000 parcels of real property within the municipality.
(11) “Collocate” or “collocation” means to install, mount, modify, or replace a small wireless facility on or adjacent to a pole, decorative pole, or support structure.
(12) “Communications facility” means the set of equipment and network components, including wires and cables and associated equipment and network components, used by a communications service provider to provide communications services.
(13) “Communications service provider” means a provider of communications services.
(14) “Communications services” means cable service as defined in 47 U.S.C. Section 522(6); telecommunications service as defined in 47 U.S.C. Section 153(53); information service as defined in 47 U.S.C. Section 153(24), as each such term existed on January 1, 2019; or wireless services.
(15) “Consolidated application” means an application for the collocation of multiple small wireless facilities on existing poles or support structures or for the installation, modification, or replacement of multiple poles and the collocation of associated small wireless facilities.
(16) “Decorative pole” means an authority pole that is specially designed and placed for aesthetic purposes.
(16.1) “Electric supplier” shall have the same meaning as provided in Code Section 46-3-3.
(17) “Eligible facilities request” means an eligible facilities request as set forth in 47 C.F.R. Section 1.40001(b)(3), as it existed on January 1, 2019.
(18) “FCC” means the Federal Communications Commission of the United States.
(19) “Fee” means a one-time, nonrecurring charge based on time and expense.
(20) “Historic district” means:
(A) Any district, site, building, structure, or object included in, or eligible for inclusion in, the National Register of Historic Places maintained by the secretary of the interior of the United States in accordance with Section VI.D.1.a.i-v of the Nationwide Programmatic Agreement codified by 47 C.F.R. Part 1;
(B) Any area designated as a historic district under Article 2 of Chapter 10 of Title 44, the “Georgia Historic Preservation Act”; or
(C) Any area designated as a historic district or property by law prior to April 26, 2019.
(21) “Law” means and includes any and all federal, state, or local laws, statutes, common laws, codes, rules, regulations, orders, or ordinances.
(22) “Metropolitan statistical area” means a standard metropolitan statistical area which is located within this state and recognized by the United States Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, according to the United States decennial census of 2010 or any future such census.
(23) “Micro wireless facility” means a small wireless facility not larger in dimension than 24 inches in length, 15 inches in width, and 12 inches in height that has an exterior antenna, if any, no longer than 11 inches.
(24) “Permit” means a written authorization, in electronic or hard copy format, required to be issued by an authority to initiate, continue, or complete the collocation of a small wireless facility or the installation, modification, or replacement of a pole or decorative pole upon which a small wireless facility is collocated.
(25) “Person” means an individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association, trust, or other entity or organization, including an authority.
(26) “Pole” means a vertical pole such as a utility, lighting, traffic, or similar pole made of wood, concrete, metal, or other material that is lawfully located or to be located within a right of way, including without limitation a replacement pole and an authority pole. Such term shall not include a support structure, decorative pole, or electric transmission structure.
(27) “Rate” means a recurring charge.
(28) “Reconditioning work” means the activities associated with substantially painting, reconditioning, improving, or repairing authority poles.
(29) “Replace,” “replacement,” or “replacing” means to replace a pole or decorative pole with a new pole or a new decorative pole, similar in design, size, and scale to the existing pole or decorative pole consistent with 47 C.F.R. 1.40001(b)(7) as it existed on January 1, 2019, in order to address limitations of, or change requirements applicable to, the existing pole to structurally support the collocation of a small wireless facility.
(30) “Replacement work” means the activities associated with replacing an authority pole.
(31) “Right of way” has the same meaning as provided in paragraph (25) of Code Section 32-1-3; provided, however, that such term shall apply only to property or an interest therein that is under the ownership or control of an authority and shall not include property or any interest therein acquired for or devoted to an interstate highway or the public rights, structures, sidewalks, facilities, and appurtenances described in subparagraph (K) or (R) of paragraph (24) of Code Section 32-1-3.
(32) “Small wireless facility” means radio transceivers; surface wave couplers; antennas; coaxial, fiber optic, or other cabling; power supply; backup batteries; and comparable and associated equipment, regardless of technological configuration, at a fixed location or fixed locations that enable communication or surface wave communication between user equipment and a communications network and that meet both of the following qualifications:
(A) Each wireless provider's antenna could fit within an enclosure of no more than six cubic feet in volume; and
(B) All other wireless equipment associated with the facility is cumulatively no more than 28 cubic feet in volume, measured based upon the exterior dimensions of height by width by depth of any enclosure that may be used. The following types of associated ancillary equipment are not included in the calculation of the volume of all other wireless equipment associated with any such facility:
(i) Electric meters;
(ii) Concealment elements;
(iii) Telecommunications demarcation boxes;
(iv) Grounding equipment;
(v) Power transfer switches;
(vi) Cut-off switches; and
(vii) Vertical cable runs for connection of power and other services.
Such term shall not include a pole, decorative pole, or support structure on, under, or within which the equipment is located or collocated or to which the equipment is attached and shall not include any wireline backhaul facilities or coaxial, fiber optic, or other cabling that is between small wireless facilities, poles, decorative poles, or support structures or that is not otherwise immediately adjacent to or directly associated with a particular antenna.
(33) “State” means the State of Georgia.
(34) “Support structure” means a building, billboard, water tank, or any other structure to which a small wireless facility is or may be attached. Such term shall not include a decorative pole, electric transmission structure, or pole.
(35) “Wireless infrastructure provider” means any person, including a person authorized to provide telecommunications services in this state, that builds, installs, or operates small wireless facilities, poles, decorative poles, or support structures on which small wireless facilities are or are intended to be used for collocation but that is not a wireless services provider.
(36) “Wireless provider” means a wireless infrastructure provider or a wireless services provider.
(37) “Wireless services” means any services provided to the public using licensed or unlicensed spectrum, including the use of Wi-Fi, whether at a fixed location or mobile.
(38) “Wireless services provider” means a person that provides wireless services.
(39) “Wireline backhaul facility” means an aboveground or underground wireline facility used to transport communications data from a telecommunications demarcation box associated with small wireless facility to a network.
(a) An applicant that has not previously held a meeting with a Class I Authority that complies with this Code section shall meet with the Class I Authority at least 30 days before submitting applications under Code Section 36-66C-6 to inform such authority in good faith when such applicant expects to commence deployment of small wireless facilities and poles within such authority pursuant to this chapter, the number of small wireless facilities and poles it expects to deploy during the 24 months after commencement, and the expected timing of such deployments.
(b) Upon request by any Class II Authority that is located within a metropolitan statistical area and with which the applicant has not previously held a meeting that complies with this Code section, an applicant shall meet with such authority at least 30 days before submitting applications under Code Section 36-66C-6 to inform such authority in good faith when such applicant expects to commence deployment of small wireless facilities and poles within such authority pursuant to this chapter, the number of small wireless facilities and poles it expects to deploy during the 24 months after commencement, and the expected timing of such deployments.
(c) All documents or other information provided by the applicant in the course of, or in association with, any meetings provided for in this Code section shall be presumed to be confidential and proprietary and a trade secret as such term is defined in Code Section 10-1-761, shall be subject to exemption from disclosure under state and federal law, and shall not be subject to disclosure under Article 4 of Chapter 18 of Title 50.
A wireless provider may collocate small wireless facilities and install, modify, or replace associated poles or decorative poles under this chapter without an agreement with an authority and without an implementing ordinance. An authority may make available to wireless providers rates, fees, and other terms that comply with this chapter and that are adopted by ordinance, resolution, or another document by the authority after public notice. In the absence of an ordinance, a resolution, or another document that complies with this chapter, and until any such ordinance, a resolution, or other document is adopted, if at all, a wireless provider may collocate small wireless facilities and install, modify, or replace associated poles or decorative poles pursuant to the requirements of this chapter. An authority may not require a wireless provider to enter into an agreement to implement this chapter, but nothing in this chapter shall prohibit an authority and a wireless provider from voluntarily entering one or more such agreements, including such agreements with rates, fees, and other terms that differ from those in this chapter; provided, however, that the authority shall make each such agreement available for public inspection and available for adoption upon the same terms and conditions to any requesting wireless provider.
(a) As a condition to the issuance of a permit to collocate a small wireless facility or to install, modify, or replace a pole or a decorative pole for collocation of a small wireless facility in a right of way, the applicant shall pay the following fees and rates:
(1) A fee for each application for the collocation of each small wireless facility on an existing pole assessed by the authority not to exceed $100.00 per small wireless facility;
(2) A fee for each application for each replacement pole with an associated small wireless facility assessed by the authority not to exceed $250.00;
(3) A fee for each application for each new pole with an associated small wireless facility assessed by the authority not to exceed $1,000.00 per pole with an associated small wireless facility;
(4) An annual right of way occupancy rate assessed by the authority for nonexclusive occupancy of the right of way by the applicant not to exceed:
(A) One hundred dollars per year for each small wireless facility collocated on any existing or replacement pole, including an existing or replacement authority pole; or
(B) Two hundred dollars per year for each new pole, other than a replacement pole, with an associated small wireless facility;
(5) An annual attachment rate for collocations on authority poles not to exceed $40.00 per year per small wireless facility, which shall be nondiscriminatory regardless of the services provided by the collocating wireless provider;
(6) A fee for make-ready work, as provided in subsection (n) of Code Section 36-66C-7; and
(7) Generally applicable nondiscriminatory fees for any permit required under generally applicable law; provided, however, that an applicant shall not be required to obtain or pay any fees for a building permit, as the permit issued pursuant to this chapter serves as a building permit for the applicable poles and small wireless facilities.
(b) The monetary caps provided in paragraphs (1), (2), (3), (4), and (5) of subsection (a) of this Code section shall increase 2.5 percent annually beginning January 1, 2021.
(c) If, in a final adjudication not subject to further appeal or to review by the United States Supreme Court, a federal court reviewing Accelerating Wireless Broadband Deployment by Removing Barriers to Infrastructure Investment, et al., Declaratory Ruling and Third Report and Order, WT Docket No. 17-79 and WC Docket No. 17-84, FCC 18-133 (released September 27, 2018), or a related FCC order, or a Georgia federal district court, the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, or the United States Supreme Court interpreting 47 U.S.C. Section 253(c) as it existed on January 1, 2019, determines that fair and reasonable compensation includes not only cost based charges but also market based charges with respect to application fees or right of way occupancy rates for the installation of small wireless facilities or poles, or to authority pole attachment rates for small wireless facilities, then:
(1) Beginning on July 1 of the calendar year following the date that the final adjudication is no longer subject to further appeal or to review by the United States Supreme Court, the monetary caps provided in paragraphs (1), (2), (3), (4), and (5) of subsection (a) of this Code section for the fees or rates to which the determination applies, excluding any increases that have been made under subsection (b) of this Code section, shall double; and
(2) Beginning on July 1 of the second calendar year following the date that the final adjudication is no longer subject to further appeal or to review by the United States Supreme Court, the monetary caps in paragraphs (1), (2), (3), (4), and (5) of subsection (a) of this Code section for the fees or rates to which the determination applies shall terminate. In place of any monetary caps that terminate pursuant to this subsection, applicants shall pay fees or rates, as each may be applicable, that constitute the fair and reasonable compensation due to the authority under applicable law.
(d) An applicant shall not be subject to any fees or rates other than those expressly provided for by this Code section or as may be otherwise voluntarily negotiated between an applicant and the authority in accordance with Code Section 36-66C-4.
(e) The applicant, or the person that owns or operates the small wireless facility collocated in the right of way, may remove its small wireless facilities at any time from the right of way upon not less than 30 days' prior written notice to the authority and may cease paying to the authority any applicable fees and rates for such use, as of the date of the actual removal of the small wireless facilities. In the event of such removal, the right of way shall be, to the extent practicable in the reasonable judgment of the authority, restored to its condition prior to the removal. If the applicant fails to return the right of way, to the extent practicable in the reasonable judgment of the authority, to its condition prior to the removal within 90 days of the removal, the authority may, at the sole discretion of the authority, restore the right of way to such condition and charge the applicant the authority's reasonable, documented cost of removal and restoration, plus a penalty not to exceed $500.00. The authority may suspend the ability of the applicant to receive any new permits from the authority until the applicant has paid the amount assessed for such restoration costs and the penalty assessed, if any; provided, however, that the authority shall not suspend such ability of any applicant that has deposited the amount in controversy in escrow pending an adjudication of the merits of the dispute by a court of competent jurisdiction.
(a) A wireless provider may collocate small wireless facilities on authority poles and decorative poles in the right of way, subject to administrative review only and the issuance of a permit as set forth in this Code section. Subject to administrative review only and the issuance of a permit as set forth in this Code section, a wireless provider may occupy the right of way for the following uses, provided that such uses shall be in accordance with applicable provisions of this chapter, including without limitation, those set forth in Code Section 36-66C-9:
(1) Collocation of a small wireless facility on or adjacent to a pole or a support structure that does not exceed the limitations set forth in paragraph (3) of subsection (h) of Code Section 36-66C-7 or on or adjacent to a decorative pole in compliance with Code Section 36-66C-12; and
(2) Installation, modification, or replacement of a pole or a decorative pole for collocation of a small wireless facility that does not exceed the limitations set forth in paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (h) of Code Section 36-66C-7.
(b) No wireless provider shall collocate any small wireless facility in the right of way or install, modify, or replace a pole or decorative pole for collocation of a small wireless facility in the right of way without first filing an application and obtaining a permit therefor, except as otherwise expressly provided in subsection (e) of this Code section. Any failure to comply with this subsection by a wireless provider shall allow the applicable authority, at the sole discretion of the authority, to restore the right of way, to the extent practicable in the reasonable judgment of the authority, to its condition prior to the unpermitted collocation or installation and to charge the responsible wireless provider its reasonable, documented cost of doing so, plus a penalty not to exceed $1,000.00. The authority may suspend the ability of the wireless provider to receive any new permits from the authority until the wireless provider has paid the amount assessed for such restoration costs and the penalty assessed, if any; provided, however, that the authority shall not suspend such ability of any applicant that has deposited the amount in controversy in escrow pending an adjudication of the merits of the dispute by a court of competent jurisdiction.
(c) The authority shall make accepted applications publicly available; provided, however, that an applicant may designate portions of its application materials that it reasonably believes contain trade secrets by following the procedures set forth in paragraph (34) of subsection (a) of Code Section 50-18-72.
(d) The application shall be made by the applicable wireless provider or its duly authorized representative and shall contain the following:
(1) The applicant's name, address, telephone number, and email address, including emergency contact information for the applicant;
(2) The names, addresses, telephone numbers, and email addresses of all consultants, if any, acting on behalf of the applicant with respect to the filing of the application;
(3) A general description of the proposed work and the purposes and intent of the proposed facility. The scope and detail of such description shall be appropriate to the nature and character of the physical work to be performed, with special emphasis on those matters likely to be affected or impacted by the physical work proposed;
(4) Detailed construction drawings regarding the proposed use of the right of way;
(5) To the extent the proposed facility involves collocation on a pole, decorative pole, or support structure, a structural report performed by a duly licensed engineer evidencing that the pole, decorative pole, or support structure will structurally support the collocation, or that the pole, decorative pole, or support structure may and will be modified to meet structural requirements, in accordance with applicable codes;
(6) For any new aboveground facilities, visual depictions or representations if such are not included in the construction drawings;
(7) Information indicating the horizontal and approximate vertical location, relative to the boundaries of the right of way, of the small wireless facility for which the application is being submitted;
(8) If the application is for the installation of a pole or replacement of a decorative pole, a certification that complies with subsection (k) of this Code section;
(9) If the small wireless facility will be collocated on a pole or support structure owned by a third party, other than an authority pole or a decorative pole, a certification that the wireless provider has permission from the owner to collocate on the pole or support structure; and
(10) If the applicant is not a wireless services provider, a certification that a wireless services provider has requested in writing that the applicant collocate the small wireless facilities or install, modify, or replace the pole or decorative pole at the requested location.
(e) An application shall not be required for the following activities, provided that a wireless provider may be required to obtain permits for such activities, such as electrical permits or street opening permits, if otherwise required by generally applicable law:
(1) With respect to a pole or decorative pole on which a small wireless facility is collocated, inspections, testing, repairs, and modifications that maintain functional capacity and aesthetic and structural integrity, provided that modifications are limited by the structural load analysis supplied by the applicant in its prior application to the authority; and
(2) With respect to a small wireless facility, inspections, testing, or repairs that maintain functional capacity or the replacement or upgrade of antennas or other components of the small wireless facility such as a swap out or addition of antennas and radio equipment as required by the applicant, with antennas and other components that are substantially similar in color, aggregate size, and other aesthetics to that previously permitted by the authority and consistent with the height and volume limits for small wireless facilities under this chapter, so long as the pole, decorative pole, or support structure will structurally support, or prior to installation will be modified to support, the structural load in accordance with the structural load analysis supplied by the applicant in its prior application to the authority.
(f) An authority shall not require a wireless provider to obtain a permit or any other approval or require fees or rates for the installation, placement, maintenance, operation, or replacement of micro wireless facilities that are suspended on cables that are strung between poles or support structures in the right of way in compliance with applicable codes; provided, however, that an authority may require a wireless provider to obtain permits for any additional activities such as electrical work, excavation, or closure of sidewalks or vehicular lanes within the right of way if otherwise required by generally applicable law. Such permits shall be issued on a nondiscriminatory basis upon terms and conditions applied to any other person's similar activities in the right of way.
(g) Any material change to information contained in an application shall be submitted in writing to the authority within 30 days after the events necessitating the change.
(h) Unless otherwise provided by applicable law, all applications pursuant to this chapter shall be accompanied by the fees required under Code Sections 36-66C-4 and 36-66C-5.
(i) An authority shall not enter into an exclusive arrangement with any person for use of the right of way for the collocation of small wireless facilities or the installation, operation, marketing, modification, maintenance, or replacement of poles or for the right to attach to authority poles. A person that purchases or otherwise acquires an authority pole is subject to the requirements of this subsection.
(j) The authority, in the exercise of its administration and regulation of the management of the right of way, shall be competitively neutral and nondiscriminatory with regard to other users of the right of way.
(k) A wireless provider shall not apply to install a pole or replace a decorative pole unless it has determined after diligent investigation that it cannot meet the service objectives of the permit by collocating on an existing pole or support structure on which:
(1) The wireless provider has the right to collocate subject to reasonable terms and conditions; and
(2) Such collocation would not impose technical limitations or significant additional costs. The wireless provider shall certify that it has made such a determination in good faith, based on the assessment of a licensed engineer, and shall provide a written summary of the basis for such determination.
(l) Requests for installation, modification, or replacement of a support structure are not eligible for administrative review as set forth in this Code section.
(m) An application that is subject to administrative review shall be approved except as provided in subsection (j) of Code Section 36-66C-7.
(n) The provisions of this chapter concerning the collocation of small wireless facilities on poles and the installation, modification, and replacement of poles by wireless providers apply only to poles that are lawfully located or are to be lawfully located within the right of way. An authority has the burden of establishing that an existing pole's location within the right of way is not lawful.
(a) The requirements of this Code section govern an authority's review of applications for uses that are subject to administrative review as described in subsection (a) of Code Section 36-66C-6.
(b) Within 20 days of receipt of a written application, the authority shall:
(1) Notify the applicant in writing of the commencement and completion dates of any widening, repair, reconstruction, or relocation of the applicable right of way that is scheduled to commence, or is anticipated in good faith to commence, within 24 months after the application is filed;
(2) Notify the applicant, based on the authority's good faith preliminary review of the information provided in the application, of any aspect of the application that appears to be grounds for the authority's denial of the application pursuant to subsection (j) of this Code section; and
(3) Determine whether the application is complete and inform the applicant of its determination in writing. If the authority determines that an application is incomplete, it shall specifically identify to the applicant in writing all missing information within such 20 day period; otherwise the application is deemed complete. If the authority identifies missing information to the applicant as provided in this paragraph, the applicant may submit such missing information to the authority within 20 days of receipt of notification in writing from the authority that the application is incomplete without paying any additional application fee, and any subsequent review of the application by the authority for completeness shall be limited to the previously identified missing information. If the authority determines that an application remains incomplete, or if the authority determines that the applicant has made material changes to the application other than to address the missing information identified by the authority, the authority shall notify the applicant of such determination in writing within ten days of receipt of the resubmission of the written application, and absent an agreement to the contrary between the authority and the applicant that is confirmed by email or other writing, such notice shall constitute a denial of the application. If the authority does not provide such written notification to the applicant within this ten-day period, the application shall be deemed complete.
(c) The authority shall make its final decision to approve or deny the application within 30 days of the written determination that the application is complete or when the application is deemed complete under paragraph (3) of subsection (b) of this Code section, whichever is earlier, for a collocation, and within 70 days of the written determination that the application is complete or when the application is deemed complete under paragraph (3) of subsection (b) of this Code section, whichever is earlier, for the installation, modification, or replacement of a pole or decorative pole.
(d) A decision to deny an application pursuant to this Code section shall be in writing, shall identify all reasons for the denial, and shall identify the provisions of applicable codes or other standards applicable pursuant to this chapter on which the denial was based. The decision to deny shall be sent to the applicant contemporaneously. The review period shall run until the written decision is delivered to the applicant in accordance with subsection (s) of this Code section.
(e) If the authority fails to act on an application within the review period provided for in subsection (d) of this Code section, the applicant may provide the authority written notice that the time period for acting has lapsed, and the authority shall then have 20 days after receipt of such notice to render its written decision. The application shall be deemed approved by passage of time and operation of law if the authority does not render its written decision within such 20 days.
(f) An applicant may, at the applicant's discretion and subject to the consolidated application requirements and processes under Code Section 36-66C-13, file a consolidated application.
(g) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter and to the extent that an application constitutes an eligible facilities request, the authority shall not deny the application and shall approve the application within 60 days according to the procedures established under 47 C.F.R. 1.40001(c).
(h) Small wireless facilities and new, modified, or replacement poles to be used for collocation of small wireless facilities may be placed in the right of way as a permitted use in accordance with Code Section 36-66C-6, subject to applicable codes and the following requirements:
(1) Each such new, modified, or replacement pole installed in the right of way in a historic district and in an area zoned primarily for residential use shall not exceed 50 feet above ground level;
(2) Each such new, modified, or replacement pole installed in the right of way not in historic district or in an area zoned primarily for residential use shall not exceed the greater of:
(A) Fifty feet above ground level; or
(B) Ten feet greater in height above ground level than the tallest existing pole in the same authority right of way in place as of January 1, 2019, and located within 500 feet of the new proposed pole; and
(3) New small wireless facilities in the right of way shall not exceed:
(A) For a collocation on an existing pole or support structure, more than ten feet above the existing pole or support structure; or
(B) For a collocation on a new, modified, or replacement pole under paragraph (1) or (2) of this subsection, the height limit provided in such paragraphs.
(i)(1) A wireless provider shall comply with reasonable and nondiscriminatory requirements that prohibit communications service providers and electric service providers from installing poles in a right of way in an area designated solely for underground or buried facilities of communications service providers and electric service providers where the authority:
(A) Has required all such facilities other than light poles and attachments to be placed underground and all such undergrounding has been completed prior to the submission of the application, or, for rights of way where such facilities other than light poles and attachments have not been deployed, has in effect a reasonable and nondiscriminatory zoning or development ordinance or regulation that requires such facilities other than light poles and attachments to be placed underground;
(B) Does not prohibit the replacement of light poles or the collocation of small wireless facilities in the designated area; and
(C) Permits wireless providers to seek a waiver of the underground requirements for the placement of a new pole to support small wireless facilities, which waivers shall be addressed in a nondiscriminatory manner and consistent with applicable law.
(2) An authority that adopts undergrounding requirements shall:
(A) Allow a wireless provider to maintain in place any previously collocated small wireless facilities subject to any applicable pole attachment agreement; or
(B) Either allow the wireless provider to replace the pole associated with previously collocated small wireless facilities at the same location or propose an alternate location within 50 feet of the prior location, which the wireless provider shall use unless such alternate location imposes technical limits or significant additional costs.
(j) An authority shall approve an application for permitted uses described in subsection (a) of Code Section 36-66C-6 unless the requested collocation of a small wireless facility or the requested installation, modification, or replacement of a pole or decorative pole:
(1) Interferes with the operation of traffic control equipment;
(2) Interferes with sight lines or clear zones for transportation or pedestrians;
(3) Fails to comply with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. Section 12101, et seq., or similar laws of general applicability regarding pedestrian access or movement;
(4) Requests that ground-mounted small wireless facility equipment be located more than 7.5 feet in radial circumference from the base of the pole, decorative pole, or support structure to which the small wireless facility antenna would be attached, provided that the authority shall not deny the application if a greater distance from the base of the pole, decorative pole, or support structure is necessary to avoid interfering with sight lines or clear zones for transportation or pedestrians or to otherwise protect public safety;
(5) Fails to comply with applicable codes;
(6) Fails to comply with the maximum limitations set forth in subsection (h) of this Code section or the requirements of subsection (i) of this Code section;
(7) With respect to an application to install a pole or decorative pole, interferes with the widening, repair, reconstruction, or relocation of a public road or highway by an authority or the Department of Transportation that has been advertised for bid and scheduled for completion within six months after the application is filed;
(8) With respect to an application to install a pole or decorative pole, interferes with a public works construction project governed by Chapter 91 of Title 36 and scheduled for completion within six months after the application is filed;
(9) Fails to comply with Code Section 36-66C-10, 36-66C-11, or 36-66C-12;
(10) Fails to comply with laws of general applicability that address pedestrian and vehicular traffic and safety requirements; or
(11) Fails to comply with laws of general applicability that address the occupancy or management of the right of way and that are not otherwise inconsistent with this chapter.
(k)(1) A permit from the authority authorizes an applicant to undertake only certain activities in accordance with this chapter and shall not create a property right or grant authorization or license to the applicant to impinge upon the rights of other persons that may already have an interest in the right of way.
(2) Collocation, installation, modification, or replacement for which a permit is issued under this chapter shall be completed within six months after issuance, provided that an extension shall be granted for up to an additional six months upon written request made to the authority before the end of the initial six-month period if a delay results from circumstances beyond the reasonable control of the applicant. Issuance of a permit authorizes the applicant to:
(A) Undertake the collocation, installation, modification, or replacement approved by the permit; and
(B) Operate and maintain the small wireless facilities and any associated pole covered by the permit for a period of not less than ten years, which shall be renewed for equivalent durations so long as the applicant is in compliance with the criteria set forth in subsection (j) of this Code section, subject to the relocation requirements described in subsection (l) of this Code section and the applicant's right to terminate at any time.
(l) If, in the reasonable exercise of police powers, an authority requires widening, repair, reconstruction, or relocation of a public road or highway, or relocation of poles, support structures, or small wireless facilities is required as a result of a public project, a wireless provider shall relocate poles and support structures that such wireless provider has installed in the right of way for the collocation of small wireless facilities pursuant to this chapter at no cost to the authority in the event that such poles and support structures are found by the authority to unreasonably interfere with the widening, repair, reconstruction, or relocation project or the public project. If widening, repair, reconstruction, or relocation is required as a condition or result of a project by a person other than an authority, such person shall bear the cost of relocating such poles or support structures and any communications facilities on such poles or support structures. The wireless provider shall relocate the poles or support structures:
(1) By the date designated in a written notice from the authority that contains a good faith estimate by the authority of the date by which the authority intends to commence work, whenever the authority has determined that such removal, relocation, change, or alteration is reasonably necessary for the construction, repair, maintenance, or installation of any authority improvement or operations in or upon the right of way so long as the same time frames are applied to all utilities in the right of way; provided, however, that the date designated for relocation shall be at least 45 days after the authority provides the written notice to the wireless provider; or
(2) Within the time frame that the wireless provider estimates in good faith is reasonably needed to complete the relocation, so long as the wireless provider provides the authority written notice of its good faith estimate within 30 days following receipt of the written notice provided by the authority pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection and explains in detail why such wireless provider cannot reasonably complete the relocation by the date designated in the authority's written notice.
(m)(1) The wireless provider shall reasonably cooperate with the authority to carry out reconditioning work activities in a manner that minimizes interference with the wireless provider's approved use of the facility.
(2) The authority shall use reasonable efforts to provide the wireless provider with written notice of reconditioning work at least 120 days before such reconditioning work begins. Upon receiving such notice, it shall be the wireless provider's sole responsibility to provide adequate measures to cover, remove, or otherwise protect the wireless provider's communications facility from the consequences of the reconditioning work, including but not limited to paint and debris fallout. The authority reserves the right to require the wireless provider to remove all of the wireless provider's communications facilities from the authority pole and surrounding premises during reconditioning work, provided that the requirement to remove such is contained in the written notice required by this Code section. All costs associated with the protection measures, including temporary removal, shall be the sole responsibility of the wireless provider. If the authority fails in good faith to give notice within at least 120 days, it shall not affect the authority's rights under this subsection. In all cases, as much notice as possible shall be provided, but less than 30 days' notice shall be prohibited. The authority shall provide the wireless provider with a date by which its equipment must be protected or removed.
(3) The wireless provider may request a modification of the authority procedures for carrying out reconditioning work in order to reduce interference with the wireless provider's operation of its communications facility. If the authority agrees to the modification, the wireless provider shall be responsible for all reasonable incremental costs related to the modification.
(4) The authority shall provide the wireless provider with at least 120 days written notice of any replacement work before the authority may remove the wireless provider's communications facilities. The authority shall also promptly notify the wireless provider when the authority poles have been replaced and the wireless provider can reinstall its equipment. During the replacement work, the wireless provider may maintain a temporary communications facility on the property, or after approval by an authority on any land owned or controlled by an authority in the vicinity of the property. If the property will not accommodate the wireless provider's temporary communications facility or if the parties cannot agree on a temporary location, the wireless provider, at its sole discretion, shall have the right to suspend the applicable permit until the replacement pole is installed, upon 30 days' written notice to the authority.
(n) For any collocation on authority poles in the right of way, the authority shall provide a good faith estimate for any make-ready work necessary to enable the authority pole to support the proposed facility, including replacement of the pole if necessary, within 60 days after receipt of a completed application requesting attachment to the authority pole. Alternatively, the authority may require the wireless provider to perform the make-ready work and notify the wireless provider of such within the 60 day period. If the wireless provider or its contractor performs the make-ready work, the wireless provider shall indemnify the authority for any negligence by the wireless provider or its contractor in the performance of such make-ready work, the work shall not be deemed to violate Chapter 91 of this title, and the work shall otherwise comply with applicable law. If the authority opts to perform the make-ready work itself, the authority shall complete the work, including any pole replacement, within 90 days of receipt of written acceptance of the good faith estimate by the wireless provider. Such acceptance shall be signified by payment via check or other commercially reasonable and customary means specified by the authority. The authority may require that the replacement authority pole have the same functionality as the pole being replaced. If the authority pole is replaced, the authority shall operate authority fixtures on the pole, and, absent an agreement to the contrary between the authority and the wireless provider that is confirmed in writing, the authority shall take ownership of the new pole.
(o) If the wireless provider fails to relocate a support structure or pole or fails to provide a written good faith estimate of the time needed to relocate a support structure or pole within the time period prescribed in subsection (l) of this Code section, the authority shall have the right and privilege, ten days or more after the wireless provider receives written notice from the authority, to cut power to or move any support structure or pole located within the right of way, as the authority may determine to be necessary, appropriate, or useful in order to commence work on the public project.
(p)(1) If a wireless provider decides to abandon any small wireless facility, support structure, or pole, it shall notify the authority in writing as soon as practicable, but no later than 30 days prior to the abandonment. Following receipt of such notice, the authority shall instruct the wireless provider in writing to remove all or any portion of the small wireless facility, support structure, or pole if the authority determines that such removal will be in the best interest of public safety and welfare. If the wireless provider fails to remove the abandoned small wireless facility, support structure, or pole within 90 days after such notice, the authority may do so and recover the actual and reasonable expenses of doing so from the wireless provider, its successors, or its assigns, plus a penalty not to exceed $500.00. The authority may suspend the ability of the wireless provider, its successors, or its assigns, as applicable, to receive any new permits from the authority until the wireless provider, its successors, or its assigns, as applicable, have paid the amount assessed for such removal costs and the penalty assessed, if any; provided, however, that the authority shall not suspend such ability of any applicant that has deposited the amount in controversy in escrow pending an adjudication of the merits of the dispute by a court of competent jurisdiction. Nothing in this chapter precludes an authority from adopting reasonable and nondiscriminatory requirements that are not inconsistent with this subsection with respect to the removal of abandoned small wireless facilities, support structures, or poles.
(2) A small wireless facility that is not operated or a support structure or pole that is not utilized for a continuous period of 12 months shall be considered abandoned, and the owner of such small wireless facility, support structure, or pole shall remove such within 90 days after receipt of written notice from the authority notifying such owner of such small wireless facility, support structure, or pole of the abandonment. The authority shall send the notice by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, to such owner at the last known address of such owner of the small wireless facility, support structure, or pole. If the owner does not provide written notice that the small wireless facility has not been out of operation or the support structure or pole has in fact been utilized for a continuous period of 12 months or does not remove such small wireless facility, support structure, or pole within the 90 day period, the authority may remove or cause the removal of such small wireless facility, support structure, or pole pursuant to the terms of its support structure or pole attachment agreement for authority poles or through actions provided for abatement of nuisances or by other law for removal and cost recovery.
(q) If the authority determines that a wireless provider's activity in a right of way pursuant to this chapter creates an imminent risk to public safety, the authority may provide written notice to the wireless provider and demand that the wireless provider address such risk. If the wireless provider fails to reasonably address the risk within 24 hours of the written notice, the authority may take or cause to be taken action to reasonably address such risk and charge the wireless provider the reasonable documented cost of such actions.
(r) The authority may require a wireless provider to repair all damage to a right of way directly caused by the activities of the wireless provider, while occupying, installing, repairing, or maintaining small wireless facilities, poles, or support structures, in such right of way and to restore the right of way to its condition before the damage occurred pursuant to the competitively neutral and reasonable requirements and specifications of the authority. If the wireless provider fails to return the right of way, to the extent practicable in the reasonable judgment of the authority, to its condition prior to the damage within 90 days of receipt of written notice from the authority, the authority may, at the sole discretion of the authority, restore the right of way to such condition and charge the wireless provider its reasonable, documented cost of doing so, plus a penalty not to exceed $500.00. The authority may suspend the ability of the wireless provider to receive any new permits from the authority until the wireless provider has paid the amount assessed for such restoration costs and the penalty assessed, if any; provided, however, that the authority shall not suspend such ability of any applicant that has deposited the amount in controversy in escrow pending an adjudication of the merits of the dispute by a court of competent jurisdiction.
(s) An authority shall send any notice or decision required by this Code section by registered or certified mail, statutory overnight delivery, hand delivery, or email transmission. The decision or notice shall be deemed delivered upon email transmission, deposit into overnight mail or regular mail receptacle with adequate postage paid, or actual receipt if delivered by hand.
Applications for any other uses that are not expressly set forth or referenced in subsection (a) of Code Section 36-66C-6 or that are not otherwise addressed by this chapter shall require compliance with, and issuance of a permit under, applicable law. Without limiting the foregoing, any modification, maintenance, repair, or replacement that is not set forth in subsections (e) and (f) of Code Section 36-66C-6 or that is not eligible for administrative review under Code Section 36-66C-7 shall require compliance with, and issuance of a permit under, applicable law.
(a) An applicant in the right of way shall employ due care during the installation and maintenance process and shall comply with all safety and right of way protection requirements of general applicability set forth in applicable law.
(b) An applicant in the right of way shall not place any small wireless facilities, support structures, poles, or decorative poles where they will interfere with any existing infrastructure or equipment and shall locate its lines and equipment in such a manner as not to interfere unnecessarily with the usual vehicular or pedestrian traffic patterns or with the rights or reasonable convenience of owners of property that abuts any right of way.
Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter to the contrary, within a historic district, an applicant may collocate a small wireless facility and may place or replace a pole, only upon satisfaction of the following:
(1) The issuance of a permit under subsection (a) of Code Section 36-66C-6; and
(2)(A) Compliance with any objective, reasonable, and nondiscriminatory aesthetic and structural requirements that have been made publicly available in writing by the authority at least 30 days prior to submission of the application; provided, however, that any such requirements may not have the effect of materially inhibiting any wireless provider's technology or service, and compliance with any such requirements shall not be considered a part of the small wireless facility for purposes of the size restrictions in the definition of small wireless facility; or
(B) In the absence of any such requirements, a replacement pole shall be substantially similar in height and appearance to the pole being replaced.
For applications for new poles in the right of way in areas zoned for residential use, the authority may propose an alternate location in the right of way within 100 feet of the location set forth in the application, and the wireless provider shall use the authority's proposed alternate location unless the location imposes technical limits or significant additional costs. The wireless provider shall certify that it has made such a determination in good faith, based on the assessment of a licensed engineer, and it shall provide a written summary of the basis for such determination.
Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter to the contrary, an applicant may collocate a small wireless facility on a decorative pole, or may replace a decorative pole with a new decorative pole, in the event the existing decorative pole will not structurally support the attachment, only upon satisfaction of the following:
(1) The issuance of a permit under subsection (a) of Code Section 36-66C-6; and
(2)(A) Compliance with any objective and reasonable aesthetic and structural requirements that have been made publicly available in writing by the authority at least 30 days prior to submission of the application; provided, however, that any such requirements shall not have the effect of materially inhibiting any wireless provider's technology or service, and compliance with any such requirements shall not be considered a part of the small wireless facility for purposes of the size restrictions in the definition of small wireless facility; or
(B) In the absence of any such requirements, a replacement decorative pole shall be substantially similar in height and appearance to the decorative pole being replaced.
The authority shall operate authority fixtures on the replaced decorative pole, and, absent an agreement to the contrary between the authority and the wireless provider that is confirmed by email or other writing, the authority shall take ownership of the new decorative pole.
(a) An applicant may submit a single consolidated application, provided that such a consolidated application shall be for a geographic area no more than two miles in diameter and shall comply with this Code section. The denial of one or more small wireless facilities or poles in a consolidated application shall not delay the processing of any other small wireless facilities or poles in the same application. An authority may issue a single permit or multiple permits for the small wireless facilities and poles in a consolidated application.
(b) In a Class I Authority:
(1) A consolidated application for the placement of new poles and the collocation of one or more small wireless facilities on such new poles may include no more than ten poles and any associated small wireless facilities. While an applicant has applications, including consolidated applications, pending before the Class I Authority for review of 25 or more new poles and the collocation of associated small wireless facilities, the Class I Authority may, but shall not be required to, toll the processing requirements under Code Section 36-66C-7 for any application subsequently submitted by the same applicant for the placement of new poles and the collocation of associated small wireless facilities. The number of new poles with collocated small wireless facilities pending for review before the Class I Authority that may toll the processing requirements for subsequent applications pursuant to this paragraph shall increase to 30, effective July 1, 2020; to 35, effective July 1, 2021; to 40, effective July 1, 2022; to 45, effective July 1, 2023; and to 50, effective July 1, 2024; and
(2) A consolidated application for the collocation of small wireless facilities on existing poles or support structures may include no more than 20 sites. While an applicant has applications, including consolidated applications, pending before the Class I Authority for review of 70 or more sites for the collocation of small wireless facilities on existing poles or support structures, the Class I Authority may, but shall not be required to, toll the processing requirements under Code Section 36-66C-7 for any application subsequently submitted by the same applicant for the collocation of small wireless facilities on existing poles or support structures. The number of sites for the collocation of small wireless facilities pending for review before the Class I Authority that may toll the processing requirements for subsequent applications pursuant to this subparagraph shall increase to 80, effective July 1, 2020; to 90, effective July 1, 2021; to 100, effective July 1, 2022; to 110, effective July 1, 2023; and to 120, effective July 1, 2024.
(c) In a Class II Authority:
(1) A consolidated application for the placement of new poles and the collocation of one or more small wireless facilities on such new poles may include no more than five poles and any associated small wireless facilities. While an applicant has applications, including consolidated applications, pending before the Class II Authority for review of 15 or more new poles and the collocation of associated small wireless facilities, the Class II Authority may, but shall not be required to, toll the processing requirements under Code Section 36-66C-7 for any application subsequently submitted by the same applicant for the placement of new poles and the collocation of associated small wireless facilities; and
(2) A consolidated application for the collocation of small wireless facilities on existing poles or support structures may include no more than 15 sites. While an applicant has applications, including consolidated applications, pending before the Class II Authority for review of 45 or more sites for the collocation of small wireless facilities on existing poles or support structures, the Class II Authority may toll the processing requirements under Code Section 36-66C-7 for any application subsequently submitted by the same applicant for the collocation of small wireless facilities on existing poles or support structures.
(d) In a Class III Authority:
(1) A consolidated application for the placement of new poles and the collocation of one or more small wireless facilities on such new poles may include no more than two poles and any associated small wireless facilities. While an applicant has applications, including consolidated applications, pending before the Class III Authority for review of eight or more new poles and the collocation of associated small wireless facilities, the Class III Authority may, but shall not be required to, toll the processing requirements under Code Section 36-66C-7 for any application subsequently submitted by the same applicant for the placement of new poles and the collocation of associated small wireless facilities; and
(2) A consolidated application for the collocation of small wireless facilities on existing poles or support structures may include no more than six sites. While an applicant has applications, including consolidated applications, pending before the Class III Authority for review of 24 or more sites for the collocation of small wireless facilities on existing poles or support structures, the Class III Authority may, but shall not be required to, toll the processing requirements under Code Section 36-66C-7 for any application subsequently submitted by the same applicant for the collocation of small wireless facilities on existing poles or support structures.
(e) For purposes of subsections (b), (c), and (d) of this Code section:
(1) Small wireless facilities and poles that a wireless services provider applicant has requested a third party to deploy and that are included in a pending application by the third party shall be counted as pending requests by the wireless services provider applicant; and
(2) When the processing of an application is tolled pursuant to subsection (b), (c), or (d) of this Code section, the application is no longer counted as pending. As processing of applications is completed, the authority shall begin processing previously tolled applications in the order in which they were submitted, unless the applicant specifies a different order.
If multiple applications are received by the authority to install two or more poles or decorative poles at the same location or to collocate two or more small wireless facilities on the same pole, decorative pole, or support structure, the authority shall resolve conflicting requests in an appropriate, reasonable, and nondiscriminatory manner.
(a) An authority shall not require a wireless provider to indemnify and hold the authority and its officers and employees harmless against any claims, lawsuits, judgments, costs, liens, losses, expenses, or fees arising from the wireless provider's activities in the public right of way under this chapter, except when a court of competent jurisdiction has found that the negligence of the wireless provider while conducting such activities caused the harm that resulted in such claims, lawsuits, judgments, costs, liens, losses, expenses, or fees or to require a wireless provider to obtain insurance naming the authority or its officers and employees an additional insured against any of the foregoing.
(b) In no event shall any authority or any officer, employee, or agent affiliated therewith, while in the performance of its or his or her official duties, be liable for any claim related to the siting, installation, maintenance, repair, replacement, relocation, permitting, or location of wireless equipment, facilities, poles, or infrastructure, including, but not limited to, any claim for destruction, damage, business interruption, or signal interference with other communications service providers wherein such siting, installation, maintenance, repair, replacement, relocation, permitting, or location was undertaken in substantial compliance with this chapter.
Absent an agreement to the contrary that is made public and that is available for adoption upon the same terms and conditions to any requesting wireless provider, an authority shall not require an applicant to perform services unrelated to the collocation for which approval is sought, such as in-kind contributions to the authority, including reserving fiber, conduit, or space on a utility pole or a wireless support structure for the authority, and such authority may not require an applicant to transfer small wireless facilities, poles, decorative poles, or support structures to the authority, provided that the authority may require transfer of an authority pole replaced by the applicant to accommodate its collocation.
If an authority and a wireless provider entered into an agreement addressing the subject matter of this chapter prior to October 1, 2019:
(1) This chapter shall not apply until such agreement expires or is terminated pursuant to its terms with regard to poles, decorative poles, support structures, replacement poles, and small wireless facilities installed pursuant to such agreement prior to October 1, 2019; and
(2) Otherwise, the provisions of this chapter shall apply to poles, decorative poles, support structures, replacement poles, and small wireless facilities installed on or after October 1, 2019.
Except to the extent authorized by current or future federal law, nothing in this chapter shall authorize this state or any political subdivision thereof, including, but not limited to, an authority, to require small wireless facility deployment or to regulate wireless services.
In the event of any conflict between the provisions of this chapter and the provisions of Chapter 66B of this title, this chapter shall control as to the collocation of small wireless facilities and the construction, installation, maintenance, modification, operation, and replacement of poles or support structures by wireless providers in the right of way.
(a) The construction, installation, maintenance, modification, operation, and replacement of wireline backhaul facilities in the right of way are not addressed by this chapter, and any such activity shall comply with Code Section 46-5-1, Chapter 76 of this title, and other applicable law.
(b) The approval of the installation, placement, maintenance, or operation of a small wireless facility pursuant to this chapter shall not authorize the provision of any communications services.
(c) Except as provided in this chapter or otherwise expressly authorized by state or federal law, an authority shall not adopt or enforce any ordinances, regulations, or requirements as to the placement or operation of communications facilities in a right of way by a communications services provider authorized by state or local law to operate in a right of way, regulate any communications services, or impose or collect any tax, fee, or charge for the provision of communications services over the communications services provider's communications facilities in a right of way.
(d) This chapter shall not apply to an authority to the extent that such authority uses communications facilities to provide free Wi-Fi services to the public.
Nothing in this chapter relieves any person of any duties set forth in Chapter 9 of Title 25.
As used in this chapter, the term:
(1) “Applicant” means any person who applies for a rezoning action and any attorney or other person representing or acting on behalf of a person who applies for a rezoning action.
(2) “Business entity” means any corporation, partnership, limited partnership, firm, enterprise, franchise, association, or trust.
(2.1) “Campaign contribution” means a “contribution” as defined in paragraph (7) of Code Section 21-5-3.
(3) “Financial interest” means all direct ownership interests of the total assets or capital stock of a business entity where such ownership interest is 10 percent or more.
(4) “Local government” means any county or municipality of this state.
(5) “Local government official” means any member of the governing authority of a local government or any member of a planning or zoning commission.
(6) “Member of the family” means the spouse, mother, father, brother, sister, son, or daughter of a local government official.
(6.1) “Opponent” means any person who opposes a rezoning action or any attorney or other person representing or acting on behalf of a person who opposes a rezoning action.
(6.2) “Oppose” means to appear before, discuss with, or contact, either orally or in writing, any local government or local government official and argue against a rezoning action.
(6.3) “Person” means an individual, partnership, committee, association, corporation, labor organization, or any other organization or group of persons.
(7) “Property interest” means the direct ownership of real property and includes any percentage of ownership less than total ownership.
(8) “Real property” means any tract or parcel of land and, if developed, any buildings or structures located on the land.
(9) “Rezoning action” means action by local government adopting an amendment to a zoning ordinance which has the effect of rezoning real property from one zoning classification to another.
A local government official who knew or reasonably should have known he or she:
(1) Has a property interest in any real property affected by a rezoning action which that official's local government will have the duty to consider;
(2) Has a financial interest in any business entity which has a property interest in any real property affected by a rezoning action which that official's local government will have the duty to consider; or
(3) Has a member of the family having any interest described in paragraph (1) or (2) of this Code section
shall immediately disclose the nature and extent of such interest, in writing, to the governing authority of the local government in which the local government official is a member. The local government official who has an interest as defined in paragraph (1) or (2) of this Code section shall disqualify himself from voting on the rezoning action. The disqualified local government official shall not take any other action on behalf of himself or any other person to influence action on the application for rezoning. The disclosures provided for in this Code section shall be a public record and available for public inspection at any time during normal working hours.
(a) When any applicant for rezoning action has made, within two years immediately preceding the filing of that applicant's application for the rezoning action, campaign contributions aggregating $250.00 or more to a local government official who will consider the application, it shall be the duty of the applicant to file a disclosure report with the governing authority of the respective local government showing:
(1) The name and official position of the local government official to whom the campaign contribution was made; and
(2) The dollar amount and description of each campaign contribution made by the applicant to the local government official during the two years immediately preceding the filing of the application for the rezoning action and the date of each such contribution.
(b) The disclosures required by subsection (a) of this Code section shall be filed within ten days after the application for the rezoning action is first filed.
(c) When any opponent of a rezoning action has made, within two years immediately preceding the filing of the rezoning action being opposed, campaign contributions aggregating $250.00 or more to a local government official of the local government which will consider the application, it shall be the duty of the opponent to file a disclosure with the governing authority of the respective local government showing:
(1) The name and official position of the local government official to whom the campaign contribution was made; and
(2) The dollar amount and description of each campaign contribution made by the opponent to the local government official during the two years immediately preceding the filing of the application for the rezoning action and the date of each such contribution.
(d) The disclosure required by subsection (c) of this Code section shall be filed at least five calendar days prior to the first hearing by the local government or any of its agencies on the rezoning application.
Any person knowingly failing to comply with the requirements of this chapter or violating the provisions of this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
(a) Where one or more disqualifications required by this chapter result in the inability of the governing authority of the county or municipality to attain a quorum for the purpose of making a final decision when considering a rezoning action, the governing authority immediately shall petition the superior court wherein the property which is the subject of the rezoning is located for appointment of a disinterested special master for the purpose of hearing evidence regarding the proposed rezoning action and making a recommendation to the petitioning governing authority. The court, in its order appointing the special master, shall give such directions for notice and the service thereof as well as for the time in which a hearing must be held and recommendations issued as are just and appropriate under the circumstances and as are consistent with this chapter.
(b) The disinterested special master provided for in this Code section shall be appointed by the judge or judges of the superior courts of each judicial circuit and shall discharge the duties provided for in this Code section. The special master so appointed must be a competent attorney at law, be of good standing in his profession, and have at least three years' experience in the practice of law. He shall hold office at the pleasure of the judge and shall be removable at any time with or without cause. The court, in its order appointing the special master, shall designate the person or entity responsible for compensating the special master at a rate not less than $50.00 per day nor more than $250.00 per day for the time actually devoted to the hearing and consideration of the matter.
(c) The special master shall consider any factors relevant in balancing the interest in promoting the public health, safety, morality, or general welfare against the right to the unrestricted use of property.
(d) The hearing provided for in this Code section and all records pertinent thereto shall be open and available to the public.
(e) Nothing contained in this Code section shall be construed as a delegation of the final decision-making powers of the governing authority to the special master and the recommendation of the special master is not a final decision as to the rezoning action. Where a special master has been appointed and has made a recommendation, the disqualification requirement of Code Section 36-67A-2 shall be waived.
Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prohibit a local government official from voting on a zoning decision when the local government is adopting a zoning ordinance for the first time or when a local government is voting upon a revision of the zoning ordinance initiated by the local government pursuant to a comprehensive plan as defined in Chapter 70 of this title.
This chapter is enacted pursuant to the authority of Article IX, Section III, Paragraph II, subparagraph (b) of the Constitution. It is the purpose of this chapter to grant authority to the General Assembly to provide by local law for a form of governmental reorganization whereby the charter of a municipality is repealed in order for the county in which the municipality is located to succeed to the corporate powers, functions, rights, assets, and liabilities of the municipality. This chapter shall be liberally construed to carry out effectively such purpose.
(a) Subject to the requirements of Code Section 36-68-3, when the charter of a municipality is repealed by local law as a part of achieving a governmental reorganization described in Code Section 36-68-1, the General Assembly may also provide by local law for any of the following matters:
(1) The form of government of the county which is the successor to the corporate powers, functions, rights, properties, and obligations of the municipality;
(2) The county to constitute a municipality as well as a county for the purposes of the application of the general laws and Constitution of this state;
(3) The exercise by the county of the powers vested in the former municipality and in municipalities generally as well as the powers vested in the county and counties generally;
(4) The county to receive any grants or other types of funds or revenues which the former municipality was entitled to receive as well as grants or other types of funds or revenues which the county is entitled to receive;
(5) The status of the county relative to any municipalities, other than the municipality having its charter repealed, located wholly or partially within such county;
(6) The transfer of all assets and properties of the municipality to the county;
(7) The assumption by the county of all contractual and other obligations of the municipality;
(8) The transfer of employees of the municipality to the county and for the preservation of any rights of such employees and their beneficiaries existing under any retirement or pension system of the municipality; and
(9) Any other matters reasonably necessary or convenient to achieve and implement effectively a governmental reorganization described by Code Section 36-68-1.
(b) A local law enacted pursuant to the authority of subsection (a) of this Code section may provide for such procedures, requirements, and limitations as may be reasonably necessary to control the subjects included within such local law, and the provisions of said subsection (a) shall not be construed to limit the manner in which the General Assembly may by local law control the subjects described by said subsection (a).
(a) Local laws enacted pursuant to the authority of this chapter shall be subject to the following requirements:
(1) A local law enacted pursuant to the authority of Code Section 36-68-2 shall provide for the creation of a special tax district consisting of the territory lying within the corporate boundaries of the municipality for the purpose of the successor county government levying a tax therein sufficient to retire the bonded indebtedness of the municipality which was outstanding on the effective date of the repeal of the charter of the municipality;
(2) The effectiveness of local laws described in paragraphs (3) and (4) of this subsection shall be contingent upon their approval by the governing authorities of the affected municipality and county prior to the referendums provided for in paragraphs (3) and (4) of this subsection;
(3) The effectiveness of a local law repealing the charter of a municipality shall be contingent upon its approval by a majority of the voters voting within the municipality and upon the parallel local law described by paragraph (4) of this subsection becoming effective; and
(4) The effectiveness of a local law enacted pursuant to the authority of Code Section 36-68-2 shall be contingent upon its approval by a majority of the voters voting throughout the territorial boundaries of the applicable county and upon the parallel local law described by paragraph (3) of this subsection becoming effective.
(b) The requirement for a referendum to repeal a municipal charter under paragraph (3) of subsection (a) of this Code section shall apply to the repeal of a municipal charter only when such repeal is a part of a governmental reorganization described by Code Section 36-68-1.
(a) If as of July 1, 2007, or at any time thereafter there exists in this state a county in which no part of any municipal corporation is located, then the governing authority of that county may elect that the county shall thenceforth be deemed to be and constituted as a consolidated government for purposes of the laws of this state. In order to be effective under this Code section, the election by the county governing authority must comply with all of the following conditions:
(1) The election shall be carried out by the adoption of an appropriate resolution by the county governing authority which must be adopted by unanimous vote of the members of the governing authority voting thereon and ratified by a majority of the electors of the county voting in a referendum;
(2) The election must be made by the county governing authority within one calendar year after July 1, 2007, or such later date as this Code section becomes applicable to the county;
(3) The county must at the time of election be providing at least three of the services specified in subsection (b) of Code Section 36-30-7.1; and
(4) Within 30 days after the adoption of the resolution and ratification by the electors of the county a certification of election must be filed by the county with the Department of Community Affairs in such form and manner as may be specified by the department.
(b) A county which is constituted as a consolidated government under this Code section shall constitute a municipal corporation as well as a county for the purpose of the application of the general laws and Constitution of this state. Such a county may exercise the powers vested in municipalities generally as well as the powers vested in the county by general or local law. When similar but not identical laws apply to counties and municipalities and a determination must be made as to which law applies, the county which is constituted as a consolidated government may elect which law to proceed under.
(c) When a county has become subject to this Code section, no municipal corporation may thereafter be created in or extend into the county.
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the “Georgia Mutual Aid Act.”
As used in this chapter, the term “local emergency” means the existence of conditions of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property within the territorial limits of a political subdivision of the state or on a campus of an institution within the University System of Georgia or the Technical College System of Georgia caused by natural disasters, riots, civil disturbances, or other situations presenting major law enforcement and other public safety problems, which conditions are or are likely to be beyond the control of the services, personnel, equipment, and facilities of that political subdivision of the state and which require the combined forces of other political subdivisions of the state to combat.
(a)(1) Upon the request of a local law enforcement agency for assistance in a local emergency, in the prevention or detection of violations of any law, in the apprehension or arrest of any person who violates a criminal law of this state, or in any criminal case, the chief of police or public safety director of any municipality or chief of police or public safety director of any county police force may, with the approval of the governing authority of any such officer's political subdivision, and the sheriff of any county may cooperate with and render assistance extraterritorially to such local law enforcement agency requesting the same.
(2)(A) Upon the request of a local law enforcement agency for assistance in a local emergency, in the prevention or detection of violations of any law, in the apprehension or arrest of any person who violates a criminal law of this state, or in any criminal case, the public safety director or chief of police of any institution within the University System of Georgia or the Technical College System of Georgia may, with the approval of the president of such institution, cooperate with and render assistance extraterritorially to such law enforcement agency requesting the same.
(B) Upon the request for assistance in a local emergency, in the prevention or detection of violations of any law, in the apprehension or arrest of any person who violates a criminal law of this state, or in any criminal case, which request is made by a public safety director or chief of police of any institution within the University System of Georgia or the Technical College System of Georgia after approval by the president of such institution, the chief of police or public safety director of any municipality or any county police force may, with the approval of the governing authority of any such officer's political subdivision and the sheriff of the county, cooperate with and render assistance extraterritorially to such law enforcement agency of the institution requesting the same.
(b) Upon the request of any local fire department for assistance in a local emergency, in preventing or suppressing a fire, or in protecting life and property, the fire chief or public safety director of any local political subdivision may, with the approval of the governing authority of such political subdivision, cooperate with and render assistance extraterritorially to such local fire department requesting the same.
(c) Upon the request of any local law enforcement agency or local director of emergency medical services for assistance in a local emergency or in transporting wounded, injured, or sick persons to a place where medical or hospital care is furnished, emergency medical technicians employed by a political subdivision may, with the approval of the governing authority of such political subdivision, cooperate with and render assistance extraterritorially to such local law enforcement agency or local director of emergency services.
(d) Authorization for furnishing assistance extraterritorially may be granted by the sheriff of any county or the governing authority of a local political subdivision or the president of an institution within the University System of Georgia or the Technical College System of Georgia to any of its agencies or employees covered by this Code section prior to any occurrence resulting in the need for such assistance; provided, however, that any prior authorization granted by the president of an institution within the University System of Georgia or the Technical College System of Georgia for the furnishing of assistance extraterritorially must be submitted to and approved by the board of regents or the State Board of the Technical College System of Georgia, respectively, before it becomes effective. Such authorization may provide limitations and restrictions on such assistance furnished extraterritorially, provided that such limitations and restrictions do not conflict with the provisions of Code Sections 36-69-4 through 36-69-6.
(e) The senior officer of the public safety agency of a political subdivision or institution within the University System of Georgia or the Technical College System of Georgia which requests assistance in a local emergency as provided in this Code section shall be in command of the local emergency as to strategy, tactics, and overall direction of the operations with respect to the public safety officers and employees rendering assistance extraterritorially at the request of such public safety agency. All orders or directions regarding the operations of the public safety officers and employees rendering assistance extraterritorially shall be relayed to the senior officer in command of the public safety agency rendering assistance extraterritorially.
Any county or municipality in this state shall be authorized to enter into contracts and mutual aid agreements with counties or municipalities of any other state or with any agency of the United States for the provision of law enforcement services in a local emergency to the extent that the laws of such other state or the United States permit such joint contracts or agreements to furnish one another assistance in law enforcement. Any such contract or mutual aid agreement shall have incorporated therein the provisions of Code Sections 36-69-4 through 36-69-8. Any such contract or mutual aid agreement entered into by a county shall not become effective until approved by the sheriff of such county.
Whenever the employees of any political subdivision or institution within the University System of Georgia or the Technical College System of Georgia are rendering aid outside their political subdivision or campus, respectively, and pursuant to the authority contained in this chapter, such employees shall have the same powers, duties, rights, privileges, and immunities as if they were performing their duties in the political subdivision or on the campus of the institution in which they are normally employed.
Unless otherwise provided by contract, the political subdivision or institution within the University System of Georgia or the Technical College System of Georgia which furnishes any equipment pursuant to this chapter shall bear the loss or damage to such equipment and shall pay any expense incurred in the operation and maintenance thereof. Unless otherwise provided by contract, the political subdivision or institution within the University System of Georgia or the Technical College System of Georgia furnishing aid pursuant to this chapter shall compensate its employees during the time of rendering of such aid and shall defray the actual travel and maintenance expenses of such employees while they are rendering such aid. Such compensation shall include any amounts paid or due for compensation due to personal injury or death while such employees are engaged in rendering such aid.
All of the privileges and immunities from liability; exemption from laws, ordinances, and rules; and all pension, insurance, relief, disability, workers' compensation, salary, death, and other benefits which apply to the activity of such officers, agents, or employees of any such political subdivision or institution within the University System of Georgia or the Technical College System of Georgia when performing their respective functions within the territorial limits of their respective political subdivisions or campuses shall apply to such officers, agents, or employees to the same degree, manner, and extent while engaged in the performance of any of their functions and duties extraterritorially under the provisions of this chapter relating to mutual aid. The provisions of this Code section shall apply with equal effect to paid, volunteer, and auxiliary employees.
Neither a public safety agency which requests assistance pursuant to Code Section 36-69-3 nor the political subdivision or institution of the University System of Georgia or the Technical College System of Georgia in which the public safety agency is located shall be liable for any acts or omissions of employees of a responding public safety agency rendering assistance extraterritorially under the provisions of this chapter.
(a) The provisions of this chapter shall not be construed as creating a duty on the part of any public safety agency of a local political subdivision or institution within the University System of Georgia or the Technical College System of Georgia to respond to a request from any public safety agency of another local political subdivision or institution of the University System of Georgia or the Technical College System of Georgia as authorized in Code Section 36-69-3.
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (e) of Code Section 36-69-3, the provisions of this chapter shall not be construed as creating a duty on the part of a public safety agency rendering assistance extraterritorially to stay at the scene of a local emergency for any length of time. Such responding public safety agency may depart the scene of a local emergency at any time at the discretion of the officer in command of the public safety agency rendering assistance extraterritorially at the scene of the local emergency.
(a) The authority of this chapter shall be cumulative to and in addition to mutual aid resource pacts authorized under Chapter 6 of Title 25 or contracts between political subdivisions for the provision of services authorized under Section II of Article IX of the Constitution.
(b) The authority of this chapter shall be cumulative to and in addition to any rights, powers, or authority exercised by the sheriffs of this state as of July 1, 1988.
The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to any emergency in which the chief executive of a political subdivision assigns or makes available for duty the employees, property, or equipment of the subdivision relating to fire fighting, engineering, rescue, health, medical and related services, and to police, transportation, construction, and similar items or services for emergency management purposes outside of the physical limits of the subdivision as provided in Code Section 38-3-27.
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the “Interlocal Cooperation Act.”
It is the purpose of this chapter to permit counties and municipalities in this state the most efficient use of their powers by enabling them to cooperate with localities in other states on a basis of mutual advantage and provide services and facilities in a manner and pursuant to forms of governmental organization that will accord best with geographic, economic, population, and other factors influencing the needs and development of local communities.
As used in this chapter, the term:
(1) “Public agency” means:
(A) Any political subdivision of this state other than a county school district or independent school district;
(B) Any volunteer fire department;
(C) Any volunteer rescue squad;
(D) Any agency of the state government or of the United States; and
(E) Any political subdivision of another state.
(2) “State” means a state of the United States.
(a) Any power or powers, privileges, or authority exercised or capable of exercise by a public agency of this state may be exercised and enjoyed jointly with any other public agency of any other state or of the United States to the extent that laws of such other state or of the United States permit such joint exercise or enjoyment. The authority for joint or cooperative action of political subdivisions shall apply to powers, privileges, or authority vested in, funded by, or under the control of their governing bodies.
(b) Any public agency in this state may enter into agreements with a public agency in another state for joint or cooperative action pursuant to the provisions of this chapter to effectuate the purposes of this chapter. Appropriate action of the governing bodies of the participating public agencies by resolution or otherwise pursuant to law shall be necessary before any such agreement may enter into force. Any such agreement shall be subject to the requirements provided by the Constitution and general laws of this state with respect to intergovernmental contracts.
(c) Any such agreement shall specify the following:
(1) The precise organization, composition, and nature of any separate legal or administrative entity or entities created thereby, which may include, but is not limited to, a corporation not for profit, together with the powers delegated to such a corporation;
(2) Its purpose or purposes;
(3) The manner of financing the joint or cooperative undertaking and of establishing and maintaining a budget for such undertaking;
(4) The permissible method or methods to be employed in accomplishing the partial or complete termination of the agreement and for disposing of property upon such partial or complete termination; and
(5) Any other necessary and proper matters.
(d) In the event that the agreement does not establish a separate legal entity or entities to conduct the joint or cooperative undertaking, the agreement shall, in addition to the requirements of subsection (c) of this Code section contain the following:
(1) Provision for an administrator or a joint board responsible for administering the joint or cooperative undertaking. In the case of a joint board, public agencies party to the agreement shall be represented; and
(2) The manner of acquiring, holding, and disposing of real and personal property used in the joint or cooperative undertaking.
(e)(1) No agreement made pursuant to this chapter shall relieve any public agency of any obligation or responsibility imposed upon it by law, except that, to the extent of actual and timely performance thereof by a joint board or other legal or administrative entity or entities created by an agreement made hereunder, those performances may be offered in satisfaction of the obligation or responsibility.
(2)(A) A separate legal or administrative entity, created by interlocal agreement under this chapter, is not empowered to:
(i) Assess, levy, or collect ad valorem taxes;
(ii) Issue general obligation bonds; or
(iii) Exercise the power of eminent domain.
(B) However, to the extent that the participating political subdivisions possess such powers, the political subdivisions may exercise such powers on behalf and for the benefit of the separate legal or administrative entity.
(f)(1) Any agreement under this chapter shall contain provisions for the following:
(A) The contract shall terminate absolutely and without further obligation on the part of the county or municipality at the close of the calendar year in which it was executed and at the close of each succeeding calendar year for which it may be renewed as provided in this Code section;
(B) The contract may provide for automatic renewal unless positive action is taken by the county or municipality to terminate such contract, and the nature of such action shall be determined by the county or municipality and specified in the contract;
(C) The contract shall state the total obligation of the county or municipality for the calendar year of execution and shall further state the total obligation which will be incurred in each calendar year renewal term, if renewed; and
(D) The contract shall provide that title to any supplies, materials, equipment, or other personal property shall remain in the vendor until fully paid for by the county or municipality.
(2) In addition to the provisions enumerated in paragraph (1) of this subsection, any contract authorized by this chapter may include:
(A) A provision which requires that the contract will terminate immediately and absolutely at such time as appropriated and otherwise unobligated funds are no longer available to satisfy the obligations of the county or municipality under the contract; or
(B) Any other provision reasonably necessary to protect the interests of the county or municipality.
(3) Any contract developed under this chapter containing the provisions enumerated in paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be deemed to obligate the county or municipality only for those sums payable during the calendar year of execution or, in the event of a renewal by the county or municipality, for those sums payable in the individual calendar year renewal term.
(4) No contract developed and executed pursuant to this chapter shall be deemed to create a debt of the county or municipality for the payment of any sum beyond the calendar year of execution or, in the event of a renewal, beyond the calendar year of such renewal.
(5) No contract developed and executed pursuant to this chapter may be delivered if the principal portion of such contract, when added to the amount of debt incurred by any county or municipality pursuant to Article IX, Section V, Paragraph I of the Constitution of Georgia, exceeds 10 percent of the assessed value of all taxable property within such county or municipality.
An agreement entered into pursuant to this chapter between or among one or more counties or municipalities of this state and one or more public agencies of another state or of the United States shall not constitute a waiver of sovereign immunity. All of the privileges and immunities from liability; exemption from laws, ordinances, and rules; and all pension, insurance, relief, disability, workers' compensation, salary, death, and other benefits which apply to the activity of such officers, agents, or employees of any such political subdivision or institution within the University System of Georgia when performing their respective functions within the territorial limits of their respective political subdivisions or campuses shall apply to such officers, agents, or employees to the same degree, manner, and extent while engaged in the performance of any of their functions and duties extraterritorially under the provisions of this chapter relating to mutual aid. The provisions of this Code section shall apply with equal effect to paid, volunteer, and auxiliary employees. In any case or controversy involving performance or interpretation thereof or liability thereunder, no action may be brought except in the state or superior court of the county in this state which executed the agreement or the county in this state in which a city in this state is located which executed the agreement.
In the event that an agreement made pursuant to this chapter shall deal in whole or in part with the provision of services or facilities with regard to which an officer or agency of the state government has constitutional or statutory powers of control, the agreement shall, as a condition precedent to its entry into force, be submitted to the state officer or agency having such power of control and shall be approved or disapproved by such state officer or agency as to all matters within such officer's or agency's jurisdiction.
Any county or municipality entering into an agreement pursuant to this chapter may appropriate funds and may sell, lease, give, or otherwise supply the administrative joint board or other legal or administrative entity created to operate the joint or cooperative undertaking by providing such personnel or services therefor as may be within its legal power to furnish.
Any one or more counties or municipalities in this state may contract with any one or more public agencies of another state to perform any governmental service, activity, or undertaking which each public agency entering into the contract is authorized by law to perform; provided, however, that such contract shall be authorized by the governing body of each party to the contract. Such contract shall set forth fully the purposes, powers, rights, objectives, and responsibilities of the contracting parties.
The authority of this chapter shall be cumulative to and in addition to any rights, powers, or authority otherwise authorized under the Constitution or general laws of this state.
The local governments of the State of Georgia are of vital importance to the state and its citizens. The state has an essential public interest in promoting, developing, sustaining, and assisting local governments. In addition, the natural resources, environment, and vital areas of the state are of vital importance to the state and its citizens. The state has an essential public interest in protecting and preserving the natural resources, the environment, and the vital areas of the state. The purpose of this article is to provide for local governments to serve these essential public interests of the state by authorizing and promoting the establishment, implementation, and performance of coordinated and comprehensive planning by municipal governments and county governments, and this article shall be construed liberally to achieve that end. This article is enacted pursuant to the authority granted the General Assembly in the Constitution of the State of Georgia, including, but not limited to, the authority provided in Article III, Section VI, Paragraphs I and II(a)(1) and Article IX, Section II, Paragraphs III and IV.
As used in this chapter, the term:
(1) “Comprehensive plan” means any plan by a county or municipality covering such county or municipality proposed or prepared pursuant to the minimum standards and procedures for preparation of comprehensive plans and for implementation of comprehensive plans established by the department.
(2) “Coordinated and comprehensive planning” means planning by counties and municipalities undertaken in accordance with the minimum standards and procedures for preparation of plans, for implementation of plans, and for participation in the coordinated and comprehensive planning process, as established by the department.
(3) “County” means any county of this state.
(4) “Department” means the Department of Community Affairs of the State of Georgia created pursuant to Article 1 of Chapter 8 of Title 50.
(5) “Governing authority” or “governing body” means the board of commissioners of a county, sole commissioner of a county, council, commissioners, or other governing authority for a county or municipality.
(5.1) “Inactive municipality” means any municipality which has not for a period of three consecutive calendar years carried out any of the following activities:
(A) The levying or collecting of any taxes or fees;
(B) The provision of any of the following governmental services: water; sewage; garbage collection; police protection; fire protection; or library; or
(C) The holding of a municipal election.
(5.2) “Local government” means any county as defined in paragraph (3) of this Code section or any municipality as defined in paragraph (7) of this Code section. The term does not include any school district of this state nor any sheriff, clerk of the superior court, judge of the probate court, or tax commissioner or the office, personnel, or services provided by such elected officials.
(5.3) “Mechanisms” includes, but is not limited to, intergovernmental agreements, ordinances, resolutions, and local Acts of the General Assembly in effect on July 1, 1997, or executed thereafter.
(6) “Minimum standards and procedures” means the minimum standards and procedures for preparation of comprehensive plans, for implementation of comprehensive plans, and for participation in the coordinated and comprehensive planning process, as established by the department, in accordance with Article 1 of Chapter 8 of Title 50. Minimum standards and procedures shall include any standards and procedures for such purposes prescribed by a regional commission for counties and municipalities within its region and approved in advance by the department.
(7) “Municipality” means any municipal corporation of the state and any consolidated city-county government of the state.
(8) “Region” means the territorial area within the boundaries of operation for any regional commission, as such boundaries shall be established from time to time by the board of the department.
(9) “Regional commission” means a regional commission established under Article 2 of Chapter 8 of Title 50.
The governing bodies of municipalities and counties are authorized:
(1) To develop, or to cause to be developed pursuant to a contract or other arrangement approved by the governing body, a comprehensive plan;
(2) To develop, establish, and implement land use regulations which are consistent with the comprehensive plan of the municipality or county, as the case may be;
(3) To develop, establish, and implement a plan for capital improvements which conforms to minimum standards and procedures and to make any capital improvements plan a part of the comprehensive plan of the municipality or county, as the case may be;
(4) To employ personnel, or to enter into contracts with a regional commission or other public or private entity, to assist the municipality or county in developing, establishing, and implementing its comprehensive plan;
(5) To contract with one or more counties or municipalities, or both, for assistance in developing, establishing, and implementing a comprehensive plan, regardless of whether the contract is to obtain such assistance or to provide such assistance; and
(6) To take all action necessary or desirable to further the policy of the state for coordinated and comprehensive planning, without regard for whether any such action is specifically mentioned in this article or is otherwise specifically granted by law.
(a) Each municipality and county shall automatically be a member of the regional commission for the region which includes such municipality or county, as the case may be.
(b) Each municipality and county shall pay, when and as they become due, the annual dues required for membership in its regional commission.
(c) Each municipality and county shall participate in compiling a Georgia data base and network, coordinated by the department, to serve as a comprehensive source of information available, in an accessible form, to local governments and state agencies.
(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this Code section, nothing in this article shall limit or compromise the right of the governing body of any county or municipality to exercise the power of zoning.
(b) Any municipality which is as of April 17, 1992, an inactive municipality shall not on or after April 17, 1992, exercise any powers under this article or exercise any zoning powers, until and unless the municipality is restored to active status by the enactment of an appropriate new or amended charter by local Act of the General Assembly. Any municipality which becomes an inactive municipality after April 17, 1992, shall not after becoming inactive exercise powers under this article or exercise any zoning powers, until and unless the municipality is restored to active status by the enactment of an appropriate new or amended charter by local Act of the General Assembly.
(c) Any county which has located within its boundaries all or any part of any inactive municipality shall have full authority to exercise through its governing body all planning and zoning powers within the area of such inactive municipality within the county, in the same manner as if such area were an unincorporated area.
(a) As used in this Code section, the terms “broadband services” and “broadband services provider” shall have the same meanings as provided in Code Section 50-40-1.
(b) The governing bodies of municipalities and counties shall provide in any comprehensive plan for the promotion of the deployment of broadband services by broadband services providers.
The intent of this article is to provide a flexible framework within which local governments in each county can develop a service delivery system that is both efficient and responsive to citizens in their county. The General Assembly recognizes that the unique characteristics of each county throughout the state preclude a mandated legislative outcome for the delivery of services in every county. The process provided by this article is intended to minimize inefficiencies resulting from duplication of services and competition between local governments and to provide a mechanism to resolve disputes over local government service delivery, funding equity, and land use. The local government service delivery process should result in the minimization of noncompatible municipal and county land use plans and in a simple, concise agreement describing which local governments will provide which service in specified areas within a county and how provision of such services will be funded.
Each county and municipality shall execute an agreement for the implementation of a local government service delivery strategy as set forth in this article by July 1, 1999.
Each county shall initiate the process for developing a local government service delivery strategy after July 1, 1997, but no later than January 1, 1998. Initiation of the strategy shall be accomplished by the provision of a written notice from the county to the governing bodies of all municipalities located wholly or partially within the county or providing services within the county and to other counties providing services within the county. Such notice shall state the date, time, and place for a joint meeting at which designated representatives of all local governing bodies shall assemble for the purpose of commencing deliberations on the service delivery strategy. The notice shall be sent not more than 45 and not less than 15 days prior to the meeting date. In the event the county governing authority fails to initiate the process by January 1, 1998, any municipality within the county may do so by sending a written notice, containing the required information, to the county and all other municipalities.
Each local government service delivery strategy shall include the following components:
(1) An identification of all local government services presently provided or primarily funded by each general purpose local government and each authority within the county, or providing services within the county, and a description of the geographic area in which the identified services are provided by each jurisdiction;
(2) An assignment of which local government or authority, pursuant to the requirements of this article, will provide each service, the geographic areas of the county in which such services are to be provided, and a description of any services to be provided by any local government to any geographic area outside its geographical boundaries. In the event two or more local governments within the county are assigned responsibility for providing identical services within the same geographic area, the strategy shall include an explanation of such arrangement;
(3) A description of the source of the funding for each service identified pursuant to paragraph (2) of this Code section; and
(4) An identification of the mechanisms to be utilized to facilitate the implementation of the services and funding responsibilities identified pursuant to paragraphs (2) and (3) of this Code section.
In the development of a service delivery strategy, the following criteria shall be met:
(1) The strategy shall promote the delivery of local government services in the most efficient, effective, and responsive manner. The strategy shall identify steps which will be taken to remediate or avoid overlapping and unnecessary competition and duplication of service delivery and shall identify the time frame in which such steps shall be taken. When a municipality provides a service at a higher level than the base level of service provided throughout the geographic area of the county by the county, such service shall not be considered a duplication of the county service;
(2)(A) The strategy shall provide that water or sewer fees charged to customers located outside the geographic boundaries of a service provider shall not be arbitrarily higher than the fees charged to customers receiving such service which are located within the geographic boundaries of the service provider.
(B) If a governing authority disputes the reasonableness of water and sewer rate differentials imposed within its jurisdiction by another governing authority, that disputing governing authority may hold a public hearing for the purpose of reviewing the rate differential. Following the preparation of a rate study by a qualified engineer, the governing authority may challenge the arbitrary rate differentials on behalf of its residents in a court of competent jurisdiction. Prior to such challenge, the dispute shall be submitted to some form of alternative dispute resolution;
(3)(A) The strategy shall ensure that the cost of any service which a county provides primarily for the benefit of the unincorporated area of the county shall be borne by the unincorporated area residents, individuals, and property owners who receive the service. Further, when the county and one or more municipalities jointly fund a county-wide service, the county share of such funding shall be borne by the unincorporated residents, individuals, and property owners that receive the service.
(B) Such funding shall be derived from special service districts created by the county in which property taxes, insurance premium taxes, assessments, or user fees are levied or imposed or through such other mechanism agreed upon by the affected parties which complies with the intent of subparagraph (A) of this paragraph; and
(4)(A) Local governments within the same county shall, if necessary, amend their land use plans so that such plans are compatible and nonconflicting, or, as an alternative, they shall adopt a single land use plan for the unincorporated and incorporated areas of the county.
(B) The provision of extraterritorial water and sewer services by any jurisdiction shall be consistent with all applicable land use plans and ordinances.
(a) Approval of the local government service delivery strategy shall be accomplished as provided for in this Code section.
(b) The county and each municipality within the county shall participate in the development of the strategy. Approval of the strategy shall be accomplished by adoption of a resolution:
(1) By the county governing authority;
(2) By the governing authority of municipalities located within the county which have a population of 9,000 or greater within the county;
(3) By the municipality which serves as the county site if not included in paragraph (2) of this subsection; and
(4) By no less than 50 percent of the remaining municipalities within the county which contain at least 500 persons within the county if not included in paragraph (2) or (3) of this subsection.
(c) For the purpose of determining population, the population in the most recent United States decennial census shall be utilized.
(d) The adoption of a service delivery strategy specified in Code Section 36-70-21 may be extended to a date certain no later than 120 days following the date otherwise specified in Code Section 36-70-21 upon written agreement of the local governments enumerated in subsection (b) of this Code section. In the event such an agreement is executed, the sanctions specified in Code Section 36-70-27 shall not apply until on and after such extended date.
(a) As used in this Code section, the term “affected municipality” means each municipality required to adopt a resolution approving the local government service delivery strategy pursuant to subsection (b) of Code Section 36-70-25.
(b) If a county and the affected municipalities in the county do not reach an agreement on a service delivery strategy, the provisions of this Code section shall be followed as the process to resolve the dispute.
(c) If a county and the affected municipalities in the county are unable to reach an agreement on the strategy prior to the imposition of the sanctions provided in Code Section 36-70-27, a means for facilitating an agreement through some form of alternative dispute resolution shall be employed. Where the alternative dispute resolution action is unsuccessful, the neutral party or parties shall prepare a report which shall be provided to each governing authority and made a public record. The cost of alternative dispute resolution authorized by this subsection shall be shared by the parties to the dispute pro rata based on each party's population according to the most recent United States decennial census. The county's share shall be based upon the unincorporated population of the county.
(d) In the event that the county and the affected municipalities in the county fail to reach an agreement after the imposition of sanctions provided in Code Section 36-70-27, then the following process is available to the parties:
(1)(A) The county or any affected municipality located within the county may file a petition in superior court of the county seeking mandatory mediation. Such petition shall be assigned to a judge, pursuant to Code Section 15-1-9.1 or 15-6-13, who is not a judge in the circuit in which the county is located. The judge selected may also be a senior judge pursuant to Code Section 15-1-9.2 who resides in another circuit.
(B) The visiting or senior judge shall appoint a mediator within 30 days of receipt of the petition. Mediation shall commence within 30 days of the appointment of a mediator. The mandatory mediation process shall be completed within 60 days following the appointment of the mediator. A majority of the members of the governing body of the county and each affected municipality shall attend the initial mediation. Following the initial meeting, the mediation shall proceed in the manner established at the initial meeting. If there is no agreement on how the mediation should proceed, a majority of the members of the governing body of the county and each affected municipality shall be required to attend each mediation session unless another process is agreed upon. Unless otherwise provided in accordance with paragraph (2) of this subsection, the cost of alternative dispute resolution authorized by this subsection shall be shared by the parties to the dispute pro rata based on each party's population according to the most recent United States decennial census.
(C) During the mediation process described in this subsection, the sanctions imposed pursuant to Code Section 36-70-27 may, by order of the court, be held in abeyance by the judge against any or all of the parties participating in such mediation process.
(D) The judge may, by order of the court, substitute any mediation entered into pursuant to subsection (c) of this Code section for the mediation required pursuant to this subsection; and
(2) If no service delivery strategy has been submitted for verification to the Department of Community Affairs at the conclusion of the mediation, any aggrieved party may petition the superior court and seek resolution of the items remaining in dispute. The visiting or senior judge shall conduct an evidentiary hearing or hearings as such judge deems necessary and render a decision with regard to the disputed items. In rendering the decision, the judge shall consider the required elements of a service delivery strategy with a goal of achieving the intent of this article as specified in Code Section 36-70-20. It shall be in the discretion of the judge to hold the sanctions specified in Code Section 36-70-27 against one or more of the parties in abeyance pending the disposition of the action. The court is authorized to utilize its contempt powers to obtain compliance with its decision relating to the disputed items under review. The judge shall be authorized to impose mediation costs and court costs against any party upon a finding of bad faith.
(e) The court shall notify, or cause to be notified, the Department of Community Affairs in the event that penalties are abated during the pendency of mediation or litigation held pursuant to subsection (d) of this Code section. A notice shall also be sent in the event penalties become applicable to the parties.
(f) Any service delivery agreement implemented as a result of the process set forth in this Code section shall remain in effect until revised pursuant to Code Section 36-70-28.
Each county shall file the agreement for the implementation of strategy required by Code Section 36-70-21 with the department. The department shall, within 30 days of receipt, verify that the strategy includes the components enumerated in Code Section 36-70-23 and the minimum criteria enumerated in Code Section 36-70-24. The department, however, shall neither approve nor disapprove the specific elements or outcomes of the strategy.
(a)(1) No state administered financial assistance or grant, loan, or permit shall be issued to any local government or authority which is not included in a department verified strategy or for any project which is inconsistent with such strategy; provided, however, that a municipality or authority located or operating in more than one county shall be included in a department verified strategy for each county wherein the municipality or authority is located or operating.
(2) Paragraph (1) of this subsection shall not apply to any drinking water project of the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority or of any local government or authority if such project is a proposed drinking water supply reservoir or any water withdrawal, treatment, distribution, or other potable water facility associated with such reservoir and the project shall furnish potable water to wholesale users in incorporated areas in one or more counties. Within one year after such proposed drinking water supply reservoir becomes operational, the local governments and authorities in the affected county or counties shall update their service delivery strategy or strategies to be consistent with water supply arrangements resulting from the operation of such reservoir.
(b)(1) If a municipality containing fewer than 500 persons within the county fails to establish a process to resolve disputes as required by subparagraph (C) of paragraph (4) of Code Section 36-70-24, the sanctions specified in subsection (a) of this Code section shall not be imposed upon:
(A) The county within which any such municipality or portion of any such municipality is located; or
(B) Any other municipality located in such county.
(2) The provisions of this subsection shall apply only if a process to resolve disputes required by subparagraph (C) of paragraph (4) of Code Section 36-70-24 has been established between the county and each municipality containing 500 or more persons within the county.
(c) Any local government or authority which is subject to the sanctions specified in subsection (a) of this Code section shall become eligible for state administered financial assistance or grants, loans, or permits on the first day of the month following verification by the department that the requirements of Code Section 36-70-26 have been met.
(a) As used in this Code section, the term “affected municipality” means each municipality required to adopt a resolution approving the local government service delivery strategy pursuant to subsection (b) of Code Section 36-70-25.
(b) Each county and affected municipality shall review, and revise if necessary, the approved strategy:
(1) In conjunction with updates of the comprehensive plan as required by Article 1 of this chapter;
(2) Whenever necessary to change service delivery or revenue distribution arrangements;
(3) Whenever necessary due to changes in revenue distribution arrangements;
(4) In the event of the creation, abolition, or consolidation of local governments;
(5) When the existing service delivery strategy agreement expires; or
(6) Whenever the county and affected municipalities agree to revise the strategy.
(c) In the event that a county or an affected municipality located within the county refuses to review and revise, if necessary, a strategy in accordance with paragraphs (2) and (3) of subsection (b) of this Code section, then any of the parties may use the alternative dispute resolution and appeal procedures set forth in subsection (d) of Code Section 36-70-25.1.
(a) This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the “Georgia Development Impact Fee Act.”
(b) The General Assembly finds that an equitable program for planning and financing public facilities needed to serve new growth and development is necessary in order to promote and accommodate orderly growth and development and to protect the public health, safety, and general welfare of the citizens of the State of Georgia. It is the intent of this chapter to:
(1) Ensure that adequate public facilities are available to serve new growth and development;
(2) Promote orderly growth and development by establishing uniform standards by which municipalities and counties may require that new growth and development pay a proportionate share of the cost of new public facilities needed to serve new growth and development;
(3) Establish minimum standards for the adoption of development impact fee ordinances by municipalities and counties; and
(4) Ensure that new growth and development is required to pay no more than its proportionate share of the cost of public facilities needed to serve new growth and development and to prevent duplicate and ad hoc development exactions.
As used in this chapter, the term:
(1) “Capital improvement” means an improvement with a useful life of ten years or more, by new construction or other action, which increases the service capacity of a public facility.
(2) “Capital improvements element” means a component of a comprehensive plan adopted pursuant to Chapter 70 of this title which sets out projected needs for system improvements during a planning horizon established in the comprehensive plan, a schedule of capital improvements that will meet the anticipated need for system improvements, and a description of anticipated funding sources for each required improvement.
(3) “Comprehensive plan” has the same meaning as provided for in Chapter 70 of this title.
(4) “Developer” means any person or legal entity undertaking development.
(5) “Development” means any construction or expansion of a building, structure, or use, any change in use of a building or structure, or any change in the use of land, any of which creates additional demand and need for public facilities.
(6) “Development approval” means any written authorization from a municipality or county which authorizes the commencement of construction.
(7) “Development exaction” means a requirement attached to a development approval or other municipal or county action approving or authorizing a particular development project, including but not limited to a rezoning, which requirement compels the payment, dedication, or contribution of goods, services, land, or money as a condition of approval.
(8) “Development impact fee” means a payment of money imposed upon development as a condition of development approval to pay for a proportionate share of the cost of system improvements needed to serve new growth and development.
(9) “Encumber” means to legally obligate by contract or otherwise commit to use by appropriation or other official act of a municipality or county.
(10) “Feepayor” means that person who pays a development impact fee or his successor in interest where the right or entitlement to any refund of previously paid development impact fees which is required by this chapter has been expressly transferred or assigned to the successor in interest. In the absence of an express transfer or assignment of the right or entitlement to any refund of previously paid development impact fees, the right or entitlement shall be deemed “not to run with the land.”
(11) “Governmental entity” means any water authority, water and sewer authority, or water or waste-water authority created by or pursuant to an Act of the General Assembly of Georgia.
(12) “Level of service” means a measure of the relationship between service capacity and service demand for public facilities in terms of demand to capacity ratios, the comfort and convenience of use or service of public facilities, or both.
(13) “Present value” means the current value of past, present, or future payments, contributions or dedications of goods, services, materials, construction, or money.
(14) “Project” means a particular development on an identified parcel of land.
(15) “Project improvements” means site improvements and facilities that are planned and designed to provide service for a particular development project and that are necessary for the use and convenience of the occupants or users of the project and are not system improvements. The character of the improvement shall control a determination of whether an improvement is a project improvement or system improvement and the physical location of the improvement on site or off site shall not be considered determinative of whether an improvement is a project improvement or a system improvement. If an improvement or facility provides or will provide more than incidental service or facilities capacity to persons other than users or occupants of a particular project, the improvement or facility is a system improvement and shall not be considered a project improvement. No improvement or facility included in a plan for public facilities approved by the governing body of the municipality or county shall be considered a project improvement.
(16) “Proportionate share” means that portion of the cost of system improvements which is reasonably related to the service demands and needs of the project within the defined service area.
(17) “Public facilities” means:
(A) Water supply production, treatment, and distribution facilities;
(B) Waste-water collection, treatment, and disposal facilities;
(C) Roads, streets, and bridges, including rights of way, traffic signals, landscaping, and any local components of state or federal highways;
(D) Storm-water collection, retention, detention, treatment, and disposal facilities, flood control facilities, and bank and shore protection and enhancement improvements;
(E) Parks, open space, and recreation areas and related facilities;
(F) Public safety facilities, including police, fire, emergency medical, and rescue facilities; and
(G) Libraries and related facilities.
(18) “Service area” means a geographic area defined by a municipality, county, or intergovernmental agreement in which a defined set of public facilities provide service to development within the area. Service areas shall be designated on the basis of sound planning or engineering principles or both.
(19) “System improvement costs” means costs incurred to provide additional public facilities capacity needed to serve new growth and development for planning, design and construction, land acquisition, land improvement, design and engineering related thereto, including the cost of constructing or reconstructing system improvements or facility expansions, including but not limited to the construction contract price, surveying and engineering fees, related land acquisition costs (including land purchases, court awards and costs, attorneys' fees, and expert witness fees), and expenses incurred for qualified staff or any qualified engineer, planner, architect, landscape architect, or financial consultant for preparing or updating the capital improvement element, and administrative costs, provided that such administrative costs shall not exceed 3 percent of the total amount of the costs. Projected interest charges and other finance costs may be included if the impact fees are to be used for the payment of principal and interest on bonds, notes, or other financial obligations issued by or on behalf of the municipality or county to finance the capital improvements element but such costs do not include routine and periodic maintenance expenditures, personnel training, and other operating costs.
(20) “System improvements” means capital improvements that are public facilities and are designed to provide service to the community at large, in contrast to “project improvements.”
(a) Municipalities and counties which have adopted a comprehensive plan containing a capital improvements element are authorized to impose by ordinance development impact fees as a condition of development approval on all development pursuant to and in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. After the transition period provided in this chapter, development exactions for other than project improvements shall be imposed by municipalities and counties only by way of development impact fees imposed pursuant to and in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, that portion of a project for which a valid building permit has been issued prior to the effective date of a municipal or county development impact fee ordinance shall not be subject to development impact fees so long as the building permit remains valid and construction is commenced and is pursued according to the terms of the permit.
(c) Payment of a development impact fee shall be deemed to be in compliance with any municipal or county requirement for the provision of adequate public facilities or services in regard to the system improvements for which the development impact fee was paid.
(a) A development impact fee shall not exceed a proportionate share of the cost of system improvements, as defined in this chapter.
(b) Development impact fees shall be calculated and imposed on the basis of service areas.
(c) Development impact fees shall be calculated on the basis of levels of service for public facilities that are adopted in the municipal or county comprehensive plan that are applicable to existing development as well as the new growth and development.
(d) A municipal or county development impact fee ordinance shall provide that development impact fees shall be collected not earlier in the development process than the issuance of a building permit authorizing construction of a building or structure; provided, however, that development impact fees for public facilities described in subparagraph (D) of paragraph (17) of Code Section 36-71-2 may be collected at the time of a development approval that authorizes site construction or improvement which requires public facilities described in subparagraph (D) of paragraph (17) of Code Section 36-71-2.
(e) A municipal or county development impact fee ordinance shall include a schedule of impact fees specifying the development impact fee for various land uses per unit of development on a service area by service area basis. The ordinance shall provide that a developer shall have the right to elect to pay a project's proportionate share of system improvement costs by payment of development impact fees according to the fee schedule as full and complete payment of the development project's proportionate share of system improvement costs.
(f) A municipal or county development impact fee ordinance shall be adopted in accordance with the procedural requirements of Code Section 36-71-6.
(g) A municipal or county development impact fee ordinance shall include a provision permitting individual assessments of development impact fees at the option of applicants for development approval under guidelines established in the ordinance.
(h) A municipal or county development impact fee ordinance shall provide for a process whereby a developer may receive a certification of the development impact fee schedule or individual assessment for a particular project, which shall establish the development impact fee for a period of 180 days from the date of certification.
(i) A municipal or county development impact fee ordinance shall include a provision for credits in accordance with the requirements of Code Section 36-71-7.
(j) A municipal or county development impact fee ordinance shall include a provision prohibiting the expenditure of development impact fees except in accordance with the requirements of Code Section 36-71-8.
(k) A municipal or county development impact fee ordinance may provide for the imposition of a development impact fee for system improvement costs previously incurred by a municipality or county to the extent that new growth and development will be served by the previously constructed system improvements.
(l) A municipal or county development impact fee ordinance may exempt all or part of particular development projects from development impact fees if:
(1) Such projects are determined to create extraordinary economic development and employment growth or affordable housing;
(2) The public policy which supports the exemption is contained in the municipality's or county's comprehensive plan; and
(3) The exempt development project's proportionate share of the system improvement is funded through a revenue source other than development impact fees.
(m) A municipal or county development impact fee ordinance shall provide that development impact fees shall only be spent for the category of system improvements for which the fees were collected and in the service area in which the project for which the fees were paid is located.
(n) A municipal or county development impact fee ordinance shall provide that, in the event a building permit is abandoned, credit shall be given for the present value of the development impact fee against future development impact fees for the same parcel of land.
(o) A municipal or county development impact fee ordinance shall provide for a refund of development impact fees in accordance with the requirements of Code Section 36-71-9.
(p) A municipal or county development impact fee ordinance shall provide for appeals from administrative determinations regarding development impact fees in accordance with the requirements of Code Section 36-71-10.
(q) Development impact fees shall be based on actual system improvement costs or reasonable estimates of such costs.
(r) Development impact fees shall be calculated on a basis which is net of credits for the present value of revenues that will be generated by new growth and development based on historical funding patterns and that are anticipated to be available to pay for system improvements, including taxes, assessments, user fees, and intergovernmental transfers.
(a) Prior to the adoption of a development impact fee ordinance, a municipality or county adopting an impact fee program shall establish a Development Impact Fee Advisory Committee.
(b) Such committee shall be composed of not less than five nor more than ten members appointed by the governing authority of the municipality or county and at least 50 percent of the membership shall be representatives from the development, building, or real estate industries. An existing planning commission or other existing committee that meets these requirements may serve as the Development Impact Fee Advisory Committee.
(c) The Development Impact Fee Advisory Committee shall serve in an advisory capacity to assist and advise the governing body of the municipality or county with regard to the adoption of a development impact fee ordinance. In that the committee is advisory, no action of the committee shall be considered a necessary prerequisite for municipal or county action in regard to adoption of an ordinance.
Prior to the adoption of an ordinance imposing a development impact fee pursuant to this chapter, the governing body of a municipality or county shall cause two duly noticed public hearings to be held in regard to the proposed ordinance. The second hearing shall be held at least two weeks after the first hearing.
(a) In the calculation of development impact fees for a particular project, credit shall be given for the present value of any construction of improvements or contribution or dedication of land or money required or accepted by a municipality or county from a developer or his predecessor in title or interest for system improvements of the category for which the development impact fee is being collected. Credits shall not be given for project improvements.
(b) In the event that a developer enters into an agreement with a county or municipality to construct, fund, or contribute system improvements such that the amount of the credit created by such construction, funding, or contribution is in excess of the development impact fees which would otherwise have been paid for the development project, the developer shall be reimbursed for such excess construction, funding, or contribution from development impact fees paid by other development located in the service area which is benefited by such improvements.
(a) An ordinance imposing development impact fees shall provide that all development impact fee funds shall be maintained in one or more interest-bearing accounts. Accounting records shall be maintained for each category of system improvements and the service area in which the fees are collected. Interest earned on development impact fees shall be considered funds of the account on which it is earned and shall be subject to all restrictions placed on the use of development impact fees under the provisions of this chapter. The accounting records shall include the following information:
(1) The accounting records to be maintained shall specify the address of each property which paid development impact fees, the amount of fees paid in each category in which fees were collected, and the date that such fees were paid; and
(2) As to any exemptions granted, the accounting records to be maintained shall specify the address of each property for which exemptions were granted, the reason for which such exemption was granted, and the revenue source from which the exempt development's proportionate share of the system improvements is to be paid.
(b) Expenditures of development impact fees shall be made only for the category of system improvements and in the service area for which the development impact fee was imposed as shown by the capital improvements element and as authorized by this chapter. Development impact fees shall not be used to pay for any purpose that does not involve system improvements that create additional service available to serve new growth and development.
(c)(1) Development impact fees, collected for roads, streets, bridges, including rights of way, traffic signals, landscaping, or any local components of state or federal highways, shall be expended to fund, in whole or in part, system improvement projects:
(A) That have been identified in the capital improvements element of the municipality's comprehensive development plan; and
(B) That are chosen by a municipality after consideration of the following factors:
(i) The proximity of the proposed system improvements to developments within the service area which have generated development impact fees collected for roads, streets, bridges, including rights of way, traffic signals, landscaping, or any local components of state or federal highways; and
(ii) The proposed system improvements which will have the greatest effect on level of service for roads, streets, bridges, including rights of way, traffic signals, landscaping, or any local components of state or federal highways impacted by the developments which have paid such impact fees.
(2) Where the expenditure of development impact fees paid by a development is allocated to system improvements in the general area of such development, through an agreement between the municipality and the developer and such agreement is approved by the governing body, the analysis required by subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1) of this subsection shall not be applicable.
(3) The provisions of this subsection shall only apply to municipalities that have more than 140,000 parcels of land.
(d)(1) As part of its annual audit process, a municipality or county shall prepare an annual report describing the amount of any development impact fees collected, encumbered, and used during the preceding year by category of public facility and service area.
(2) In municipalities that have more than 140,000 parcels of land, the portion of the annual report relating to development impact fees collected for roads, streets, bridges, including rights of way, traffic signals, landscaping, or any local components of state or federal highways shall be referred to such municipality's most recently constituted Development Impact Fee Advisory Committee which shall report to the governing body of such municipality any perceived inequities in the expenditure of impact fees collected for roads, streets, bridges, including rights of way, traffic signals, landscaping, or any local components of state or federal highways.
Any municipality or county which adopts a development impact fee ordinance shall provide for refunds in accordance with the following provisions:
(1) Upon the request of an owner of property on which a development impact fee has been paid, a municipality or county shall refund the development impact fee if capacity is available and service is denied or if the municipality or county, after collecting the fee when service is not available, has failed to encumber the development impact fee or commence construction within six years after the date that the fee was collected. In determining whether development impact fees have been encumbered, development impact fees shall be considered encumbered on a first-in, first-out (FIFO) basis;
(2) When the right to a refund exists due to a failure to encumber development impact fees, the municipality or county shall provide written notice of entitlement to a refund to the feepayor who paid the development impact fee at the address shown on the application for development approval or to a successor in interest who has given notice to the municipality or county of a transfer or assignment of the right or entitlement to a refund and who has provided a mailing address. Such notice shall also be published within 30 days after the expiration of the six-year period after the date that the development impact fees were collected and shall contain the heading “Notice of Entitlement to Development Impact Fee Refund”;
(3) An application for a refund shall be made within one year of the time such refund becomes payable under paragraph (1) or (2) of this Code section or within one year of publication of the notice of entitlement to a refund under this Code section, whichever is later;
(4) A refund shall include a refund of a pro rata share of interest actually earned on the unused or excess development impact fee collected;
(5) All refunds shall be made to the feepayor within 60 days after it is determined by a municipality or county that a sufficient proof of claim for a refund has been made; and
(6) The feepayor shall have standing to sue for a refund under the provisions of this chapter if there has been a timely application for a refund and the refund has been denied or has not been made within one year of submission of the application for refund to the collecting municipality or county.
(a) A municipality or county which adopts a development impact fee ordinance shall provide for administrative appeals to the governing body or such other body as designated in the ordinance of a determination of the development impact fees for a particular project.
(b) A developer may pay a development impact fee under protest in order to obtain a development approval or building permit, as the case may be. A developer making such payment shall not be estopped from exercising the right of appeal provided by this chapter, nor shall such developer be estopped from receiving a refund of any amount deemed to have been illegally collected.
(c) A municipality or county development impact fee ordinance may provide for the resolution of disputes over the development impact fee by binding arbitration through the American Arbitration Association or otherwise.
Municipalities and counties which are jointly affected by development are authorized to enter into intergovernmental agreements with each other, with authorities, or with the state for the purpose of developing joint plans for capital improvements or for the purpose of agreeing to collect and expend development impact fees for system improvements, or both, provided that such agreement complies with any applicable state laws.
This chapter shall not repeal any existing laws authorizing a municipality or county to impose fees or require contributions or property dedications for capital improvements; provided, however, that all local ordinances or resolutions imposing development exactions for system improvements on April 4, 1990, shall be brought into conformance with this chapter no later than November 30, 1992.
(a) Nothing in this chapter shall prevent a municipality or county from requiring a developer to construct reasonable project improvements in conjunction with a development project.
(b) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prevent or prohibit private agreements between property owners or developers and municipalities, counties, or other governmental entities in regard to the construction or installation of system improvements and providing for credits or reimbursements for system improvement costs incurred by a developer including interproject transfers of credits or providing for reimbursement for project improvement costs which are used or shared by more than one development project.
(c) Nothing in this chapter shall limit a municipality, county, or other governmental entity which provides water or sewer service from collecting a proportionate share of the capital cost of water or sewer facilities by way of hook-up or connection fees as a condition of water or sewer service to new or existing users, provided that the development impact fee ordinance of a municipality or county or other governmental entity that collects development impact fees pursuant to this chapter shall include a provision for credit for such hook-up or connection fees collected by the municipality or county to the extent that such hook-up or connection fee is collected to pay for system improvements. Imposition of such hook-up or connection fees by any governmental entity to pay for system improvements either existing or new shall be consistent with the capital improvement element of the comprehensive plan and shall be subject to the approval of each county, municipality, or combination thereof which appoints the governing body of such entity. The adoption, imposition, collection, and expenditure of such fees for system improvements by any governmental entity shall be subject to the same procedures applicable to the adoption, imposition, collection, and expenditure of development impact fees by a county.
(d) Nothing in this chapter shall apply to a water authority created by Act of the General Assembly, as long as such authority is not established as a political subdivision of the State of Georgia but instead acts subject to the approval of a county governing authority.
(a) The care accorded the remains of deceased persons reflects respect and regard for human dignity as well as cultural, spiritual, and religious values. The General Assembly declares that human remains and burial objects are not property to be owned by the person or entity which owns the land or water where the human remains and burial objects are interred or discovered, but human remains and burial objects are a part of the finite, irreplaceable, and nonrenewable cultural heritage of the people of Georgia which should be protected.
(b) It is the intent of the General Assembly that the provisions of this chapter be construed to require respectful treatment of human remains in accord with the equal and innate dignity of every human being and consistent with the identifiable ethnic, cultural, and religious affiliation of the deceased individual as indicated by the method of burial or other historical evidence or reliable information.
As used in this chapter, the term:
(1) “Abandoned cemetery” means a cemetery which shows signs of neglect including, without limitation, the unchecked growth of vegetation, repeated and unchecked acts of vandalism, or the disintegration of grave markers or boundaries and for which no person can be found who is legally responsible and financially capable of the upkeep of such cemetery.
(2) “Archeologist” means any person who is:
(A) A member of or meets the criteria for membership in the Society of Professional Archaeologists and can demonstrate experience in the excavation and interpretation of human graves; or
(B) Employed on July 1, 1991, by the state or by any county or municipal governing authority as an archeologist.
(3) “Burial ground” means an area dedicated to and used for interment of human remains. The term shall include privately owned burial plots, individually and collectively, once human remains have been buried therein. The fact that the area was used for burial purposes shall be evidence that it was set aside for burial purposes.
(4) “Burial object” means any item reasonably believed to have been intentionally placed with the human remains at the time of burial or interment or any memorial, tombstone, grave marker, or shrine which may have been added subsequent to interment. Such term also means any inscribed or uninscribed marker, coping, curbing, enclosure, fencing, pavement, shelter, wall, stoneware, pottery, or other grave object erected or deposited incident to or subsequent to interment.
(5) “Cemetery” or “cemeteries” means any land or structure in this state dedicated to and used for interment of human remains. It may be either a burial park for earth interments or a mausoleum for vault or crypt interments or a combination of one or more thereof.
(6) “Descendant” means a person or group of persons related to a deceased human by blood or adoption in accordance with Title 19.
(7) “Genealogist” means a person who traces or studies the descent of persons or families and prepares a probative record of such descent.
(8) “Human remains” means the bodies of deceased human beings in any stage of decomposition, including cremated remains.
(9) “Preserve and protect” means to keep safe from destruction, peril, or other adversity and may include the placement of signs, markers, fencing, or other such appropriate features so as to identify the site as a cemetery or burial ground and may also include the cleaning, maintenance, and upkeep of the site so as to aid in its preservation and protection.
Counties, anywhere within the county boundaries, and municipalities, anywhere within the municipal boundaries, are authorized, jointly and severally, to preserve and protect any abandoned cemetery or any burial ground which the county or municipality determines has been abandoned or is not being maintained by the person who is legally responsible for its upkeep, whether or not that person is financially capable of doing so, to expend public money in connection therewith, to provide for reimbursement of such funds by billing any legally responsible person or levying upon any of his property as authorized by local ordinance, and to exercise the power of eminent domain to acquire any interest in land necessary for that purpose.
No known cemetery, burial ground, human remains, or burial object shall be knowingly disturbed by the owner or occupier of the land on which the cemetery or burial ground is located for the purposes of developing or changing the use of any part of such land unless a permit is first obtained from the governing authority of the municipal corporation or county wherein the cemetery or burial ground is located, which shall have authority to permit such activity except as provided in Code Section 36-72-14.
Application for a permit shall include, at a minimum, the following information:
(1) Evidence of ownership of the land on which the cemetery or burial ground is located in the form of a legal opinion based upon a title search;
(2) A report prepared by an archeologist stating the number of graves believed to be present and their locations as can be determined from the use of minimally invasive investigation techniques, including remote sensing methods and the use of metal probes, which activities shall not require a permit;
(3) A survey prepared by or under the direction of a registered surveyor showing the location and boundaries of the cemetery or burial ground based on an archeologist's report;
(4) A plan prepared by a genealogist for identifying and notifying the descendants of those buried or believed to be buried in such cemetery. If those buried or believed to be buried are of aboriginal or American Indian descent, the genealogist, in preparing the notification plan, shall consult with the Council on American Indian Concerns created pursuant to Code Section 44-12-280 and shall include in the notification plan not only any known descendants of those presumed buried but also any American Indian tribes as defined in paragraph (2) of Code Section 44-12-260 that are culturally affiliated; and
(5) A proposal for mitigation or avoidance of the effects of the planned activity on the cemetery or burial ground. If the proposal includes relocation of any human remains or burial objects, the proposal shall specify the method of disinterment, the location and method of disposition of the remains, the approximate cost of the process, and the approximate number of graves affected.
The applicant shall implement its plan for identifying and locating descendants no later than the date the application is submitted to the governing authority. The governing authority shall review the applicant's plan for identifying and notifying the descendants of the deceased persons and may require as a condition for issuing a permit that the applicant implement additional reasonable attempts to identify and locate descendants. Notice to possible descendants shall include information on how to contact the governing authority and a summary of the rights of descendants under this chapter. The governing authority shall promptly inform any descendant who indicates an interest in the disposition of the human remains and burial objects regarding any proposals for mitigation, the terms of any permit issued, the time and place of any scheduled public hearings, and appeal procedures and events.
(a) Within 15 days after it is satisfied that all reasonable effort has been made to notify descendants, as provided in Code Section 36-72-6, and following receipt of the recommendations of a board or commission created pursuant to Code Section 36-72-9, the governing authority shall schedule a public hearing at which any interested party or citizen may appear and be given an opportunity to be heard. In addition to the notice required in Code Section 36-72-6, notice of the public hearing shall be advertised in the legal organ of the jurisdiction once a week for the two consecutive weeks immediately preceding the week in which any such hearing is held.
(b) Within 30 days after the conclusion of the public hearing, the governing authority shall notify the applicant in writing of its decision. The governing authority shall have the authority to deny the application with written reasons therefor, to issue a permit adopting the application in whole or in part, or to issue a permit which may include additional requirements to mitigate the proposed activity's adverse effects on the cemetery or burial ground, including but not limited to relocation of the proposed project, reservation of the cemetery or burial ground as an undeveloped area within the proposed development or use of land, and respectful disinterment and proper disposition of the human remains. The governing authority may adopt the applicant's proposal for mitigation.
The governing authority shall consider the following in making its determination:
(1) The presumption in favor of leaving the cemetery or burial ground undisturbed;
(2) The concerns and comments of any descendants of those buried in the burial ground or cemetery and any other interested parties;
(3) The economic and other costs of mitigation;
(4) The adequacy of the applicant's plans for disinterment and proper disposition of any human remains or burial objects;
(5) The balancing of the applicant's interest in disinterment with the public's and any descendant's interest in the value of the undisturbed cultural and natural environment; and
(6) Any other compelling factors which the governing authority deems relevant.
The governing authority of any county whose population is in excess of 290,000 as established by the United States decennial census of 1980 or any such future census shall be authorized to establish or empower a new or existing commission or board to hear and review any application filed pursuant to Code Section 36-72-5. The board or commission shall conduct a public hearing within 60 days of the filing of an application and shall make a written recommendation to the governing authority no later than 15 days following the public hearing with respect to the sufficiency of the notice to descendants, the plan for mitigation, the disturbance and adverse effects on the cemetery or burial ground, the survey of the cemetery, and plans for disinterment and reinterment.
The governing authority shall be authorized to impose an application fee which shall reflect the cost to the governing authority for processing and reviewing the application including, but not limited to, the cost of hiring an attorney, independent archeologist, and independent surveyor to assist in making recommendations regarding the applicant's plan. Such fee, if imposed, shall not exceed $2,500.00.
Should any applicant or descendant be dissatisfied with a decision of the governing authority, he or she, within 30 days of such decision, may file an appeal in the superior court of the county in which the cemetery or burial ground is located in addition to the superior courts enumerated in Code Section 50-13-19.
Until the expiration of the time for appeal as set forth in Code Section 36-72-11, the applicant shall not begin or resume activities which comply with the permit issued by the governing authority. If an appeal is filed, the applicant may begin or resume activities which comply with the permit only upon consent of the governing authority and the party seeking judicial review or upon order of the reviewing court for good cause shown.
The governing authority or local law enforcement agency shall inspect as necessary to determine whether the applicant has complied with the provisions of this chapter requiring cessation or limitation of activity and with the terms of the permit as issued by the governing authority or as modified by the superior court or reviewing court.
(a) Notwithstanding any provisions of this chapter to the contrary, when any agency, authority, or political subdivision of the state seeks to file an application for a permit under this chapter, the superior court having jurisdiction over the real property wherein the cemetery or burial ground is located shall have exclusive jurisdiction over the permit application. The superior court shall conduct its investigation and determination of the permit in accordance with Code Sections 36-72-6 through 36-72-8.
(b) When activities of an agency, authority, or political subdivision of the state adversely affect an abandoned cemetery or a burial ground, such agency, authority, or political subdivision shall bear the cost of mitigating the harm to the abandoned cemetery or burial ground or reinterring the human remains as a part of the cost of the project and is authorized to expend public funds for such purpose. When activities of a private person, corporation, or other private entity adversely affect an abandoned cemetery or a burial ground, such person, corporation, or other entity shall bear the cost of mitigating the harm to the cemetery or burial ground or reinterring the human remains. The cost of mitigating the harm to an abandoned cemetery or to a burial ground or reinterring the human remains exposed through vandalism by an unidentified vandal or through erosion may be borne by the governing authority in whose jurisdiction the abandoned cemetery or burial ground is located.
(c) The provisions of this chapter notwithstanding, the Department of Transportation shall not be required to obtain a permit under this chapter unless human remains are to be relocated; provided, however, that the department shall be required to obtain an archaeologist's report, pursuant to paragraph (2) of Code Section 36-72-5, confirming the absence of human remains on the affected property.
Any disinterment and disposition of human remains or burial objects permitted under this chapter shall be supervised, monitored, or carried out by the applicant's archeologist and shall be done at the expense of the person or entity to whom the permit is issued.
Any person who knowingly fails to comply with the provisions of this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of a high and aggravated nature and, upon conviction, shall pay a fine of not more than $5,000.00 for each grave site disturbed; provided, however, that any person who knowingly violates the provisions of Code Section 36-72-4 shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of a high and aggravated nature and, upon conviction, shall be incarcerated for not more than six months and shall pay a fine not less than $5,000.00 for each grave site disturbed.
It is the purpose of this chapter to provide certain conditions, limitations, and restrictions upon the exercise of the powers granted to counties and municipalities to enter into contracts for regional facilities under Article IX, Section IV, Paragraph IV of the Constitution.
A county or municipality which proposes to enter into a contract under Article IX, Section IV, Paragraph IV of the Constitution shall, prior to entering into such contract, conduct at least one public hearing with respect to such proposed contract. Notice of such public hearing shall be given by a prominent advertisement in a newspaper of general circulation within the county or municipality. The parties proposing to enter into a contract may agree to conduct a joint public hearing in lieu of separate public hearings by each party. The notice of public hearing required in the case of a municipality may be combined with a notice of public hearing for the county within which the municipality is located.
Where a county or municipality proposes to enter into a contract for a regional facility which will be located outside of such county or municipality and such contract will require the expenditure of public funds of the county or municipality, the county or municipality shall, prior to entering into the contract, conduct a financial feasibility study of the contract. Such study may be conducted by the county or municipality or the county or municipality may contract with another party for the conducting of the study. Two or more parties proposing to enter into a contract may conduct or contract for a joint financial feasibility study, but in this case the financial feasibility study shall separately address the fiscal concerns of each party to the proposed contract. A financial feasibility study shall at a minimum include a statement of the expected useful life of the regional project and a statement or projection of the costs and benefits to the county or municipality over the entire expected useful life of the project.
No contract under Article IX, Section IV, Paragraph IV of the Constitution shall in any manner impinge upon the constitutional and statutory powers, authority, rights, and duties granted to the sheriffs of this state prior to the adoption of said Paragraph IV.
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the “Local Government Code Enforcement Boards Act” and is enacted to provide assistance to inferior courts with jurisdiction over county or municipal ordinances.
It is the intent of this chapter to promote, protect, and improve the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of the counties and municipalities of this state by authorizing the creation of administrative boards with authority to impose administrative fines and other noncriminal penalties to provide an equitable, expeditious, effective, and inexpensive method of enforcing any codes and ordinances in force in counties and municipalities, where a pending or repeated violation continues to exist.
(a) Each county or municipality may, at its option, create or abolish by ordinance local government code enforcement boards as provided in this chapter.
(b) A county or a municipality may, by ordinance, adopt an alternate code enforcement system which gives code enforcement boards the authority to hold hearings and assess fines against violators of the respective county or municipal codes and ordinances.
The provisions of this article shall apply to enforcement boards created on or after January 1, 2003.
As used in this article, the term:
(1) “Code enforcement officer” means any person contracted with or employed by a county or municipality who has enforcement authority for health, safety, or welfare requirements and is authorized to issue citations or file formal complaints regarding the same.
(2) “County or municipal codes and ordinances” means zoning ordinances and resolutions, ordinances and resolutions enacting subdivision regulations, environmental ordinances and resolutions, state minimum standard codes provided for in Code Section 8-2-25, ordinances and resolutions enacted pursuant to Code Section 8-2-25, other ordinances and resolutions regulating the development of real property, and ordinances and regulations providing for control of litter and debris, control of junked or abandoned vehicles, and control of overgrown vegetation. Notwithstanding the above, the term “county and municipal codes and ordinances” shall not include:
(A) Those codes and ordinances requiring a permit, unless the alleged violator has failed to secure all necessary valid permits under said codes and ordinances; or
(B) Any local amendments to the state minimum standard codes provided for in Code Section 8-2-25 that have not been adopted in conformity with the requirements of subsection (c) of Code Section 8-2-25.
(3) “Enforcement board” means a local government code enforcement board.
(4) “Local governing body” means the governing authority of the county or municipality, however designated.
(5) “Local governing body attorney” means the legal counselor for the county or municipality.
(6) “Violation involving the health or safety of a third party” means a violation that creates a legitimate concern for the health and safety of a third-party occupant of a dwelling place or that creates an immediate and substantial danger to the environment.
(a) The local governing body may appoint one or more code enforcement boards and legal counsel for the enforcement boards. The local governing body may appoint code enforcement boards consisting of three, five, or seven members. The local governing body may appoint up to two alternate members for each code enforcement board to serve on the board in the absence of board members.
(b) Members of the enforcement boards shall be residents of the municipality, in the case of municipal enforcement boards, or residents of the county, in the case of county enforcement boards. In making appointments to an enforcement board, the local governing body shall make good faith efforts to appoint one or more individuals who have experience or expertise relevant to one or more of the county or municipal codes that are within the subject matter jurisdiction of the respective enforcement board, including individuals with property management and litter control experience; provided, however, that the authority and jurisdiction of an enforcement board shall not in any way be limited due to the absence from its membership of one or more individuals with such experience or expertise.
(c)(1) The initial appointments to a seven-member code enforcement board shall be as follows:
(A) Three members appointed for a term of two years each; and
(B) Four members appointed for a term of four years each.
(2) The initial appointments to a five-member code enforcement board shall be as follows:
(A) Two members appointed for a term of two years each; and
(B) Three members appointed for a term of four years each.
(3) The initial appointments to a three-member code enforcement board shall be as follows:
(A) One member appointed for a term of two years; and
(B) Two members appointed for a term of four years each.
(4) Upon the expiration of the initial terms specified in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of this subsection all terms shall be for three years.
(5) The local governing body of a county or a municipality may reduce a seven-member code enforcement board to five members, or a five-member code enforcement board to three members, upon the simultaneous expiration of the terms of office of two members of the board.
(6) A member may be reappointed upon approval of the local governing body.
(7) An appointment to fill any vacancy on an enforcement board shall be for the remainder of the unexpired term of office. If any member fails to attend two of three successive meetings without cause and without prior approval of the chairperson, the enforcement board shall declare the member's office vacant, and the local governing body shall promptly fill such vacancy.
(8) The members shall serve in accordance with ordinances of the local governing body and may be suspended and removed for cause as provided in such ordinances for removal of members of boards. A local governing body may, with or without cause, refuse to reappoint any member of an enforcement board at the expiration of his or her term of office.
(d) The members of an enforcement board shall elect a chairperson, who shall be a voting member, from among the members of the board. The presence of four or more members shall constitute a quorum of any seven-member enforcement board, the presence of three or more members shall constitute a quorum of any five-member enforcement board, and the presence of two or more members shall constitute a quorum of any three-member enforcement board. Members shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for such travel, mileage, and per diem expenses as may be authorized by the local governing body or as otherwise provided by law.
(e) The local governing body attorney shall either be counsel to an enforcement board or shall represent the municipality or county by presenting cases before the enforcement board but in no case shall the local governing body attorney serve in both capacities.
(a) It shall be the duty of the code enforcement officer to initiate enforcement proceedings pursuant to the various codes; however, no member of a board shall have the power to initiate such enforcement proceedings.
(b) Except as provided in subsections (c) and (d) of this Code section, if a violation of any code or ordinance is found, the code enforcement officer shall notify the violator and give him or her a reasonable time to correct the violation. Should the violation continue beyond the time specified for correction, the code enforcement officer shall proceed with enforcement through the appropriate court or shall proceed with enforcement through the appropriate code enforcement board. If the code enforcement officer proceeds through a code enforcement board, the code enforcement officer shall notify an enforcement board and request a hearing. The code enforcement board shall schedule a hearing, and written notice of such hearing shall be hand delivered or made as provided in Code Section 36-74-29 to said violator. At the option of the code enforcement board, notice may additionally be served by publication or posting as provided in Code Section 36-74-29. If the violation is corrected and then recurs or if the violation is not corrected by the time specified for correction by the code enforcement officer, the case may be presented to the enforcement board even if the violation has been corrected prior to the board hearing, and the notice shall so state.
(c) If a repeat violation is found, the code enforcement officer shall notify the violator but is not required to give the violator a reasonable time to correct the violation. The code enforcement officer, upon notifying the violator of a repeat violation, shall notify an enforcement board and request a hearing. The code enforcement board shall schedule a hearing and shall provide written notice pursuant to Code Section 36-74-29. The case may be presented to the enforcement board even if the repeat violation has been corrected prior to the board hearing, and the notice shall so state.
(d) If the code enforcement officer has substantial reason to believe a violation presents a serious threat to the public health, safety, and welfare or if the violation is irreparable or irreversible in nature, the code enforcement officer shall make a reasonable effort to notify the violator and may immediately notify the enforcement board and request a hearing.
(a) Upon request of the code enforcement officer, or at such other times as may be necessary, the chairperson of an enforcement board may call a hearing of an enforcement board; a hearing also may be called by written notice signed by at least three members of a seven-member enforcement board or signed by at least two members of a five-member enforcement board. Minutes shall be kept of all hearings by each enforcement board, and all hearings and proceedings shall be open to the public. The local governing body may provide or assign clerical and administrative personnel to assist the enforcement board in the proper performance of its duties.
(b) Each case before an enforcement board shall be presented by the local governing body attorney or by a code enforcement officer or other member of the administrative staff of the local governing body.
(c) An enforcement board shall proceed to hear the cases on the agenda for that day. All testimony shall be under oath and shall be recorded. The enforcement board shall take testimony from the code enforcement officer and alleged violator. Formal rules of evidence shall not apply, but fundamental due process shall be observed and shall govern the proceedings.
(d) At the conclusion of the hearing, the enforcement board shall issue findings of fact, based on evidence of record and conclusions of law, and shall issue an order affording the proper relief consistent with powers granted in this article. The findings and conclusions shall be by motion approved by a majority of those members present and voting, except that at least four members of a seven-member enforcement board, three members of a five-member enforcement board, or two members of a three-member enforcement board must vote in order for the action to be official. The order may include a notice that it must be complied with by a specified date and that a fine may be imposed if the order is not complied with by said date. A certified copy of such order may be recorded in the public records of the county and shall constitute notice to any subsequent purchasers, successors in interest, or assigns if the violation concerns real property, and the findings therein shall be binding upon the violator and, if the violation concerns real property, any subsequent purchasers, successors in interest, or assigns. If an order is recorded in the public records pursuant to this subsection and the order is complied with by the date specified in the order, the enforcement board shall issue an order acknowledging compliance that shall be recorded in the public records. A hearing is not required to issue such an order acknowledging compliance.
Each enforcement board shall have the power to:
(1) Adopt rules for the conduct of its hearings, which rules shall, at a minimum, ensure that each side has an equal opportunity to present evidence and argument in support of its case;
(2) Subpoena alleged violators and witnesses to its hearings, with the approval of the court with jurisdiction over a criminal violator of the county or municipal code or ordinance. Subpoenas may be served by the sheriff, marshal, or police department of the county or by the police department of the municipality or by any other individual authorized by Code Section 24-13-24 to serve subpoenas;
(3) Subpoena evidence to its hearings in the same way as provided in paragraph (2) of this Code section, with the approval of the court with jurisdiction over a criminal violator of the county or municipal code or ordinance;
(4) Take testimony under oath; and
(5) Issue orders having the force of law to command whatever steps are necessary to bring a violation into compliance.
(a) An enforcement board, upon notification by the code enforcement officer that an order of the enforcement board has not been complied with by the set time may order the violator to pay an administrative fine in an amount specified in this Code section.
(b)(1) An administrative fine imposed pursuant to this Code section for a violation involving the health or safety of a third party shall not exceed $1,000.00 per day.
(2) An administrative fine imposed pursuant to this Code section for a violation that is not a violation involving the health or safety of a third party shall not exceed a total of $1,000.00.
(3) In determining the amount of the fine, if any, the enforcement board shall consider the following factors:
(A) The gravity of the violation;
(B) Any actions taken by the violator to correct the violation; and
(C) Any previous violations committed by the violator.
(4) An enforcement board may reduce a fine imposed pursuant to this Code section.
(c) A certified copy of an order imposing an administrative fine may be recorded in the public records of any county and thereafter shall constitute a lien against the land on which the violation exists and upon any real or personal property owned by the violator. Upon petition to the superior court, such order may be enforced in the same manner as a court judgment by the sheriffs of this state, including levy against the personal property, but such order shall not be deemed to be a court judgment except for enforcement purposes. After three months from the filing of any such lien which remains unpaid, the enforcement board may request the local governing body attorney to foreclose on the lien.
(d) If an environmental court is in existence with jurisdiction over ordinances subject to the jurisdiction of the enforcement board, the violator may object to the fine imposed and submit to the jurisdiction of the environmental court. The case shall be transferred to the environmental court and handled de novo as an ordinance violation.
No lien imposed under this article shall continue for a period longer than 20 years after the certified copy of an order imposing a fine has been recorded, unless within that time an action to foreclose on the lien is commenced in a court of competent jurisdiction. In an action to foreclose on a lien, the prevailing party is entitled to recover all costs, including a reasonable attorney's fee, that it incurs in the foreclosure. The continuation of the lien effected by the commencement of the action shall not be good against creditors or subsequent purchasers for valuable consideration without notice, unless a notice of lis pendens is recorded.
An aggrieved party, including the local governing body, may appeal a final administrative order of an enforcement board to the superior court. Such an appeal shall be a hearing de novo. An appeal shall be filed within 30 days of the execution of the order to be appealed.
(a) All notices required by this article shall be provided to the alleged violator by certified mail or statutory overnight delivery, return receipt requested; by hand delivery by the sheriff or other law enforcement officer, code enforcement officer, or other person designated by the local governing body; or by leaving the notice at the violator's usual place of residence with any person residing therein who is above 15 years of age and informing such person of the contents of the notice.
(b) In addition to providing notice as set forth in subsection (a) of this Code section, at the option of the code enforcement board, notice may also be served by publication or posting, as follows:
(1) Notice may be published once during each week for four consecutive weeks (four publications being sufficient) in the newspaper in which the sheriff's advertisements are printed in the county where the code enforcement board is located. Proof of publication shall be made by affidavit of a duly authorized representative of the newspaper;
(2) If there is no newspaper of general circulation in the county where the code enforcement board is located, three copies of such notice shall be posted for at least 28 days in three different and conspicuous places in such county, one of which shall be at the front door of the courthouse in said county. Proof of posting shall be by affidavit of the person posting the notice, which affidavit shall include a copy of the notice posted and the date and places of its posting; or
(3) Notice by publication or posting may run concurrently with, or may follow, an attempt or attempts to provide notice by hand delivery, mail, or statutory overnight delivery as required under subsection (a) of this Code section. Evidence that an attempt has been made to deliver notice by hand, mail, or statutory overnight delivery as provided in subsection (a) of this Code section, together with proof of publication or posting as provided in this subsection, shall be sufficient to show that the notice requirements of this Code section have been met, without regard to whether or not the alleged violator actually received such notice.
(a) It is the intent of this article to provide an additional or supplemental means of obtaining compliance with local codes. Nothing contained in this article shall prohibit a local governing body through its code enforcement officer from enforcing its codes by any other lawful means including criminal and civil proceedings; provided, however, that a local governing body shall not pursue a specific instance of an alleged violation of an ordinance against one violator before both a code enforcement board and a magistrate, municipal, or other court authorized to hear ordinance violations.
(b) No local government is authorized to perform investigations or inspections of residential rental property unless there is probable cause to believe there is or has been a violation or violations of applicable codes, and in no event may a local government require the registration of residential rental property. Conditions which appear to be code violations which are in plain view may form the basis for probable cause.
The provisions of this article shall apply to enforcement boards created prior to January 1, 2003.
As used in this article, the term:
(1) “Code inspector” means any authorized agent or employee of the county or municipality whose duty it is to assure code compliance.
(2) “County or municipal codes and ordinances” means zoning ordinances and resolutions, ordinances and resolutions enacting subdivision regulations, environmental ordinances and resolutions, state minimum standard codes provided for in Code Section 8-2-25, ordinances and resolutions enacted pursuant to Code Section 8-2-25, other ordinances and resolutions regulating the development of real property, and ordinances and regulations providing for control of litter and debris, control of junked or abandoned vehicles, and control of overgrown vegetation. Notwithstanding the above, the term “county and municipal codes and ordinances” shall not include:
(A) Those codes and ordinances requiring a permit, unless the alleged violator has failed to secure all necessary valid permits under said codes and ordinances; or
(B) Any local amendments to the state minimum standard codes provided for in Code Section 8-2-25 that have not been adopted in conformity with the requirements of subsection (c) of Code Section 8-2-25.
(3) “Enforcement board” means a local government code enforcement board.
(4) “Local governing body” means the governing authority of the county or municipality, however designated.
(5) “Local governing body attorney” means the legal counselor for the county or municipality.
(6) “Repeat violation” means any violation of county or municipal codes or ordinances by an owner or co-owner whom the enforcement board has previously found to be in violation of a code or ordinance within one year prior to such violation.
(7) “Violation involving the health or safety of a third party” means a violation that creates a legitimate concern for the health and safety of a third-party occupant of a dwelling place or that creates an immediate and substantial danger to the environment or members of the community at large, especially minor children.
(a) The local governing body may appoint one or more code enforcement boards and legal counsel for the enforcement boards. The local governing body may appoint code enforcement boards consisting of three, five, or seven members. The local governing body may appoint up to two alternate members for each code enforcement board to serve on the board in the absence of board members.
(b) Members of the enforcement boards shall be residents of the municipality, in the case of municipal enforcement boards, or residents of the county, in the case of county enforcement boards. In making appointments to an enforcement board, the local governing body shall make good faith efforts to appoint one or more individuals who have experience or expertise relevant to one or more of the county or municipal codes that are within the subject matter jurisdiction of the respective enforcement board, including individuals with property management and litter control experience; provided, however, that the authority and jurisdiction of an enforcement board shall not in any way be limited due to the absence from its membership of one or more individuals with such experience or expertise.
(c)(1) The initial appointments to a seven-member code enforcement board shall be as follows:
(A) Three members appointed for a term of two years each; and
(B) Four members appointed for a term of four years each.
(2) The initial appointments to a five-member code enforcement board shall be as follows:
(A) Two members appointed for a term of two years each; and
(B) Three members appointed for a term of four years each.
(3) The initial appointments to a three-member code enforcement board shall be as follows:
(A) One member appointed for a term of two years; and
(B) Two members appointed for a term of four years each.
(4) Upon the expiration of the initial terms specified in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of this subsection all terms shall be for three years.
(5) The local governing body of a county or a municipality may reduce a seven-member code enforcement board to five members, or a five-member code enforcement board to three members, upon the simultaneous expiration of the terms of office of two members of the board.
(6) A member may be reappointed upon approval of the local governing body.
(7) An appointment to fill any vacancy on an enforcement board shall be for the remainder of the unexpired term of office. If any member fails to attend two of three successive meetings without cause and without prior approval of the chairperson, the enforcement board shall declare the member's office vacant, and the local governing body shall promptly fill such vacancy.
(8) The members shall serve in accordance with ordinances of the local governing body and may be suspended and removed for cause as provided in such ordinances for removal of members of boards. A local governing body may, with or without cause, refuse to reappoint any member of an enforcement board at the expiration of his or her term of office.
(d) The members of an enforcement board shall elect a chairperson, who shall be a voting member, from among the members of the board. The presence of four or more members shall constitute a quorum of any seven-member enforcement board, the presence of three or more members shall constitute a quorum of any five-member enforcement board, and the presence of two or more members shall constitute a quorum of any three-member enforcement board. Members shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for such travel, mileage, and per diem expenses as may be authorized by the local governing body or as otherwise provided by law.
(e) The local governing body attorney shall either be counsel to an enforcement board or shall represent the municipality or county by presenting cases before the enforcement board but in no case shall the local governing body attorney serve in both capacities.
(a) It shall be the duty of the code inspector to initiate enforcement proceedings pursuant to the various codes; however, no member of a board shall have the power to initiate such enforcement proceedings.
(b) Except as provided in subsections (c) and (d) of this Code section, if a violation of any code or ordinance is found, the code inspector shall notify the violator and give him or her a reasonable time to correct the violation. Should the violation continue beyond the time specified for correction, the code inspector shall proceed with enforcement through the appropriate court or shall proceed with enforcement through the appropriate code enforcement board. If the code inspector proceeds through a code enforcement board, the code inspector shall notify an enforcement board and request a hearing. The code enforcement board shall schedule a hearing, and written notice of such hearing shall be hand delivered or made as provided in Code Section 36-74-49 to said violator. At the option of the code enforcement board, notice may additionally be served by publication or posting as provided in Code Section 36-74-49. If the violation is corrected and then recurs or if the violation is not corrected by the time specified for correction by the code inspector, the case may be presented to the enforcement board even if the violation has been corrected prior to the board hearing, and the notice shall so state.
(c) If a repeat violation is found, the code inspector shall notify the violator but is not required to give the violator a reasonable time to correct the violation. The code inspector, upon notifying the violator of a repeat violation, shall notify an enforcement board and request a hearing. The code enforcement board shall schedule a hearing and shall provide written notice pursuant to Code Section 36-74-49. The case may be presented to the enforcement board even if the repeat violation has been corrected prior to the board hearing, and the notice shall so state.
(d) If the code inspector has substantial reason to believe a violation presents a serious threat to the public health, safety, and welfare or if the violation is irreparable or irreversible in nature, the code inspector shall make a reasonable effort to notify the violator and may immediately notify the enforcement board and request a hearing.
(a) Upon request of the code inspector, or at such other times as may be necessary, the chairperson of an enforcement board may call a hearing of an enforcement board; a hearing also may be called by written notice signed by at least three members of a seven-member enforcement board or signed by at least two members of a five-member enforcement board. Minutes shall be kept of all hearings by each enforcement board, and all hearings and proceedings shall be open to the public. The local governing body may provide or assign clerical and administrative personnel to assist the enforcement board in the proper performance of its duties.
(b) Each case before an enforcement board shall be presented by the local governing body attorney or by a code inspector or other member of the administrative staff of the local governing body.
(c) An enforcement board shall proceed to hear the cases on the agenda for that day. All testimony shall be under oath and shall be recorded. The enforcement board shall take testimony from the code inspector and alleged violator. Formal rules of evidence shall not apply, but fundamental due process shall be observed and shall govern the proceedings.
(d) At the conclusion of the hearing, the enforcement board shall issue findings of fact, based on evidence of record and conclusions of law, and shall issue an order to comply or an order to pay an administrative fine consistent with powers granted in this article. The findings and conclusions and any order imposed shall be by motion approved by a majority of those members present and voting, except that at least four members of a seven-member enforcement board, three members of a five-member enforcement board, or two members of a three-member enforcement board must vote in order for the action to be official.
(e) An order to comply shall include notice that it must be complied with by a specified date and that an administrative fine may be imposed if the order is not complied with by such date.
(f) An order to pay a fine shall specify the amount of the fine as determined and voted upon by the enforcement board, as well as the date and time the fine is due. A certified copy of such order may be recorded in the public records of the county and shall constitute notice to any subsequent purchaser, successor in interest, or assign if the violation concerns real property, and the findings therein shall be binding upon the violator and, if the violation concerns real property, and subsequent purchaser, successor in interest, or assign. If an order is recorded in the public records pursuant to this subsection and the fine is paid by the date and time specified in the order, the enforcement board shall issue an order acknowledging that the fine has been paid in full and such order shall be recorded in the public records. A hearing is not required to issue such an order acknowledging the payment of a fine.
(g) The enforcement board may issue an order to pay a fine against the violator if the cited violation was not corrected within the time specified on the code inspector's notice or if an order to comply was not satisfied within the time specified in the order, even if said violation was corrected and brought into compliance prior to the hearing at which the fine is imposed.
Each enforcement board shall have the power to:
(1) Adopt rules for the conduct of its hearings, which rules shall, at a minimum, ensure that each side has an equal opportunity to present evidence and argument in support of its case;
(2) Subpoena alleged violators and witnesses to its hearings, with the approval of the court with jurisdiction over a criminal violator of the county or municipal code or ordinance. Subpoenas may be served by the sheriff, marshal, or police department of the county or by the police department of the municipality or by any other individual authorized by Code Section 24-13-24 to serve subpoenas;
(3) Subpoena evidence to its hearings in the same way as provided in paragraph (2) of this Code section, with the approval of the court with jurisdiction over a criminal violator of the county or municipal code or ordinance;
(4) Take testimony under oath; and
(5) Issue orders having the force of law to command whatever steps are necessary to bring a violation into compliance.
(a)(1) An administrative fine imposed pursuant to this Code section for a violation involving the health or safety of a third party shall not exceed $1,000.00 per day.
(2) An administrative fine imposed pursuant to this Code section for a violation that is not a violation involving the health or safety of a third party shall not exceed a total of $1,000.00.
(3) In determining the amount of the fine, if any, the enforcement board shall consider the following factors:
(A) The gravity of the violation;
(B) Any actions taken by the violator to correct the violation; and
(C) Any previous violations committed by the violator.
(4) An enforcement board may reduce a fine imposed pursuant to this Code section.
(b) A certified copy of an order imposing an administrative fine may be recorded in the public records of any county and thereafter shall constitute a lien against the land on which the violation exists and upon any real or personal property owned by the violator. Upon petition to the superior court, such order may be enforced in the same manner as a court judgment by the sheriffs of this state, including levy against the personal property, but such order shall not be deemed to be a court judgment except for enforcement purposes. After three months from the filing of any such lien which remains unpaid, the enforcement board may request the local governing body attorney to foreclose on the lien.
No lien imposed under this article shall continue for a period longer than 20 years after the certified copy of an order imposing a fine has been recorded, unless within that time an action to foreclose on the lien is commenced in a court of competent jurisdiction. In an action to foreclose on a lien, the prevailing party is entitled to recover all costs, including a reasonable attorney's fee, that it incurs in the foreclosure. The continuation of the lien effected by the commencement of the action shall not be good against creditors or subsequent purchasers for valuable consideration without notice, unless a notice of lis pendens is recorded.
An aggrieved party, including the local governing body, may appeal a final administrative order of an enforcement board to the superior court of the county in which the subject property is located. Such an appeal shall be in the form of a petition for review governed by Chapter 3 of Title 5 and shall be heard on the record. A petition for review shall be filed within 30 days of the execution of the order to be appealed.
(a) All notices required by this article shall be provided to the alleged violator by certified mail or statutory overnight delivery, return receipt requested; by hand delivery by the sheriff or other law enforcement officer, code inspector, or other person designated by the local governing body; by leaving the notice at the violator's usual place of residence with any person residing therein who is over 15 years of age and informing such person of the contents of the notice; or by leaving the notice at the violator's usual place of business with a manager or other upper-level employee who is over 15 years of age and informing such person of the contents of the notice.
(b) In addition to providing notice as set forth in subsection (a) of this Code section, at the option of the code enforcement board, notice may also be served by publication or posting, as follows:
(1) Notice may be published once during each week for four consecutive weeks (four publications being sufficient) in the newspaper in which the sheriff's advertisements are printed in the county where the code enforcement board is located. Proof of publication shall be made by affidavit of a duly authorized representative of the newspaper;
(2) If there is no newspaper of general circulation in the county where the code enforcement board is located, three copies of such notice shall be posted for at least 28 days in three different and conspicuous places in such county, one of which shall be at the front door of the courthouse in said county. Proof of posting shall be by affidavit of the person posting the notice, which affidavit shall include a copy of the notice posted and the date and places of its posting; or
(3) Notice by publication or posting may run concurrently with, or may follow, an attempt or attempts to provide notice by hand delivery, mail, or statutory overnight delivery as required under subsection (a) of this Code section. Evidence that an attempt has been made to deliver notice by hand, mail, or statutory overnight delivery as provided in subsection (a) of this Code section, together with proof of publication or posting as provided in this subsection, shall be sufficient to show that the notice requirements of this Code section have been met, without regard to whether or not the alleged violator actually received such notice.
It is the intent of this article to provide an additional or supplemental means of obtaining compliance with local codes. Nothing contained in this article shall prohibit a local governing body through its code inspector from enforcing its codes by any other lawful means including criminal and civil proceedings; provided, however, that a local governing body shall not pursue a specific instance of an alleged violation of an ordinance against one violator before both a code enforcement board and a magistrate, municipal, or other court authorized to hear ordinance violations.
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the “Public Safety and Judicial Facilities Act.”
This chapter is enacted pursuant to authority granted to the General Assembly by the Constitution of Georgia. Each authority created by this chapter is created for nonprofit and public purposes; and it is found, determined, and declared that the creation of each such authority and the carrying out of its corporate purposes is in all respects for the benefit of the people of this state and that the authority is an institution of purely public charity and will be performing an essential governmental function in the exercise of the power conferred upon it by this chapter. For such reasons, the state covenants the holders of the bonds issued under this chapter that such authority shall be required to pay no taxes or assessments imposed by the state or any of its counties, municipal corporations, political subdivisions, or taxing districts upon any property acquired by the authority or under its jurisdiction, control, possession, or supervision or leased by it to others; or upon its activities in the operation or maintenance of any such property or on any income derived by the authority in the form of fees, recording fees, rentals, charges, purchase price, installments, or otherwise; and that the bonds of such authority, their transfer, and the income therefrom shall at all times be exempt from taxation within the state. The tax exemption provided in this Code section shall not include any exemption from sales and use tax on property purchased by the authority or for use by the authority.
As used in this chapter, the term:
(1) “Authority” means each public corporation created pursuant to this chapter.
(2) “Cost of project” means all costs of site preparation and other start-up costs; all costs of construction; all costs of real and personal property required for the purposes of the project and facilities related thereto, including land and any rights or undivided interest therein, easements, franchises, fees, permits, approvals, licenses, and certificates and the securing of such permits, approvals, licenses, and certificates, and all machinery and equipment, including motor vehicles which are used for project functions; financing charges and interest prior to and during construction and during such additional period as the authority may reasonably determine to be necessary for the placing of the project in operation; costs of engineering, architectural, and legal services; cost of plans and specifications and all expenses necessary or incident to determining the feasibility or practicability of the project; administrative expenses; and such other expenses as may be necessary or incidental to the financing authorized in this chapter. The costs of any project may also include funds for the creation of a debt service reserve, a renewal and replacement reserve, and such other reserves as may be reasonably required by the authority for the operation of its projects and as may be authorized by any bond resolution or trust agreement or indenture pursuant to the provisions of which the issuance of any such bonds may be authorized. Any obligation or expense incurred for any of the foregoing purposes shall be regarded as a part of the cost of the project and may be paid or reimbursed as such out of the proceeds of revenue bonds or notes issued under this chapter for such project.
(3) “County” means any county of this state or a governmental entity formed by the consolidation of a county and one or more municipal corporations.
(4) “Detention facilities” means facilities used or to be used for the incarceration of adult and juvenile offenders and juveniles subject to the jurisdiction of the juvenile court and administration and support structures for such facilities.
(5) “Governing body” means the elected or duly appointed officials constituting the governing body of each county and municipal corporation in the state.
(6) “Judicial facilities” means facilities used or to be used for the administration of justice and related activities, including all adult and juvenile courts, prosecutorial and public defender services, and their respective administrative and support structures.
(7) “Municipal corporation” means any incorporated municipality in this state.
(8) “Project” means the acquisition, construction, equipping, operation, maintenance, and repairing of county or municipal corporation judicial, detention, or public safety facilities.
(9) “Public safety facilities” means facilities used or to be used by or in direct support of management and operation of homeland security, police, fire, rescue, and emergency medical services.
(a) There is created in and for each county and municipal corporation in this state a public body corporate and politic, to be known as the “public safety and judicial facilities authority” of such county. No authority shall transact any business or exercise any powers under this chapter until the governing body of the county or municipal corporation, as the case may be, by proper ordinance or resolution, declares that there is a need for an authority to function in the county or municipal corporation and declares that such jurisdiction is at the time of such ordinance or resolution imposing a sales tax levied for the purposes of a metropolitan area system of public transportation.
(b) Any number of counties or municipal corporations or a combination of counties and municipal corporations may jointly form an authority to be known as the “joint public safety and judicial facilities authority” for such counties or municipal corporations or both. No authority shall transact any business or exercise any powers under this chapter until the governing authority of each county and municipal corporation involved declare, by ordinance or resolution, that there is a need for an authority to function and declare that such jurisdiction is at the time of such ordinance or resolution imposing a sales tax levied for the purposes of a metropolitan area system of public transportation and until the governing authority of each county and municipal corporation approves an agreement with the other counties or municipal corporations for the activation of an authority and such agreement is executed.
(c) A copy of such ordinances, resolutions, and agreements shall be filed with the Secretary of State, who shall maintain a record of all authorities activated under this chapter.
Control and management of the authority shall be vested in a board of directors whose members shall be residents of the county or municipal corporation, as applicable. Directors shall be appointed, and may be reappointed, for terms of four years. The resolution or ordinance activating the authority shall state the number of directors and the appointing authority for each. No member of the governing authority of a county or municipal corporation that activates an authority is eligible to be appointed as a director while serving a term of office as a member of the governing authority of such county or municipal corporation. The directors shall elect one of their members as chairperson and another as vice chairperson and shall also elect a secretary and a treasurer or a secretary-treasurer, either of whom may be a director. The directors shall receive no compensation for their services but shall be reimbursed for their actual expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. The directors may make bylaws and regulations for the governing of the authority and may delegate to one or more of the officers, agents, and employees of the authority such powers and duties as may be deemed necessary and proper.
A majority of the directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business of the authority. However, any action with respect to any project of the authority must be approved by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors.
Each authority shall have all of the powers necessary or convenient to carry out and effectuate the purposes and provisions of this chapter, including, but without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the power:
(1) To bring and defend actions;
(2) To adopt and amend a corporate seal;
(3) To acquire, construct, improve, or modify, to place into operation, and to operate or cause to be placed into operation, either as owner of all or of any part in common with others, a project or projects within the political subdivision in which the authority is activated and within other political subdivisions, and to pay all or part of the cost of any such project or projects from the proceeds of revenue bonds of the authority or from any contribution or loans by persons, firms, or corporations or any other contribution, all of which the authority is authorized to receive, accept, and use;
(4) To acquire, in its own name, by purchase on such terms and conditions and in such manner as it may deem proper or by gift, grant, lease, or otherwise, real property or rights and easements therein and franchises and personal property necessary or convenient for its corporate purposes, which purposes shall include, but shall not be limited to, the constructing or acquiring of a project, the improving, extending, adding to, reconstructing, renovating, or remodeling of any project or part thereof already constructed or acquired, or demolition to make room for such project or any part thereof, and to insure the same against any and all risks as such insurance may, from time to time, be available; the authority may also use such property, rent or lease the same to or from others, make contracts with respect to the use thereof, or sell, lease, exchange, transfer, assign, pledge, or otherwise dispose of or grant options for any such property in any manner which the authority deems to the best advantage of itself and its purposes; provided, however, that the powers to acquire, use, and dispose of property as set forth in this paragraph shall include the power to acquire, use, and dispose of any interest in such property, whether divided or undivided, which acquisition may result in the ownership of such property or any part thereof in common with any other party or parties, public or private; and title to any such property of the authority, however, shall be held by the authority exclusively for the benefit of the public;
(5) To make contracts and leases and to execute all instruments necessary or convenient, including contracts for construction of projects and leases of projects or contracts with respect to the use of projects which it causes to be acquired or constructed, provided that all private persons, firms, and corporations, this state, and all political subdivisions, departments, instrumentalities, or agencies of the state or of any local government are authorized to enter into contracts, leases, or agreements with the authority upon such terms and for such purposes as they deem advisable; and without limiting the generality of the above, authority is specifically granted to counties and municipal corporations and to the authority to enter into contracts, lease agreements, or other undertakings relative to the furnishing of project activities and facilities or either of them by the authority to such political subdivisions and by such political subdivisions to the authority for a term not exceeding 50 years;
(6) To exercise any one or more of the powers, rights, and privileges conferred by this Code section either alone or jointly or in common with one or more other public or private parties or public and private parties; in any such exercise of such powers, rights, and privileges jointly or in common with others with respect to the construction, operation, and maintenance of project facilities, the authority may own an undivided interest in such facilities with any other party with which it may jointly or in common exercise the rights and privileges conferred by this chapter; the authority may enter into an agreement or agreements with respect to any such project facility with the other party or parties participating therein; any such agreement may contain such terms, conditions, and provisions, consistent with this chapter, as the parties thereto shall deem to be in their best interests; any such agreement may include, but need not be limited to, provisions for the construction, operation, and maintenance of such project facility by any one or more party of the parties to such agreement, which party or parties shall be designated in or pursuant to such agreement as agent or agents on behalf of itself and one or more of the other parties thereto, or by such other means as may be determined by the parties thereto, and may include provisions for a method or methods of determining and allocating, among or between the parties, costs of construction, operation, maintenance, renewals, replacements, improvements, and disposals with respect to such facility; in carrying out its functions and activities as such agent with respect to construction, operation, and maintenance of such a facility, such agent shall be governed by the laws and regulations applicable to such agent as a separate legal entity and not by any laws or regulations which may be applicable to any of the other participating parties; provided, however, that the agent shall act for the benefit of the public; notwithstanding anything contained in any other law to the contrary, pursuant to the terms of any such agreement, the authority may delegate its powers and duties with respect to the construction, operation, and maintenance of such facility to the party acting as agent; and all actions taken by such agent in accordance with the provisions of such agreement may be binding upon the authority without further action or approval of the authority;
(7) To extend credit or make loans to any person, firm, corporation, or other industrial entity for the planning, design, construction, acquisition, or carrying out of any project, which credit or loans shall be secured by loan agreements, mortgages, security agreements, contracts, and all other instruments or fees or charges, upon such terms and conditions as the authority shall determine reasonable in connection with such loans, including provision for the establishment and maintenance of reserves and insurance funds, and in the exercise of powers granted by this Code section in connection with a project for such person, firm, corporation, or other industrial entity, to require the inclusion in any contract, loan agreement, security agreement, or other instrument of such provisions for guaranty, insurance, construction, use, operation, maintenance, and financing of a project as the authority may deem necessary or desirable;
(8) To acquire, accept, or retain equitable interests, security interests, or other interest in any property, real or personal, by mortgage, assignment, security agreement, pledge, conveyance, contract, lien, loan agreement, or other consensual transfer in order to secure the repayment of any moneys loaned or credit extended by the authority;
(9) To accept, receive, and administer gifts, grants, appropriations, and donations of money, materials, and property of any kind, including loans and grants from the United States of America, this state, or a unit of local government or any of their agencies, departments, authorities, or instrumentalities upon such terms and conditions as the United States of America, this state, or a unit of local government or any of their agencies, departments, authorities, or instrumentalities shall impose; to administer trusts; and to sell, lease, transfer, convey, appropriate, and pledge any and all of its property and assets;
(10) To invest any accumulation of its funds in any fund or reserve in any manner that public funds of this state or its political subdivisions may be invested;
(11) To do any and all things necessary or proper for the accomplishment of the objectives of this chapter and to exercise any power usually possessed by private corporations performing similar functions which is not in conflict with the Constitution and laws of this state, including the power to employ professional and administrative staff and personnel and to retain legal, engineering, fiscal, accounting, and other professional services; the power to purchase all kinds of insurance, including, without limitation, insurance against tort liability and against risks of damage to property; the power to borrow money for any of the corporate purposes of the authority; the power to indemnify and hold harmless any parties contracting with the authority or its agents from damage to persons or property; and the power to act as self-insurer with respect to any loss or liability; provided, however, that obligations of the authority other than revenue bonds, for which provision is made in this chapter, shall be payable from the general funds of the authority and shall not be a charge against any special fund allocated to the payment of revenue bonds;
(12) To mortgage, convey, pledge, or assign any properties, revenues, income, tolls, charges, or fees owned or received by the authority;
(13) To borrow money and issue its revenue bonds and bond anticipation notes from time to time and to use the proceeds thereof for the purpose of paying all or part of the cost of any project, including the cost of extending, adding to, or improving such project, or for the purpose of refunding any such bonds of the authority theretofore issued; and to otherwise carry out the purposes of this chapter and to pay all other costs of the authority incident to, or necessary and appropriate to, such purposes, including the providing of funds to be paid into any fund or funds to secure such bonds and notes, provided that all such bonds and notes shall be issued in accordance with the procedures and subject to the limitations set forth in Code Section 36-63-9; provided, however, that the maximum aggregate amount of bonds issued shall be $50 million; and
(14) As security for repayment of authority obligations, to pledge, mortgage, convey, assign, hypothecate, or otherwise encumber any property, real or personal, of such authority and to execute any trust agreement, indenture, or security agreement containing any provisions not in conflict with law, which trust agreement, indenture, or security agreement may provide for foreclosure or forced sale of any property of the authority upon default on such obligations either in payment of principal or interest or in the performance of any term or condition contained in such agreement or indenture; this state, on behalf of itself and each county, municipal corporation, political subdivision, or taxing district therein waives any right which it or such county, municipal corporation, political subdivision, or taxing district may have to prevent the forced sale or foreclosure of any property of the authority so mortgaged or encumbered, and any such mortgage or encumbrance may be foreclosed in accordance with law and the terms thereof.
(a) Subject to the limitations and procedures provided by this Code section, the obligations of any authority evidenced by bonds, bond anticipation notes, trust indentures, deeds to secure obligations, security agreements, or mortgages executed in connection therewith may contain such provisions not inconsistent with law as shall be determined by the board of directors of the authority. The authority, in such instruments, may provide for the pledging of all or any part of its revenues, income, or charges and for the mortgaging, encumbering, or conveying of all or any part of its real or personal property; may covenant against pledging any or all of its revenues, income, or charges; and may further provide for the disposition of proceeds realized from the sale of any bonds and bond anticipation notes, for the replacement of lost, destroyed, stolen, or mutilated bonds and notes, and for the payment and redemption of such bonds and notes. Similarly, subject to the limitations and procedures of this Code section, undertakings of an authority may prescribe the procedure by which bondholders and noteholders may enforce rights against the authority and provide for rights upon breach of any covenant, condition, or obligation of the authority. Bonds, resolutions, trust indentures, mortgages, or deeds to secure obligations executed by an authority and bond anticipation notes executed by an authority may contain such provisions not otherwise contrary to law as the authority shall deem necessary or desirable.
(b) The proceeds derived from the sale of all bonds and bond anticipation notes issued by an authority shall be held and used for the ultimate purpose of paying, directly or indirectly as permitted in this chapter, all or part of the cost of any project, including the cost of extending, financing, adding to, or improving such project, or for the purpose of refunding any bond anticipation notes issued in accordance with this chapter or refunding any previously issued bonds of the authority.
(c) All bonds and bond anticipation notes issued by an authority shall be revenue obligations of such authority and may be made payable out of any revenues or other receipts, funds, or moneys of the authority, subject only to any agreements with the holders of other bonds or bond anticipation notes or to particular security agreements pledging any particular revenues, receipts, funds, or moneys.
(d) Issuance by an authority of one or more series of bonds or bond anticipation notes for one or more purposes shall not preclude it from issuing other bonds or notes in connection with the same project or with any other projects, but the proceeding wherein any subsequent bonds or bond anticipation notes shall be issued shall recognize and protect any prior pledge or mortgage made in any prior security agreement or made for any prior issue of bonds or bond anticipation notes, unless in the resolution authorizing such prior issue the right is expressly reserved to the authority to issue subsequent bonds or bond anticipation notes on a parity with such prior issue.
(e) An authority shall have the power and is authorized, whenever revenue bonds of the authority have been validated as provided in this chapter, to issue, from time to time, its notes in anticipation of the issuance of such bonds as validated and to renew from time to time any such notes by the issuance of new notes, whether the notes to be renewed have or have not matured. The authority may issue notes only to provide funds which would otherwise be provided by the issuance of the bonds as validated. The notes may be authorized, sold, executed, and delivered in the same manner as bonds. As with its bonds, the authority may sell such notes at public or private sale. Any resolution or resolutions authorizing notes of the authority or any issue thereof may contain any provisions which the authority is authorized to include in any such resolution or resolutions; and the authority may include in any notes any terms, covenants, or conditions which it is authorized to include in any bonds. Validation of such bonds shall be a condition precedent to the issuance of the notes, but it shall not be required that such notes be judicially validated. Bond anticipation notes shall not be issued in an amount exceeding the par value of the bonds in anticipation of which they are to be issued.
(f) The interest rate on or rates to be borne by any bonds, notes, or other obligations issued by the authority shall be fixed by the board of directors of the authority. Any limitations with respect to interest rates found in Article 3 of Chapter 82 of this title or in the usury laws of this state shall not apply to obligations issued under this chapter.
(g) All revenue bonds issued by an authority under this chapter shall be issued and validated under and in accordance with Article 3 of Chapter 82 of this title, except as provided in subsection (f) of this Code section and except as specifically set forth below in this subsection:
(1) Revenue bonds issued by an authority may be in such form, either coupon or fully registered, or both coupon and fully registered, and may be subject to such exchangeability and transferability provisions as the bond resolution authorizing the issuance of such bonds or any indenture or trust agreement may provide;
(2) Revenue bonds shall bear a certificate of validation. The signature of the clerk of the superior court of the judicial circuit in which the issuing authority is located may be made on the certificate of validation of such bonds by facsimile or by manual execution, stating the date on which such bonds were validated; and such entry shall be original evidence of the fact of judgment and shall be received as original evidence in any court in this state; and
(3) In lieu of specifying the rate or rates of interest which revenue bonds to be issued by an authority are to bear, the notice to the district attorney or the Attorney General and the notice to the public of the time, place, and date of the validation hearing may state that the bonds, when issued, will bear interest at a rate not exceeding a maximum per annum rate of interest specified in such notices or, in the event the bonds are to bear different rates of interest for different maturity dates, that none of such rates will exceed the maximum rate specified in the notices; provided, however, that nothing contained in this paragraph shall be construed as prohibiting or restricting the right of the authority to sell such bonds at a discount, even if in so doing the effective interest cost resulting therefrom would exceed the maximum per annum interest rate specified in such notices.
No bonds or other obligations of and no indebtedness incurred by any authority shall constitute an indebtedness or obligation of the State of Georgia or of any county, municipal corporation, or political subdivision thereof, nor shall any act of any authority in any manner constitute or result in the creation of an indebtedness of this state or of any such county, municipal corporation, or political subdivision. All such bonds and obligations shall be payable solely from the revenues therein pledged to such payment, including pledged rentals, sales proceeds, insurance proceeds, and condemnation awards; and no holder or holders of any such bonds or obligations shall ever have the right to compel any exercise of the taxing power of this state or of any county, municipal corporation, or political subdivision thereof, nor to enforce the payment thereof against any property of the state or of any such county, municipal corporation, or political subdivision.
This chapter shall be liberally construed to effect the purposes hereof. Sale or issuance of bonds by any authority shall not be subject to regulation under Chapter 5 of Title 10, the “Georgia Uniform Securities Act of 2008,” or any other law. No proceeding or publication not required in this chapter shall be necessary to the performance of any act authorized in this chapter, nor shall any such act be subject to referendum.
(a) On and after May 24, 2007, no public safety and judicial facilities authority created and activated by a single county pursuant to this chapter shall be authorized to issue bonds for new projects unless a resolution approving such projects is passed by a majority vote of the governing authority of the county that created and activated such authority.
(b) The proceeds of bonds issued by a public safety and judicial facilities authority created and activated by a single county pursuant to this chapter and any interest on such proceeds shall be used only for the projects set forth in the resolution approving the issuance of such bonds or for debt service on such bonds.
(c) Any authority other than the type of authority defined in paragraph (1) of Code Section 36-75-3:
(1) Which is authorized by general or local Act to operate and issue bonds in a single county that has activated or that activates a public safety and judicial facilities authority pursuant to this chapter; and
(2) Which constructs or operates buildings or facilities for use by any department, agency, division, or commission of any county that has activated or that activates a public safety and judicial facilities authority pursuant to this chapter shall obtain approval by resolution as provided for in subsection (a) of this Code section prior to issuing bonds for any new buildings, facilities, or real property or improvements to existing buildings, facilities, or real property and shall be bound to such resolution as provided in subsection (b) of this Code section.
(d) Subsections (a), (b), and (c) of this Code section shall apply only to the issuance of bonds the principal and interest of which will be repaid, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, through funds of the county by agreement between the county and:
(1) A public safety and judicial facilities authority created and activated pursuant to this chapter; or
(2) Any authority other than the type of authority defined in paragraph (1) of Code Section 36-75-3 that meets the conditions set forth in paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (c) of this Code section.
(e) The provisions of this Code section shall not apply under any circumstances to the issuance of “recovery zone economic development bonds” and “recovery zone facility bonds” as such terms are defined in Section 1401 of the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
Those public safety and judicial facilities authorities created and activated pursuant to this chapter that have issued the $50 million maximum aggregate amount of bonds permitted under paragraph (13) of Code Section 36-75-7 shall be subject to the provisions of Code Section 36-75-11 when such bonded indebtedness is reduced and such authorities desire to issue additional bonds for new projects.
On and after May 24, 2007, no county or municipality that has activated or that activates a public safety and judicial facilities authority shall also activate a joint public safety and judicial facilities authority.
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the “Consumer Choice for Television Act.”
As used in this chapter, the term:
(1) “Advertising and home shopping services revenues” means the amount of a cable service provider or video service provider's nonsubscriber revenues from advertising disseminated through cable service or video service and home shopping services. The amount of such revenues that are allocable to a municipality or county shall be equal to the total amount of the cable service provider or video service provider's revenue received from such advertising and home shopping services multiplied by the ratio of the number of such provider's subscribers located in such municipality or in the unincorporated area of such county to the total number of such provider's subscribers. Such ratio shall be based on the number of such provider's subscribers as of January 1 of the current year, except that in the first year in which services are provided, such ratio shall be computed as of the earliest practical date.
(2) “Affected local governing authority” means any municipal governing authority when any part of such municipality is located within the service area and any county governing authority when any part of the unincorporated area of such county is located within the service area.
(3) “Cable service” means the one-way transmission to subscribers of video programming or other programming service and subscriber interaction, if any, which is required for the selection or use of such video programming or other programming service. Such term shall not include any video programming provided by a provider of commercial mobile service as defined in 47 U.S.C. Section 332(d) or video programming accessed via a service that enables users to access content, information, email, or other services offered over the internet, including digital audiovisual works.
(4) “Cable service provider” means any person or group of persons:
(A) Who provides cable service over a cable system and directly or through one or more affiliates owns a significant interest in such cable system; or
(B) Who otherwise controls or is responsible for, through any arrangement, the management and operation of such a cable system.
(5) “Cable system” means a facility consisting of a set of closed transmission paths and associated signal generation, reception, and control equipment that is designed to provide cable service which includes video programming and which is provided to multiple subscribers within a community, but such term shall not include:
(A) A facility that serves only to retransmit the television signals of one or more television broadcast stations;
(B) A facility that serves subscribers without using any public right of way as defined in this Code section;
(C) A facility of a common carrier which is subject, in whole or in part, to the provisions of 47 U.S.C. Sections 201 through 276, except that such facility shall be considered a cable system, other than for purposes of 47 U.S.C. Section 541(c), to the extent such facility is used in the transmission of video programming directly to subscribers, unless the extent of such use is solely to provide interactive on-demand services as that term is defined in 47 U.S.C. Section 522(12);
(D) An open video system that complies with 47 U.S.C. Section 573; or
(E) Any facility of any electric utility used solely for operating such electric utility system.
(6) “Franchise” means an initial authorization or renewal of an authorization issued by a franchise authority, regardless of whether the authorization is designated as a franchise, permit, license, resolution, contract, ordinance, certificate, agreement, or otherwise, that authorizes the construction or operation of a cable service provider or video service provider's network in the public rights of way.
(7) “Franchise authority” means any governmental entity empowered by federal, state, or local law to grant a franchise. With regard to the holder of a state franchise within the service areas covered by such state franchise, the Secretary of State shall be the sole franchising authority. With respect to a franchise agreement with a municipal or county governing authority, that municipality or county shall be the sole franchising authority within the service areas covered by that local franchise.
(8) “Gross revenues” means all revenues received from subscribers for the provision of cable service or video service, including franchise fees for cable service providers and video service providers, and advertising and home shopping services revenues and shall be determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Gross revenues shall not include:
(A) Amounts billed and collected as a line item on the subscriber's bill to recover any taxes, surcharges, or governmental fees that are imposed on or with respect to the services provided or measured by the charges, receipts, or payments therefor; provided, however, that for purposes of this Code section, such tax, surcharge, or governmental fee shall not include any ad valorem taxes, net income taxes, or generally applicable business or occupation taxes not measured exclusively as a percentage of the charges, receipts, or payments for services;
(B) Any revenue, such as bad debt, not actually received, even if billed;
(C) Any revenue received by any affiliate or any other person in exchange for supplying goods or services used by the provider to provide cable service or video programming;
(D) Any amounts attributable to refunds, rebates, or discounts;
(E) Any revenue from services provided over the network that are associated with or classified as noncable or nonvideo services under federal law, including, without limitation, revenues received from telecommunications services, information services other than cable service or video service, Internet access services, or directory or Internet advertising revenue, including, without limitation, yellow pages, white pages, banner advertisements, and electronic publishing advertising. Where the sale of any such noncable or nonvideo service is bundled with the sale of one or more cable services or video services and sold for a single nonitemized price, the term “gross revenues” shall include only those revenues that are attributable to cable service or video service based on the provider's books and records; such revenues shall be allocated in a manner consistent with generally accepted accounting principles;
(F) Any revenue from late fees not initially booked as revenues, returned check fees, or interest;
(G) Any revenue from sales or rental of property, except such property as the subscriber shall be required to buy or rent exclusively from the cable service provider or video service provider to receive cable service or video service;
(H) Any revenue received from providing or maintaining inside wiring;
(I) Any revenue from sales for resale with respect to which the purchaser shall be required to pay a franchise fee, provided the purchaser certifies in writing that it shall resell the service and pay a franchise fee with respect thereto; or
(J) Any amounts attributable to a reimbursement of costs including, but not limited to, the reimbursements by programmers of marketing costs incurred for the promotion or introduction of video programming.
(9) “Incumbent service provider” means any cable service provider or video service provider providing cable service or video service, respectively, in a municipality or in an unincorporated area of a county on January 1, 2008.
(10) “Original programming” means programming produced specifically for or about a municipality or county or citizens thereof and shall include public government meetings. Original programming shall not include character generated messages, video bulletin board messages, traffic cameras, or other passively produced content.
(11) “PEG” means public, educational, or governmental.
(12) “Public right of way” means the area in, on, along, over, or under the public roads that are part of the municipal or county road system or the state highway system.
(13) “Service area” means the geographic territory within a municipality or unincorporated area of a county where a cable service provider or video service provider provides or has proposed to offer cable service or video service pursuant to a franchise.
(14) “Subscriber” means any person or entity lawfully receiving video service from a video service provider or cable service from a cable service provider.
(15) “Video programming” means programming provided by, or generally considered comparable to programming provided by, a television broadcast station, as set forth in 47 U.S.C. Section 522(20).
(16) “Video service” means the provision by a video service provider of video programming through wireline facilities located at least in part in the public rights of way without regard to delivery technology, including internet protocol technology. Such term shall not include any video programming provided by a provider of commercial mobile service or direct-to-home satellite services, as defined in 47 U.S.C. Sections 332(d) and 303(v), respectively, or video programming accessed via a service that enables users to access content, information, email, or other services offered over the internet, including digital audiovisual works.
(17) “Video service provider” means an entity providing video service as defined in this Code section. This term shall not include a cable service provider.
(a)(1) Any entity or person seeking to provide cable service or video service in this state after January 1, 2008, at the discretion of the cable service provider or video service provider, may elect from among the franchise options as set forth in this Code section. A cable service provider or video service provider shall not provide cable service or video service without a franchise obtained pursuant to this chapter.
(2) A cable service provider or video service provider may elect to negotiate a local cable service or video service franchise agreement with a municipal or county franchise authority duly authorized under the laws of Georgia and may enter into a negotiated cable television franchise agreement in accordance with Title VI of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. Section 521 et seq., or a video service franchise agreement in accordance with applicable state and federal law that establishes the terms and conditions for the franchise agreement within the jurisdictional limits of that municipality or county. A local cable service or video service franchise agreement entered into after January 1, 2008, shall remain in force and effect through its expiration date notwithstanding subsection (g) of Code Section 36-76-4.
(3) A cable service provider or video service provider may elect to adopt the terms of a negotiated franchise agreement entered into between a cable service provider or video service provider and a municipal or county franchise authority in the service area in which the cable service provider or video service provider desires to provide service. The municipal or county franchise authority shall be required to enter into any such negotiated franchise agreement upon the same terms and conditions to any requesting cable service provider or video service provider. A local cable service or video service franchise agreement that is adopted by a cable service provider or video service provider after January 1, 2008, shall remain in force and effect through its expiration date notwithstanding subsection (g) of Code Section 36-76-4.
(4) A cable service provider or video service provider may elect after January 1, 2008, to file an application for a state franchise in one or more specified service areas with the Secretary of State in accordance with the procedures set forth in this chapter.
(b) The alternatives in subsection (a) of this Code section shall not be mutually exclusive. A cable service provider or video service provider may elect after January 1, 2008, to negotiate with a municipal or county franchise authority to enter into a franchise agreement within a specified service area and may also obtain a state franchise for a different service area. A cable service provider or video service provider shall not operate under a franchise agreement with a municipal or county governing authority and a state franchise from the Secretary of State for the same service area.
(a) To receive a state franchise, a cable service provider or video service provider shall file an application for a state franchise with the Secretary of State, with a copy of such application provided simultaneously to each affected municipal or county governing authority at least 45 days prior to offering cable service or video service to subscribers within a specified service area.
(b) The Secretary of State may impose a fee not to exceed $500.00 for a state franchise application and a fee not to exceed $250.00 for an amendment to a state franchise.
(c) The application for a state franchise shall consist of an affidavit signed by an officer or general partner of the applicant that contains each of the following:
(1) An affirmative declaration that the applicant shall comply with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations, including municipal and county ordinances and regulations regarding the placement and maintenance of facilities in the public right of way that are generally applicable to all users of the public right of way and specifically including Chapter 9 of Title 25, the “Georgia Utility Facility Protection Act”;
(2) A description of the applicant's service area, which description shall be sufficiently detailed so as to allow a local government to respond to subscriber inquiries, including the name of each municipal or county governing authority within the service area. For the purposes of this paragraph, an applicant may, in lieu of or as supplement to a written description, provide a map on 8 1/2 by 11 inch paper that is clear and legible and that fairly depicts the service area by making reference to the municipal or county governing authority to be served. If the geographical area is less than an entire municipality or county, the map shall describe the boundaries of the geographic area to be served in clear and concise terms;
(3) The location of the applicant's principal place of business, the name or names of the principal executive officer or officers of the applicant, information concerning payment locations or addresses, and general information concerning equipment returns;
(4) Certification that the applicant is authorized to conduct business in the State of Georgia and that the applicant possesses satisfactory financial and technical capability to provide cable service or video service and a description of such capabilities. Such certification shall not be required from an incumbent service provider or any cable service provider or video service provider that has wireline facilities located in the public right of way as of January 1, 2008; and
(5) Notice to the affected local governing authority of its right to designate a franchise fee pursuant to Code Section 36-76-6.
(d) If an application is incomplete, the Secretary of State shall notify the applicant within ten days of the receipt of such application and shall provide the applicant with a reasonable period of time in which to provide a complete application. If no such notification is made within ten days of the receipt of the application, the application shall be deemed complete. Within 45 days of the receipt of a completed application, the Secretary of State shall, except as set forth in subsection (f) of this Code section, issue a state franchise that contains the following:
(1) A nonexclusive grant of authority to provide cable service or video service as requested in the application;
(2) A nonexclusive grant of authority to construct, maintain, and operate facilities along, across, or on the public right of way in the delivery of cable service or video service, subject to applicable federal and state laws and regulations, including municipal and county ordinances and regulations, regarding the placement and maintenance of facilities in the public right of way that are generally applicable to all users of the public right of way and specifically including Chapter 9 of Title 25, the “Georgia Utility Facility Protection Act”; and
(3) The expiration date of the state franchise, which shall be ten years from the date of issuance, subject to renewal.
(e) The failure of the Secretary of State to issue a state franchise within 45 days of the receipt of a completed application from an incumbent service provider or a cable service provider or video service provider that has wireline facilities located in any public right of way as of January 1, 2008, shall constitute issuance of the requested state franchise to the applicant without further action required by the applicant. The failure of the Secretary of State to issue a state franchise within 45 days of the receipt of a completed application from a cable service provider or video service provider that does not have an existing franchise with a municipal or county governing authority or that does not have wireline facilities located in any public right of way as of January 1, 2008, shall constitute temporary issuance of the requested state franchise to the applicant subject to the provisions of subsection (f) of this Code section.
(f) A municipal or county governing authority that reasonably believes an applicant that has not yet accessed rights of way in that municipality or unincorporated area of a county and does not possess satisfactory financial and technical capability to provide cable service or video service or is not duly authorized to conduct business in Georgia shall object to the issuance of a state franchise before it is officially issued by the Secretary of State. If a municipal or county governing authority objects to the issuance of a state franchise on these grounds, the Secretary of State shall consider whether the objection is well founded and shall make a determination as to whether to grant the state franchise notwithstanding the objection or to deny or suspend the application pending the receipt of information sufficient to demonstrate the applicant has satisfactory financial and technical capability. If the Secretary of State has not acted on the objection of a municipal or county governing authority's objection and a state franchise is issued as set forth in subsection (e) of this Code section, then such temporary issuance of the state franchise shall be subject to the Secretary of State's determination on the objection.
(g)(1) At any time after January 1, 2008, an incumbent service provider may file an application for a state franchise pursuant to this Code section with the Secretary of State with a copy provided to each affected municipal or county governing authority except as set forth in paragraphs (2) and (3) of subsection (a) of Code Section 36-76-3. Upon the Secretary of State issuing such state franchise, any existing franchise for the service area covered by the state franchise shall, subject to the continuation of PEG support obligations in paragraph (4) of this subsection, terminate and be of no further force or effect.
(2) An incumbent service provider that elects to terminate an existing franchise for the service area covered by the state franchise under this subsection shall remain subject to the contractual rights, duties, and obligations incurred by the incumbent service provider under the terms and conditions of the terminated local franchise that are owed to any private person, including a subscriber.
(3) As used in this subsection, the term “private person” shall not include:
(A) The municipal or county governing authority that issued the terminated local franchise;
(B) A political subdivision, government agency, or authority of the state not described in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph; or
(C) Any official, agent, or employee acting in an official capacity of the municipal or county governing authority that issued the terminated local franchise.
(4) An incumbent service provider that elects to terminate a franchise under this subsection shall continue to provide PEG access support, as such existed on January 1, 2007, under the same terms as the terminated local franchise had it not been terminated until the local franchise would have expired under its own terms.
(5) Notwithstanding a termination of a local franchise pursuant to this subsection, a municipality or county shall be entitled to operate its existing PEG channel or channels, as such existed on January 1, 2007, relating to the number of channels and the usage criteria for such channels under the same terms as the terminated local franchise had it not been terminated, pursuant to this subsection, until July 1, 2012. The 12 month development period for PEG channels set forth in subsection (a) of Code Section 36-76-8 shall not apply to existing PEG channels operating under the entitlement provisions of this subsection.
(6) The 12 month development period for PEG channels set forth in subsection (a) of Code Section 36-76-8 shall not apply to channels being operated at the time that any holder of a state franchise adopts or renews a state franchise after July 1, 2012.
(7) An incumbent service provider that elects to terminate a franchise under this subsection, shall, until July 1, 2012, continue to provide access on the nonbasic or digital tier to any municipality or county that has an activated public safety training channel as of January 1, 2007. This channel shall be used exclusively for the purpose of training public safety personnel. After July 1, 2012, the state franchise holder shall be entitled to use other reasonable, readily accessible means to accomplish the purpose of the channel.
(8) Each holder of a state franchise shall have the obligation to provide access to the same number of PEG channels pursuant to Code Section 36-76-8 and the additional PEG support cash payments specified in this paragraph for PEG access facilities in a service area as the incumbent service provider with the most subscribers in such service area as of January 1, 2007, which obligation shall continue until the local franchise would have expired under its own terms as specified in paragraph (4) of this subsection; provided, however, that if a local franchise would have expired before July 1, 2012, the holder of a state franchise shall continue to provide access to the same number of PEG channels until July 1, 2012, as provided in paragraph (5) of this subsection. To the extent such incumbent service provider provides PEG access support during said period in the form of periodic payments to the municipal or county governing authority equal to a percentage of gross revenue or a prescribed per subscriber amount, the state franchise holder shall be obligated to make the same periodic payments to the governing authority at the same time and equal to the same percentage of gross revenue or prescribed per subscriber amount. To the extent such incumbent service provider provides PEG access support to the applicable governing authority during said period in the form of a lump sum payment that remains unsatisfied as of January 1, 2008, the holder of a state franchise shall be obligated to provide a lump sum payment to said authority based on its proportion of the total number of cable service and video service subscribers of all service providers in such service area. No payments shall be due under this paragraph until the municipality or county notifies the respective providers, in writing, of the percentage of gross revenues, the per subscriber amount, or the lump sum payment amount and the expiration date of the local franchise obtaining such obligations. The holder of a state franchise may designate that portion of the subscriber's bill attributable to any fee imposed pursuant to this paragraph as a separate item on the bill and recover such amount from the subscriber.
(a) A state franchise shall be fully transferable to any successor in interest to the applicant. A notice of transfer shall be filed by the transferee with the Secretary of State with a copy provided to each affected municipal or county governing authority within 45 days of such transfer. The transfer notification shall consist of an affidavit signed by an officer or general partner of the transferee that contains each of the following:
(1) An affirmative declaration that the applicant shall comply with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations, including municipal and county ordinances and regulations, regarding the placement and maintenance of facilities in any public right of way that are generally applicable to all users of the public right of way and specifically including Chapter 9 of Title 25, the “Georgia Utility Facility Protection Act”;
(2) A description of the transferee's service area, including the name of each municipal or county governing authority within the service area;
(3) The location of the transferee's principal place of business and the name or names of the principal executive officer or officers of the transferee; and
(4) A description of material changes, if any, of the information set forth in the applicant's initial application for a state franchise.
(b) Any outstanding liabilities that have become due and are still owed to a municipal or county governing authority under a state franchise issued pursuant to this chapter shall be fully transferable under this Code section to any successor in interest to the applicant.
(c) The failure of the Secretary of State to issue an amended state franchise within 45 days of the receipt of a completed transfer notice shall constitute issuance of the requested amended state franchise to the transferee without further action required.
(d) A cable service provider or video service provider may modify its service area covered by the state franchise by notifying the Secretary of State of changes to the service area, with a copy provided to each affected municipal or county governing authority, at least 20 days prior to the effective date of such change. Such notification shall contain a geographic description of the new service area or areas and a list of each municipal or county governing authority within the service area.
(e) A state franchise issued pursuant to this chapter may be terminated by the cable service provider or video service provider by submitting a notice of termination to the Secretary of State with a copy provided to each affected municipal or county governing authority. Such notice shall identify the cable service provider or video service provider, the affected service area, and the effective date of such termination, which shall not be more than 60 days from the date of filing the notice of termination.
(a)(1) The holder of a state franchise, whether a cable service provider or a video service provider, shall pay to each affected local governing authority which complies with this Code section a franchise fee which shall not exceed the maximum percentage rate permitted in 47 U.S.C. Section 542(b) of such holder's gross revenues received from the provision of cable service or video service to subscribers located within such holder's service area.
(2) Each affected local governing authority or its authorized designee shall provide written notice to the Secretary of State and each applicant for or holder of a state franchise with a service area located within that affected local governing authority's jurisdiction of the franchise fee rate that applies to the applicant for or holder of such state franchise. The applicant for or holder of a state franchise shall start assessing the franchise fee within 15 days of receipt of written notice from the affected local governing authority or its authorized designee and shall not be required to pay such franchise fee until the expiration of 15 days after receipt of such written notice. Any incumbent service provider who obtains a state franchise under paragraph (1) of subsection (g) of Code Section 36-76-4 shall pay its existing franchise fee during the 15 day period after receipt of written notice of the new fee. The franchise fee rate shall be uniformly applicable to all cable service providers and video service providers that obtain a state franchise within the affected local governing authority. For purposes of this Code section, an authorized designee is an agent authorized by charter or other act of the affected local governing authority.
(3) Any affected local governing authority may change the franchise fee applicable to holders of a state franchise once every two years. The affected local governing authority or its authorized designee shall provide written notice to the Secretary of State and the applicants for or holders of a state franchise with a service area within that affected local governing authority's jurisdiction of the new franchise fee rate. The holder of a state franchise shall start assessing the new franchise fee within 45 days of receipt of written notice of the change from the affected local governing authority or its authorized designee. The franchise fee rate shall be uniformly applicable to all cable service providers and video service providers that obtain a state franchise within the affected local governing authority's jurisdiction.
(b) Such franchise fee shall be paid directly to each affected local governing authority within 30 days after the last day of each calendar quarter. Such payment shall be considered complete if accompanied by a statement showing, for the quarter covered by the payment:
(1) The aggregate amount of the state franchise holder's gross revenues, specifically identifying subscriber and advertising and home shopping services revenues under this chapter insofar as the franchise holder's existing billing systems include such capability, attributable to such municipality or unincorporated areas of the county; and
(2) The amount of the franchise fee payment due to such municipality or county.
In the event that franchise fees are not paid on or before the dates specified above, then the affected local governing authority shall provide written notice to the franchise holder giving the cable service provider or video service provider 15 days from the date of the franchise holder's receipt of such notice to cure any such nonpayment. In the event franchise fees are not remitted to the affected local government authority postmarked on or before the expiration of the 15 day cure period, then the holder of the state franchise shall pay interest thereon at a rate of 1 percent per month to the affected local governing authority. If the 15 day cure period expires on Saturday, Sunday, or a legal holiday, the due date shall be the next business day. Moreover, the franchise holder shall not be assessed interest on late payments if franchise payments were submitted in error to a neighboring local governing authority.
(c) Each affected local governing authority may, no more than once annually, audit the business records of the state franchise holder to the extent necessary to ensure payment in accordance with this Code section. For purposes of this subsection, an audit shall be defined as a comprehensive review of the records of the holder of a state franchise. Once any audited period of a state franchise holder has been the subject of a requested audit, such audited period of such state franchise holder shall not again be the subject of any audit. In the event of a dispute concerning the amount of the franchise fee due to an affected local governing authority under this Code section, an action may be brought in a court of competent jurisdiction by an affected local governing authority seeking to recover an additional amount alleged to be due or by a state franchise holder seeking a refund of an alleged overpayment; provided, however, that any such action shall be brought within three years following the end of the quarter to which the disputed amount relates. Such time period may be extended by written agreement between the state issued franchise holder and such affected local governing authority. Each party shall bear the party's own costs incurred in connection with any such examination or dispute. In the event that an affected local governing authority files an action to recover alleged underpayments of franchise fees and a court of competent jurisdiction determines the cable service provider or video service provider has underpaid franchise fees due for any 12 month period by 10 percent or more, the cable service provider or video service provider may be required to pay the affected local governing authority its reasonable costs associated with the audit along with any franchise fee underpayments; provided, however, late payments shall not apply.
(d) The statements made pursuant to subsection (b) of this Code section and any records or information furnished or disclosed by a cable service provider or video service provider to an affected local governing authority pursuant to subsection (c) of this Code section shall be exempt from public inspection under Article 4 of Chapter 18 of Title 50.
(e) No acceptance of any payment shall be construed as a release or as an accord and satisfaction of any claim an affected local governing authority may have for further or additional sums payable as a franchise fee.
(f) Any amounts overpaid by the holder of a state franchise shall be deducted from future franchise payments.
(g) The holder of a state franchise may designate that portion of a subscriber's bill attributable to any franchise fee imposed pursuant to this Code section as a separate item on the bill and recover such amount from the subscriber; provided, however, that such separate listing shall be referred to as a “franchise” or a “franchise fee.”
(h) No affected local governing authority shall levy any additional tax, license, fee, surcharge, or other assessment on a cable service provider or video service provider for or with respect to the use of any public right of way other than the franchise fee authorized by this Code section. Nor shall an affected local governing authority levy any other tax, license, fee, or assessment on a cable service provider or video service provider or its subscribers that is not generally imposed and applicable to a majority of all other businesses. The franchise fee authorized by this Code section shall be in lieu of any permit fee, encroachment fee, degradation fee, or other fee that could otherwise be assessed on a state issued franchise holder for the holder's occupation or work within the public right of way; provided, however, that nothing in this Code section shall restrict the right of any municipal or county governing authority to impose ad valorem taxes, sales taxes, or other taxes lawfully imposed on a majority of all other businesses within such municipality or county.
(a) The holder of a state franchise shall comply with the customer service standards as set forth in 47 C.F.R. 76.309(c). No franchising authority shall have the power to require the holder of a state franchise to comply with any customer service standards other than those set forth in this Code section.
(b) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of subsection (c) of this Code section, each affected local governing authority shall receive and handle complaints from subscribers of the holder of a state franchise that reside in the affected local governing authority's jurisdiction.
(c)(1) By December 31, 2007, the Governor's Office of Consumer Affairs shall establish a uniform set of rules, which may include fines and penalties, pursuant to which an affected local governing authority shall resolve subscriber complaints. Said rules shall include a requirement that the cable service provider or video service provider participate in mandatory nonbinding mediation with the affected local governing authority and the subscriber if the issue cannot be resolved between the cable service provider or video service provider and the subscriber. Said rules shall apply only until 50 percent of the potential subscribers within an affected local governing authority are offered service by two or more cable service providers or video service providers holding a state franchise or a local franchise.
(2) After such time as 50 percent of the potential subscribers within an affected local governing authority are being offered service by two or more cable service providers or video service providers holding a state franchise or a local franchise, an affected local governing authority may, in its discretion, by the adoption of a resolution or ordinance, discontinue receiving and handling all subscriber inquiries, billing issues, and other complaints for state franchise holders. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, where an affected local governing authority discontinues receiving and handling subscriber inquiries, billing issues, and other complaints relating to state franchise holders by adoption of a resolution or ordinance pursuant to this paragraph, bills to subscribers by cable service providers or video service providers holding a state franchise shall not include the contact information of such affected local governing authority for the purpose of directing or initiating complaints or making other such subscriber inquiries.
(d) Rules, orders, actions, and regulations previously adopted pursuant to this Code section shall remain of full force and effect as rules, orders, actions, and regulations of the Attorney General until amended, repealed, or superseded by rules or regulations adopted by the Attorney General.
(a) No later than 12 months after receipt of a written request by a municipal or county governing authority, the holder of a state franchise shall designate capacity in its network to allow for the airing of noncommercial PEG programming required by this Code section.
(b)(1) Subject to the usage criteria set forth in this subsection, a municipal or county governing authority that does not have PEG access channels activated under the incumbent service provider's franchise agreement as of January 1, 2008, may request a sufficient amount of capacity on its network to support up to three PEG channels for a municipality in this state having a population of 50,000 or more according to the United States decennial census of 2000 or any future such census or an unincorporated area of a county which is located in a county in this state having a population of 50,000 or more according to the United States decennial census of 2000 or any future such census or up to two PEG channels for a municipality in this state having a population of 50,000 or less according to the United States decennial census of 2000 or any future such census or an unincorporated area of a county which is located in a county in this state having a population of 50,000 or less according to the United States decennial census of 2000, and the cable service provider or video service provider shall designate such sufficient amount of capacity. No cable service provider or video service provider shall be required to provide more than three PEG access channels on its network within a municipality or unincorporated area of a county if there does not exist at the time of the state franchise more than three active PEG channels in such municipality or unincorporated area of the county.
(2) To qualify for the first PEG channel on the basic or analog tier of service, the written request of the municipality or county shall include a certification that it has produced at least 15 hours of nonduplicative original programming for production in the first month of operation and that the municipality or county shall continue to produce at least 15 hours of nonduplicative original programming for each month that the channel is provided.
(3) Alternatively, to qualify for the first PEG channel on the basic or analog tier of service, two or more municipalities or counties may collectively include a certification that they have produced at least 15 hours of nonduplicative original programming for production in the first month of operation and that the municipalities or counties shall continue to produce at least 15 hours of nonduplicative original programming for each month that the channel is provided.
(4) To qualify for a second PEG channel on the basic or analog tier of service, the municipality or county shall certify that the first channel is being substantially utilized, and that upon activation, the second PEG channel shall also be substantially utilized. For purposes of this subsection, PEG channels shall be considered “substantially utilized” when 12 continuous hours of content are programmed on that channel each calendar day. In addition, at least 75 percent of the 12 hours of programming for each business day over each calendar quarter, on average, shall be nonduplicative programming. Nonduplicative programming shall include the first three broadcasts in a day of a meeting of an elected government body.
(5) To qualify for a third PEG channel, a municipality in this state having a population of 50,000 or more according to the United States decennial census of 2000 or any future such census or an unincorporated area of a county which is located in a county in this state having a population of 50,000 or more according to the United States decennial census of 2000 or any future such census shall certify that the channel shall be programmed for at least eight continuous hours of nonduplicative content per day. The third PEG channel shall only be available on the nonbasic digital tier.
(6) Any municipality or county that has not obtained a second PEG channel on the basic or analog tier may qualify for a second PEG channel on the nonbasic digital tier by certifying that the channel shall be programmed for at least eight continuous hours of nonduplicative content per day.
(7) Any PEG channel capability provided pursuant to this Code section that does not comply with the usage criteria set forth in this subsection or is not substantially utilized by the municipality or county shall no longer be made available after reasonable notice is provided to the municipality or county but may be programmed at the franchise holder's discretion. At such time as the municipality or county certifies to the franchise holder that it shall meet the usage criteria for that particular channel, the cable service provider or video service provider shall restore the previously lost channel. However, the franchise holder shall be under no obligation to carry that channel on a basic or analog tier.
(c) Upon request by a municipality or county that does not have an activated PEG channel, the state franchise holder shall provide access to one nonexclusive PEG channel for the purpose of providing public, educational, and government programming. This nonexclusive channel shall be available as an additional option to municipalities and counties and shall not eliminate the requirements of subsection (b) of this Code section.
(d) In the event that the provision of video service and cable service is federally mandated to be digitally provided, the franchise holder shall be entitled to satisfy the PEG obligations by locating the channels on any channel provided in the basic subscription service offered by the provider.
(e) Municipalities, counties, and cable service providers and video service providers shall cooperate in the sharing of channel capacity to provide PEG access for municipalities and counties served by the cable service provider or video service provider.
(f) The holder of a state franchise shall designate capacity on its system sufficient to allow the provision of the same number of PEG access channels that a municipal or county governing authority has activated under the incumbent service provider's franchise agreement as of January 1, 2008.
(g) The operation of any PEG access channel provided pursuant to this Code section and the production of programming thereon, including all capital costs and costs of production, shall be the responsibility of the municipality or the county receiving the benefit of such channel, and the holder of a state franchise shall only have the responsibility to transmit such channel to subscribers. If the holder elects not to seek interconnection with the incumbent under subsection (i) of this Code section or if the incumbent service provider and the holder of a state franchise cannot reach mutual agreement on interconnection terms, the holder of a state franchise shall be responsible for providing one location of connectivity to each PEG access channel up to the first 200 feet from the holder's activated wireline video programming distribution facility located in the holder's designated service area.
(h) The municipality or the county shall ensure that all transmissions of content and programming provided by or arranged by them to be transmitted over a PEG channel by a holder of a state franchise are provided and submitted to the cable service provider or video service provider in a manner or form that is capable of being accepted and transmitted by such cable service provider or video service provider over its system without further alteration or change in the content or transmission signal and which is compatible with the technology or protocol utilized by the cable service provider or video service provider to deliver its cable services or video services. The provision of PEG content to the cable service provider or video service provider shall constitute authorization for such cable service provider or video service provider to carry such content on the PEG channel of the municipality or county including, at the cable service provider or video service provider's option, providing such content beyond the jurisdictional boundaries of the municipality or county to the extent permitted by federal law.
(i) Where technically feasible, the holder of a state franchise and an incumbent service provider shall use reasonable efforts to interconnect their systems on mutually acceptable and reasonable terms for the purpose of providing PEG programming. Interconnection may be accomplished by direct cable microwave link, satellite, or other reasonable method of connection. Holders of a state franchise and incumbent service providers shall not unreasonably withhold interconnection of PEG channels.
(j) A holder of a state franchise shall not be required to interconnect for or otherwise transmit commercial PEG programming content or PEG content that is branded with the logo, name, or other identifying marks of another cable service provider or video service provider, and a municipality or county may require a cable service provider or video service provider to remove its logo, name, or other identifying marks from PEG content that is to be made available to another provider.
A cable service provider or video service provider shall, upon written request by a municipality or county, install, at no charge, one service outlet to a demarcation point located on the outside of any designated municipal or county building or multibuilding complex, provided such building demarcation point is within 125 feet from the cable service provider or video service provider's activated distribution point of connection. A cable service provider or video service provider shall not be required to extend its facilities beyond the appropriate demarcation point located outside the building or to perform any inside wiring. The cable service provider or video service provider shall provide complimentary basic cable service or video service to public schools and public libraries over that one service outlet free of charge, which service shall not be used for commercial purposes. The cable service provider or video service provider shall provide complimentary basic cable service or video service to public buildings other than public schools and public libraries only to the extent such a complimentary service arrangement existed under the terms of a local franchise agreement in effect as of January 1, 2007, and shall continue only until the local franchise agreement would have expired under its own terms; provided, however, that such provider shall not be precluded from providing such additional complimentary service at its option. The municipality or county may not receive service at the same building from more than one cable service provider or video service provider at a time under this Code section.
No franchising authority, state agency, or political subdivision of the state shall impose any build-out requirement on system construction or service deployment on a holder of a state franchise. This chapter shall occupy the entire field of franchising or otherwise regulating cable service and video service. An affected local governing authority's power to regulate the holder of a state franchise shall be limited to:
(1) A requirement that the holder of a state franchise who is providing cable service or video service within the municipality or unincorporated area of the county shall notify each affected local governing authority at least ten days before providing service in such municipality or county. A municipal or county governing authority may require the holder of a state franchise to update the description of the service area provided in the application for a state franchise annually and may also require the holder of a state franchise to maintain a point of contact that shall be available during normal business hours;
(2) The establishment of reasonable guidelines regarding the use of PEG access channels;
(3) The lawful and reasonable exercise of the police powers of the municipal or county governing authority to the extent reasonably necessary to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public;
(4) The enactment and enforcement of lawful and reasonable laws and rules and municipal or county ordinances and regulations concerning excavation, permitting, bonding requirements, indemnification requirements, and placement and maintenance of facilities in any public right of way that are generally applicable to all users of any public right of way, except to the extent specifically precluded by subsection (h) of Code Section 36-76-6; and
(5) The lawful and reasonable exercise of the rights established in this chapter.
(a) A holder of a state franchise shall not deny access to service to any group of potential residential subscribers because of the income of the residents in the local area in which such group resides.
(b) For purposes of determining whether a cable service provider or video service provider has violated subsection (a) of this Code section, cost, density, distance, and technological or commercial limitations shall be taken into account. An alleged violation of subsection (a) of this Code section shall only be considered within the description of the service area set forth in an application or amended application for a state franchise. The inability to serve an end user because a holder is prohibited from placing its own facilities in a building or property shall not be found to be a violation of subsection (a) of this Code section. Use of an alternative technology or service arrangement that provides comparable content, service, and functionality shall not be considered a violation of subsection (a) of this Code section. This Code section shall not be construed as authorizing any build-out requirements on a cable service provider or video service provider.
(c) Any potential residential subscriber or group of residential subscribers who believes it is being denied access to services in violation of subsection (a) of this Code section may file a complaint with the affected local governing authority, along with a clear statement of the facts and the information upon which it is relying to support the complaint. Upon receipt of any such complaint, the affected local governing authority shall serve a copy of the complaint and supporting materials upon the subject cable service provider or video service provider, which shall have 60 days after receipt of such information to submit a written answer and any other relevant information the provider wishes to submit to the affected local governing authority in response to the complaint. If the affected local governing authority is not satisfied with the response, the affected local governing authority shall compel the cable service provider or video service provider to participate in nonbinding mediation. If the mediation does not resolve the matter to the satisfaction of the affected local governing authority, the affected local governing authority may file a complaint with a court of competent jurisdiction. No affected local governing authority shall file an action in court without having participated in a mediation of the complaint. If such court finds that the holder of a state franchise is in material noncompliance with this Code section, the holder shall have a reasonable period of time, as specified by the court, to cure such noncompliance. The court may also award the affected local governing authority its reasonable costs and attorneys fees in seeking enforcement of subsection (a) of this Code section.
A local board of education shall not adopt or follow any code of ethics which prevents the members of such board from discussing freely the policies and actions of such board outside of a board meeting. This Code section shall not apply to any matter or matters discussed in executive session as defined in subsection (a) of Code Section 50-14-1 or which are exempt from disclosure under Code Section 50-18-72.
Counties, municipalities, county boards of education, and other political subdivisions of the state which are authorized to levy taxes shall have the power and authority, within the limitations prescribed by Article IX, Section V, Paragraph V of the Constitution of Georgia, to issue notes, certificates, or other evidence of indebtedness in anticipation of the collection of taxes levied or to be levied during the calendar year.
(a) The governing body of a municipality, county, school district, or other local governmental unit or political subdivision, in addition to all other legal investments, may invest and reinvest money subject to its control and jurisdiction in:
(1) Obligations of the United States and of its agencies and instrumentalities;
(2) Bonds or certificates of indebtedness of this state and of its agencies and instrumentalities; and
(3) Certificates of deposit of banks which have deposits insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation; provided, however, that that portion of such certificates of deposit in excess of the amount insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation shall be secured by direct obligations of this state or the United States which are of a par value equal to that portion of such certificates of deposit which would be uninsured.
(b) This Code section shall not impair the power of a municipality, county, school district, or other local governmental unit or political subdivision to hold funds in deposit accounts with banking institutions as otherwise authorized by law.
The governing body may delegate the investment authority provided by Code Section 36-80-3 to the treasurer or other financial officer charged with custody of the funds of the local government, who shall thereafter assume full responsibility for such investment transactions until the delegation of authority terminates or is revoked.
(a) No county, municipality, school district, authority, division, instrumentality, political subdivision, or public body corporate created under the Constitution or laws of this state shall be authorized to file a petition for relief from payment of its debts as they mature or a petition for composition of its debts under any federal statute providing for such relief or composition or otherwise to take advantage of any federal statute providing for the adjustment of debts of political subdivisions and public agencies and instrumentalities.
(b) No chief executive, mayor, board of commissioners, city council, board of trustees, or other governmental officer, governing body, or organization shall be empowered to cause or authorize the filing by or on behalf of any county, municipality, school district, authority, division, instrumentality, political subdivision, or public body corporate created under the Constitution or laws of this state of any petition for relief from payment of its debts as they mature or a petition for composition of its debts under any federal statute providing for such relief or composition or otherwise to take advantage of any federal statute providing for the adjustment of debts of political subdivisions and public agencies and instrumentalities.
The state and all departments, boards, bureaus, commissions, and other agencies thereof are authorized and empowered, within the limitations of the Constitution of Georgia, to furnish and make available services, assistance, funds, property, and other incentives to any two or more counties, municipal corporations, public corporations, and other political subdivisions of this state or any combination thereof, in connection with any program of services, benefits, administration, or other undertaking in which the state or any of its agencies participates, by furnishing supervision, services, property, administration, or funds, where such counties, municipal corporations, public corporations, or other political subdivisions are thereby able and willing to provide for the consolidation, combining, merger, or joint administration of such program or any part or function thereof by the two or more units, so as to effectuate economy or simplification in the administration or financing thereof. The incentives referred to in this Code section shall also include the assuming by the state or its agencies of a greater share or, where funds are available and such is deemed feasible, the entire cost of such participating program.
The state and all of its agencies are authorized to execute such contracts, plans, or other documents as may be necessary or desirable to effectuate the purposes of Code Section 36-80-6, this Code section, and Code Sections 36-80-8 and 36-80-9.
The state and all of its agencies are empowered to establish and maintain area offices for such combined, consolidated, or merged undertakings.
The state and its agencies are authorized to prescribe such reasonable rules, regulations, and requirements and to require the submission of such plans and reports from the participating units as may be deemed necessary or desirable to the proper administration of Code Sections 36-80-6 through 36-80-8 and this Code section.
When any county, municipality, or political subdivision desires to incur any debt, within the purview and meaning of Article IX, Section V, Paragraph I or II of the Constitution of Georgia other than a bonded debt, the election required shall be called and held in accordance with Code Sections 36-80-11 through 36-80-14.
The officers charged with levying taxes, contracting debts, and the like for the county, municipality, or political subdivision shall give notice, for a period of 30 days next preceding the day of the election, in the newspaper in which sheriff's advertisements for the county are published, notifying the qualified voters that on the day named an election will be held to determine whether the debt desired or proposed to be incurred shall be incurred by the county, municipality, or political subdivision. The notice shall specify the amount of the debt to be incurred, the purposes for which it is to be incurred, the amount of the debt to be paid annually or at shorter periods, the terms of the contract under which the debt is to be incurred, and the wording of the ballots to be used in the election for or against incurring the debt.
The election shall be held at all the voting or election precincts within the limits of the county, municipality, or political subdivision. It shall be held by the same persons, in the same manner, and under the same rules and regulations as elections for officers of the county, municipality, or political subdivision are held. The returns shall be made to the officers calling or ordering the election, who shall, in the presence of and together with the several managers who bring up the returns, consolidate the returns and declare the result.
When the notice is given and the election is held in accordance with Code Section 36-80-12, if the requisite majority of the qualified voters of the county, municipality, or political subdivision voting at the election vote for incurring the debt, the authority to incur the debt in accordance with Article IX, Section V, Paragraph I or II of the Constitution of Georgia is given to the proper officers of the county, municipality, or political subdivision.
Any county, municipality, or political subdivision of this state which incurs an indebtedness under Code Sections 36-80-10 through 36-80-13 and this Code section shall, on or before so doing, or annually thereafter, provide, without incurring further debt thereby, an annual sum sufficient in amount to pay the principal and interest of the debt within 30 years from the date of the incurring of the indebtedness.
(a) The purpose of this Code section is to grant and prescribe the manner of expenditure of funds received by this state from the federal government from sales of timber from military installations and military facilities of the United States, as authorized by subsection (e) of Section 2665 of Title 10 of the United States Code, as amended by the Military Construction Authorization Act of 1982.
(b) The amount of such funds received by the state from sales from each military installation or facility shall be allocated to the county in which the installation or facility is located. If an installation or facility is located in more than one county, the amount allocated to each such county shall be the total amount derived from sales from that installation or facility times a fraction the numerator of which is the number of acres of the installation or facility in the county and the denominator of which is the number of acres of the installation or facility in the state.
(c) Of the amount allocated to each county, 50 percent shall be paid to the county governing authority and 50 percent shall be paid to the county board of education. If, however, there is an independent school district in any county to which funds are allocated, then 50 percent of the funds allocated to the county shall be paid to the county governing authority and the remaining 50 percent shall be proportionally divided among the county school district and each independent school district in the county according to the ratio which the average daily attendance for each system bears to the total average daily attendance for all systems in the county, except that if pupils in one district attend school in another district they shall for purposes of determining average daily attendance be considered as attending school in the district in which they reside.
(d) Funds received by a county governing authority shall be used only on the county road system. Funds received by a board of education may be used for any purpose for which the board may lawfully expend public funds.
(e) Funds received by the state as described in this Code section shall be administered by the state treasurer and distributed by the state treasurer as provided in this Code section not less often than annually.
(a) This Code section shall be known and may be cited as the “Local Government Authorities Registration Act.”
(b) The General Assembly finds that there is a need for the state to create and maintain a record of all local government authorities. Such a record can best be maintained through annual registration of all local government authorities.
(c) The purpose of this Code section is to prescribe a registration process for all local government authorities authorized to operate in the State of Georgia by general statute, local law, or local constitutional amendment.
(d) As used in this Code section, the term:
(1) “Debt” includes all long-term or short-term credit obligations including, but not limited to, mortgages, bonds, loans, notes, interest-bearing warrants, and advances. For the purposes of this Code section, debt shall also include lease-purchase obligations.
(2) “Local government authority” includes without limitation instrumentalities of one or more local governments created to fulfill a specialized public purpose or any other legally created organization that has authority to issue debt for a public purpose independent of a county or municipality, not to include state authorities. Local government authorities include joint authorities, regional authorities, hospital authorities, housing authorities, residential care facilities for the elderly authorities, resource recovery development authorities, solid waste management authorities, downtown development authorities, airport authorities, industrial, payroll and other development authorities, transit authorities, water and sewer authorities, parking authorities, recreation authorities, stadium and coliseum authorities, building authorities, public service authorities, or any other local government authority regardless of name. Such local government authorities may have been created by local constitutional amendment, general statute, or local law.
(e) All local government authorities authorized to operate in the State of Georgia must register annually with the Department of Community Affairs.
(f) Any local government authority which fails to register with the Department of Community Affairs shall not incur any debt or credit obligations, nor shall it be eligible for receipt of any state funds, until such time as it meets the registration requirement. Failure to register shall not have any adverse affect on any outstanding debt or credit obligation.
(g) The Department of Community Affairs shall establish registration and reporting procedures for local government authorities. Such procedures shall include, but are not limited to, information on the authority's legal name, members, function, date and means of creation, contact person, address, and telephone number.
(h) The Department of Community Affairs shall establish reasonable fees for the work related to administration and enforcement of this Code section; provided, however, no fee shall be charged or allowed for the annual registration as required in this Code section.
(i) The Department of Community Affairs shall maintain a certified list of registered local government authorities, available on request. The department shall forward annually to the judge of the probate court in any affected county the registration information for all authorities operating in that county.
(j) Local government authorities shall initially register on or before January 1, 1996, and shall register each year thereafter by the date corresponding with the due date of that authority's report as provided for in subsection (b) of Code Section 36-81-8.
(a) This Code section shall be known and may be cited as the “PILOT Restriction Act.”
(b) As used in this Code section, the term “payments in lieu of taxes” means payments made directly or indirectly:
(1) Primarily in consideration of the issuance of revenue bonds or other revenue obligations and the application by the issuer of such bonds or other obligations of the proceeds of such bonds or other obligations to finance all or a portion of the costs of acquiring, constructing, equipping, or installing a capital project; and
(2) In further consideration of the laws of the State of Georgia granting an exemption from ad valorem taxation for such capital project,
to or for the account of the issuer of revenue bonds or other revenue obligations or the public bodies whose consent would otherwise be required, in the case of the separate payments provided for under subsection (d) of this Code section. Payments in lieu of taxes shall be deemed to be payments in lieu of taxes for educational purposes in the same proportion that property taxes for educational purposes would bear to total property taxes on such capital project if the project were subject to ad valorem property taxation. The term “payments in lieu of taxes” shall not include payments made primarily in consideration for the use or occupancy of property, including but not limited to lease payments or rent paid under a lease, regardless of whether or not the lessee or tenant holds an interest that is taxable for property tax purposes.
(c)(1) No local government authority, as defined in Code Section 36-80-16, shall be authorized to issue revenue bonds or other revenue obligations to finance, in whole or in part, any capital project if the terms governing such revenue bonds or other revenue obligations provide for such capital project to be used primarily by a nongovernmental user or users that have no taxable property interest in any portion of such capital project and provide for such revenue bonds or other revenue obligations to be repaid, in whole or in part, through payments in lieu of taxes made by a nongovernmental user or users, unless:
(A) Each of the local governments that have property tax levying authority in the area in which such capital project is located consents by ordinance or resolution to the use of payments in lieu of taxes for such purposes; and
(B) In the case of payments in lieu of taxes for educational purposes, a consent is obtained that covers the use for such purposes of such payments in accordance with subsection (d) of this Code section, except that the terms governing such revenue bonds or other revenue obligations may provide for one or more of the public bodies, whose consent would otherwise be required, instead to receive, in such capacity, separate payments in lieu of taxes at least equal to the property taxes that such public body or bodies would have received if the capital project were subject to ad valorem taxation or in such other amount or amounts as may be agreed to by such public body or bodies.
(2) No such revenue bonds or other revenue obligations may be so issued without compliance with the requirements of paragraph (1) of this subsection.
(d)(1) When a capital project is located within the boundaries of a municipality with an independent school system, a consent by the municipality under subparagraph (c)(1)(B) of this Code section shall cover the use of payments in lieu of taxes for educational purposes, provided that, if the board of education of the independent school system is empowered to set the ad valorem tax millage rate for educational purposes and the legislative body of the municipality does not have the authority to modify such rate set by the board of education, the requisite consent shall be that of the board of education of the independent school system rather than that of the legislative body of the municipality.
(2) For those municipalities which do not have an independent school system, a consent by the municipality under subparagraph (c)(1)(B) of this Code section shall cover the use of payments in lieu of taxes for educational purposes if the county board of education or the local legislative body of the county, whichever is authorized to establish the ad valorem tax millage rate for educational purposes, consents to such coverage by resolution duly adopted by said board of education or local legislative body, as appropriate.
(3) The use of payments in lieu of taxes levied for county school district purposes shall be covered by a consent under subparagraph (c)(1)(B) of this Code section if the board of education of the county school district or the local legislative body of the county, whichever is authorized to establish the ad valorem tax millage rate for educational purposes, consents to such coverage by resolution duly adopted by said board of education or local legislative body, as appropriate.
(4) The use of payments in lieu of taxes levied for school district purposes within the boundaries of a consolidated government shall be covered by a consent under subparagraph (c)(1)(B) of this Code section if the board of education of such school district or the local legislative body of the consolidated government, whichever is authorized to establish the ad valorem tax millage rate for educational purposes within the school district, consents to such coverage by resolution duly adopted by said board of education or local legislative body, as appropriate.
(e) This Code section shall not affect revenue bonds or other revenue obligations which any local government authority has issued or which have been judicially validated on or before April 22, 2009. Each county board of tax assessors shall continue, notwithstanding this Code section, to exercise its powers and discharge its duties and is specifically authorized, without limitation, to use a method or methods of valuation for leases related to revenue bonds or other revenue obligations issued by a local government authority for a capital project or projects to be leased primarily to a nongovernmental user or users, based on assessments of the increasing interest of the nongovernmental user or users in the real or personal property, or both, over the term of the lease, or to use a simplified method or methods employing a specified percentage or specified percentages of such leasehold interests. Each local government authority that is authorized to issue revenue bonds or other revenue obligations secured by a taxable property interest, such as a taxable lease of a capital project, shall continue, notwithstanding this Code section, to exercise its powers and discharge its duties, including, in the case of development authorities, the development of trade, commerce, industry, and employment opportunities. Any local government or local government authority which directly or indirectly receives payments in lieu of taxes shall be authorized to use the same for any governmental or public purpose of such local government or local government authority.
(a) As used in this Code section, the term “local authority” means an instrumentality of one or more local governments created to fulfill a specialized public purpose or any other legally created organization that has authority to issue debt for a public purpose independent of a county or municipality, regardless of name; provided, however, that the term “local authority” does not include a state authority. A local authority may have been created by local constitutional amendment, general statute, or local law.
(b) The governing body of any local authority which is authorized to provide electric, natural gas, or water utility services in this state may authorize the execution of one or more contracts which specify the rates, fees, or other charges which will be charged and collected by the local authority for electric, natural gas, or water utility services to be provided by the local authority to one or more of its utility customers. Any such contract shall be subject to the following conditions and limitations:
(1)(A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B) of this paragraph, no such contract shall be for a term in excess of ten years.
(B) No such contract for solar utility services or for wind utility services shall be for a term in excess of 20 years;
(2) Any such contract which is for a term in excess of two years shall include commercially reasonable provisions under which the rates, fees, or other charges shall be adjusted with respect to inflationary or deflationary factors affecting the provision of the utility service in question; and
(3) Any such contract shall include commercially reasonable provisions relieving the local authority from its obligations under the contract in the event that the local authority's ability to comply with the contract is impaired by war, natural disaster, catastrophe, or any other emergency creating conditions under which the local authority's compliance with the contract would become impossible or create a substantial financial burden upon the local authority or its taxpayers.
(a) A county, municipality, local board of education, or public authority created by local or general law may not accept a gift of or otherwise acquire real property which is intended to be used for a park or recreational area unless, prior to such acceptance or acquisition, such political subdivision or authority retains an environmental health engineer for a phase 1 environmental assessment to examine the property for contaminants, hidden methane gas, and similar hazards which would be dangerous to public use of such property and receives a report regarding any discovered dangers. If such report discloses significant dangers, the property shall not be accepted or acquired unless the danger is eliminated; otherwise, such property may be accepted or acquired.
(b) At least every 20 years after property has been accepted or acquired pursuant to subsection (a) of this Code section, the political subdivision or authority shall retain an environmental health engineer to retest the property for hazards.
(a) As used in this Code section, the term “local governing authority” means the governing authority of each municipality and county in this state.
(b)(1) Each local governing authority shall, no later than January 1, 2002, provide for the general codification of all the ordinances and resolutions of that unit of local government having the force and effect of law. Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, the general codification shall be adopted by such local governing authority by ordinance and shall be published promptly, together with all amendments thereto and such local Acts of the General Assembly pertaining to the governing authority, codes of technical regulations, and other rules and regulations as the local governing authority may specify. This compilation shall be known and cited officially as “The Code of _____, Georgia.”
(2) In cities having a population of 5,000 or less according to the most recent federal decennial census, the governing authority may at its discretion substitute a compilation of ordinances and resolutions for the codification required under paragraph (1) of this subsection. In such case, the compiled ordinances and resolutions shall, at a minimum, be arranged in a logical manner, such as by date, and should preferably include an index or other finding aids. In such case, the compilation shall be known as “The Compiled Ordinances and Resolutions of _____, Georgia” and shall be distributed and made available in the same manner provided in this Code section for codifications.
(3) Copies of the code, at the discretion of the local governing authority, shall be furnished to officers, departments, and agencies of the local governing authority. The code shall be made available for purchase by the public at a reasonable price as fixed by the local governing authority. Amendments to a code shall be incorporated into the general codification and published at least annually.
(c) The local governing authority shall cause each ordinance and each amendment to the general codification to be printed promptly following its adoption, and the printed ordinances and amendments shall be made available for purchase by the public at reasonable prices to be fixed by the local governing authority. Following publication of the first code under this Code section and at all times thereafter, the ordinances and amendments shall be printed in substantially the same style as the code currently in effect in such unit of local government and shall be suitable in form for incorporation therein. The local governing authority shall make such further arrangements as deemed desirable with reproduction and distribution of any current changes in or additions to codes of technical regulations and other rules and regulations included in the code.
(d) Each such general codification shall be:
(1) Made available by posting such codification on the Internet; or
(2) In counties which have established a county law library, furnished as a copy to the county law library.
(a) Every motor vehicle which is owned or leased by any county, municipality, regional commission, county or independent school system, commission, board, or public authority or which has been purchased or leased by any public official or public employee with public funds shall have affixed to the front door on each side of such vehicle a clearly visible decal or seal containing the name of or otherwise identifying such governmental entity.
(b) The requirements of subsection (a) of this Code section shall not apply to:
(1) Any vehicle used for law enforcement or prosecution purposes; or
(2) Any vehicle owned or leased by a county, municipality, or public housing authority expressly excepted from the provisions of this Code section by ordinance or resolution adopted by the governing authority of a county, municipality, or public housing authority following a public hearing on the subject held no more than 14 days prior to the adoption of the resolution or ordinance. Any such public hearing shall be advertised one time in the legal organ of the county at least seven days prior to the hearing date. Any such exemption under this paragraph shall be for a period of no more than 12 months at a time and may be renewed annually following a public hearing as required by this paragraph and advertisement as required by this paragraph.
(a) As used in this Code section, the term:
(1) “Audit” means an annual report of the financial affairs and transactions of a county, municipality, or consolidated government as required by Code Section 36-81-7 and an annual report of a school district as required by rule and regulation of the State Board of Education.
(2) “Budget” means:
(A) A plan of financial operation embodying an estimate of proposed expenditures during a budget period and the proposed means of financing such expenditures for a county, municipality, or consolidated government as required by Article 1 of Chapter 81 of this title and such plans of financial operation for the general fund, each special revenue fund, each debt service fund, each internal service fund, each enterprise fund, and each fiduciary fund in use by such unit of local government as such funds are defined in Code Section 36-81-2; and
(B) A plan of financial operation of a school district as required by rule and regulation of the State Board of Education and Code Section 20-2-67.
(3) “Local government” means any local school board or a governing authority of a county or municipality having an annual budget in excess of $1 million.
(4) “Vinson Institute” means the Carl Vinson Institute of Government of the University of Georgia.
(5) “Website” means a website which shall be developed, operated, and maintained by the Vinson Institute that shall allow the public to review and analyze the information identified in subsections (c) and (d) of this Code section at no cost to the public or the local governments that post to the website.
(b) Each local government shall post the information required by this Code section to the website for each fiscal year beginning on and after January 1, 2011.
(c) As soon as a local government has adopted, by ordinance or resolution, a final budget for an upcoming fiscal year, a copy of the budget shall be electronically transmitted in a Portable Document Format (PDF) file to the Vinson Institute and posted on the website by the Vinson Institute as soon as practicable. In no event shall the PDF copy of the budget be transmitted to the Vinson Institute more than 30 calendar days following the adoption of the budget ordinance or resolution.
(d) After the close of a fiscal year, a copy of the audit of each local government shall be electronically transmitted in a Portable Document Format (PDF) file to the Vinson Institute and posted on the website by the Vinson Institute as soon as practicable. The PDF copy of the audit of a county, municipality, or consolidated government shall be transmitted to the Vinson Institute concurrent with submission of the audit to the state auditor as required by subsection (d) of Code Section 36-81-7. The audit of a school district shall be transmitted to the Vinson Institute concurrent with submission of the audit to the State Board of Education as required by rule and regulation of the State Board of Education.
(e) Concurrent with the submission of the annual report by local law enforcement agencies required by subsection (g) of Code Section 9-16-19, a copy of such report shall be electronically transmitted in a Portable Document Format (PDF) file to the Vinson Institute and posted on the website by the Vinson Institute as soon as practicable.
(f) The Vinson Institute shall, subject to appropriation by the General Assembly, develop the website for use by local governments under this Code section and provide all necessary training for local government officials in its operation in order to allow local governments to upload the information required by this Code section on a timely basis at no cost to such local governments.
(a) As used in this Code section, the term:
(1) “Agreement” means any written private contract for solid waste collection services between a firm and any commercial client.
(2) “Commercial client” means any private, nonresidential business entity or person required to have a business license who contracts with a firm for solid waste collection services.
(3) “Displacement” means the displacing of any firm's agreement by annexation, deannexation, or incorporation of a municipality.
(4) “Firm” means a private solid waste collection firm.
(5) “Governmental action” means the invalidation of any firm's existing agreement by a local government by a law, rule, or regulation, provided that such law, rule, or regulation is not enacted pursuant to an emergency as declared by the governing authority of the local government.
(6) “Local government” means a county, municipal corporation, or any county-municipal consolidated government.
(b) Prior to a firm receiving any protection under this Code section, the firm shall first establish that at least 30 days prior to the effective date of any governmental action or displacement, the firm is providing solid waste collection services in the county or municipality pursuant to an agreement.
(c) A firm's agreement with a private commercial entity or person that meets the requirements of subsection (b) of this Code section shall not be invalidated by any governmental action or displacement. This subsection shall not prevent commercial clients from discontinuing an agreement with a firm pursuant to the terms of any agreement such commercial client may have with a firm.
(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of this Code section, in order to protect the public health and safety, a local government shall have the authority to adopt local laws, rules, or regulations establishing standards and procedures for the collection and disposal of solid waste and recyclables generated by a commercial client.
(a) As used in this Code section, the term:
(1) “Federal officials or law enforcement officers” means any person employed by the United States government for the purpose of enforcing or regulating federal immigration laws and any peace officer certified by the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council where such federal official or peace officer is acting within the scope of his or her employment for the purpose of enforcing federal immigration laws or preserving homeland security.
(2) “Immigration status” means the legality or illegality of an individual's presence in the United States as determined by federal law.
(3) “Immigration status information” means any information, not including any information required by law to be kept confidential but otherwise including but not limited to any statement, document, computer generated data, recording, or photograph, which is relevant to immigration status or the identity or location of an individual who is reasonably believed to be illegally residing within the United States or who is reasonably believed to be involved in domestic terrorism as that term is defined in Code Section 16-11-220 or a terroristic act as that term is defined by Code Section 35-3-62.
(4) “Local governing body” means any political subdivision of this state, including any county, consolidated government, municipality, authority, school district, commission, board, or any other local public body corporate, governmental unit, or political subdivision.
(5) “Local official or employee” means any elected or appointed official, supervisor or managerial employee, contractor, agent, or certified peace officer acting on behalf of or in conjunction with a local governing body.
(6) “Sanctuary policy” means any regulation, rule, policy, or practice adopted by a local governing body which prohibits or restricts local officials or employees from communicating or cooperating with federal officials or law enforcement officers with regard to reporting immigration status information while such local official or employee is acting within the scope of his or her official duties.
(b) No local governing body, whether acting through its governing body or by an initiative, referendum, or any other process, shall enact, adopt, implement, or enforce any sanctuary policy.
(c) Any local governing body that acts in violation of this Code section shall be subject to the withholding of state funding or state administered federal funding other than funds to provide services specified in subsection (d) of Code Section 50-36-1.
(d) As a condition of funding, the Department of Community Affairs, the Department of Transportation, or any other state agency that provides funding to local governing bodies shall require certification pursuant to Code Section 50-36-4 as proof of compliance with this Code section.
(a) As used in this Code section, the term “constitutional officer” means the locally elected clerk of superior court, judge of the probate court, sheriff, tax receiver, tax collector, or tax commissioner.
(b) An elected official of a county, municipal corporation, local school system, or consolidated government or a constitutional officer shall be prohibited from the use of a government purchasing card or a government credit card unless:
(1) Such purchases are solely for items or services that directly relate to such official's or constitutional officer's public duties; and
(2) Such purchases are in accordance with guidelines adopted by the county, municipal corporation, local school system, consolidated government, or constitutional officer.
(c) Documents related to such purchases incurred by such elected officials or constitutional officers shall be available for public inspection.
(d) No such county, municipal corporation, local school system, or consolidated government shall issue government purchasing cards or government credit cards to elected officials on or after January 1, 2016, until the governing authority of such county, municipal corporation, local school system, or consolidated government, by public vote, has authorized such issuance and has promulgated specific policies regarding the use of such government purchasing cards or government credit cards. No constitutional officer shall issue government purchasing cards or government credit cards to himself, herself, or his or her employees on or after July 1, 2016, until he or she has promulgated specific policies regarding the use of such government purchasing cards or government credit cards that apply to himself or herself and his or her employees and such policies have been filed with the governing authority of the county. If an elected official of such county, municipal corporation, local school system, or consolidated government or constitutional officer promulgates specific policies regarding the use of such government purchasing cards or government credit cards, such policies shall include the following:
(1) Designation of officials who shall be authorized to be issued such government purchasing cards or government credit cards;
(2) A requirement that, before being issued a government purchasing card or government credit card, authorized users shall sign and accept an agreement with the county, municipal corporation, local school system, consolidated government, or constitutional officer issuing the government purchasing card or government credit card that such users will use such cards only in accordance with the policies of the issuing governmental entity or constitutional officer;
(3) Transaction limits for the use of such cards;
(4) A description of purchases that shall be authorized for use of such cards;
(5) A description of purchases that shall not be authorized for use of such cards;
(6) Designation of a government purchasing card or government credit card administrator;
(7) A process for auditing and reviewing purchases made with such cards; and
(8) Procedures for addressing a violation of such purchasing card or credit card policies and imposing penalties for violations, including, but not limited to, revocation of purchasing card or credit card privileges. Nothing in such procedures or any administrative action taken pursuant thereto shall preclude any other civil or criminal remedy under any other provision of law.
(a) As used in this Code section, the term “project” means and includes hospitals, health care facilities, dormitories, office buildings, clinics, housing accommodations, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, extended care facilities, and other health related facilities, whether public or private.
(b) To the extent that the Constitution of Georgia permits the General Assembly by law to further define the powers and duties of any local government authority, as defined in Code Section 36-80-16, whose purpose includes the public purpose of developing or promoting trade, commerce, or industry, and to enlarge or restrict the same, each such local government authority is authorized and shall have the power to finance (by loan, grant, lease, or otherwise), refinance, construct, erect, assemble, purchase, acquire, own, repair, remodel, renovate, rehabilitate, modify, maintain, extend, improve, install, sell, equip, expand, add to, operate, or manage projects and to pay the cost of any project from the proceeds of revenue bonds of such a local government authority or any other funds of such local government authority, or from any contributions or loans by persons, corporations, limited or general partnerships, or other entities, all of which such a local government authority is authorized to receive, accept, and use. To the extent that any project serves a governmental function, the General Assembly finds and determines that such a project by its nature comprises both public and private components that are integrated so as to produce the desired public purpose and that therefore carrying out such a project is proper and authorized for such a local government authority under the Constitution of Georgia.
(a) For purposes of this Code section, the term:
(1) “County” means any county created under the Constitution or laws of this state.
(2) “Regional transit plan” means the official multiyear plan for transit services and facilities adopted pursuant to Code Section 50-39-12.
(3) “Transit” means regular, continuing shared-ride or shared-use surface transportation services that are made available by a public entity and are open to the general public or open to a segment of the general public defined by age, disability, or low income. Such term includes services or systems operated by or under contract with the state, a public agency or authority, a county or municipality, a community improvement district, or any other similar public entity of this state and all accompanying infrastructure and services necessary to provide access to these modes of transportation. Such term excludes charter or sightseeing services, school bus services, courtesy shuttle and intra-facility or terminal services, limousine carriers, and ride share network services, transportation referral services, and taxi services not paid for by a public entity.
(4) “Transit projects” means and includes purposes to establish, enhance, operate, and maintain, or improve access to transit, including general obligation debt and other multiyear obligations issued to finance such projects.
(b) A community improvement district for the purpose of the provision of transit projects which are wholly or partially located in more than one county may be created under the authority granted in and consistent with the processes set forth in Section VII of Article IX of the Georgia Constitution. Any such multi-county community improvement district may be authorized to be created upon the passage of a local act of the General Assembly by each county in which such community improvement district is to be wholly or partially located. The transit projects to be provided by such community improvement district shall be projects included in the regional transit plan and through agreement with the Atlanta-region Transit Link “ATL” Authority. The administrative body of any such community improvement district shall include one member appointed by the governing authority of each county or municipality which is located wholly or partially within such community improvement district.
If a bid or proposal opportunity is extended by a county, municipal corporation, or local board of education for goods, services, or both, valued at $100,000.00 or more, such bid or proposal opportunity shall be advertised by such respective local governmental entity in the Georgia Procurement Registry, as established in subsection (b) of Code Section 50-5-69, at no cost to the local governmental entity. Such bid or proposal opportunity shall be advertised on such registry for the same period of time, as set by ordinance or policy, if any, as the county, municipality, or local board of education advertises bid or proposal opportunities in the official legal organ or other media normally utilized by the local governing entity. Each advertisement shall include such details and specifications as will enable the public to know the extent and character of the bid or proposal opportunity.
(a) As used in this Code section, the term:
(1) “Consultant” means an individual or company that is paid or engaged to develop or draft specifications or requirements for a solicitation or to serve in a consultative role during the bid or proposal evaluation or negotiation process.
(2) “Local government” means a county, municipal corporation, consolidated government, or board of education, or any authority of a county, municipal corporation, consolidated government, or board of education whether created by or pursuant to a general state law, a local act of the General Assembly, or a local constitutional amendment.
(b) Consultants who enter into contracts or arrangements with counties, municipalities, school boards, and other local governmental entities to prepare or develop specifications or requirements for bids, requests for proposals, procurement orders, or purchasing orders for such county, municipality, school board, or other local governmental entity shall, at the time of entering into such contract or arrangement, execute an agreement which provides that:
(1) The consultant shall avoid any appearance of impropriety and shall follow all policies and procedures of the county, municipality, school board, or other local governmental entity with whom the consultant is entering into a contract or an arrangement;
(2) The consultant shall immediately disclose to such county, municipality, school board, or other local governmental entity any material transaction or relationship, including, but not limited to, that of the consultant, the consultant's employees, or the consultant's agents or subsidiaries, that reasonably could be expected to give rise to a conflict of interest, including, but not limited to, past, present, or known prospective engagements, involvement in litigation or other dispute, client relationships, or other business or financial interest, and shall immediately disclose any material transaction or relationship subsequently discovered during the pendency of the contract or arrangement; and
(3) An acknowledgment that any violation or threatened violation of the agreement may cause irreparable injury to the county, municipality, school board, or other local governmental entity, entitling such county, municipality, school board, or other local governmental entity to seek injunctive relief in addition to all other legal remedies.
(c) Any violation or threatened violation of the agreement may cause irreparable injury to the county, municipality, or other local governmental entity, entitling such county, municipality, or other local governmental entity to seek injunctive relief in addition to all other legal remedies.
(d)(1) This Code section shall not apply to economic development activities that are confidential pursuant to Article 4 of Chapter 18 of Title 50.
(2) This Code section shall not apply to any development authority which shall include any authority created by law or by constitutional amendment for one or more counties or municipalities, or any combination thereof, for the purpose of promoting the development of trade, commerce, industry, and employment opportunities or for other purposes and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, shall specifically include all authorities created pursuant to Chapter 62 of this title; provided, however, that nothing in this paragraph shall impair or interfere with the provisions of subparagraph (e)(1)(B) of Code Section 36-62-5 regarding reporting of potential conflicts of interest by development authority board members.
(3) An attorney who provides legal services to the county, municipality, school board, or other local government entity shall only be required to disclose the existence of a conflict under this Code section and not the details of such conflict.
(e) Any person may bring an action to declare null and void any purchase in violation of this Code section or to seek injunctive relief and damages against a person who makes a bid or proposal in violation of this Code section.
(a) As used in this Code section, the term “website” means:
(1) A website maintained by a county or municipal legal organ;
(2) A website maintained by a newspaper of general circulation that is not a designated legal organ;
(3) The Georgia Public Notice website or any other website maintained by an organization or collection of two or more legal organs; or
(4) A website maintained by a county or municipal government.
(b) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (a) of Code Section 28-1-14, in any case when a county or municipality is required to publish a legal notice in the county or municipal legal organ or other newspaper of general circulation, such notice may additionally be published by posting such notice in a conspicuous place on the website of the county or municipality, as applicable, or on a common state-wide website.
(c) In the event that an error is made in the text or publication date of a legal notice required to be published for a county or municipal government, a correction shall be made as follows:
(1) The correct notice shall be prominently displayed within two business days of the original publication date on the website of the legal organ or newspaper of general circulation or the website of the county or municipality;
(2) The legal organ or newspaper of general circulation shall have the correct notice posted on the Georgia Public Notice website within two business days of the original publication date; and
(3) The correct notice shall be published in the next edition of the legal organ or newspaper of general circulation after being displayed on the required website.
(d) Postings on the required website shall remain in place until the conclusion of the event or action being advertised; provided, however, that no website as defined in paragraphs (1) through (3) of subsection (a) of this Code section shall be required to maintain such posting for a period in excess of one year.
(e) A correction made as prescribed in this Code section shall be considered as having been correctly published on the original publication date and shall satisfy any and all legal requirements of adequate notice to the public.
(a) This Code section shall be known and may be cited as the “Georgia Lemonade Stand Act.”
(b) As used in this Code section, the term:
(1) “Business” means any enterprise carried on for the purpose of gain or economic profit.
(2) “Gross receipts” means all receipts from whatever sources derived before any deductions and does not include tips, gratuities, or other amounts customarily assumed to be intended for the individual who has served the customer or client.
(c) A county, municipal corporation, or other governmental entity shall not require a license, permit, or registration for a business that:
(1) Is operated solely by an individual or individuals who are under 18 years of age and:
(A) Are enrolled in a public school, licensed private school, or licensed home study program or a state approved adult education class if studying for a High School Equivalency (HSE) diploma; or
(B) Have obtained a high school diploma or a High School Equivalency (HSE) diploma;
(2) Is located on private property with the permission of the property owner;
(3) Generates gross receipts of $5,000.00 or less in a calendar year; and
(4) Sells nonconsumable goods or prepackaged foods or lemonade or other nonpotentially hazardous nonalcoholic beverages.
(a) As used in this Code section, the term:
(1) “Drop off” means the act of transporting an individual to a location different from the location where the party transporting such individual assumed custody, control, or care of or provided treatment to such individual, and shall include but not be limited to directly providing or funding the transportation of such individual to such different location.
(2) “Homeless individual” means a person who has no access to or can reasonably be expected not to have access to either traditional or permanent housing which can be considered safe, sanitary, decent, and affordable.
(b) No county, municipal corporation, political subdivision, local authority, or other local governmental unit shall drop off an individual known to be a homeless individual outside its jurisdiction unless:
(1) Such drop-off location is in the county where such homeless individual was a resident prior to coming under the custody, control, or care of or receiving treatment from such local government or local authority; or
(2) Such a drop off is at a facility or with a person, business, or organization that has agreed to accept such homeless individual.
(c) A county, municipal corporation, political subdivision, local authority, or other local governmental unit that violates this Code section shall be liable to any state or local governmental entity for any costs incurred by such entity in providing services for a homeless individual as a result of such violation.
The intent of this article is to provide minimum budget, accounting, and auditing requirements for local governments so as to provide local taxpayers with an opportunity to gain information concerning the purposes for which local revenues are proposed to be spent and are actually spent and to assist local governments in generally improving local financial management practices while maintaining, preserving, and encouraging the principle of home rule over local matters. It is the further intent of this article to provide a mechanism through which appropriate information may be collected to assist state and local policy makers in carrying out their lawful responsibilities. It is also the intent of this article to provide for the collection and reporting of information so as to assist local taxpayers and local policy makers in understanding and evaluating local government service delivery and operations.
As used in this article, the term:
(1) “Budget” means a plan of financial operation embodying an estimate of proposed expenditures during a budget period and the proposed means of financing them.
(2) “Budget officer” means that local government official charged with budget preparation and administration for the local government. The official title of the local government budget officer shall be as provided by local law, charter, ordinance, or appropriate resolution of the governing authority.
(3) “Budget ordinance,” “ordinance,” or “resolution” means that governmental action which appropriates revenues and fund balances for specified purposes, functions, or activities for a budget period.
(4) “Budget period” means the period for which a budget is proposed or a budget ordinance or resolution is adopted.
(5) “Capital projects fund” means a fund used to account for financial resources to be used for the acquisition or construction of major capital facilities other than those financed by resources from proprietary type activities which are accounted for in enterprise funds or those financed with funds held by the local government in a trustee capacity.
(6) “Debt service fund” means a fund used to account for the accumulation of resources for and the payment of general long-term debt principal and interest.
(7) “Enterprise fund” means a fund used to account for operations that are financed and operated in a manner similar to private business enterprises where the intent of the governing authority is that the costs of providing goods and services to the general public on a continuing basis be financed or recovered primarily through user charges or where the governing authority has decided that periodic determination of revenues earned, expenses incurred, or net income is appropriate for capital maintenance, public policy, management control, accountability, or other purposes. For purposes of this paragraph, the term “costs” means expenses, including depreciation.
(8) “Fiduciary fund” means those trust and agency funds used to account for assets held by a local government in a trustee capacity or as an agent for individuals, private organizations, other governmental units, or other funds.
(9) “Fiscal year” means the period for which a budget is proposed or a budget ordinance or resolution is adopted for the local government's general fund, each special revenue fund, if any, and each debt service fund, if any.
(10) “Fund” means a fiscal and accounting entity with a self-balancing set of accounts recording cash and other financial resources, together with all related liabilities and residual equities or balances, and changes therein, which is segregated for the purpose of carrying on specific activities or attaining certain objectives in accordance with special regulations, restrictions, or limitations.
(11) “General fund” means the fund used to account for all financial resources except those required to be accounted for in another fund.
(12) “Governing authority” means that official or group of officials responsible for governance of the unit of local government.
(13) “Internal service fund” means a fund used to account for the financing of goods or services provided by one department or agency to other departments or agencies of the governmental unit or to other governmental units on a cost-reimbursement basis.
(14) “Legal level of control” means the lowest level of budgetary detail at which a local government's management or budget officer may not reassign resources without approval of the governing authority. The legal level of control shall be, at a minimum, expenditures for each department for each fund for which a budget is required. This does not preclude the governing authority of a local government from establishing a legal level of control at a more detailed level of budgetary control than the minimum required legal level of control.
(15) “Special revenue fund” means a fund used to account for the proceeds of specific revenue sources, other than those for major capital projects or those held by the government in a trustee capacity, that are legally restricted to expenditure for specified purposes.
(16) “Unit of local government,” “unit,” or “local government” means a municipality, county, consolidated city-county government, or other political subdivision of the state. Such terms do not include any local school district or board of education. For purposes of this paragraph, “county” includes any county officer who is paid in whole or in part on a salary basis and over whom the county governing authority exercises budgetary authority.
(a) The governing authority shall establish by ordinance, local law, or appropriate resolution a fiscal year for the operations of the local government.
(b)(1) Each unit of local government shall adopt and operate under an annual balanced budget for the general fund, each special revenue fund, and each debt service fund in use by the local government. The annual balanced budget shall be adopted by ordinance or resolution and administered in accordance with this article.
(2) Each unit of local government shall adopt and operate under a project-length balanced budget for each capital projects fund in use by the government. The project-length balanced budget shall be adopted by ordinance or resolution in the year that the project initially begins and shall be administered in accordance with this article. The project-length balanced budget shall appropriate total expenditures for the duration of the capital project.
(3) A budget ordinance or resolution is balanced when the sum of estimated revenues and appropriated fund balances is equal to appropriations.
(4) Nothing contained in this Code section shall preclude a local government from adopting a budget for any funds used by the local government other than those specifically identified in paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection, including enterprise funds, internal service funds, and fiduciary funds.
(c) For each fiscal year beginning on or after January 1, 1982, each unit of local government shall adopt and utilize a budget ordinance or resolution as provided in this article.
(d) Nothing contained in this Code section shall preclude a local government from amending its budget so as to adapt to changing governmental needs during the budget period. Amendments shall be made as follows, unless otherwise provided by charter or local law:
(1) Any increase in appropriation at the legal level of control of the local government, whether accomplished through a change in anticipated revenues in any fund or through a transfer of appropriations among departments, shall require the approval of the governing authority. Such amendment shall be adopted by ordinance or resolution;
(2) Transfers of appropriations within any fund below the local government's legal level of control shall require only the approval of the budget officer; and
(3) The governing authority of a local government may amend the legal level of control to establish a more detailed level of budgetary control at any time during the budget period. Said amendment shall be adopted by ordinance or resolution.
(e) The Department of Community Affairs, in cooperation with the Association County Commissioners of Georgia and the Georgia Municipal Association, shall develop local government uniform charts of accounts. The uniform charts of accounts, including any subsequent revisions thereto, shall require approval of the state auditor prior to final adoption by the Department of Community Affairs. All units of local government shall adopt and use such initial uniform charts of accounts within 18 months following adoption of the uniform charts of accounts by the Department of Community Affairs. The department shall adopt the initial local government uniform charts of accounts no later than December 31, 1998. The department shall be authorized to grant a waiver delaying adoption of the initial uniform charts of accounts for a period of time not to exceed two years upon a clear demonstration that conversion of the accounting system of the requesting local government, within the time period specified in this subsection, would be unduly burdensome.
(f) The department's implementation of subsection (e) of this Code section shall be subject to Chapter 13 of Title 50, the “Georgia Administrative Procedure Act.”
(a) Unless provided to the contrary by local charter or local Act, each local government may appoint a budget officer to serve at the will of the governing authority.
(b) In those units of local government in which there is no budget officer, the governing authority shall perform all duties of the budget officer as set forth in Code Section 36-81-5.
(c) Nothing in this Code section shall preclude the utilization of an executive budget, under which an elected or appointed official, authorized by charter or local law and acting as the chief executive of the governmental unit, exercises the initial budgetary policy-making function, while another individual, designated as provided in this Code section as budget officer, exercises the administrative functions of budgetary preparation and control.
(a) By the date established by each governing authority, in such manner and form as may be necessary to effect this article, and consistent with the local government's accounting system, the budget officer shall prepare a proposed budget for the local government for the ensuing budget period.
(b) The proposed budget shall, at a minimum, be an estimate of the financial requirements at the legal level of control for each fund requiring a budget for the appropriate budget period and shall be in such form and detail, with such supporting information and justifications, as may be prescribed by the budget officer or the governing authority. The budget document, at a minimum, shall provide, for the appropriate budget period, a statement of the amount budgeted for anticipated revenues by source and the amount budgeted for expenditures at the legal level of control. In accordance with the minimum required legal level of control, the budget document shall, at a minimum, provide a statement of the amount budgeted for expenditures by department for each fund for which a budget is required. This does not preclude the governing authority of a local government from preparing a budget document or establishing a legal level of control at a more detailed level of budgetary control than the minimum required legal level of control.
(c) On the date established by each governing authority, the proposed budget shall be submitted to the governing authority for that body's review prior to enactment of the budget ordinance or resolution.
(d) On the day that the proposed budget is submitted to the governing authority for consideration, a copy of the budget shall be placed in a public location which is convenient to the residents of the unit of local government. The governing authority shall make every effort to provide convenient access to the residents during reasonable business hours so as to accord every opportunity to the public to review the budget prior to adoption by the governing authority. A copy of the budget shall also be made available, upon request, to the news media.
(e) A statement advising the residents of the local unit of government of the availability of the proposed budget shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation within the jurisdiction of the governing authority. The notice shall be published during the week in which the proposed budget is submitted to the governing authority. In addition, the statement shall also advise the residents that a public hearing will be held at which time any persons wishing to be heard on the budget may appear. The statement shall be a prominently displayed advertisement or news article and shall not be placed in that section of the newspaper where legal notices appear.
(f) At least one week prior to the meeting of the governing authority at which adoption of the budget ordinance or resolution will be considered, the governing authority shall conduct a public hearing, at which time any persons wishing to be heard on the budget may appear.
(g)(1) The governing authority shall give notice of the time and place of the budget hearing required by subsection (f) of this Code section at least one week before the budget hearing is held. The notice shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation within the jurisdiction of the governing authority. The statement shall be a prominently displayed advertisement or news article and shall not be placed in that section of the newspaper where legal notices appear.
(2) The notice required by paragraph (1) of this subsection may be included in the statement published pursuant to subsection (e) of this Code section in lieu of separate publication of the notice.
(h) Nothing in this Code section shall be deemed to preclude the conduct of further budget hearings if the governing body deems such hearings necessary and complies with the requirements of subsection (e) of this Code section.
(a) On a date after the conclusion of the hearing required in subsection (f) of Code Section 36-81-5, the governing authority shall adopt a budget ordinance or resolution making appropriations in such sums as the governing authority may deem sufficient, whether greater or less than the sums presented in the proposed budget. The budget ordinance or resolution shall be adopted at a public meeting which shall be advertised in accordance with the procedures set forth in subsection (e) of Code Section 36-81-5 at least one week prior to the meeting.
(b) The budget may be prepared in any form that the governing authority deems most efficient in enabling it to make the fiscal policy decisions embodied in the budget, but such budget shall be subject to the provisions of this article.
(a)(1) Beginning with the local government fiscal year which ends between July 1, 1994, and June 30, 1995, the governing authority of each unit of local government having a population in excess of 1,500 persons according to the latest estimate of population by the United States Bureau of the Census or its successor agency or expenditures of $550,000.00 or more shall provide for and cause to be made an annual audit of the financial affairs and transactions of all funds and activities of the local government for each fiscal year of the local government.
(2) The governing authority of each local unit of government not included in paragraph (1) of this subsection shall provide for and cause to be made the audit required pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection not less often than once every two fiscal years. Audits performed pursuant to this paragraph shall be for both fiscal years.
(3) The governing authority of each local unit of government having expenditures of less than $550,000.00 in that government's most recently ended fiscal year may elect to provide for and cause to be made, in lieu of the biennial audit otherwise required under paragraph (2) of this subsection, an annual report of agreed upon procedures for that fiscal year. The agreed upon procedures shall include as a minimum: proof and reconciliation of cash, confirmation of cash balances, a listing of bank balances by bank, a statement of cash receipts and cash disbursements, a review of compliance with state law, and a report of agreed upon procedures. This agreed upon procedures report shall be in a format prescribed by the state auditor and shall constitute an annual audit report for purposes of and within the meaning of the requirements of subsections (d) through (g) of this Code section. The Department of Community Affairs is authorized to assist requesting local governments in preparing agreed upon procedures reports required under this paragraph and in establishing record-keeping procedures needed in preparing those reports and is further authorized to charge those local governments reasonable fees for that assistance. To the extent that the state auditor is able to perform the agreed upon procedures, the governing body may contract with the state auditor.
(4) At the option of the governing authority, an audit may be made at a lesser interval than one year.
(b) The audits of each local government shall be conducted in accordance with generally accepted government auditing standards. Each audit shall also contain a statement of any agreement or arrangement under which the local unit of government has assumed any actual or potential liability for the obligations of any governmental or private agency, authority, or instrumentality. Such statement shall include the purpose of the agreement or arrangement, shall identify the agency, authority, or instrumentality upon whose obligations the unit of local government is or may become liable, and shall state the amount of actual liability and the maximum amount of potential liability of the local government under the agreement or arrangement. To the extent that the state auditor is able to provide comparable auditing services, the governing body may contract with the state auditor.
(c) All annual audit reports of local units of government shall contain at least the following:
(1) Financial statements prepared in conformity with generally accepted governmental accounting principles, setting forth the financial condition and results of operation of each fund and activity of the local government and such financial statements shall be the representation of the local government; and
(2) The opinion of the performing auditor with respect to the financial statement; in addition to an explanation of any qualification or disclaimers contained in the opinion, such opinion shall also disclose, in accordance with generally accepted government auditing standards, any apparent material violation of state or local law discovered during the audit.
(d)(1) Each annual audit report of a local unit of government shall be completed and a copy of the report forwarded to the state auditor within 180 days after the close of the unit's fiscal year. In addition to the audit report, the local unit of government shall forward to the state auditor, within 30 days after the audit report due date, written comments on the findings and recommendations in the report, including a plan for corrective action taken or planned and comments on the status of corrective action taken on prior findings. If corrective action is not necessary, the written comments should include a statement describing the reason it is not. In the case of units provided for in paragraph (2) of subsection (a) of this Code section, the audit reports for both fiscal periods shall be submitted within 180 days after the close of each second fiscal year and the written comments shall be submitted within 30 days after the audit report due date.
(2) The state auditor shall review the audit report and written comments submitted to the auditor's office to ensure that it meets the requirements for audits of local governments. If the state auditor finds the requirements for audits of local governments have not been complied with, the state auditor shall within 60 days of receipt of the audit or the written comments notify the governing authority and the auditor who performed the audit and shall submit to them a list of deficiencies to be corrected. A copy of this notification shall also be sent by the state auditor to each member of the General Assembly whose senatorial or representative district includes any part of the unit of local government.
(3) If the state auditor has not received any required audit or written comments by the date specified in paragraph (1) of this subsection, the state auditor shall within 30 days of such date notify the unit of local government that the audit has not been received as required by law. A copy of this notification shall also be sent by the state auditor to each member of the General Assembly whose senatorial or representative district includes any part of the unit of local government.
(4) The state auditor, for good cause shown by those local units in which an audit is in the process of being conducted or will promptly be conducted, may waive the requirement for completion of the audit within 180 days. Such waiver shall be for an additional period of not more than 180 days and no such waiver shall be granted for more than two successive years to the same unit of local government.
(5) No state agency shall make or transmit any state grant funds to any local government which has failed to provide all the audits required by law within the preceding five years.
(e) A copy of the report and of any comments made by the state auditor pursuant to paragraph (2) of subsection (d) of this Code section shall be maintained as a public record for public inspection during the regular working hours at the principal office of the local government. Those units of local government not having a principal office shall provide a notification to the public as to the location of and times during which the public may inspect the report.
(f) Upon a failure, refusal, or neglect to have an annual audit made, or a failure to file a copy of the annual audit report with the state auditor, or a failure to correct auditing deficiencies noted by the state auditor, the state auditor shall cause a prominent notice to be published in the legal organ of, and any other newspapers of general circulation within, the unit of local government. Such notice shall be a prominently displayed advertisement or news article and shall not be placed in that section of the newspaper where legal notices appear. Such notice shall be published twice and shall state that the governing authority of the unit of local government has failed or refused, as the case may be, to file an audit report or to correct auditing deficiencies, as the case may be, for the fiscal year or years in question. Such notice shall further state that such failure or refusal is in violation of state law.
(g) The state auditor may waive the requirement of correction of auditing deficiencies for a period of one year from the required audit filing date, provided evidence is presented that substantial progress is being made towards removing the cause of the need for the waiver. No such waiver for the same set of deficiencies shall be granted for more than two successive years to the same local government.
(a) As used in this Code section, the term “local independent authority” means each local public body corporate and politic created in and for a county, municipality, consolidated government, or combination thereof, which is authorized to issue bonds under the Constitution and laws of this state.
(b)(1)(A) Each unit of local government shall submit an annual report of local government finances to the Department of Community Affairs. The report shall include the revenues, expenditures, assets, and debts of all funds and agencies of the local government, and other such information as may be reasonably requested by the department. Such annual report shall further identify the total amount of speeding fine revenue collected by the local government.
(B) Each unit of local government which levies a tax pursuant to Article 3 of Chapter 13 of Title 48 shall also submit a schedule of all revenues therefrom which are expended for the promotion of tourism, conventions, and trade shows or any other tourism related purpose which is specified under Code Section 48-13-51. Such schedule shall identify both the project or projects involved and the contracted entity involved in each such expenditure.
(2) Each local independent authority shall submit an annual report of indebtedness to the Department of Community Affairs. Such report shall include the revenues, expenditures, assets, and debts of all funds of the local independent authority and shall describe any actions taken by such local independent authority to incur indebtedness.
(3) The local government finances report and the local independent authority indebtedness report shall be filed on forms promulgated by the department and shall be submitted within the requested time periods established by the department.
(c) The department shall have the authority to require local governments and local independent authorities to submit the reports as provided for in subsection (b) of this Code section as a condition of such local government or local independent authority receiving state appropriated funds from the department. Furthermore, a local government authority or a local independent authority shall not incur debt or credit obligations until such time as it meets such reporting requirement. Failure to comply with the reporting requirement shall have no adverse effect on any outstanding debt or credit obligation of any local government authority or local independent authority. Upon the receipt of the report of local government finance from a local government or the report of local independent authority debt from a local independent authority, the department is authorized to release any state appropriated grant funds that may be due at such time to the local government or the local independent authority.
(d) The department's implementation of subsections (b) and (c) of this Code section shall be subject to Chapter 13 of Title 50, the “Georgia Administrative Procedure Act”; and the department is specifically directed to promulgate the forms provided for in subsection (b) of this Code section in the manner provided for promulgation of rules under Chapter 13 of Title 50.
(e) Utilizing information contained in audit reports of local governments filed with the state auditor, the report of county or municipal finances filed with the Department of Community Affairs, and other available state or federal information of public record, the Department of Community Affairs shall prepare annually a report on local government finances. Utilizing information contained in reports of indebtedness returned to the Department of Community Affairs, the Department of Community Affairs shall prepare annually a report on indebtedness of local independent authorities. The local government finances report shall be filed on January 15 of each year, beginning January 15, 1985, and the local independent authority indebtedness report shall be filed on January 15 of each year, beginning January 1, 1990, with the Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the President of the Senate, the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, the chairman of the House State Planning and Community Affairs Committee, the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, and the chairman of the Senate State and Local Governmental Operations Committee, as well as with the chief elected official or chief appointed official of each local unit of government and each local independent authority and member of the General Assembly upon request.
(f) The local government finances report and the local independent authority indebtedness report shall be organized, within the limits of available resources, in such a manner as to allow for reasonable comparative analysis of local government revenues and expenditures and for reasonable comparative analysis of local independent authority debt.
(g) The department, in addition to its other duties, shall assist local units of government and local independent authorities in fulfilling the requirements of this article. The department shall coordinate its technical assistance efforts with the state auditor, the University System of Georgia, the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, the Georgia Municipal Association, and the Georgia Society of Certified Public Accountants and should coordinate with any other organizations interested and currently active in local government financial management so as to ensure that coordination of training and assistance is maintained. The department may contract or subcontract with other public or private agencies to provide assistance to local units of government or local independent authorities.
(h) The department, either in conjunction with the local government finances report or separately, shall prepare a community indicators report for each local unit of government having annual expenditures of $250,000.00 or more as indicated pursuant to the most recent Report of Local Government Finances. The community indicators report shall include data on local government services, administration, and community characteristics. The department shall have the authority to require local governments to submit reports on local government services and operations as a condition of such local government receiving state appropriated funds from the department. Such reports shall be obtained utilizing the local government finance survey as provided in subsection (b) of this Code section and the local government operations survey collected by the department. The department shall develop the community indicators report in cooperation with the Association County Commissioners of Georgia and the Georgia Municipal Association and shall prepare the report on or before December 31, 1998, and annually thereafter.
(a) As used in this Code section, the term:
(1) “Subrecipient” means an entity that receives a grant of state funds from the Governor's emergency fund or from a special project appropriation through a local government and shall also mean an entity which in turn receives all or any portion of such grant funds from a subrecipient.
(2) “Unit of local government” means, for purposes of this Code section and notwithstanding paragraph (16) of Code Section 36-81-2, a:
(A) Municipality, county, consolidated government, county school district, independent school district, other political subdivision of the state, any public agency or authority of any of the foregoing, or any combination of any of the foregoing;
(B) Regional commission;
(C) Public authority created by local Act or local constitutional amendment of the General Assembly; or
(D) Public authority created by general law which applies to an area of less than the entire state and which requires activation by a county or municipal government.
(b) Each grant of state funds to a recipient unit of local government from the Governor's emergency fund or from a special project appropriation in an amount greater than $5,000.00 shall be conditioned upon the receipt by the state auditor of a properly completed grant certification form. The form shall be designed by the state auditor and shall be distributed with each covered grant as required by this Code section. The grant certification form shall require the certification by the recipient unit of local government and by the unit of local government auditor that the grant funds were used solely for the express purpose or purposes for which the grant was made. Such form shall be filed with the state auditor in conjunction with the annual audit required under Code Section 36-81-7 or 50-6-6 or any other applicable Code section for each year in which such grant funds are expended or remain unexpended by the unit of local government. A recipient unit of local government which is not otherwise subject to the annual audit requirements specified in this subsection shall file a grant certification form with the state auditor no later than December 31 of each year in which such grant funds are expended or remain unexpended. For grant funds to subrecipients, the certification by the unit of local government auditor required by this subsection may also be made by an in-house or internal auditor of the unit of local government who meets the education requirements contained in subparagraph (b)(3)(A) of Code Section 43-3-9. The cost of performing any audit required by this subsection or paragraph (1) of subsection (d) of this Code section shall be an eligible expense of the grant. However, the amount charged shall not exceed 2 percent of the amount of the grant or $250.00 per required audit, whichever is less. The unit of local government to whom the grant is made may deduct the cost of any such audit from the funds disbursed to the subrecipient.
(c) Where the grant of state funds is for $5,000.00 or less, the grant shall require submission to the state auditor of a properly completed grant certification form as required by subsection (b) of this Code section except that only the unit of local government need certify that the grant funds were used solely for the express purpose or purposes for which the grant was made. However, where such grant is to a subrecipient, the grant shall require submission to the unit of local government of a notarized affidavit executed by the executive director, president, chairperson, chief executive officer, or other responsible party representing the subrecipient, by whatever name or title, to whom the grant funds are disbursed. The affidavit shall certify under oath that the funds were used solely for the express purpose or purposes for which the grant was made. Such affidavit shall be submitted annually for each year that grant funds are expended or remain unexpended according to a schedule established by the unit of local government and shall be made on a form designed by the state auditor and distributed with each covered grant as required by this Code section.
(d)(1) Notwithstanding subsection (b) or (c) of this Code section, the Governor, the Appropriations Committee of the House of Representatives, or the Appropriations Committee of the Senate shall have the right and authority to direct and require any recipient unit of local government to obtain or perform an audit of any grant of state funds from the Governor's emergency fund or from a special project appropriation, regardless of the amount thereof.
(2) Notwithstanding subsection (b) or (c) of this Code section, a recipient unit of local government shall have the right or authority to obtain or perform an audit of any grant of state funds to a subrecipient from the Governor's emergency fund or from a special project appropriation, regardless of the amount thereof.
(e) The failure to comply with the requirements of this Code section shall result in a forfeiture of a state grant and the return to the state of any such grant funds which have been received by the unit of local government. In the case of a state grant awarded to a subrecipient, the subrecipient shall be responsible for the return to the state of any such grant funds if it is determined that the funds were not used for the express purpose or purposes for which the grant was made. A grant recipient or subrecipient shall be ineligible to receive funds from the Governor's emergency fund or from a special project appropriation until all unallowed expenditures are returned to the state, except that a recipient unit of local government shall not be ineligible for such funds where a subrecipient has not used funds it received for the express purpose or purposes for which the grant was made.
(f) No subrecipient shall be considered an agent of the unit of local government or be indemnified or held harmless by the unit of local government for any negligence, misfeasance, or malfeasance of the subrecipient, and a recipient unit of local government shall not be liable for any expenditure of state grant funds by a subrecipient.
This article shall not be construed to repeal or conflict with any law providing budgetary, fiscal, or auditing procedures more restrictive than those in this article.
This article shall not be construed so as to prohibit local governments from making authorized expenditures for any lawful purpose or from raising revenues in any manner otherwise authorized by law. It is the specific intent of the General Assembly in adopting this article that local units of government shall continue to have and to exercise their home rule powers as provided by law.
The development and implementation of a security plan and all related technology pursuant to paragraph (10) of subsection (a) of Code Section 15-16-10 shall be subject to the annual budget approved for the office of the sheriff by the governing authority.
(a) Whenever a state agency or a state department requires a unit of local government to perform an audit or whenever a state agency or a state department would perform an audit of a unit of local government as a condition for such unit of local government having received a grant of state money or services, the state agency or state department shall, except as provided in subsections (b) and (c) of this Code section, accept any audit which meets the requirements of the federal Single Audit Act of 1984 1 if such audit includes those moneys or services granted by the state and includes the reporting requirements of any applicable state law or of any state agency.
(b) Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this Code section, a state agency shall be authorized to conduct any additional audits necessary to carry out its duties and responsibilities as set forth in state law or regulation, and nothing in this Code section shall authorize any local government or unit or agency thereof to constrain in any manner any such state agency from performing any such additional audit.
(c) This Code section shall not limit the authority of state agencies to conduct audits and evaluations of state financial assistance programs or to enter into contracts for the conduct of such audits and evaluations and shall not limit the authority of the state auditor or any state audit official.
1 31 U.S.C.A. § 7501 et seq.
(a) When any county, municipal corporation, or political subdivision desires to incur any bonded debt, as permitted by the Constitution of Georgia, the election required shall be called and held in accordance with this Code section and Code Sections 36-82-2 through 36-82-4.
(b) The officers charged with levying taxes, contracting debts, and the like for the county, municipal corporation, or political subdivision shall give notice for not less than 30 days immediately preceding the day of the election in the newspaper in which sheriff's advertisements for the county are published, notifying the qualified voters that on the day named an election will be held to determine the question of whether bonds shall be issued by the county, municipal corporation, or political subdivision. The notice shall specify the principal amount of the bonds to be issued, the purpose for which the bonds are issued, the interest rate or rates which such bonds are to bear, and the amount of principal to be paid in each year during the life of the bonds. The notice, in the discretion of the issuing body, in lieu of specifying the rate or rates of interest which the bonds are to bear, may state that the bonds, when issued, will bear interest at a rate not exceeding a maximum per annum rate of interest specified in the election notice or, in the event the bonds are to bear different rates of interest for different maturity dates, that none of such rates will exceed the maximum rate specified in the election notice.
(c) Nothing contained in this Code section shall be construed as prohibiting or restricting the right of the issuing body to sell bonds at a discount, even if in so doing the effective interest cost resulting therefrom would exceed the maximum per annum interest rate specified in the election notice.
(d) Every legal advertisement of a bond election shall contain a reference that any brochures, listings, or other advertisements issued by the governing body of any county, municipality, or other political subdivision of this state or by any other person, firm, corporation, or association with the knowledge and consent of the governing body of such county, municipality, or other political subdivision of this state shall be deemed to be a statement of intention of the governing body of such county, municipality, or other political subdivision of this state concerning the use of the bond funds; and such statement of intention shall be binding on the governing body of such county, municipality, or other political subdivision of this state in the expenditure of any such bond funds or interest received from such bond funds which have been invested, unless the governing body of such county, municipality, or other political subdivision of this state uses such bond funds for the retirement of bonded indebtedness, in the manner provided for in this Code section; and such statement of intention shall be set forth in the resolution pursuant to which such bonds are issued. Bond funds and interest received from such bond funds which have been invested shall be expended in the manner in which advertised and for the purpose stated in such statement of intention. The governing body of such county, municipality, or other political subdivision of this state may, by a two-thirds' vote, declare any project which has been established pursuant to any such statement of intention to be unnecessary. In that event, the governing body of such county, municipality, or other political subdivision of this state shall use such bond funds for the payment of all or any part of the principal and interest on any bonded indebtedness of such county, municipality, or other political subdivision of this state then outstanding. Surpluses from the overestimated projects, including interest received on bond funds of such projects, shall be used first to complete underestimated projects and all remaining funds received from interest and overestimated projects shall be used for other projects or improvements which the governing body of such county, municipality, or other political subdivision of this state may deem necessary and which are encompassed within the language of the statement of purpose in the election notice. Any meetings of any governing bodies at which any bond fund allocation is made shall be open to the public. Such meetings shall be announced to the news media in advance and shall be open to the news media.
(e)(1) It is expressly provided that any county, municipality, or other political subdivision of this state may provide for the refunding of all or any part of the outstanding bonded indebtedness of such county, municipality, or political subdivision without the necessity of a referendum therefor if the governing authority of such county, municipality, or political subdivision adopts a resolution or ordinance authorizing the issuance of general obligation refunding bonds for such purpose, provided the following conditions are met:
(A) The term of the refunding bonds shall not extend beyond the final maturity date of the bonds being refunded;
(B) The rate of interest borne by the refunding bonds shall not exceed the rate of interest borne by the bonds being refunded;
(C) The principal amount of the refunding bonds may only exceed the principal amount of the bonds being refunded to the extent necessary to effectuate a refund and to allow the reduction of the total principal and interest requirements over the remaining term of the bonds being refunded; and
(D) The proceeds derived from the sale of the refunding bonds, together with the earnings and increments derived therefrom, if any, will be sufficient to provide for the payment of the principal of, interest, and premium, if any, on the bonds being refunded and shall be deposited in an irrevocable trust fund created for that purpose.
(2) Such refunding bonds so authorized to be issued in compliance with the conditions set forth above, when issued, shall be construed and deemed to be issued in lieu of such original debt being so refunded, and the original debt upon the creation of the irrevocable trust fund and the deposit of the requisite proceeds shall not constitute a debt within the meaning of Article IX, Section V, Paragraph I of the Constitution of Georgia, but the refunding bonds shall constitute a debt within the meaning of Article IX, Section V, Paragraph I of the Constitution of Georgia and shall count against the limitation on debt measured by the 10 percent of assessed value of taxable property as expressed therein.
(f) Any person who violates this Code section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor; provided, however, nothing contained in this Code section shall be construed so that a violation thereof shall affect the validity of any bonds issued under this Code section.
The election provided for in Code Section 36-82-1 shall be held at all the voting or election precincts within the limits of the county, municipal corporation, or political subdivision and shall be held by the same persons, in the same manner, and under the same rules and regulations that elections for officers of the county, municipal corporation, or political subdivision are held. The returns shall be made to the officers calling or ordering the election. Such officers, in the presence of and together with the several managers, who shall bring up the returns, shall consolidate the returns and declare the result.
(a) When notice has been given and the election has been held, in accordance with Code Section 36-82-2, if the requisite majority of those qualified voters of the county, municipality, or political subdivision voting at the election vote for bonds, then the authority to issue the bonds in accordance with Article IX, Section V, Paragraph I or II of the Constitution of Georgia is given to the proper officers of the county, municipality, or political subdivision.
(b) The ordinance or resolution of the governing body of the county, municipality, or other political subdivision of this state authorizing the issuance of general obligation refunding bonds in accordance with the terms and conditions of subsection (f) of Code Section 36-82-1 may be adopted at a regular or special meeting by a majority of the members of the governing body and, unless otherwise provided therein, such resolution or ordinance shall take effect immediately and need not be laid over or published or posted.
(c) General obligation refunding bonds may be issued in one or more series; may bear such date or dates; may mature at such time or times, and bear interest at such rate or rates per annum, payable at such time or times, subject to the limitations contained in subsection (f) of Code Section 36-82-1, pertaining to the final maturity date and maximum interest rate for such refunding bonds; may be payable in such medium of payment at such place or places; may be in such denomination or denominations; may be in such form, either coupon or registered; may carry such registration, conversion, and exchangeability privileges; may be subject to such terms of redemption, with or without a premium; may be executed in such manner; and may contain such terms, covenants, and conditions as the ordinance or resolution authorizing the issuance of such refunding bonds may provide. All general obligation refunding bonds issued under this article bearing the signature of officers in office on the date of the signing thereof shall be valid and binding, notwithstanding that before delivery thereof and payment therefor such officers whose signatures appear thereon shall have ceased to be officers of the governmental body issuing the bonds. Pending the preparation of the definitive bonds, interim receipts, in such form and with such provisions as the governing body may determine, may be issued to the purchaser or purchasers of bonds to be issued under this article. Such refunding bonds and interim receipts shall be negotiable for all purposes. Such refunding bonds shall be and are declared to be nontaxable for any and all purposes.
When the bonds become due, the owners thereof, if necessary, may enforce their collection by action in the proper court.
(a) In addition to the requirements of Code Sections 36-82-1 through 36-82-4 governing elections for the issuance of bonds, in all counties of this state having a population of not less than 400,000 nor more than 500,000 according to the United States decennial census of 1990 or any future such census, every legal advertisement of a bond election shall contain a reference that any brochures, listings, or other advertisements issued by the governing body in such counties, or by any other person, firm, corporation, or association with the knowledge and consent of the governing body, shall be deemed to be a statement of intention of the governing body concerning the use of the bond funds; and such statement of intention shall be binding on the governing body and shall limit the expenditure of any such bond funds to the purpose specified in such statement of intention, unless the governing body uses such bond funds for the retirement of bonded indebtedness in the manner provided by subsection (b) of this Code section. Such statement of intention shall also be set forth in the resolution pursuant to which such bonds are issued.
(b) The governing body in the counties specified in subsection (a) of this Code section may, by a two-thirds' vote, declare any project which has been proposed pursuant to a statement of intention provided for in subsection (a) of this Code section to be unnecessary. In that event, the governing body shall use such bond funds for the payment of all or any part of the principal and interest on any bonded indebtedness of such county then outstanding.
(c) In the counties specified in subsection (a) of this Code section, interest received from bond funds which have been invested and surpluses from the overestimated projects shall be used first to complete underestimated projects; and all remaining funds received from interest and overestimated projects shall be used for other projects or improvements which the governing body in such counties may deem necessary and which are encompassed within the language of the statement of purpose in the election notice. Any meetings of any governing bodies at which any bond fund allocation is made shall be open to the public. Such meetings shall be announced to the news media in advance and shall be open to the news media.
(d) In the counties specified in subsection (a) of this Code section, 90 percent of the net proceeds received from sale of the bonds less:
(1) Amounts allocated to the payment of bond issuance expenses;
(2) Amounts allocated for purchase of furnishings and equipment;
(3) Amounts allocated for contingencies; and
(4) Amounts allocated for work to be performed by employees of the issuing entity and materials and equipment therefor
shall be obligated for payment pursuant to a contract or contracts within 36 months from the date of issuance and delivery of such bonds. The remaining bond proceeds shall either be obligated pursuant to a contract or contracts or actually expended within 48 months from the date of issuance and delivery of such bonds. Any bond proceeds not expended or obligated within 48 months from the date of issuance and delivery of such bonds shall be paid to the sinking fund for the retirement of the bonds issued. For purposes of this subsection, land which is being acquired through condemnation proceedings shall be considered obligated for payment pursuant to a contract in an amount equal to the sum of moneys deposited with the court pursuant to a special master or other appropriate judicial proceedings. The provisions of this subsection shall apply to all general obligation bonds issued and delivered on or after December 1, 1986.
(a) When, subsequent to the issuance of any bonds pursuant to the provisions of this article, the governing authority of any county, municipal corporation, or political subdivision adopts by a two-thirds' majority vote a resolution declaring that:
(1) A portion of the bond funds remains after the purpose stated in the notice required by subsection (b) of Code Section 36-82-1 has been achieved or accomplished;
(2) The purpose stated in such notice is no longer necessary; or
(3) Circumstances have changed such that the expenditure of all or part of such bond funds is no longer practicable or feasible,
the governing authority shall be authorized to expend such bond funds, including interest, for purposes of a nature substantially similar to the purpose stated in such notice or to reduce the bonded indebtedness of the county, municipality, or political subdivision.
(b) Not sooner than ten days prior to expending bond funds as provided in subsection (a) of this Code section, the governing authority shall cause to be published once in the official county organ a copy of the resolution adopted pursuant to subsection (a) of this Code section, which resolution shall set forth the reason the bond funds were not expended for the original purpose and shall state the purpose for which such funds will be expended. In addition, the governing authorities shall cause a copy of such resolution to be sent by registered or certified mail or statutory overnight delivery to any trustee for bondholders or other paying agent.
When any county, municipality, or political subdivision of this state has issued bonds under the authority of Article IX, Section V, Paragraph I, II, or III of the Constitution of Georgia and laws passed in pursuance thereof and when, after the bond issue is authorized and the bonds are printed, any of the bonds authorized and printed are not sold for any reason, the governing authorities of the county, municipality, or political subdivision may destroy the unsold bonds in the manner and under the conditions set out in Code Section 36-82-6.
(a) The governing authorities of the county, municipal corporation, or political subdivision shall publish a notice, once a week for four consecutive weeks, in the newspaper in which county advertisements are usually published in the county or in the county in which the municipal corporation or political subdivision is located. The notice shall indicate that the unsold bonds will be destroyed at the time and at the place in the county, municipal corporation, or political subdivision stated in the notice.
(b) If no objection is filed by a taxpayer of the county, municipal corporation, or political subdivision with the clerk of the superior court of the county or of the county in which the municipal corporation or political division is located, at least five days before the date stated in the notice, or if such objection is filed and the judge of the superior court, after hearing, determines the objection to be without merit, the judge of the superior court shall order the unsold bonds destroyed by fire at the time and place stated in the notice or at the time and place stated in the order of the court.
(c) The judge shall also name two disinterested witnesses, who are neither officers nor employees of the county, municipal corporation, or political subdivision, to attend the destruction of the bonds, whose affidavits, filed with the clerk of the superior court, shall be prima-facie evidence that the bonds have been destroyed. The affidavits of the witnesses shall be preserved as records of the office of the clerk of the superior court. The witnesses shall be compensated for their services in the amount of $5.00 each.
(d) All costs of such proceedings shall be paid by the county, municipal corporation, or political subdivision, except where an objection filed is determined to be without merit, in which case costs of the pleadings, hearings, and judgment on the objection shall be taxed against the person objecting.
The proceeds of any bonds issued by any county, municipal corporation, school district, or other political subdivision of this state or any portion thereof or any authority or other public body corporate and politic created under the Constitution or laws of this state may, from time to time, be placed for investment and reinvestment in the local government investment pool created in Chapter 83 of this title by the governing authorities of the county, municipal corporation, school district, political subdivision, authority, or body or be invested and reinvested by the governing authorities of the county, municipal corporation, school district, political subdivision, authority, or body in the following securities, and no others:
(1) Bonds or obligations of such county, municipal corporation, school district, political subdivision, authority, or body or bonds or obligations of this state or other states or of other counties, municipal corporations, and political subdivisions of this state;
(2) Bonds or other obligations of the United States or of subsidiary corporations of the United States government which are fully guaranteed by such government;
(3) Obligations of and obligations guaranteed by agencies or instrumentalities of the United States government, including those issued by the Federal Land Bank, Federal Home Loan Bank, Federal Intermediate Credit Bank, Bank for Cooperatives, and any other such agency or instrumentality now or hereafter in existence; provided, however, that all such obligations shall have a current credit rating from a nationally recognized rating service of at least one of the three highest rating categories available and have a nationally recognized market;
(4) Bonds or other obligations issued by any public housing agency or municipal corporation in the United States, which such bonds or obligations are fully secured as to the payment of both principal and interest by a pledge of annual contributions under an annual contributions contract or contracts with the United States government, or project notes issued by any public housing agency, urban renewal agency, or municipal corporation in the United States which are fully secured as to payment of both principal and interest by a requisition, loan, or payment agreement with the United States government;
(5) Certificates of deposit of national or state banks located within this state which have deposits insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and certificates of deposit of federal savings and loan associations and state building and loan or savings and loan associations located within this state which have deposits insured by the Savings Association Insurance Fund of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or the Georgia Credit Union Deposit Insurance Corporation, including the certificates of deposit of any bank, savings and loan association, or building and loan association acting as depository, custodian, or trustee for any such bond proceeds. The portion of such certificates of deposit in excess of the amount insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Savings Association Insurance Fund of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, or the Georgia Credit Union Deposit Insurance Corporation, if any, shall be secured by deposit, with the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, Georgia, or with any national or state bank or federal savings and loan association or state building and loan or savings and loan association located within this state or with a trust office within this state, of one or more of the following securities in an aggregate principal amount equal at least to the amount of such excess: direct and general obligations of this state or other states or of any county or municipal corporation in this state, obligations of the United States or subsidiary corporations included in paragraph (2) of this Code section, obligations of the agencies and instrumentalities of the United States government included in paragraph (3) of this Code section, or bonds, obligations, or project notes of public housing agencies, urban renewal agencies, or municipalities included in paragraph (4) of this Code section;
(6) Securities of or other interests in any no-load, open-end management type investment company or investment trust registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, 1 as from time to time amended, or any common trust fund maintained by any bank or trust company which holds such proceeds as trustee or by an affiliate thereof so long as:
(A) The portfolio of such investment company or investment trust or common trust fund is limited to the obligations referenced in paragraphs (2) and (3) of this Code section and repurchase agreements fully collateralized by any such obligations;
(B) Such investment company or investment trust or common trust fund takes delivery of such collateral either directly or through an authorized custodian;
(C) Such investment company or investment trust or common trust fund is managed so as to maintain its shares at a constant net asset value; and
(D) Securities of or other interests in such investment company or investment trust or common trust fund are purchased and redeemed only through the use of national or state banks having corporate trust powers and located within this state; and
(7) Interest-bearing time deposits, repurchase agreements, reverse repurchase agreements, rate guarantee agreements, or other similar banking arrangements with a bank or trust company having capital and surplus aggregating at least $50 million or with any government bond dealer reporting to, trading with, and recognized as a primary dealer by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York having capital aggregating at least $50 million or with any corporation which is subject to registration with the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System pursuant to the requirements of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, provided that each such interest-bearing time deposit, repurchase agreement, reverse repurchase agreement, rate guarantee agreement, or other similar banking arrangement shall permit the moneys so placed to be available for use at the time provided with respect to the investment or reinvestment of such moneys.
1 15 U.S.C.A. § 80a-1 et seq.
Any county, municipality, or other political subdivision of this state shall at or before the issuance and delivery of any general obligation refunding bonds provide for the assessment and collection of an annual tax sufficient in amount to pay the principal and interest on such refunding bonds as same become due and payable, all as is provided in Article IX, Section V, Paragraph VI of the Constitution of Georgia.
All amounts collected and held in a sinking fund pursuant to Article IX, Section V, Paragraph VI of the Constitution of Georgia, irrevocably pledged and appropriated to the retirement of the outstanding bonded indebtedness for which they are collected, which can be legally used for no other purpose, shall be deductible from total bonded debt in computing the constitutional limitation on the bonded indebtedness of a political subdivision of this state under Article IX, Section VII of the Constitution of Georgia.
(a) As used in this Code section, the term:
(1) “Annual savings” means the difference between the annual debt service payments on pension obligation bonds and the annual required contribution to fund the unfunded actuarial accrued liability of the pension fund.
(2) “Level debt structure” means the establishment of a bond repayment schedule that requires equal annual debt service payments, including both principal and interest, over the life of the debt issue.
(3) “Pension obligation bond” means a bond issued as a general obligation bond in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, the proceeds of which are deposited with the government's retirement system administrator to liquidate, in whole or in part, the government's unfunded accrued actuarial liability to the government's retirement plan.
(b) No political subdivision shall issue any pension obligation bond unless the state auditor has certified that such bonds comply fully with the provisions of this Code section.
(c) All pension obligation bonds shall:
(1) Be general obligation bonds subject to the provisions of the Constitution of the State of Georgia and this chapter relating to general obligation bonds;
(2) Be included as a component of the total debt of the political subdivision subject to the debt limits provided in Article IX, Section V of the Constitution of the State of Georgia;
(3) Be issued on a competitive basis;
(4) Specify a level debt structure; and
(5) Specify a maturity not longer than 20 years.
(d) An amount not less than 5 percent of the annual savings shall be deposited into a reserve fund as protection against changes that might impact the future financial condition of the pension system.
(e) Neither the political subdivision issuing pension obligation bonds nor any department, agency, authority, retirement system, or pension fund of such political subdivision shall purchase the pension obligation bonds so issued.
(a) As used in this Code section, the term “political subdivision” means any municipality, county, local government authority, board, or commission empowered to enter into debt. Such term shall not include any state agency or state authority.
(b) A political subdivision which issues general obligation bonds, revenue bonds, or any other bonds, notes, certificates of participation, or other such obligations of that political subdivision in an amount exceeding $1 million shall file a report with the Department of Community Affairs which contains the following:
(1) Name of issuer;
(2) Whether the issue is a new issue or a refinancing or refunding;
(3) Total amount issued;
(4) Term of issue;
(5) Detailed description of purpose or purposes;
(5.1) Whether the issue is a general obligation bond, revenue bond, or other bond, note, certificate of participation, or other obligation;
(6) Name of underwriter;
(7) Proceeds used for bond issuance costs, including underwriters' discount as reported on Line 24 of the United States Department of Treasury's Internal Revenue Service Form 8038-G;
(8) Name of bond counsel;
(9) Interest rate; and
(10) True or net interest costs.
Such information shall be reported to the Department of Community Affairs in accordance with Code Section 36-81-8.
(a) When any county, municipality, or political subdivision desiring to incur any bonded debt, as prescribed in Article IX, Section V, Paragraphs I and II of the Constitution of Georgia, holds an election or passes a resolution in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution and laws of this state controlling and regulating such elections or the passage of such resolutions and the returns of such election or resolution show prima facie that the election or resolution is in favor of the issuance of the bonds, the officer or officers of the county, municipality, or political subdivision charged by law with the duty of declaring the result of the election or resolution, within six months after so declaring the result of the election or of the passage of the resolution, shall notify the district attorney of the judicial circuit in which the county, municipality, or political subdivision is located, in writing, of the fact that an election was held or that a resolution was passed and that the election or resolution was in favor of the issuance of the bonds. The service of the notice shall be personal upon the district attorney; in the event that he is absent from the circuit, the notice shall be served in person upon the Attorney General.
(b) It is expressly provided that when the governing body of any county, municipality, or political subdivision desiring to issue refunding bonds as provided by Article IX, Section V, Paragraph III of the Constitution of Georgia shall have adopted a resolution or ordinance authorizing the issuance of refunding bonds, the proper officer or officers of such county, municipality, or political subdivision, within six months after the adoption of such resolution or ordinance authorizing the issuance of such refunding bonds, shall notify the district attorney of the judicial circuit in which such county, municipality, or political subdivision is located, in writing, of the fact that the requirements pertaining to the issuance of general obligation refunding bonds have been met and that the issuance of such refunding bonds has been authorized by a resolution or ordinance duly adopted by the governing body of such county, municipality, or political subdivision and shall furnish the district attorney with a certified copy of such resolution or ordinance authorizing the issuance of such refunding bonds. The service of such notice shall be personal upon the district attorney; in the event that he is absent from the circuit, the notice shall be served in person upon the Attorney General.
(a) Within 20 days from the date of the service upon the district attorney or the Attorney General of notice of the fact that an election was held or a resolution passed and that the election or resolution was in favor of the issuance of the bonds, the district attorney or the Attorney General shall prepare and file a petition in the office of the clerk of the superior court of the county in which the election was held or the resolution was passed, directed to the superior court of the county, in the name of the state, and against the county, municipality, or political subdivision desiring to issue bonds under the election or resolution. The petition shall set forth the service of the notice, the name of the county, municipality, or political subdivision seeking to issue the bonds, the principal amount of the bonds to be issued, the purpose for which the bonds are issued, the interest rate or rates which the bonds are to bear, and the amount of principal to be paid in each year during the life of the bonds and shall state that the election or resolution is prima facie in favor of the issuance of the bonds. The petition, in lieu of specifying the rate or rates of interest which the bonds are to bear, may set forth the wording which was used with respect to interest in the notice which was published calling the election to authorize the issuance of the bonds. The district attorney or the Attorney General shall obtain, from the judge of the court, an order requiring the county, municipality, or political subdivision, by its proper officers, to appear at such time and place, either in term or at chambers, within 20 days from the filing of the petition, as the judge of the court may direct, and to show cause, if any exists, why the bonds should not be confirmed and validated. The petition and order shall be served in the manner provided by law for the service of petitions upon counties, municipalities, or political subdivisions. The officers of the county, municipality, or political subdivision shall make sworn answers to such petition at or before the date set in the order for the hearing.
(b) Within 20 days from the date of the service upon the district attorney or the Attorney General of notice of the fact that a resolution or ordinance was adopted by the governing body of the county, municipality, or other political subdivision authorizing the issuance of refunding bonds, the district attorney or the Attorney General shall prepare and file a petition in the office of the clerk of the superior court of the county in which the county, municipality, or other political subdivision desiring to issue refunding bonds is located, directed to the superior court of the county, in the name of the state, and against the county, municipality, or political subdivision desiring to issue refunding bonds under the resolution or ordinance. The petition shall set forth the service of the notice, the name of the county, municipality, or political subdivision seeking to issue the refunding bonds, the maximum principal amount of the refunding bonds to be issued, the interest rate or rates which the bonds are to bear, and also setting forth the principal amount of outstanding bonded indebtedness to be refunded, the amount of principal to be paid in each year over the remaining life of the bonds to be refunded, the interest rate or rates per annum said outstanding bonds which are to be refunded bear and a certified copy of the resolution or ordinance so adopted authorizing the issuance of the refunding bonds shall be attached to the petition and made a part thereof. The petition, in lieu of specifying the rate or rates of interest which the refunding bonds are to bear, may state that the refunding bonds when issued will bear interest at a rate or rates not exceeding a maximum rate per annum. The district attorney or the Attorney General shall obtain, from the judge of the court, an order requiring the county, municipality, or political subdivision, by its proper officers, to appear at such time and place, either in term or at chambers, within 20 days from the filing of the petition, as the judge of the court may direct, and to show cause, if any exists, why the refunding bonds should not be confirmed and validated. The petition and order shall be served in the manner provided by law for the service of petitions upon counties, municipalities, or political subdivisions. The officers of the county, municipality, or political subdivision shall make sworn answers to such petition at or before the date set in the order for the hearing.
Prior to the hearing provided for in Code Section 36-82-21, the clerk of the superior court of the county in which the hearing is to be held shall publish in a newspaper, once during each of the two successive weeks immediately preceding the week in which the hearing is to be held, a notice to the public that on the day specified in the order providing for the hearing the same will be heard. Such newspaper shall be the official organ of the county in which the sheriff's advertisements appear.
Within the time prescribed in the order or such further time as he may fix, the judge of the superior court shall proceed to hear and determine all questions of law and of fact in the case and shall render judgment thereon. Any citizen of this state who is a resident of the county, municipality, or political subdivision desiring to issue the bonds may become a party to the proceedings at or before the time set for the hearing. Any party to the proceedings who is dissatisfied with the judgment of the court confirming and validating the issuance of the bonds or refusing to confirm and validate the issuance of the bonds may appeal from the judgment under the procedure provided by law in cases of injunction. No appeal may be taken by any person who was not a party at the time the judgment appealed from was rendered.
In the event that no appeal is filed within the time prescribed by law or, if an appeal is filed, that the judgment is affirmed on appeal, the judgment of the superior court confirming and validating the issuance of the bonds shall be forever conclusive upon the validity of the bonds against the county, municipality, or political subdivision.
Bonds issued under this part shall have stamped or written thereon, by the proper officers of the county, municipality, or political subdivision issuing the bonds or their agents or servants, the words “Validated and confirmed by judgment of the superior court,” along with the date when the judgment was rendered and the court in which it was rendered, which entry shall be signed by the clerk of the superior court in which the judgment was rendered. Such entry shall be original evidence of the fact of such judgment and shall be received as original evidence in any court in this state.
The costs of the proceedings shall be paid in any event by the county, municipality, or political subdivision desiring to issue the bonds.
When any county, municipality, or political subdivision of the state has held an election for the issuance of bonds and notice has been duly served on the district attorney or the Attorney General under authority of such county, municipality, or other political subdivision, for the purpose of securing a judicial validation of such bonds, but the district attorney or Attorney General has failed to proceed within the time specified by Code Section 36-82-21, it shall be competent for the county, municipality, or other political subdivision to represent such facts in writing to the court, and to represent further that the failure has been without fault on the part of the county, municipality, or other political subdivision. In such case it shall be the duty of the court and it shall have the power and authority to inquire into the facts and, upon being satisfied that the failure has not arisen from any fault or neglect on the part of the county, municipality, or other political subdivision, to issue an order authorizing and directing the district attorney or the Attorney General to proceed within ten days to file the petition authorized by Code Section 36-82-21. Thereafter, the proceedings shall be heard in the same manner as would have been followed had the petition been duly and promptly filed in the first instance.
Where proceedings are had as provided in Code Section 36-82-27 and result in a judgment validating the bonds, the bonds shall be held and deemed to be as fully and completely validated to all intents and purposes as though the proceedings had been had originally as provided by law and the judgment of validation shall be finally and completely conclusive in like manner as is now provided by Code Section 36-82-25.
The holder of any outstanding bond or bonds of any county, municipality, or political subdivision in this state issued subsequently to the adoption of the Constitution of 1877, the validating of which is not otherwise provided for by Code Sections 36-82-1 through 36-82-6 and Part 1 of this article, shall have the right to have the same validated in the manner provided in this part.
The holder of any bond or bonds described in Code Section 36-82-40 who desires to have the same validated shall first enter into an obligation with sufficient security to indemnify the county, municipality, or political subdivision issuing the bond or bonds desired to be validated against all court costs and other expenses incident to the validating proceedings, the sufficiency of the surety on such obligation to be approved by the executive officer or officers of the county, municipality, or political subdivision.
The holder of any bond or bonds described in Code Sections 36-82-40 and 36-82-41, having given indemnity against cost, may present to the district attorney of the circuit in which the county, municipality, or political subdivision which issued such bond or bonds is located or to the Attorney General in the event the district attorney is absent from the circuit, a petition setting forth a description of the bond or bonds sought to be validated, stating the date of issue, the rate of interest, the number and denomination of all bonds issued, and the time and place for payment of principal and interest, with a full copy of all resolutions and other proceedings authorizing the issue of the bonds, and indicating any and all other facts showing the authority of the county, municipality, or political subdivision to issue such bonds and the purpose for which they were issued.
Within 20 days from the date on which the petition of the holder of any bond or bonds is presented to the district attorney or to the Attorney General such officer shall prepare and file, in the office of the clerk of the superior court of the county which issued the bonds or in the county in which the municipality or political subdivision which issued the bonds is located, a petition directed to the superior court of the county, in the name of the state and against the county, municipality, or political subdivision issuing the bonds, setting forth all the facts stated in the petition presented to him as provided in Code Section 36-82-42, the name of the county, municipality, or political subdivision which issued the bonds, the amount of bonds issued, for what purpose they were issued, a full description of the bonds, the authority under which they were issued, and the number of outstanding bonds. He shall obtain from the judge of the superior court of the county an order requiring the county, municipality, or political subdivision to show cause, by the proper officer or officers, at such time and place within 20 days from the filing of the petition as the judge of the court may direct, why the bonds described in the petition should not be confirmed and validated. The petition and order shall be served in the manner provided by law for the service of petitions upon counties, municipalities, or political subdivisions. The officer or officers of the county, municipality, or political subdivision shall make sworn answer to the petition within the time prescribed.
Within the time prescribed in the order or such further time as he may fix, the judge of the superior court shall proceed to hear and determine all questions of law and fact in the case and shall render judgment thereon. Any citizen of this state who is resident in the county, municipality, or political subdivision desiring to issue the bonds may become a party to the proceedings at or before the time set for the hearing. Any party thereto who is dissatisfied with the judgment of the court confirming and validating the issuance of the bonds or refusing to confirm and validate the issuance of the bonds may appeal from the judgment under the procedure provided by law in cases of injunction. Only a party to the proceedings at the time the judgment appealed from is rendered may appeal from the judgment.
If no appeal is filed within the time prescribed by law or if an appeal is filed and the judgment is affirmed on appeal, the judgment of the superior court confirming and validating the bonds shall be forever conclusive upon the validity of the bonds against the county, municipality, or political subdivision.
Code Sections 36-82-22 and 36-82-25, providing for a notice of proceeding to validate and proof of validation, are made applicable in all proceedings to validate bonds under Code Sections 36-82-40 through 36-82-45.
All the costs of the proceedings shall be paid by the holder or holders requesting the validation of the bonds.
This article may be cited as the “Revenue Bond Law.”
As used in this article, the term:
(1) “Governing body” means the board, commission, council, or other local legislative body of a governmental body.
(2)(A) “Governmental body” means any school district, county, or municipal corporation of this state.
(B) The term “governmental body” shall also mean and include highway districts of the state which have been or may hereafter be created as political subdivisions of the state, which shall have the same rights and powers to operate under this article as have counties, municipal corporations, and school districts. Such highway districts as political subdivisions of the state shall be limited, however, in such undertakings to the construction, acquisition, and building of highways, bridges, causeways, approaches, viaducts, tunnels, and all things incidental to the improvement of highways located within their respective districts as created by the Constitution and laws of this state.
(C) The term “governmental body” shall also mean and include state and local public authorities having corporate powers which have been or may hereafter be created by general, local, or special Act of the General Assembly. Such state or local authorities are fully empowered to issue revenue-anticipation certificates and to operate under this article in the same manner and to the same extent as counties or municipal corporations of the state are authorized to do.
(D) For the purposes of Code Sections 36-82-74 through 36-82-82, inclusive, the term “governmental body,” in addition to its definitions in subparagraphs (A) through (C) of this paragraph, means a hospital authority the revenue certificates of which are required by Code Section 31-7-81 to be confirmed and validated in accordance with the procedure of this article.
(3) “Revenue” or “revenue of the undertaking” means all revenues, income, and earnings arising out of or in connection with the operation or ownership of the undertaking and, if so stated in the resolution or resolutions authorizing the issuance of obligations under this article, also means moneys received as grants from the United States of America, from this state, or from any instrumentality or agency of the foregoing in aid of such undertaking.
(4) “Undertaking” includes the following revenue-producing undertakings or any combination of two or more of such undertakings, whether now existing or hereafter acquired or constructed:
(A) Causeways, tunnels, viaducts, bridges, and other crossings;
(B) Highways, parkways, airports, docks, piers, wharves, terminals, and other facilities;
(C) Systems, plants, works, instrumentalities, and properties:
(i) Used or useful in connection with the obtaining of a water supply and the conservation, treatment, and disposal of water for public and private uses;
(ii) Used or useful in connection with the collection, treatment, and disposal of sewage, waste, and storm water; together with all parts of any such undertaking and all appurtenances thereto, including lands, easements, rights in land, water rights, contract rights, franchises, approaches, dams, reservoirs, generating stations, sewage disposal plants, intercepting sewers, trunk connecting and other sewer and water mains, filtration works, pumping stations, and equipment;
(iii) Used or useful in connection with the collection, treatment, reuse, or disposal of solid waste; or
(iv) Used or useful in connection with buying, constructing, extending, operating, and maintaining gas or electric generating, transmission, and distribution systems together with all necessary appurtenances thereof; provided, however, that any revenue certificates issued by a governmental body with electric utility assets that have a net book value of less than $300 million to buy, construct, extend, operate, and maintain electric generating, transmission, and distribution systems shall, before being undertaken, be authorized by a majority of those voting at an election held for the purpose in the county, municipal corporation, or political subdivision affected, the election for such to be held in the same manner as is used in issuing bonds of such county, municipal corporation, or political subdivision and the said elections shall be called and provided for by officers in charge of the fiscal affairs of said county, municipal corporation, or political subdivision affected;
(D) Dormitories, laboratories, libraries, and other related facilities;
(E) Parks, golf links and fairways, tennis courts, swimming pools, playgrounds, athletic fields, grandstands and stadiums; buildings to be used for various types of sports, including baseball and football; buildings to be constructed and used for the housing of exhibits for fairs and educational purposes; buildings to be used for the housing of livestock, horses, cattle, swine, poultry, and agricultural exhibits for exhibition purposes; the erection and construction of buildings to be used for amusement purposes or educational purposes or a combination of the two; and such buildings to be used for fairs, expositions, or exhibitions in connection therewith;
(F) Combinations of sea wall, groin, and beach erosion protection systems;
(G) Public parking areas and public parking buildings;
(H) Purchase of lands used by the United States government as army camps for the training of soldiers during the war, when and if the same is declared surplus by the United States government or its authority, provided that a county shall only be allowed to purchase lands which were within its boundaries at the time such lands were acquired by the United States government or any division of the United States government;
(I) Parking meters on streets, thoroughfares, parkways, and any avenue of traffic, such meters to be located thereon or immediately adjacent thereto for the purpose of providing space for vehicles and authorizing the use of same for parking purposes upon the payment of a charge therefor;
(J) Purchase of existing public common carriers of passengers for hire and facilities necessary, incident, or needful thereto by the use of motor buses, trackless trolleys, electric trolleys, or any other means of transportation of passengers on the streets and highways;
(K) The purchase of land and the construction thereon of facilities for lease to industries, so as to relieve abnormal unemployment conditions; and
(L) Jails and all other structures and facilities which are necessary and convenient for the operation of jails.
(a) In addition to the other powers which it may have, any governmental body shall have power under this article:
(1) To acquire, by gift, purchase, or the exercise of the right of eminent domain, and to construct, to reconstruct, to improve, to better, and to extend any undertaking wholly within or wholly outside the governmental body or partially within and partially outside the governmental body; and to acquire, by gift, purchase, or the exercise of the right of eminent domain, lands, easements, rights in lands, and water rights in connection therewith. For property located within a city, the extraterritorial exercise of eminent domain for redevelopment purposes shall be approved by resolution by the governing authority of the city. For property located in an unincorporated area of a county, the extraterritorial exercise of eminent domain for redevelopment purposes shall be approved by resolution by the governing authority of the county. Any such resolution shall be adopted under the procedures specified in Code Section 22-1-10 and shall specifically and conspicuously delineate each parcel to be affected. The requirement for approval by a governing authority under this Code section shall be in addition to any other approval required by Title 22;
(2) To operate and maintain any undertaking for its own use, for the use of public and private consumers, and for users within and outside the territorial boundaries of the governmental body;
(3) To prescribe, revise, and collect rates, fees, tolls, or charges for the services, facilities, or commodities furnished or made available by such undertaking; and, in anticipation of the collection of the revenues of the undertaking:
(A) To issue revenue bonds to finance, in whole or in part, the cost of the acquisition, construction, reconstruction, improvement, betterment, or extension of any undertaking;
(B) To issue revenue bonds at any time to refund or refinance, in whole or in part, all outstanding revenue bonds against any existing undertaking or any combination thereof or its anticipated revenue; and
(C) To issue revenue bonds at any time to refund or refinance, in whole or in part, all obligations or debt of any nature, including outstanding revenue bonds or general obligation bonds, against any existing undertaking or any combination thereof or its anticipated revenue;
(4) To pledge to the punctual payment of such bonds and interest thereon all or any part of the revenues of the undertaking (including the revenues of improvements, betterments, or extensions thereto thereafter constructed or acquired as well as the revenues of existing systems, plants, works, instrumentalities, and properties of the undertaking so improved, bettered, or extended) or of any part of the undertaking;
(5) To fix the value of existing undertakings at the time the governmental body desires to reconstruct, improve, better, or extend the undertaking and to pledge to the payment of the revenue bonds and the interest thereon issued for the undertaking under this article such part of the revenues of the undertaking as the cost of the reconstruction, improvement, betterment, or extension of the undertaking bears to such cost plus the value of the existing undertaking before reconstruction, improvement, betterment, or extension. This paragraph shall not be construed to restrict or limit the powers granted in paragraph (4) of this Code section; and
(6) To make all contracts, execute other instruments, and do all things necessary or convenient in the exercise of the powers granted in this article, or in the performance of its covenants or duties, or in order to secure the payment of its bonds, provided that no encumbrance mortgage or other pledge of property of the governmental body shall be created thereby, that no property of the governmental body shall be liable to be forfeited or taken in payment of such bonds, and that no debt on the credit of the governmental body shall be thereby incurred in any manner for any purpose.
(b) The use of streets, thoroughfares, parkways, and avenues of traffic in a governmental body for the handling of mobile and foot traffic, the use of same for the parking of mobile equipment, and the availability of off-street parking facilities for such equipment are matters of public concern and the affording of such facilities serves the better welfare of the citizens of a governmental body and may, in the discretion of a governmental body, be considered as one revenue-producing undertaking. If any governmental body desires to acquire, construct, alter, or remodel any property for use as public parking areas or public parking buildings or both and issues revenue bonds in order to finance the acquisition, construction, alteration, or remodeling of the same in accordance with this article, the governmental body may pledge to the payment of the principal, interest, and call premium, if any, of such revenue bonds, the whole or any part of the receipts of parking meters operated by the governmental body, in addition to the revenues derived directly from such public parking areas or public parking buildings or both.
The acquisition, construction, reconstruction, improvement, betterment, or extension of any undertaking and the issuance, in anticipation of the collection of the revenues of such undertaking, of bonds to provide funds to pay the cost thereof, may be authorized under this article by resolution or resolutions of the governing body, which may be adopted at a regular or special meeting by a majority of the members of the governing body. Unless otherwise provided therein, such resolution or resolutions shall take effect immediately and need not be laid over or published or posted. The governing body, in determining such cost, may include all costs and estimated costs of the issuance of the bonds; all engineering, inspection, fiscal, and legal expenses; interest estimated to accrue during the construction period and for six months thereafter on money borrowed or which it is estimated will be borrowed pursuant to this article; and moneys not in excess of an amount equal to 15 percent of the total principal amount of each such bond issue, to establish a debt service reserve with respect to principal and interest requirements on the bonds.
Revenue bonds may be issued under this article in one or more series; may bear such date or dates; may mature at such time or times, not exceeding 40 years from their respective dates; may bear interest at such rate or rates not exceeding 9 percent per annum, payable at such time or times; may be payable in such medium of payment at such place or places; may be in such denomination or denominations; may be in such form, either coupon or registered; may carry such registration, conversion, and exchangeability privileges; may be subject to such terms of redemption, with or without premium; may be declared or become due before the maturity date thereof; may be executed in such manner; and may contain such terms, covenants, assignments, and conditions as the resolution or resolutions authorizing the issuance of such bonds may provide. All bonds issued under this article bearing the signature of officers in office on the date of the signing thereof shall be valid and binding, notwithstanding that before delivery thereof and payment therefor such officers whose signatures appear thereon shall have ceased to be officers of the governmental body issuing the bonds. Pending the preparation of the definitive bonds, interim receipts, in such form and with such provisions as the governing body may determine, may be issued to the purchaser or purchasers of bonds to be issued under this article. Such bonds and interim receipts shall be negotiable for all purposes. Such bonds shall be and are declared to be nontaxable for any and all purposes.
(a) Any resolution or resolutions authorizing the issuance of bonds under this article to finance, in whole or in part, the acquisition, construction, reconstruction, improvement, betterment, or extension of an undertaking may contain covenants, notwithstanding that such covenants may limit the exercise of powers conferred by this article, as to:
(1) The rates, fees, tolls, or charges to be charged for the services, facilities, and commodities of the undertaking;
(2) The use and disposition of the revenue of the undertaking;
(3) The creation and maintenance of reserves or sinking funds and the regulation, use, and disposition thereof;
(4) The purpose or purposes to which the proceeds of the sale of such bonds may be applied and the use and disposition of such proceeds;
(5) Events of default and the rights and liabilities arising thereupon, the terms and conditions upon which bonds issued under this article shall become or may be declared due before maturity, and the terms and conditions upon which such declaration and its consequences may be waived;
(6) A fair and reasonable payment by the governmental body to the account of the undertaking for the services, facilities, or commodities furnished such governmental body or any of its departments by the undertaking;
(7) The issuance of other or additional bonds or instruments payable from or a charge against the revenue of the undertaking;
(8) The insurance to be carried thereon and the use and disposition of insurance moneys;
(9) Books of account and the inspection and audit thereof;
(10) Limitations or restrictions as to the leasing or other disposition of the undertaking while any of the bonds or the interest thereon remains outstanding and unpaid; and
(11) The continuous operation and maintenance of the undertaking.
(b) The provisions of this article and of any such resolution or resolutions shall be a contract with every holder of such bonds; and the duties of the governmental body, the governing body, and the officers of the governmental body under this article and under any such resolution or resolutions shall be enforceable by any bondholder by mandamus or other appropriate action or proceeding at law or in equity.
Revenue bonds issued under this article shall not be payable from or charged upon any funds other than the revenue pledged to the payment thereof, nor shall the governmental body issuing the same be subject to any pecuniary liability thereon. No holder or holders of any such bonds shall ever have the right to compel any exercise of the taxing power of the governmental body to pay any such bonds or the interest thereon, nor to enforce payment thereof against any property of the governmental body; nor shall any such bonds constitute a charge, lien, or encumbrance, legal or equitable, upon any property of the governmental body. Every bond issued under this article shall contain a recital setting forth the substance of this Code section.
In the event that the governmental body defaults in the payment of the principal or interest on any of the revenue bonds after the same becomes due, whether at maturity or upon call for redemption, and that such default continues for a period of 30 days or in the event that the governmental body or the governing body or the officers, agents, or employees thereof fail or refuse to comply with the essential provisions of this article or default in any material respect in any agreement made with the holders of the revenue bonds, any holders of revenue bonds or any trustee therefor shall have the right to apply in an appropriate judicial proceeding to the superior court of the county in which the governmental body is located or to any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a receiver of the undertaking, whether or not all revenue bonds have been declared due and payable and whether or not such holder or trustee therefor is seeking or has sought to enforce any other right or to exercise any remedy in connection with such revenue bonds. Upon such application, the superior court, if it deems such action necessary for the protection of the bondholders, may appoint and, if the application is made by the holders of 25 percent in principal amount of such revenue bonds then outstanding or by any trustee for holders of such revenue bonds in such principal amount, shall appoint a receiver of the undertaking.
(a) The receiver appointed under Code Section 36-82-67, directly or by his agents and attorneys, shall forthwith enter into and upon and take possession of the undertaking and each and every part thereof. If the court so directs, the receiver may exclude the governmental body, its governing body, officers, agents, and employees, and all persons claiming under them wholly therefrom. The receiver shall have, hold, use, operate, manage, and control the same and each and every part thereof, in the name of the governmental body or otherwise, as the receiver may deem best. He shall exercise all the rights and powers of the governmental body with respect to the undertaking as the governmental body itself might do. The receiver shall maintain, restore, insure, and keep insured the undertaking and from time to time shall make all such necessary or proper repairs as to the receiver may seem expedient. He shall establish, levy, maintain, and collect such fees, tolls, rentals, and other charges in connection with the undertaking as he deems necessary or proper and reasonable. He shall collect and receive all revenues and shall deposit the same in a separate account and apply the revenues so collected and received in such manner as the court shall direct.
(b) If the undertaking involves parking meters, the control and operation thereof shall remain in the governmental body and the authority of the receiver appointed under Code Section 36-82-67 shall be limited to the right of receiving only the receipts from the parking meters.
Notwithstanding anything in Code Sections 36-82-67 and 36-82-68, this Code section, and Code Sections 36-82-70 through 36-82-72 to the contrary, the receiver appointed under Code Section 36-82-67 shall have no power to sell, assign, mortgage, or otherwise dispose of any assets of whatever kind or character belonging to the governmental body and useful for the undertaking. The authority of any such receiver shall be limited to the operation and maintenance of the undertaking. No court shall have jurisdiction to enter any order or decree requiring or permitting the receiver to sell, assign, mortgage, or otherwise dispose of any such assets.
The receiver appointed under Code Section 36-82-67 shall, in the performance of the powers conferred upon him, act under the direction and supervision of the court making such appointment and shall at all times be subject to the orders and decrees of such court and may be removed thereby. Nothing contained in Code Sections 36-82-67 through 36-82-69, this Code section, and Code Sections 36-82-71 and 36-82-72 shall limit or restrict the jurisdiction of such court to enter such other and further orders and decrees as such court may deem necessary or appropriate for the exercise by the receiver of any functions specifically set forth in Code Sections 36-82-67 through 36-82-69, this Code section, and Code Sections 36-82-71 and 36-82-72.
Whenever all that is due upon the revenue bonds and interest thereon and upon any other notes, bonds, or other obligations and interest thereon having a charge, lien, or encumbrance on the revenues of the undertaking and under any of the terms of any covenants or agreements with holders of revenue bonds has been paid or deposited as provided therein and all defaults have been cured and made good and it appears to the court that no default is imminent, the court shall direct the receiver to surrender possession of the undertaking to the governmental body. The same right of the holders of the revenue bonds to secure the appointment of a receiver shall exist upon any subsequent default as is provided in Code Section 36-82-67.
If any part or portion of Code Sections 36-82-67 through 36-82-71 and this Code section is held by any court of competent jurisdiction to create a debt of a governmental body or to be unenforceable or ineffective, the remaining parts and portions thereof shall not be affected thereby in any way, but the part or portion so held unenforceable and ineffective shall be severed and rescinded from this article. The intention of the General Assembly not to permit any governmental body to be deprived of its property or to be susceptible or liable to forfeiture shall be controlling.
All revenue bonds issued under this article shall be validated in the superior court in the manner set forth in Code Sections 36-82-74 through 36-82-83.
When any governmental body desires to issue revenue bonds under this article, the officer or officers of such governmental body, within six months after the passage of the resolution authorizing the bonds, shall, in writing, notify the district attorney of the judicial circuit in which the governmental body is located of the fact that such resolution has been passed by the governing body and of the intention of the governmental body to issue such bonds. The service of notice shall be personal upon the district attorney and shall be accompanied by a certified copy of the resolution of the governing body of the governmental body authorizing the bonds. If the district attorney is absent from the circuit, such notice shall be served in person upon the Attorney General.
Within 20 days from the date of service of the notice provided for in Code Section 36-82-74, the district attorney or the Attorney General shall prepare and file, in the office of the clerk of the superior court of the county issuing the bonds or of the county in which the governmental body is located, a petition directed to the superior court of such county in the name of the state and against the governmental body desiring to issue the revenue bonds. The petition shall set forth service of the notice, the name of the governmental body seeking to issue the bonds, the amount of bonds to be issued, for what purpose the bonds are to be issued, what interest they are to bear, how much principal and interest is to be paid annually, when the bonds are to be paid in full, and the security to be pledged to the payment of the bonds; provided, however, the petition may provide for a maximum interest rate and a maximum annual principal and interest payment. The district attorney or the Attorney General shall obtain from the judge of the court an order requiring the governmental body by its proper officers to show cause, at such time and place, either in term or chambers, within 20 days from the filing of the petition, as the judge may direct, why the bonds and the security for the payment thereof should not be confirmed and validated. The petition and order shall be served in the manner now provided by law for the service of petitions upon counties, governmental bodies, or political subdivisions. The officers of the governmental body shall make sworn answers to the petition within the time prescribed.
Prior to the hearing of the case, the clerk of the superior court of the county in which it is to be heard shall publish, once during each of the two successive weeks immediately preceding the week in which the hearing is to be held, a notice to the public that on the day specified in the order providing for the hearing of the case the same will be heard. Such publication shall be in the newspaper which is the official organ of the county in which the sheriff's advertisements appear.
(a) Within the time prescribed in the order or such further time as he may fix, the judge of the superior court shall proceed to hear and determine all questions of law and of fact in the case and shall render judgment thereof. Any citizen of this state who is a resident of the governmental body which desires to issue such bonds may become a party to the proceedings at or before the time set for the hearing and any party thereto who is dissatisfied with the judgment of the court confirming and validating the issuance of the bonds or refusing to confirm and validate the issuance of the bonds and the security therefor may appeal from the judgment under the procedure provided by law in cases of injunction. Only a party to the proceedings at the time the judgment appealed from is rendered may appeal from such judgment.
(b) Whenever any governmental body values existing undertakings as permitted by law in connection with the issuance of bonds, the superior courts may review such action, which review shall be had in the proceedings to validate the revenue bonds.
If no appeal is filed within the time prescribed by law or if an appeal is filed and the judgment is affirmed on appeal, the judgment of the superior court confirming and validating the issuance of the bonds and the security therefor shall be forever conclusive against the governmental body upon the validity of such bonds and the security therefor.
Bonds validated under this article shall have stamped or written thereon, by the proper officers of the governmental body issuing the same or by their agents or servants, the words “Validated and confirmed by judgment of the superior court,” specifying also the date the judgment was rendered and the court in which it was rendered, which entry shall be signed by the clerk of the superior court in which the judgment was rendered. Such entry shall be original evidence of the fact of the judgment and shall be received as original evidence in any court in this state. If provisions in the resolution authorizing the issuance of bonds grant conversion or exchangeability privileges with respect thereto, upon request of the proper officers of the governmental body issuing bonds in exchange for bonds previously signed by a clerk of the superior court, it shall be the duty of such clerk of the superior court to sign the entry as to judgment of validation made on such bonds proposed to be issued in exchange. Such entry shall likewise be received as original evidence of the fact of such judgment in any court in this state. As specified in the general laws of this state, any clerk of a superior court may sign such entry as to the judgment of validation by a manual or a facsimile signature. The clerk of the superior court shall receive for his services rendered under this Code section the fee prescribed in Code Section 15-6-77.
The cost of the case shall be paid by the governmental body desiring to issue the bonds.
When a governmental body passes a resolution for the issuance of revenue bonds and notice is duly served upon the district attorney or the Attorney General under the authority of such governmental body, for the purpose of securing a judicial validation of such bonds and the security therefor, but the district attorney or Attorney General fails to proceed within the time specified in Code Section 36-82-75, it shall be competent for such governmental body to represent such facts in writing to the court and to represent further that the failure has been without fault on the part of the governmental body. In such case, it shall be the duty of the court and he shall have the power and authority to inquire into the facts and, upon being satisfied that the failure has not arisen from any fault or neglect on the part of the governmental body, to pass an order authorizing and directing the district attorney or Attorney General to proceed within ten days to file the petition authorized by Code Section 36-82-75. Thereafter, the proceedings shall be had in the same manner as would have been followed had such petition been duly and promptly filed in the first instance.
When proceedings are had as provided in Code Section 36-82-81 and result in a judgment validating the bonds and the security therefor, the bonds shall be held and deemed to be as fully and completely validated to all intents and purposes as though the proceedings had been originally taken as provided by this article and the judgment of validation shall be finally and completely conclusive in like manner as provided by Code Section 36-82-78.
When a hospital authority created and operating under Article 4 of Chapter 7 of Title 31, the “Hospital Authorities Law,” is authorized to confirm and validate revenue bonds in accordance with the procedures of this article, and such an authority is located in more than one county, such bonds shall be confirmed and validated in the superior court of the county in which the principal office of the authority is located; and, where the authority is located in more than one judicial circuit, notice provided for the district attorney shall be served upon the district attorney of the judicial circuit in which the principal office of such an authority is located, in accordance with this article, which district attorney shall have the duties, privileges, and responsibilities and shall exercise the powers provided for district attorneys in revenue bond validation proceedings under this chapter.
Wherever applicable, this article shall apply to public common carriers of passengers for hire.
The powers conferred by this article shall be in addition and supplemental to, and not in substitution for, the powers conferred by any other general, special, or local law. The limitations imposed by this article shall not affect the powers conferred by any other general, special, or local law. Bonds may be issued under this article without regard to any other general, special, or local law. The General Assembly declares its intention that the limitations of the amount or percentage of, and the restrictions relating to, indebtedness of a governmental body and the incurring thereof contained in the Constitution of this state and in any general, special, or local law shall not apply to bonds and the issuance thereof under this article.
(a) As used in this Code section, the term “bonds” means any revenue or general obligation bonds issued under this chapter.
(b) When bonds are issued by a county, municipality, or local authority in the amount of $5 million or more, the expenditure of bond proceeds shall be subject to an ongoing performance audit or performance review as provided in this Code section; but this Code section shall not apply if such bond issue is below $5 million.
(c) Each county, municipality, or local authority expending bond proceeds shall provide for a continuing performance audit or performance review of the expenditure of such funds. The county, municipality, or local authority shall contract with a certified public accountant or with an outside auditor, consultant, or other provider accredited or certified in the field of performance audits or performance reviews. Such accountant, auditor, consultant, or other provider shall only be qualified to perform the audit and review functions under this Code section if such accountant, auditor, consultant, or other provider has significant experience and competence in conducting comprehensive audits and reviews in conformance with generally accepted government auditing standards. The performance audit or performance review contract shall:
(1) Include a goal of ensuring to the maximum extent possible that the bond funds are expended efficiently and economically, so as to secure to the county, municipality, or local authority the maximum possible benefit from the bond funds;
(2) Provide for the issuance of periodic public reports, made accessible through electronic or printed format, or both, at a location advertised in the legal organ not less often than once annually, with respect to the extent to which expenditures are meeting the goal specified in paragraph (1) of this subsection; and
(3) Provide for the issuance of periodic public recommendations, made accessible through electronic or printed format, or both, at a location advertised in the legal organ not less often than once annually, for improvements in meeting the goal specified in paragraph (1) of this subsection.
(d) The auditor, consultant, or other provider to carry out the performance audit or performance review shall be selected through a public request for proposals process. The reasonable cost of the performance audit or performance review shall be paid from the proceeds of the bonds unless a specific waiver of public accountability is included in a legal advertisement in bold print contained within requisite public notice soliciting public preapproval of the applicable bond issue which expressly states that no performance audit or performance review shall be conducted with respect to such bond issue.
(e) On and after May 5, 2006, the expenditure of bond proceeds shall be under the jurisdiction of and subject to review by the inspector general of this state with respect to any claim of fraud, waste, abuse, or mismanagement of funds.
(f) This Code section shall apply with respect to any bonds which are subject to the requirements of subsection (b) of this Code section which are issued after May 5, 2006, until the proceeds of such bond issue have been expended.
It is the purpose of this article to maintain the fiscal solvency of counties, municipal corporations, and political subdivisions of the state and authorities and public corporations created by the Constitution of Georgia or any general, local, or special Act of the General Assembly in public borrowing by exempting from all other laws of the state governing usury or prescribing or limiting interest rates any bonds, notes, certificates, or obligations of any kind issued by any such county, municipal corporation, political subdivision, authority, or public corporation to evidence any repayment obligation for money borrowed, exclusive of general obligation bonds.
As used in this article, the term:
(1) “Bonds” means any bonds, notes, certificates, or obligations of any kind issued by any municipality to evidence any repayment obligation for money borrowed by such municipality, exclusive of general obligation bonds.
(2) “General obligation bonds” means any bonds, notes, certificates, or obligations of any kind issued by any municipality which, under the Constitution of Georgia, may not be issued without the consent of a majority of the qualified voters of the municipality affected, voting in an election for that purpose, and also shall mean any bonds, notes, certificates, or obligations of any kind issued to refund outstanding general obligation bonds without an election as authorized under Article IX, Section V, Paragraph III of the Constitution of Georgia.
(3) “Municipality” means any school district, county, municipal corporation, or political subdivision of the state or any authority or public corporation created by the Constitution of Georgia or any general, local, or special Act of the General Assembly which is as of March 16, 1981, or may thereafter be authorized by law to issue bonds.
(a) From and after March 16, 1981, any bonds issued by a municipality shall be exempt from:
(1) All laws of this state governing usury or prescribing or limiting interest rates to be borne by bonds; and
(2) All provisions of the Constitution of Georgia prescribing or limiting interest rates to be borne by bonds to the extent that the Constitution of Georgia permits the General Assembly by law to define further the powers and duties of any such municipality and to enlarge or restrict the same.
(b) The interest rate or rates to be borne by any bonds issued by a municipality shall be fixed by the governing body of such municipality in the resolution or ordinance adopted by such governing body to authorize the issuance of any such bonds.
All provisions contained in any of the following laws which prescribe or limit the interest rate or rates to be borne by bonds are repealed to the extent the same are in conflict with this article and to the extent necessary to effect the purpose of this article by exempting any bonds issued by a municipality from all laws of the state governing usury or prescribing or limiting interest rates to be borne by bonds:
(1) Article 3 of this chapter, the “Revenue Bond Law”;
(2) Article 4 of Chapter 7 of Title 31, the “Hospital Authorities Law”;
(3) Article 1 of Chapter 3 of Title 8, the “Housing Authorities Law”;
(4) Chapter 62 of this title, the “Development Authorities Law”; and
(5) Article 3 of Chapter 3 of Title 46, pertaining to the Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia.
This article shall be liberally construed to effect the purposes hereof; and insofar as the provisions of this article may be inconsistent with the provisions of the Constitution of Georgia, under circumstances where the General Assembly has been granted the power by law to enlarge or restrict such provisions of the Constitution of Georgia, or inconsistent with the provisions of any law, including any general, local, or special Act of the General Assembly creating or activating any municipality, this article shall control.
Notwithstanding the provisions of other laws to the contrary, the following revisions of relevant laws shall apply to any municipality, as defined in paragraph (3) of Code Section 36-82-121, which incurs bonded indebtedness:
(1) If a bond is to be issued to evidence the repayment obligation for borrowed money, the signatures of all officers of the municipality required by law or by the proceedings related to such borrowed money to sign such bond may be facsimile signatures and any seal required to be affixed thereon may be a facsimile seal if provision is also made for a manual authenticating signature on the bond by or on behalf of a designated financial institution or other person or other municipality with whom the municipality has a contract as provided in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (2) of this Code section with respect to such bond. In addition, any officer may adopt as a facsimile signature the signature or facsimile signature of a predecessor in office in the event the signature or facsimile signature of such predecessor appears on such bond;
(2)(A) Any municipality borrowing money may contract for the services of a financial institution or other person within or without the state or another municipality to perform any of the following functions with respect to repayment obligations for borrowed money:
(i) Issuance, authentication, transfer, registration, exchange, and related mechanical and clerical functions;
(ii) Record or bookkeeping or book entry functions;
(iii) Preparation, signing, and issuance of checks or warrants in payment of repayment obligations for borrowed money;
(iv) Preparation and maintenance of reports and accounts; and
(v) Performance of any other duties related to repayment obligations for borrowed money.
(B) The cost of performing the aforesaid functions, whether incurred under a contract or through direct performance by the municipality, may be paid from the borrowed moneys or from other funds lawfully available for the purpose; and
(3)(A) Whenever any municipality shall borrow money any repayment obligation with respect thereto may be evidenced:
(i) By bonds issued in such form either coupon or fully registered or both coupon and fully registered in such denominations and with such provisions for registration, exchangeability, and transferability as the resolution authorizing the borrowing of money or any loan agreement, trust agreement, or other contract or agreement to be entered into in connection with the borrowing of money may provide;
(ii) By book entries under which the right to receive payments of principal, redemption premium, if any, and interest shall be established and transferred only through subsequent book entries; or
(iii) In such other manner as may be provided for in the resolution authorizing the borrowing of money or any loan agreement, trust agreement, or other contract or agreement to be entered into in connection with the borrowing of money.
(B) If any municipality elects to evidence any repayment obligation for borrowed money in a manner permitted by division (ii) or (iii) of subparagraph (A) of this paragraph:
(i) No bond shall be issued to evidence such repayment obligation, and the adoption by the municipality of the resolution authorizing the borrowing of such money and the execution and delivery by the municipality of the loan agreement, trust agreement, or other contract or agreement to be entered into in connection with the borrowing of such money and the receipt by the municipality or by an agent acting on behalf of the municipality of the money borrowed shall be the only requirement to establish lawfully the repayment obligation with respect to such borrowed money; and
(ii) The municipality shall provide for the sending of written statements which provide a record of certain rights with respect to such repayment obligation as of the time of issuance of the statements. Such statements shall be sent each person acquiring rights by registration in such repayment obligation but shall, in and of themselves, confer no rights on the recipient and shall be neither a negotiable instrument nor a security.
(C) In the event any municipality elects to evidence any such repayment obligation in a manner permitted by division (ii) or (iii) of subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, the provisions of any other law of this state to the contrary notwithstanding, the interest of any person in such repayment obligation may be accepted, to the extent of such interest, as a deposit of the repayment obligation to which it relates, provided that the municipality has provided by contract for the pledge of such interest.
The records of ownership, registration, transfer, and exchange of repayment obligations for borrowed money and of persons to whom payment with respect to such obligations is made shall not be public records, it being understood that the availability of such records to the general public would likely have a serious adverse impact on the ability of a municipality to consummate subsequent borrowings of money at the most advantageous cost to such municipality.
This article shall be liberally construed to effect the purposes hereof; and insofar as the provisions of this article may be inconsistent with the provisions of the Constitution of Georgia, under circumstances where the General Assembly has been granted the power by law to enlarge or restrict such provisions of the Constitution of Georgia, or inconsistent with the provisions of any law, including any general, local, or special Act of the General Assembly relating to bonds issued by any municipality, this article shall control.
This article shall be known and may be cited as the “Georgia Allocation System.”
The economic development and the availability of safe, sanitary, and affordable housing in the State of Georgia are of vital importance to the state and its citizens. Private activity bond financing has been an integral part of the state's program for economic development and affordable housing. The United States government has enacted a law which limits the availability of private activity bond financing within each state. This limited resource must be used in the best interest of the State of Georgia to the fullest extent permitted by federal law. The federal law limits the annual issuance of private activity bonds in the state to an amount not exceeding a state ceiling imposed under the federal law. The federal law not only provides for a distribution of the state ceiling but also provides that a state may by law provide for a different formula for allocating the state ceiling among the governmental units or other authorities in the state having authority to issue private activity bonds. The purpose of this article is to implement a system for allocating the use of private activity bonds, as permitted by federal law, in order to further the economic development of the state, to further the provision of safe, sanitary, and affordable housing, and otherwise to further the purposes of the laws of the state which provide for the issuance of such bonds.
As used in this article, the term:
(1) “Amount” means, when used with respect to bonds, notices of allocation, or portions of the state ceiling, an amount measured in terms of United States dollars.
(2) “Application” means the application and amendments thereto for a notice of allocation required to be filed by an issuer with the department pursuant to this article.
(3) “Bonds” means any bonds, notes, or other obligations which would be included or treated as private activity bonds for the purpose of the state's volume cap under Section 146 of the Federal Code. Section 146 of the Federal Code provides that, for purposes of that section, the term “private activity bond” shall not include the specifically designated types of bonds which would, under other provisions of the Federal Code, constitute private activity bonds; and for purposes of this article, the term “bonds” shall mean only those bonds, notes, or other obligations subject to the volume cap under Section 146 of the Federal Code. For purposes of this article, the term “bonds” shall include the private activity portion of governmental use bonds.
(4) “Borrower” means any person or persons whose private business use, within the meaning of Section 141 of the Federal Code, would cause any bonds to constitute private activity bonds within the meaning of Section 141 of the Federal Code. If there is more than one such person with respect to any issue of bonds, then the term “borrower” shall mean and include each and every such person known at the time that the issuer files an application.
(5) “Business day” means a day on which the department is open for business. The term “business day” shall not include any Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday officially observed by the state.
(6) “Carryforward election application” means the application for a notice of allocation for a carryforward project required to be filed by an issuer with all attachments and amendments.
(7) “Commissioner” means the commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs.
(8) “Competitive pool” means that portion of the state ceiling set aside prior to April 1, 1990.
(9) “Confirmation of issuance” means the issuer's confirmation, in writing, that the bonds authorized by a notice of allocation have been issued, in such form as the commissioner may promulgate from time to time.
(10) “Department” means the Department of Community Affairs.
(11) “Economic development share” means that portion of the state ceiling established in accordance with Code Section 36-82-186.
(12) “Employment test” means either of the employment tests set forth in Code Section 36-82-188.
(13) “Exempt facility bond” means any bond described as an exempt facility bond in Section 142 of the Federal Code, other than any obligation described in Section 142(a)(1) or Section 142(a)(2) of the Federal Code and any obligation described in Section 142(a)(6) of the Federal Code which is issued as part of an issue if all of the property to be financed by the net proceeds of such issue is to be owned by a governmental unit, within the meaning of Section 146 of the Federal Code.
(14) “Expiration date” means the final date on which bonds covered by a notice of allocation may be issued and by which date confirmation of issuance must be filed with the department.
(15) “Federal Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
(16) “Filing date” means the final date for filing an application as specified in this article.
(17) “Flexible pool” means that portion of the state ceiling set aside prior to April 1, 1990.
(18) “Flexible share” means that portion of the state ceiling set aside, in accordance with Code Section 36-82-193, for discretionary use by the department.
(19) “Georgia Housing and Finance Authority” means the authority established under Chapter 26 of Title 50.
(20) “HoDAG” means a housing development action grant as administered by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.
(21) “Housing bonds” means multifamily housing bonds, single-family housing bonds, or other qualified housing bonds, as the case may be.
(22) “Housing share” means the portion of the state ceiling established in accordance with Code Section 36-83-189.
(23) “Issued” means, with respect to any issue of bonds, that such bonds have been delivered and paid for in full. Payment in full may be made, in whole or in part, by a binding, enforceable agreement to make payment in the future.
(24) “Issuer” means the political subdivision, governmental unit, authority, or other entity which issues any bonds.
(25) “Legal counsel” means an attorney or firm of attorneys duly authorized to practice law in the State of Georgia and admitted to practice before the highest court in the State of Georgia.
(26) “Local housing authorities” means any issuers of multifamily housing bonds, single-family housing bonds, or other qualified housing bonds created and existing under the laws of this state.
(27) “Mortgage credit certificate” means a certificate issued under a qualified mortgage credit certificate program within the meaning of Section 25 of the Federal Code.
(28) “Multifamily housing bond” means any obligation which constitutes an exempt facility bond for the financing of a qualified residential rental project within the meaning of Section 142 of the Federal Code.
(29) “Notice of allocation” means the notice given by the department allocating to an issuer a specified amount from the state ceiling for a specific issue of bonds.
(30) “Period” means any of the time periods into which the calendar year is divided for purposes of authorizing a percentage of the state ceiling to be used during such period as provided in this article as follows: period 1 begins January 1 and ends at midnight on March 31; period 2 begins April 1 and ends at midnight on June 30; period 3 begins July 1 and ends at midnight on September 30; and period 4 begins on October 1 and ends at midnight on December 31.
(31) “Person” means any individual, corporation, limited or general partnership, association, trust, or other entity of any nature whatsoever.
(32) “Policy guidelines” means the policy guidelines set forth in Code Section 36-82-195.
(33) “Private activity portion of governmental use bonds” means the amount of any obligation, treated as a nonqualified amount under Section 141 of the Federal Code, which is in excess of $15 million and which would cause the obligation to be treated as a private activity bond under Section 141(b)(5) of the Federal Code, unless the amount equal to the excess of the nonqualifying amount over $15 million receives an allocation of the state's volume cap under Section 146 of the Federal Code.
(34) “Project” means the facility, as described in an application, proposed to be financed, in whole or in part, by an issue of bonds.
(35) “Qualified application” means a completed application for a notice of allocation.
(36) “Qualified housing project” means a project for which the issuance or exchange of tax-exempt bonds under the Federal Code for qualified housing purposes requires an allocation from the state ceiling.
(37) “Reservations” means the amounts reserved for the Georgia Housing and Finance Authority, the urban residential finance authorities, and the local housing authorities in Code Section 36-82-190.
(38) “Single-family housing bond” means any obligation described as a qualified mortgage bond in Section 143 of the Federal Code.
(39) “Small issue bond” means any obligation described as a qualified small issue bond in Section 144(a) of the Federal Code.
(40) “State” means the State of Georgia.
(41) “State ceiling” means for any calendar year the state ceiling applicable to the state, as such term is used in the Federal Code. The amount of the state ceiling shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Code.
(42) “Student loan bond” means any obligation described as a qualified student loan bond in Section 144(b) of the Federal Code.
(43) “System” means the Georgia Allocation System as established by this article.
(44) “UDAG bonds” means any issue of bonds 95 percent or more of the net proceeds of which are to be used to provide facilities with respect to which an urban development action grant, under Section 119 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, 1 as amended, has been applied for and which, if such grant is made, would be an issue described in Section 144(a)(4)(F) of the Federal Code.
(45) “Unused amount” means, as of any date when the unused amount of any share is computed, the amount of any share from which notices of allocation were authorized to be given during a prior period, if any, but with respect to which either no notices of allocation were given during such period or notices of allocation were given but confirmation of issuance was not filed with the department on or before the applicable expiration date plus the amount of any share from which notices of allocation have been given during the period which includes the date of computation but with respect to which confirmation of issuance was not filed with the department on or before the applicable expiration date.
(46) “Urban residential finance authority” means any authority established under Chapter 41 of this title.
1 42 U.S.C.A. § 5318.
The department shall administer, operate, and manage the system. Action taken by the department, however, shall not constitute an opinion of the department on any legal matters with respect to the federal or state tax treatment of any bonds. Without limiting the generality of the department's power and authority to administer, operate, and manage the system, the department shall make such determinations and decisions, promulgate such rules, require the use of such forms, establish such procedures, and otherwise administer, operate, and manage the system in such respects as may be, in the department's determination, necessary, desirable, or incident to its responsibilities as the administrator, operator, and manager of the system. The General Assembly recognizes and acknowledges that the department will encounter situations which have not been foreseen or provided for in this article and expressly delegates to the department the power and authority to administer, operate, and manage the system in all situations and circumstances, both foreseen and unforeseen, including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the power and authority to control and establish procedures for controlling any misuse or abuses of the system and the power and authority to resolve conflicts or inconsistencies, if any, in this article or which may arise in administering, operating, or managing the system pursuant to this article. Any decision which the commissioner or the department makes, and any action or inaction by the commissioner or the department, in administering, managing, and operating the system shall be final and conclusive and shall not be subject to any review, whether judicial, administrative, or otherwise, and shall not be covered by, subject to, or required to comply with or satisfy any provisions of Chapter 13 of Title 50, the “Georgia Administrative Procedure Act.” The system depends upon the truthfulness of representations made and information submitted in or accompanying applications. The department may use all of the power and authority granted in this article, and such other power or authority as the commissioner may deem necessary or appropriate, in order to take action against those who fail to comply with any of the provisions of this article or who fail to display the truthfulness, which shall include the completeness necessary to avoid untruthfulness by omission, which the commissioner deems necessary for the system. Without limiting the generality of this article, the General Assembly expressly delegates to the department the power and authority to control, permit to be used, or refuse to permit to be used any allocation which would reduce the state ceiling under Section 146(m) of the Federal Code, dealing with the private activity portion of governmental use bonds; and the department, to accomplish this end, may impose requirements upon any issuer, including any other agency or department of the state or any county or municipality or agency, department, or authority of a county or municipality within the state.
(a) The amount of the state ceiling shall be determined by the department in accordance with the Federal Code. The amount of the state ceiling available at any time shall be the amount, determined by the department, which results from subtracting from the state ceiling:
(1) The amount of bonds issued pursuant to notices of allocation and with respect to which confirmation of issuance has been received by the department on or before the applicable expiration date; and
(2) The amount of bonds covered by notices of allocation outstanding but with respect to which the expiration date has not occurred and with respect to which no confirmation of issuance has been filed with the department.
(b) The department shall keep separate records for the economic development share, housing share, and flexible share and shall make available to the public, by telephone recording or periodic news release or such other means as the department may determine to be appropriate, information with respect to the available amount of the economic development share, housing share, and flexible share.
(a) Applications for notices of allocation shall be filed, received, and acted on by the department as set forth in this Code section.
(b) Applications shall be filed on such forms as the commissioner shall require. Each application shall be accompanied by the following:
(1) A copy of the inducement resolution or other similar official action taken by the issuer with respect to the bonds and the project which are the subject of the application, signed by an officer, or a designee of said officer, of the issuer;
(2) An affidavit, or copy thereof, of the publisher of the newspaper or newspapers in which the notice of the public hearing required by Section 147(f) of the Federal Code was published, demonstrating that notice of such public hearing was published, and a copy of the approval of the governmental unit or governmental units required by Section 147(f) of the Federal Code, certified by a public official with the authority to certify such approval. This requirement shall not apply to any bonds:
(A) For which Section 147(f) of the Federal Code does not require such a public hearing and approval of a governmental unit or governmental units; or
(B) Projects requiring the approval of the Georgia State Financing and Investment Commission;
(3) A written opinion of legal counsel, addressed to the department, to the effect that the issuer is authorized under the laws of the state to issue bonds for projects of the same type and nature as the project which is the subject of the application. This opinion shall cite by constitutional or statutory reference, including a reference to the session laws of the General Assembly in the case of a constitutional reference, the provision of the Constitution or law of the state which authorizes the bonds for the project;
(4) A written commitment from a lender, financial institution, underwriter, investment banker, or other purchaser, addressed to the department, to purchase the bonds upon delivery by the issuer. In the discretion of the commissioner, this requirement may be waived in the event an officer of the issuer certifies, in writing, that the bonds subject to the application will be issued on a competitive bid basis;
(5) Any additional items specified elsewhere in this article; and
(6) Any other information as reasonably required by the department.
(c) All applications shall apply for amounts of the state ceiling specified in even amounts of $1,000.00.
(d) If more than one person is a borrower with respect to any issue of bonds, any one of such persons may, and all such persons shall not be required to, execute any application, letter, or writing which this article requires to be executed by the borrower.
(e) The department shall stamp or otherwise designate the date on which it receives each completed application. The date stamped or otherwise designated for any application received after the close of business on a business day will be the next business day. For this purpose, the close of business shall be the time officially designated for the close of the department's business day. The application shall not be considered completed and shall not be stamped and accepted for filing unless and until each of the items required under subsection (b) of this Code section has been received by the department. Receipt shall be deemed to occur only on a business day.
(f) A notice of allocation shall constitute the only means by which any of the state ceiling shall be allocated to a specific issuer for a specific issue of bonds. Any bonds for which no notice of allocation is given shall not be deemed to have been allocated as a part of the state ceiling as required by the Federal Code and shall be deemed to be bonds issued in excess of the issuer's private activity bond limit under the Federal Code.
(g) The notice of allocation shall be in writing, shall be given to the issuer at the address specified in the application, shall specify the amount of bonds which may be issued, and shall specify the expiration date. The notice of allocation shall be in such form as the commissioner shall determine. A notice of allocation may not be revoked although it shall expire in accordance with the provisions of this article. All notices of allocation shall be given for amounts of the state ceiling specified in even amounts of $1,000.00.
(h) When bonds covered by a notice of allocation have been issued, confirmation of issuance shall be filed with the department immediately and must be filed on or before the expiration date. Unless otherwise determined by the commissioner, the expiration date for any notice of allocation shall never be later than the second to last business day of a calendar year. To the extent necessary to accomplish this, the department shall shorten the time period otherwise allowed to lapse before an expiration date. If bonds are not issued and confirmation of issuance is not filed with the department on or before the expiration date, the notice of allocation shall cease to be effective. The confirmation of issuance shall be deemed to have been filed with the department on the earliest of:
(1) The date it is actually delivered to the department;
(2) If mailed by the United States mail, certified return receipt requested, the date of the postmark;
(3) If sent to the department by a nongovernmental courier or delivery service, the date delivered to that service; or
(4) If sent by facsimile machine, the date received by the department.
(i) Notwithstanding any provisions of this article to the contrary, the department shall not be required to accept any application for notice of allocation filed with the department after December 15 of each year.
(j) A notice of allocation shall not be effective if the bonds actually issued pursuant to such notice of allocation are in an aggregate principal amount which is less than 90 percent of the amount of bonds authorized by such notice of allocation. The department shall, at the written request of the issuer submitted to the department prior to the actual issuance of the bonds, amend the notice of allocation so as not to be in conflict with this subsection.
(k) The department may, at the written request of an issuer, increase the amount of a notice of allocation by an amount not to exceed 10 percent of the amount of the original application. The department shall not, however, have any obligation to provide such an increase, and no issuer shall have any right to such an increase.
(l) If any issuer in receipt of a notice of allocation fails to have issued the bonds subject to the notice of allocation on or before the expiration date, the project subject to the notice of allocation shall not be eligible to receive an additional notice of allocation for six months after the date of the expiration date of the original notice of allocation. This subsection, however, shall not apply to those projects in which the issuer notifies the department, in writing, 15 days prior to the expiration date of the notice of allocation that the bonds subject to the notice of allocation will not be issued.
(m) The opinions of legal counsel and the commitment from a lender, financial institution, underwriter, investment banker, or other purchaser which are required to accompany applications shall be dated no more than 30 days prior to the date on which the application is filed. Such opinions, such commitment, and any other items required to accompany an application shall be in substantially the form or forms promulgated by the commissioner.
(n) Notices of allocation and other notices and written communications from the department shall be deemed to have been given when duly deposited in the United States mail, first class with all postage prepaid. Notices of allocation may, at the request of the borrower, be picked up by hand or delivered by courier or other delivery service, at the expense of the borrower. Notices and other written communications to and filings with the department shall be given or made either by actual delivery to the office of the commissioner in Atlanta, Georgia, directed to the attention of the bond allocation manager, or by depositing the same in the United States mail, first class with all postage prepaid, addressed to the office of the commissioner in Atlanta, Georgia, directed to the attention of the bond allocation manager. Such notices and other written communications shall be deemed received only upon actual receipt by the department.
(o) The department shall furnish to the issuer receiving a notice of allocation a certificate of the commissioner certifying under penalty of perjury that the allocation evidenced by the notice of allocation was not made in consideration of any bribe, gift, gratuity, or direct or indirect contribution to any political campaign, in such form as the department may specify or as may be required pursuant to the Federal Code.
(p) The commissioner of the department is designated, for any purpose required under the Federal Code, as the state official who shall certify that bonds meet the requirements of the state ceiling, in such form as the department may specify or as may be required pursuant to Section 149(e) of the Federal Code and any other applicable Federal Code section or United States Department of the Treasury regulations promulgated pursuant to the Federal Code.
(a) Commencing on April 1, 1990, the economic development share for 1990 is established in an amount equal to 40 percent of the state ceiling. The 1990 percentage shall include any allocations made from the competitive pool prior to April 1, 1990. The economic development share for 1991 and each year thereafter is established in an amount equal to 42 1/2 percent of the state ceiling. The economic development share shall be divided among the periods of the year as follows:
(1) In 1990, during period 2, notices of allocation may be given for amounts up to 100 percent of the economic development share, minus the amount of any notices of allocation from the competitive pool made prior to April 1, 1990; and
(2) In 1991 and each year thereafter:
(A) During period 1, notices of allocation may be given for amounts up to 40 percent of the economic development share;
(B) During period 2, notices of allocation may be given for amounts up to 40 percent of the economic development share; and
(C) During period 3, notices of allocation may be given for amounts up to 20 percent of the economic development share.
(b) At any time, notices of allocation may be given for any unused amount.
(a) Applications for notices of allocation from the economic development share must be received by the department no later than June 30 of 1990 or September 30 of 1991 and September 30 each year thereafter. Applications for notices of allocation from the economic development share may only be filed for small issue bonds, exempt facility bonds, the private activity portion of governmental use bonds, or any other bond meeting the employment test required by Code Section 36-82-188 on the terms set forth in this Code section. Notwithstanding any provisions of this article to the contrary, the department shall not be required to accept any application for a notice of allocation for exempt facility bonds or the private activity portion of governmental use bonds from the economic development share; and no issuer shall have any right to such an allocation.
(b) In addition to the items specified in Code Section 36-82-185, each application shall be accompanied by the following, where applicable:
(1) If the application is for UDAG bonds:
(A) A copy of the application submitted to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development for an urban development action grant; and
(B) A written opinion of legal counsel, addressed to the department, to the effect that the bonds which are covered by the application will, based upon the information available at that time to such legal counsel, qualify as UDAG bonds when issued;
(2) If the employment test applies with respect to jobs retained, a written certification which satisfies the employment test, as required by Code Section 36-82-188;
(3) If the application is for exempt facility bonds, a written opinion of legal counsel addressed to the department to the effect that the bonds covered by the application will, based upon the information available at that time to such legal counsel, qualify as exempt facility bonds when issued;
(4) If the application is for the private activity portion of governmental use bonds, a written opinion of legal counsel addressed to the department to the effect that the bonds covered by the application will, based upon the information available at that time to such legal counsel, qualify as the private activity portion of governmental use bonds when issued; and
(5) If the application is for exempt facility bonds or the private activity portion of governmental use bonds, a written statement of the issuer addressed to the department describing the economic impact of the proposed project on the territorial area of the issuer.
(c) The department shall give its notice of allocation approving the allocation requested by the qualified application within 15 days after the department receives the completed application to the extent that amounts in the economic development share remain available for notices of allocation. Such notices of allocation shall be given with respect to qualified applications in the chronological order, by date, in which the completed qualified applications were received by the department.
(d) If the qualified applications received on the same date request notices of allocation that would exceed the amount of the economic development share which, at the time, remains available for notice of allocation, the department shall decide, within 30 days, which qualified application or qualified applications shall receive a notice of allocation by applying the policy guidelines. The decision of the department shall be final and conclusive.
(e) If at any time none of the economic development share remains available for notices of allocation, but additional amounts of the economic development share become available later because confirmation of issuance was not filed with the department on or before the applicable expiration date for any notice or notices of allocation or for any other reason, the department shall give a notice of allocation with respect to qualified applications including any qualified applications which failed to receive a notice of allocation pursuant to subsection (d) of this Code section. Such notices of allocation shall be given, to the extent that the economic development share becomes available, with respect to qualified applications in the chronological order, by date, in which they were received by the department and, if necessary, by again applying the procedures set forth in subsection (d) of this Code section.
(f) Qualified applications received during a period which do not receive a notice of allocation during that period shall automatically be deemed to have been received on the first day of the next period. In order to be deemed automatically to have been received on the first day of the next period, however, any such qualified application received by the department more than 45 days prior to the first day of the next period must be certified as current, not more than 30 days prior to the first day of the next period, by a letter from the issuer, addressed to the department and received by the department prior to the first day of the next period, certifying that the information contained in the qualified application and all items accompanying the qualified application are and remain accurate and in full force and effect, except as may be specifically set forth in any amendment to the qualified application which does not result in the application's failing to constitute a qualified application received by the department at or before the receipt of such certification. If such certification is received by the department after the first day of the next period, the application shall be deemed to have been resubmitted and received on the date when such certification was received.
(g) Notwithstanding any provisions of this Code section to the contrary, the department may, in its discretion, give a notice of allocation from the flexible share with respect to any qualified application which is not given a notice of allocation from the economic development share.
(h) Notwithstanding any provisions of this Code section to the contrary, the department shall not be required to give a notice of allocation from the economic development share for any bond in an amount of more than $10 million.
(i)(1) The expiration date for a notice of allocation from the economic development share, other than for UDAG bonds, shall be the first business day which occurs on or after the seventy-fifth day after the date on which the notice of allocation is given.
(2) The expiration date for a notice of allocation for UDAG bonds may, in the department's discretion, be the first business day which occurs on or after the one hundred-eightieth day after the date on which the notice of allocation is given. The department shall not, however, have any obligation to provide an expiration date in excess of 75 days, and no issuer shall have any right to an expiration date in excess of 75 days.
(3) The department may, for good cause shown by the issuer in a written statement submitted to the department prior to such expiration date, extend the expiration date for one, but only one, additional period which shall expire, at the department's discretion, on any date not later than 30 days after the original expiration date. The department shall not, however, have any obligation to provide such an extension; and no issuer shall have any right to such an extension.
(j) If confirmation of issuance is not filed with the department on or before the applicable expiration date, the notice of allocation shall cease to be effective and the amount covered by the notice of allocation shall automatically be added to:
(1) The economic development share if the notice of allocation ceases to be in effect prior to July 1 of 1990 or October 1 of 1991 and October 1 of each year thereafter; or
(2) The flexible share if the notice of allocation ceases to be in effect between July 1 of 1990 and December 31 of 1990 or October 1 of 1991 and December 31 of 1991 and October 1 and December 31 each year thereafter.
(k) On July 1, 1990, and October 1, 1991, and October 1 in each year thereafter the economic development share shall expire and any unused amounts remaining in the economic development share and any amounts for which the notice of allocation ceases to be in effect shall automatically be added to the flexible share.
(a) In order to qualify for a notice of allocation from the economic development share, a project must satisfy the employment tests as defined in this Code section. To satisfy the employment tests, a project must either:
(1) Be reasonably expected to increase employment within the territorial area of operation of the issuer by not less than one job for each $125,000.00 or part thereof in bond financing. This requirement shall be known as the increased employment test; or
(2) Be reasonably expected to retain within the territorial area of operation of the issuer not less than one job for each $125,000.00 or part thereof in bond financing. This requirement shall be known as the retained employment test.
(b) The increased employment test shall be satisfied if a borrower reasonably expects that the required additional jobs will be available not later than two years after completion of the project and certifies to this effect in writing. The retained employment test shall be satisfied if the borrower certifies in writing, addressed to the department, that, except for the issuance of the bonds which are the subject of the application, such borrower or other entity which operates the project reasonably expects that it would, within two years after the date of the application, either cease operation at the site of the project, thereby reducing employment by not less than the required number, or reduce employment by not less than the required number without ceasing operation.
(c) A job shall mean, for purposes of either employment test, a position held by a full-time, paid employee with no agreement or arrangement which would limit the duration of such employment. Such an employee either must spend substantially all of his time on the job performing the duties of his job at the location of the project or must be based at the project and spend substantially all of his time on the job performing the duties of his job within the territorial area of operation of the issuer.
Commencing on April 1, 1990, the housing share for 1990 is established in an amount equal to 40 percent of the state ceiling. The 1990 percentage shall include any allocations made from the housing share made prior to April 1, 1990. The housing share for 1991 and each year thereafter is established in an amount equal to 42 1/2 percent of the state ceiling.
(a) Commencing on April 1, 1990, and extending through June 30, 1990, and for 1991 and each year thereafter commencing on January 1 and extending through September 30, reservations from the housing share shall be as follows:
(1) Sixty-two percent shall be reserved for the Georgia Housing and Finance Authority for any qualified housing project. This shall be known as the state housing reservation;
(2) Nineteen percent shall be reserved for urban residential finance authorities for any qualified housing project. This shall be known as the urban housing reservation; and
(3) Nineteen percent shall be reserved for local housing authorities for any qualified housing projects. This shall be known as the local housing reservation. The local housing reservation shall be available for notices of allocation on a first-come, first-served basis. If applications exceed the amount available, the department shall apply the policy guidelines provided in Code Section 36-82-195.
(b) Any allocations made in 1990 prior to April 1, 1990, shall be subtracted from the total sum which would be available to an issuer based upon which reservation the issuer qualified for and based upon the percentage formula provided in this Code section.
(c) On July 1, 1990, and October 1, 1991, and October 1 in each year thereafter, the housing share shall expire and any unused amounts remaining in the housing share and any amounts for which the notice of allocation ceases to be in effect shall automatically be added to the flexible share.
(d) If at any time amounts of the state housing reservation or the urban housing reservation remain available for allocation, the Georgia Housing and Finance Authority or the urban residential finance authorities may, upon written notification to the department, transfer any available reservation, or any part thereof, to the state housing reservation, urban housing reservation, or the local housing reservation, if the issuer making the transfer anticipates that such amounts are more likely to be used in the reservation to which the transfer is made.
(a) Applications for single-family bond projects must be filed no later than June 30 of 1990 or September 30 of 1991 and September each year thereafter to be eligible to receive an allocation from the housing share.
(b) Each application for a single-family project shall be accompanied by the following:
(1) The items specified in Code Section 36-82-185;
(2) A written opinion of legal counsel, addressed to the department, to the effect that the bonds which are covered by the application will, based upon the information available at that time to such legal counsel, qualify as single-family housing bonds when issued; and
(3) A letter addressed to the department demonstrating that as of the date of the application for notice of allocation the applicant has reserved to individual mortgagors or projects at least 80 percent of the proceeds of any previous single-family bond issue and, if applicable, actually purchased or underwritten at least 25 percent of the loans funded from all previous single-family bond issues of the applicant for any single-family bond issue.
(c) The department shall give its notice of allocation approving the allocation requested by a qualified application within 15 days after the department receives the completed application, provided that the amount of the applications does not exceed the reservations established in Code Section 36-82-190. Such notices of allocation shall be given with respect to qualified applications in the chronological order, by date, in which the completed qualified applications were received by the department.
(d) The provisions of subsections (e) and (g) of Code Section 36-82-187 with respect to notices of allocation from the economic development share shall also apply to notices of allocation from the single-family bond projects from the local housing reservation.
(e) The expiration date for a notice of allocation for a single-family housing project from any housing reservation shall be 75 days following the date of notice of allocation. The department may, for good cause shown by an issuer, extend the expiration date by not more than 30 days, but no issuer shall have any right to such an extension.
(f) If the confirmation of issuance is not filed with the department on or before the expiration date, the notice of allocation shall cease to be effective and the amount covered by the notice of allocation shall automatically be transferred to and added to the respective reservation in the housing share if on or before June 30 of 1990 or September 30 of 1991 and September 30 each year thereafter or the flexible share if after June 30 of 1990 or September 30 of 1991 and September 30 each year thereafter.
(g) Notwithstanding any provision of this article to the contrary, the commissioner may, for good cause shown by an issuer in a written request addressed to the department, waive the provision of paragraph (3) of subsection (b) of this Code section.
(a) Applications for qualified residential rental projects shall be accompanied by the following:
(1) The items specified in Code Section 36-82-185;
(2) A written opinion of legal counsel addressed to the department to the effect that the bonds which are covered by the application will, based upon the information available at that time to such legal counsel, qualify as exempt facility bonds for the financing of a qualified residential rental project when issued;
(3) A written statement of the issuer, addressed to the department, to the effect that the bonds which are covered by the application will, based upon the information available at that time to such issuer, comply with local zoning laws, statutes, ordinances, and resolutions; and
(4) If the project is expected to be issued in combination with a HoDAG, a copy of the application submitted to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development for a housing development action grant.
(b) If the amount of bonds covered by applications received does not exceed the amount of the local housing reservation, the department shall give its notice of allocation, approving the allocation requested by each application within 15 days after the filing date.
(c) If the amount of bonds covered by applications received on or before the filing date exceeds the amount of the local housing reservation, the department shall determine allocations by applying the policy guidelines. The department shall give its notices of allocation with respect to those applications which it selects not later than 30 days after the filing date. The decision of the department shall be final and conclusive.
(d) The department shall not be required to give notices of allocation from the local housing reservation for any qualified residential rental housing project in an aggregate principal amount of more than 25 percent of the amount of the local housing reservation.
(e) The provisions of subsections (d), (e), and (g) of Code Section 36-82-187 with respect to notices of allocation from the economic development share shall also apply to notices of allocation from the local housing reservation.
(f)(1) The expiration date for a notice of allocation for a qualified residential rental project from the local housing reservation, other than one expected to be issued in combination with a HoDAG, shall be the first business day which occurs on or after the seventy-fifth day after the date on which the notice of allocation is given.
(2) The expiration date for a notice of allocation expected to be issued in combination with a HoDAG may, in the department's discretion, be the first business day which occurs on or after the one hundred-eightieth day after the date on which the notice of allocation is given. The department shall not, however, have any obligation to provide an expiration date in excess of 75 days, and no issuer shall have any right to an expiration date in excess of 75 days.
(3) The department may, for good cause shown by the issuer in a written statement submitted to the department prior to such expiration date, extend the expiration date for one, but only one, additional period which shall expire, at the department's discretion, on any date not later than 30 days after the original expiration date. The department shall not, however, have any obligation to provide such an extension; and no issuer shall have any right to such an extension.
(g) If confirmation of issuance is not filed with the department on or before the applicable expiration date, the notice of allocation shall cease to be effective and the amount covered by the notice of allocation shall automatically be added to the appropriate housing reservation, as applicable, if on or before September 30 of 1991 and September 30 each year thereafter or the flexible share if after June 30 of 1990 or September 30 of 1991 and September 30 each year thereafter.
Commencing on April 1, 1990, the flexible share for 1990 is established in an amount equal to 20 percent of the state ceiling. The 1990 percentage shall include any allocations made from the flexible pool prior to April 1, 1990. The flexible share for 1991 and years thereafter shall be in an amount equal to 15 percent of the state ceiling. The flexible share shall be available for notices of allocation given during period 2 through period 4 in 1990 and period 1 through period 4 in 1991 and each year thereafter.
(a) Applications for notices of allocation from the flexible share shall be received and acted on by the department as set forth in this Code section.
(b) Applications for housing bonds shall be filed on the same forms and accompanied by the same items as applications for notices of allocation with respect to such bonds from the housing share. Applications for student loan bonds shall be filed on the same forms and accompanied by the same items as required by Code Section 36-82-185 and a written opinion of legal counsel, addressed to the department, to the effect that the bonds which are covered by the application will, based upon information available at that time to such legal counsel, qualify as student loan bonds under Section 144(b) of the Federal Code when issued. Applications for all other bonds shall be filed on the same forms and accompanied by the same items as applications for notices of allocation from the economic development share. Such applications need not designate that they are filed for a notice of allocation from the flexible share but may be treated as such by the department in its discretion.
(c) The department shall, in its discretion, decide which application or applications shall receive a notice of allocation. The decision of the department shall be final and conclusive.
(d) The provisions of subsection (i) of Code Section 36-82-187 with respect to notices of allocation from the economic development share shall also apply to notices of allocation from the flexible share. Notwithstanding the requirements of subsection (i) of Code Section 36-82-187, however, the expiration date for a notice of allocation for the private activity portion of governmental use bonds shall be such date as the commissioner may determine, separately in the case of each notice of allocation, and may be extended for any period of time at the department's discretion.
(a) When the department is required to decide which applications should receive a notice of allocation, it shall compare the applications from which the selection is to be made, applying the policy guidelines set forth in this Code section. These policy guidelines are designed to assist the department in making its decisions and are not intended to establish definitive tests or standards. The decision which the department makes shall be final and conclusive. Each of the policy guidelines will be applied following the principle that, if all other things were equal among applications which are being compared, the application which most satisfied the intention of the particular policy guideline would be given a notice of allocation. The policy guidelines are stated in subsection (b) of this Code section, and the order in which they are stated does not indicate any priority of one over another.
(b)(1) Special consideration shall be given to projects with a view toward an even and more broadly based geographical distribution of bond issues or bond proceeds, as the case may be, over the state. Applications should be compared based upon the geographic distribution of notices of allocation given during the same calendar year. The department may compare geographic distribution among counties, municipalities, United States congressional districts, or any other geographical areas the department may select. In comparing geographic distribution, the department may consider the amount of bonds covered by notices of allocation and the location of the projects covered by such notices of allocation. For purposes of this policy guideline, the geographic location of student loan bonds shall be considered to be the same as the geographic locations of the educational institutions which are reasonably expected to make use of the proceeds of such student loan bonds; the geographic location of single-family housing bonds shall be considered to be the same as the geographic location of the issuer or, in the case of the Georgia Housing and Finance Authority, the geographic location, specified by the Georgia Housing and Finance Authority to the department in writing; and the geographic location of the private activity portion of governmental use bonds shall be considered to be the same as the geographic location of the issuer.
(2) Special consideration shall be given to projects that would promote or expand economic opportunities, with particular attention given to areas of economic distress.
(3) Special consideration shall be given to those projects that will meet a severe and critical need and which can demonstrate a significant impact on the territorial area of the issuer in which the project will be carried out.
(4) Special consideration shall be given to projects which the department has determined will enhance the public good and general welfare of the state as a whole.
When the department is required to apply the policy guidelines it may consider such factors, known as evaluation factors, in deciding which applications should receive a notice of allocation. The evaluation factors to be considered shall include, but are not limited to, the number of permanent jobs created or retained; the commitment of the borrower to hire individuals eligible for training under the Job Training Partnership Act 1 or its successor program; the unemployment rate of the territorial area of the issuer compared to the state as a whole; the ratio of private investment to bond financing; evidence of HoDAG or UDAG approval; the amount of benefit to low-income to moderate-income individuals; the cost per qualified residential rental unit; the housing vacancy rate of the territory of the issuer compared to the state as a whole, as determined by the department; and the degree to which the combination of income and price limits serve to target the single-family housing bonds to low-income to moderate-income households.
1 P.L. 97-300.
If after the first six months of the year, 75 percent or more of the economic development share or any one or more reservation components of the housing share remains unallocated, the commissioner may transfer any available state ceiling, or any part thereof, from the economic development share or the applicable reservation component of the housing share, as the case may be, to the flexible share, if the commissioner anticipates that such amounts are not likely to be used in either the economic development share or the applicable reservation component of the housing share; provided, however, that no such transfer may be made by the commissioner if an issuer submits a letter to the commissioner indicating that such issuer intends to use all or a portion exceeding 25 percent of the respective share or components thereof.
The department may set aside and reserve from the flexible share amounts which may be treated as a carryforward for one or more carryforward purposes, within the meaning of Section 146 of the Federal Code. Section 146 of the Federal Code requires an election for the use of such carryforward to a future year or years, and regulations with respect to such carryforwards may be promulgated under the Federal Code. The department shall promulgate such rules and procedures as may be necessary in order to use the provisions of the Federal Code and any regulations promulgated pursuant to the Federal Code for such carryforward. The amount of any such carryforward which is set aside and reserved shall be subtracted from the outstanding amount of the flexible share with the same effect as if a notice of allocation were in the amount of the carryforward and confirmation of issuance were received prior to the expiration date.
(a) Unless otherwise determined by the commissioner, carryforward election applications must be filed with the department no later than December 1 of each year. Carryforward election applications shall be filed, received, and acted upon by the department as set forth in this Code section.
(b) Carryforward election applications shall be filed on a form promulgated from time to time by the commissioner. Each carryforward election application shall be accompanied by the following:
(1) A copy of the inducement resolution or other similar official action to the effect the issuer has taken preliminary official action approving the undertaking of the carryforward project;
(2) A written opinion of legal counsel, addressed to the department, to the effect that the issuer is authorized under the laws of the state to issue bonds for projects of the same type and nature as the project which is the subject of the carryforward election application. This opinion shall cite by constitutional or statutory reference, including a reference to the session laws of the General Assembly in the case of a constitutional reference, the provisions of the Constitution or law of the state which authorizes bonds for the project;
(3) A written opinion of legal counsel, addressed to the department, to the effect that the bonds which are covered by the carryforward election application will, based upon the information available at the time to such legal counsel, qualify for carryforward under Section 146(f) of the Federal Code; and
(4) Any other information as reasonably required by the department.
(c) The department shall, in its discretion, decide which carryforward election applications shall receive a notice of allocation. The decision of the department shall be final and conclusive.
No issuer of single-family housing bonds may elect to exchange any part of a notice of allocation for mortgage credit certificates without the written authorization of the department. Such authorization shall be in the discretion of the commissioner, and no issuer shall have any right to such authorization. Any unused amount of the state ceiling remaining on the last business day of each year and not subject to a notice of allocation shall automatically be exchanged for mortgage credit certificates carryforward elections in such amounts and to such issuers as the department may determine. Applications for mortgage credit certificates for carryforward purposes shall be on the same forms and accompanied by the same items as required by Code Section 36-82-199.
If necessary or appropriate for complying with federal rules and regulations implementing the Federal Code, the state ceiling shall be deemed to be allocated to the state and the state's allocation shall be deemed to be or have been assigned to the issuers to which notices of allocations are or were issued.
The provisions of this article shall apply to all bonds issued on or after April 1, 1990.
As used in this article, the term:
(1) “Governmental unit” means any county, municipal corporation, school district, or political subdivision of the state.
(2) “Local authority” means any public corporation or authority created by or pursuant to a local or special Act of the General Assembly or a local or special amendment to the Constitution.
(3) “Obligations” means any bonds, notes, certificates, or obligations of any kind to evidence any repayment obligation for money borrowed or to evidence any divided or undivided interest in any lease or installment purchase contract or other obligation.
(4) “Sponsoring governmental unit” means:
(A) Any governmental unit the governing body of which, or any member thereof which, is authorized by law or constitutional amendment to appoint or elect any member of the governing body of a local authority;
(B) Any governmental unit within the territorial or corporate limits of which any member of the governing body of a local authority is required by law or constitutional amendment to reside;
(C) Any governmental unit an elected or appointed official of which is required by law or constitutional amendment to be a member of the governing body of a local authority; or
(D) Any governmental unit any part of the territorial or corporate limits of which are located within the territorial or corporate limits of a governmental unit described in subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) of this paragraph.
No local authority shall issue or be a grantor of a trust which issues any obligations to finance or refinance any real or personal property to be owned, leased, or operated by any governmental unit which is not a sponsoring governmental unit of such local authority.
This article shall be liberally construed to effect the purposes hereof. Insofar as the provisions of this article may be inconsistent with the provisions of any local or special amendment to the Constitution, this article shall control and shall be deemed to be an exercise of the power to enlarge or restrict the provisions of such local or special constitutional amendment.
As used in this article, the term:
(1) “Governing body” means the board, commission, council, or other local legislative body of governmental entity.
(2) “Governmental entity” means any school district, independent school system, county, municipal corporation, consolidated city-county government, or other political subdivision of the state, any local authority, local body corporate, or local public corporation created by or pursuant to the Constitution of Georgia or any general, local, or special Act of the General Assembly, or any special district or community improvement district of the state. The term “governmental entity” does not include “state authorities” as defined in paragraph (9) of Code Section 50-17-21.
(a) Whenever a governmental entity is authorized by law to issue bonds, notes, or certificates, including but not limited to general obligation bonds, revenue bonds, bond anticipation notes, tax anticipation notes, or revenue anticipation certificates, such governmental entity is authorized to issue such obligation in the form of commercial paper notes. The issuance of commercial paper notes shall be subject to the same restrictions and provisions under the laws of this state which would be applicable to the issuance of the type of bond, note, or certificate in lieu of which the commercial paper notes are being issued. The governing body of any governmental entity may designate the commercial paper notes issued under this article to be in registered form or bearer form and may provide for payment by wire transfers or electronic funds transfer in accordance with the federal Electronic Fund Transfer Act, 15 U.S.C. Section 1693, et seq. The authority granted by this article to issue commercial paper notes shall not be construed to permit the governmental entity to increase or otherwise alter any debt limits.
(b) To secure commercial paper notes authorized under this article, a governmental entity may:
(1) Pledge its anticipated taxes, grants, other revenue; the proceeds of any bonds, notes, or other permanent financing; or any combination thereof;
(2) Segregate any pledged funds in separate accounts that may be held by the governmental entity or third parties;
(3) Enter into contracts with third parties to obtain standby lines of credit or other financial commitments designated to provide additional security for commercial paper notes authorized by this article;
(4) Establish any reserves deemed necessary for the payment of the commercial paper notes; and
(5) Adopt ordinances or resolutions and enter into agreements containing covenants, including covenants to issue bonds, notes, or other permanent financing and provisions for protection and security of the owners of commercial paper notes, which shall constitute enforceable contracts with such owners.
(c) Commercial paper notes authorized by this article may be in any form and contain any terms, including provisions for redemption at the option of the owner and provisions for the varying of interest rates in accordance with any index, banker's loan rate, or other standard.
(d) The governing body shall adopt an ordinance or resolution finding that issuance of the obligations in the form of commercial paper notes is necessary and desirable, directing the designated officer to arrange for preparation of the requisite number of suitable notes, and specifying other provisions relating to the commercial paper notes including the following:
(1) For each program of commercial paper notes authorized, the final date of maturity and the total aggregate principal amount of the commercial paper notes authorized to be outstanding at any one time up to the maturity date. The ordinance or resolution may provide that the commercial paper notes may be issued and renewed from time to time until the final maturity date and that the amount issued from time to time may be set by a designated officer of the governmental entity up to the maximum amount authorized to be outstanding at any one time. The ordinance or resolution shall include methods of setting the dates, numbers, and denominations of the commercial paper notes;
(2) The method of setting the interest rates and interest payment dates applicable to the commercial paper notes. Commercial paper notes may bear a stated rate of interest payable only at maturity, which rate or rates may be determined at the time of sale of each unit of commercial paper notes;
(3) The maximum effective rate of interest the commercial paper notes shall bear;
(4) The manner of sale;
(5) The discount, if any, the governmental entity may allow;
(6) Any provisions for the redemption of the commercial paper notes prior to the stated maturity;
(7) The technical form and language of the commercial paper notes; and
(8) All other terms and conditions of the commercial paper notes and of their execution, issuance, and sale deemed necessary and appropriate by the governing body.
(e) The governing body, in the ordinance or resolution authorizing the issuance of commercial paper notes under this article, may delegate to any elected or appointed official or employee of the governmental entity the authority to determine maturity dates, principal amounts, redemption provisions, interest rates, and other terms and conditions of such commercial paper notes that are not appropriately determined at the time of enactment or adoption of the authorizing ordinance or resolution, which delegated authority shall be exercised subject to such parameters, limitations, and criteria as may be set forth in such ordinance or resolution.
(f) Any commercial paper notes may be sold at negotiated sale at a price below the par value thereof.
(g) For purposes of determining the principal amount of debt outstanding in connection with complying with any limitations on the amount of debt outstanding for a governmental entity, commercial paper notes shall be deemed outstanding at any time during the term of a program of commercial paper notes in an amount equal to the maximum amount authorized in the ordinance or resolution.
(h) The renewal and reissuance from time to time of the commercial paper notes pursuant to a commercial paper note program in an amount up to the maximum amount authorized by the ordinance or resolution shall be deemed to be a refunding of the previously maturing amount.
As used in this article, the term:
(1) “Counterparty” means the party entering into a qualified interest rate management agreement with the local governmental entity. A counterparty must be a bank, insurance company, or other financial institution duly qualified to do business in the state that either:
(A) Has, or whose obligations are guaranteed by an entity that has, at the time of entering into a qualified interest rate management agreement and for the entire term thereof, a long-term unsecured debt rating or financial strength rating in one of the top two ratings categories, without regard to any refinement or gradation of rating category by numerical modifier or otherwise, assigned by any two of the following: Moody's Investors Service, Inc., Standard & Poors Ratings Service, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., Fitch, Inc., or such other nationally recognized ratings service approved by the governing body of the local governmental entity; or
(B) Has collateralized its obligations under a qualified interest rate management agreement in a manner approved by the local governmental entity.
(2) “Debt” shall include all debt and revenue obligations that a local governmental entity is authorized to incur by law, including without limitation general obligation debt in the form of bonds or other obligations, revenue bonds and other forms of revenue obligations, and all other debt or revenue undertakings, including, but not limited to, bonds, notes, warrants, certificates or other evidences of indebtedness, or other obligations for borrowed money issued or to be issued by any local governmental entity. “Debt” includes any financing lease or installment purchase contracts of any local public authorities.
(3) “Independent financial adviser” means a person or entity experienced in the financial aspects and risks of qualified interest rate management agreements that is retained by the local governmental entity to render advice with respect to a qualified interest rate management agreement. The independent financial adviser may not be the counterparty or an affiliate or agent of the counterparty on a qualified interest rate management agreement with respect to which the independent financial adviser is advising the local governmental entity.
(4) “Interest rate management plan” means a written plan prepared or reviewed by an independent financial adviser with respect to qualified interest rate management agreements of the local governmental entity, which plan has been approved by the governing body of the local governmental entity.
(5) “Lease or installment purchase contract” means multiyear lease, purchase, installment purchase, or lease purchase contracts within the meaning of Code Sections 20-2-506 and 36-60-13 or substantially similar other or successor Code sections.
(6) “Local governmental entity” means any governmental body as defined in paragraph (2) of Code Section 36-82-61, as amended; provided, however, that such term shall only include authorities which are local public authorities included in the definition thereof set forth in subparagraphs (C) and (D) of paragraph (2) of Code Section 36-82-61, as amended.
(7) “Qualified interest rate management agreement” means an agreement, including a confirmation evidencing a transaction effected under a master agreement entered into by the local governmental entity in accordance with, and fulfilling the requirements of, Code Section 36-82-253, which agreement in the judgment of the local governmental entity is designed to manage interest rate risk or interest cost of the local governmental entity on any debt or lease or installment purchase contract the local governmental entity is authorized to incur, including, but not limited to, interest rate swaps or exchange agreements, interest rate caps, collars, corridors, ceiling, floor, and lock agreements, forward agreements, swaptions, warrants, and other interest rate agreements which, in the judgment of the local governmental entity, will assist the local governmental entity in managing its interest rate risk or interest cost.
With respect to all or any portion of any debt or lease or installment purchase contract, either issued or anticipated to be issued by the local governmental entity, the local governmental entity may enter into, terminate, amend, or otherwise modify a qualified interest rate management agreement under such terms and conditions as the local governmental entity may determine, including, without limitation, provisions permitting the local governmental entity to pay to or receive from any counterparty any loss of benefits under such agreement upon early termination thereof or default under such agreement.
(a) Prior to executing and delivering a qualified interest rate management agreement, the local governmental entity shall have adopted an interest rate management plan that includes:
(1) An analysis of the interest rate risk, basis risk, termination risk, credit risk, market-access risk, and other risks to the local governmental entity entering into qualified interest rate management agreements;
(2) The local governmental entity's procedure for approving and executing qualified interest rate management agreements;
(3) The local governmental entity's plan to monitor interest rate risk, basis risk, termination risk, credit risk, market-access risk, and other risks;
(4) The local governmental entity's procedure for maintaining current records of all qualified interest rate management agreements that have been approved and executed; and
(5) Such other provisions as may from time to time be required by the governing body of the local governmental entity, including but not limited to additional provisions due to changes in market conditions for qualified interest rate management agreements.
(b) The local governmental entity shall conduct an annual review of its interest rate management plan as to the adequacy of the procedures set forth in such plan for the analysis and monitoring requirements set forth in subsection (a) of this Code section. A report summarizing the results of such review shall be submitted annually to the governing body of the local governmental entity. The requirements of this subsection shall not be construed as to require the review of any existing interest rate management plan by an independent financial adviser.
(a) Each qualified interest rate management agreement shall meet the following requirements:
(1) Subject to subsection (b) of this Code section, the maximum term, including any renewal periods, of any qualified interest rate management agreement may not exceed ten years unless such longer term has been approved by the governing body of the local governmental entity; provided, however, that in no case may the term of the qualified interest rate management agreement exceed the latest maturity date of the bonds, notes, or debt or lease or installment purchase contract referenced in the qualified interest rate management agreement;
(2) The local governmental entity shall enter into a qualified interest rate management agreement only with a counterparty meeting the requirements set forth in paragraph (1) of Code Section 36-82-250;
(3) Prior to the execution and delivery by the local governmental entity of any qualified interest rate management agreement, an interest rate management plan meeting the requirements of Code Section 36-82-252 must have been approved by the governing body of the local governmental entity and the governing body of the local governmental entity shall have been provided evidence that such qualified interest rate management agreement is in compliance with the existing interest rate management plan;
(4) Any qualified interest rate management agreement shall be payable only in the currency of the United States of America; and
(5) Unless otherwise approved by the governing body of the local governmental entity, the notional amount of any qualified interest rate management agreement shall not exceed the outstanding principal amount of the debt or the aggregate payments due under any lease or installment purchase contract to which such agreement relates.
(b) A qualified interest rate management agreement may renew from calendar year to calendar year and may provide for the payment of any fee related to a termination or a nonrenewal, so long as the following requirements are satisfied:
(1) Such qualified interest rate management agreement shall terminate absolutely at the close of the calendar year in which it was executed and at the close of each succeeding calendar year for which it may be renewed;
(2) Any such qualified interest rate management agreement may provide for automatic renewal unless positive action is taken by the local governmental entity to terminate such contract, or may provide for termination or renewal in some other manner not prohibited by law, which method of renewal or termination, in either case, shall be specified in the qualified interest rate management agreement; and
(3) Such qualified interest rate management agreement shall include a statement of the total obligation of the local governmental entity for the calendar year of execution and, if renewed, for the calendar year of renewal.
A qualified interest rate management agreement meeting the requirements of this subsection may also provide that the local governmental entity's obligations will terminate immediately and absolutely at such time as appropriated and other funds encumbered for payment by the local governmental entity pursuant to the terms of such qualified interest rate management agreement are no longer available to satisfy such obligations. The total obligation of the local governmental entity for the calendar year payable pursuant to a qualified interest rate management agreement may be stated in contingent but objective terms with respect to variable rate payments or termination payments, but in that event a qualified interest rate management agreement must provide that it will terminate immediately and absolutely at such time as appropriated and other funds encumbered for its payment are no longer available to satisfy the obligations of the local governmental entity under such agreement. A qualified interest rate management agreement executed under this subsection shall not be deemed to create a debt of the local governmental entity or otherwise obligate the payment of any sum beyond the calendar year of execution or, in the event of a renewal, beyond the calendar year of such renewal.
(c)(1) Any qualified interest rate management agreement of a local governmental entity may provide that it is an unconditional, limited recourse obligation of such local governmental entity payable from a specified revenue source.
(2) A local governmental entity may, in any qualified interest rate management agreement that constitutes a limited recourse obligation of the local governmental entity, pledge to the punctual payment of amounts due under the qualified interest rate management agreement revenues from a specified revenue source, which shall not include any taxes, including, without limitation, collateral derived from such revenue source or proceeds of the debt, including debt for future delivery, to which such qualified interest rate management agreement relates.
(d) A qualified interest rate management agreement that constitutes a limited recourse obligation shall not be payable from or charged upon any funds other than the revenue identified as the source of payment thereof, nor shall the local governmental entity entering into the same be subject to any pecuniary liability thereon. No counterparty under any such qualified interest rate management agreement shall ever have the right to compel any exercise of the taxing power of the state or the local governmental entity to pay any amount due under any such qualified interest rate management agreement, nor to enforce payment thereof against any property of the state or local governmental entity, other than the specified revenue source; nor shall any such qualified interest rate management agreement constitute a charge, lien, or encumbrance, legal or equitable, upon any property of the state or local governmental entity, other than the specified revenue source. Every such qualified interest rate management agreement shall contain a recital setting forth the substance of this subsection.
(e) Any local governmental entity may enter into credit enhancement or liquidity agreements in connection with any qualified interest rate management agreement containing such terms and conditions as the governing body determines are necessary or desirable, provided that any such agreement has the same source of payment as the related qualified interest rate management agreement.
The local governmental entity that has entered into a qualified interest rate management agreement shall include in its annual financial statements information with respect to each qualified interest rate management agreement it has authorized or entered into, including any information required pursuant to any statement issued by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board.
When entering into any qualified interest rate management agreement authorized under this article, the agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Georgia, and jurisdiction over the local governmental entity in any matter concerning a qualified interest rate management agreement shall lie exclusively in the courts of the State of Georgia or in the applicable federal court having jurisdiction and located within the State of Georgia.
Any contract which has been duly authorized and executed by a local governmental entity before May 2, 2005, shall not be rendered invalid or improper by the provisions of this article; provided, however, that this article shall apply to any renewal of such a contract after May 2, 2005, unless the contract permitted the renewal and set the terms of the renewal contract before January 1, 2005, in which case this article shall not apply to any such renewals.
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the “Local Government Investment Pool Act.”
(a) The General Assembly finds that the public interest is served by maximum and prudent investment of idle public funds so that the need for taxes and other public revenues is decreased commensurately with the earnings on such investments.
(b) The purpose of this chapter is to secure the maximum public benefit from the deposit and investment of public funds and, in furtherance of such purpose, to:
(1) Authorize the State Depository Board to establish and maintain a continuing state-wide policy for the deposit and investment of public funds under its control;
(2) Establish a state administered pool for the investment of local government funds;
(3) Authorize the investment of local public funds through the local government investment pool created by this chapter; and
(4) Permit, upon approval by the State Depository Board, any body created for a public purpose to invest funds through the local government investment pool.
(c) The General Assembly finds that the objectives of this chapter will best be obtained through improved money management, emphasizing the primary requirements of safety and liquidity and recognizing the different investment objectives of operating and permanent funds and the effect of the investment of public funds within the state or its localities upon respective state and local social and economic conditions.
As used in this chapter, the term:
(1) “Depository institution” means any commercial bank or trust company, mutual savings bank, savings and loan association, or building and loan association existing under the laws of this state or of the United States and domiciled in this state.
(2) “Local government” means any municipality, county, school district, special district, or other political subdivision of this state, as well as any department, agency, or board of that political subdivision, including but not limited to a public library, which has been authorized to make separate deposits to its own account under this chapter by the governing authority of the political subdivision of which it is a department, agency, or board.
(a)(1) Subject to the procedures set forth in this chapter, the governing authority of any local government may invest and reinvest any money subject to its control and jurisdiction in:
(A) Obligations of this state or of other states;
(B) Obligations issued by the United States government;
(C) Obligations fully insured or guaranteed by the United States government or a United States government agency;
(D) Obligations of any corporation of the United States government;
(E) Prime bankers' acceptances;
(F) The local government investment pool established by Code Section 36-83-8;
(G) Repurchase agreements; and
(H) Obligations of other political subdivisions of this state.
(2) Subject to the procedures set forth in this chapter, any other body created for a public purpose may, upon obtaining prior approval of the State Depository Board, invest and reinvest any money subject to its control and jurisdiction in the local government investment pool established by Code Section 36-83-8.
(b) The governing authority of any local government, by resolution or ordinance, may delegate the investment authority provided under subsection (a) of this Code section to the treasurer or other financial officer charged with custody of the funds of the local government.
(c) In selecting among avenues of investment or among institutional bids for deposits, the highest rate of return shall be the objective, given equivalent conditions of safety and liquidity.
(d) This Code section shall in no way impair the power of a unit of local government to hold funds in deposit accounts with eligible depository institutions.
Local governments shall require from a depository institution a pledge of collateral as provided in Chapter 8 of Title 45.
(a) Local governments may effect and are encouraged to effect temporary transfers among separate funds, for the purpose of pooling amounts available for investment.
(b) This pooling may be accomplished through interfund advances and other appropriate means consistent with recognized principles of governmental accounting, if:
(1) Moneys are available for the investment period required;
(2) The investment fund can repay the advance by the time needed;
(3) The transactions are fully and promptly recorded;
(4) The interest earned is credited to the loaning or advancing fund; and
(5) The transaction does not violate subsection (d) of Code Section 36-83-8 with respect to prior agreements, laws, or covenants which may restrict pooling.
The State Depository Board, through the state treasurer, may assist local governments in developing effective cash management policies and in investing funds that are temporarily in excess of operating needs by:
(1) Explaining investment opportunities provided by the local government investment pool to local governments through publications and other appropriate means;
(2) Informing local governments of the state's practice and experience in investing short-term funds; and
(3) In consultation with the Department of Community Affairs, providing technical assistance in the investment of idle funds to municipalities and counties that request such assistance.
(a) A local government investment pool is created, consisting of the aggregate of all funds from local governments and all funds from other bodies created for a public purpose which the State Depository Board has agreed to accept that are placed in the custody of the state for investment and reinvestment as provided in this chapter.
(b)(1) The investment policies for the local government investment pool shall be established by the State Depository Board.
(2) The state treasurer shall administer the local government investment pool on behalf of the participating local governments.
(3) The state treasurer shall develop such procedures consistent with the policies established pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection as he deems necessary for the efficient administration of the pool, including, but not limited to:
(A) Specification of minimum amounts which may be deposited in the pool and minimum periods of time for which deposits shall be retained in the pool;
(B) Payment of amounts equivalent to administrative expenses from the earnings of the pool;
(C) Distribution of the earnings in excess of such expenses or allocation of losses to the several participants, in a manner which equitably reflects the differing amount of their respective investments and the differing periods of time for which such amounts were in the custody of the pool; and
(D) Procedures for the deposit and withdrawal of funds.
(c) The state treasurer shall invest moneys in the local government investment pool with the degree of judgment and care, under circumstances then prevailing, which persons of prudence, discretion, and intelligence exercise in the management of their own affairs, not for speculation, but for investment, considering first the probable safety of their capital and then the probable income to be derived. Specifically, the types of authorized investments for pool assets shall be limited to those set forth in Code Section 50-5A-7 and Chapter 17 of Title 50.
(d)(1) The governing authority of any local government having funds which are available for investment and which are not required by law or by any covenant or agreement with bondholders or others to be segregated and invested in a different manner may direct its financial officer to remit such funds to the state treasurer for investment as part of the local government investment pool.
(2) Upon determination by the local governing authority that it is in the best interest of the local government to deposit funds in the investment pool, it shall adopt and file with the state treasurer a certified copy of a resolution or ordinance authorizing investment of its funds in the investment pool. The resolution or ordinance shall name the local government official or officials responsible for the deposit and withdrawal of such funds.
(3) The resolution or ordinance filed with the state treasurer shall be accompanied by a statement as to the approximate cash flow requirements of the local government for the invested funds. Subsequent deposits into the investment pool shall be accompanied by a statement as to the intended duration of the investment or the anticipated date of withdrawal of the funds from the pool.
(e) A separate account designated by name or number for each participant in the fund shall be kept to record individual transactions and totals of all investments belonging to each participant. A monthly report showing the changes in investments made during the preceding month shall be furnished to each participant having a beneficial interest in the investment pool. Details of any investment transaction shall be furnished to any participant upon request.
(f) The principal and credited income of each account maintained for a participant in the investment pool shall be subject to payment from the pool at any time upon request, subject to the procedures developed in accordance with paragraph (3) of subsection (b) of this Code section. Accumulated income shall be credited to each participant account at least monthly.
(g) Except as provided in this Code section, all instruments of title of all investments of the investment pool shall remain in the custody of the state treasurer. The state treasurer may deposit with one or more fiscal agents or banks those instruments of title which he considers advisable, to be held in safekeeping by the agents or banks for collection of the principal and interest or other income or of the proceeds of sale. The state treasurer shall collect the principal and interest or other income from investments of the investment pool the instruments of title to which are in his custody, when due and payable.
(h) In the event of default in the payment of the principal or interest or other income of any investment of the investment pool, the state treasurer may:
(1) Institute the proper proceedings to collect the matured principal or interest or other income;
(2) Accept for exchange purposes refunding bonds or other evidences of indebtedness, at interest rates to be agreed upon by the state treasurer and the obligor;
(3) Make compromises, adjustments, or disposition of the matured principal or interest or other income, as the state treasurer considers advisable for the purpose of protecting the moneys invested; or
(4) Make compromises or adjustments as to future payments of principal or interest or other income, as the state treasurer considers advisable for the purpose of protecting the moneys invested.
(i) No payment may be issued upon any account in an amount greater than the sum total of the particular account to which it applies. If such payment is issued, the state treasurer shall be personally liable under his official bond for the entire overdraft resulting from the payment if made.
(j) Subject to the objectives and requirements of this Code section, the state treasurer shall formulate procedures for the investment and reinvestment of funds in the investment pool and the acquisition, retention, management, and disposition of investments of the investment pool.
(k) Funds in the local government investment pool may be consolidated with state funds under the control of the state treasurer for investment purposes, if accurate and detailed accounting records are maintained for the funds of each participating local government and a proportionate amount of interest earned is credited to the local government investment pool and the accounts therein. The state treasurer may also place the funds in a separate trust fund to be administered by the state treasurer pursuant to policies established by the State Depository Board.
(l) Payments of amounts for administrative expenses shall be deemed contractually obligated funds held in trust for the benefit of the local government investment pool and shall not lapse.
(a) As used in this Code section, the term “local government” means a county, municipality, or consolidated government.
(b) Local governments, when contracting for or purchasing supplies, materials, equipment, or agricultural products, excluding beverages for immediate consumption, shall give preference as far as may be reasonable and practicable to such supplies, materials, equipment, and agricultural products as may be manufactured or produced in this state. Such preference shall not sacrifice quality.
(c) In determining whether such a preference is reasonable in any case where the value of a contract for or purchase of such supplies, materials, equipment, or agricultural products exceeds $100,000.00, the local government shall consider, among other factors, information submitted by the bidder which may include the bidder's estimate of the multiplier effect on gross state domestic product and the effect on public revenues of the state and the effect on public revenues of political subdivisions resulting from acceptance of a bid or offer to sell Georgia manufactured or produced goods as opposed to out-of-state manufactured or produced goods. Any such estimates shall be in writing. No local government shall divide a contract or purchase which exceeds $100,000.00 for the purpose of avoiding the requirements of this subsection.
(d) Nothing in this Code section shall negate the requirements of Code Section 50-5-73.
As used in this chapter, the term:
(1) “Administrator” means any person who administers a group self-insurance fund other than the interlocal risk management agency.
(2) “Commissioner” means the Commissioner of Insurance.
(3) “County” means any county of the State of Georgia. Such term shall include any public authority, commission, board, or similar agency which is created by local or general Act of the General Assembly and which carries out its functions on a county-wide basis or wholly within the unincorporated area of a county. The term shall also include any such body which is created or activated by a resolution or ordinance of the governing body of the county individually or jointly with other political subdivisions of the state.
(4) “General liability” means liability for bodily injury, death, or damage to property owned by others to which a municipality or county may be subject either directly or by reason of liability arising out of an act, error, or omission of its employee, agent, or officer in the course and scope of employment.
(5) “Governing authority” means the body which exercises the legislative functions of the municipality or county.
(6) “Group self-insurance fund” or “fund” means a pool of public moneys established by an interlocal risk management agency from contributions of its members in order to pool the risks of accident, disability, supplemental medical, general liability, motor vehicle liability, property damage, or any combination of such risks.
(7) “Interlocal risk management agency” or “agency” means an association formed by municipalities or counties by the execution of an intergovernmental contract for the development and administration of an interlocal risk management program and one or more group self-insurance funds.
(8) “Interlocal risk management program” means a plan and activities carried out under such plan by an interlocal risk management agency to reduce risk of loss on account of accident, disability, supplemental medical, general liability, motor vehicle liability, or property damage, including safety engineering and other loss prevention and control techniques, and to administer one or more group self-insurance funds, including the processing and defense of claims brought against members of the agency.
(9) “Motor vehicle liability” means liability to which a municipality or county may be subject either directly or by reason of liability arising out of the use of a motor vehicle by its employee, agent, or officer in the course and scope of employment. Said term shall also include loss on account of property damage to motor vehicles.
(10) “Municipality” means a municipal corporation of the State of Georgia. Such term shall include any public authority, commission, board, or similar agency which is created by general or local Act of the General Assembly and which carries out its functions wholly or partly within the boundaries of the municipality. The term shall also include such bodies which are created or activated by an ordinance or resolution of the governing body of the municipality individually or jointly with other political subdivisions of the state. The term shall also include any independent school system of this state which elects to participate in the interlocal risk management agency composed of municipalities; provided, however, such independent school system must have a full-time equivalent student count of at least 2,800 in order to elect to become a member of the interlocal risk management agency composed of municipalities.
(11) “Property damage” means loss to which a municipality or county may be subject by reason of physical damage or destruction to real or personal property owned or leased by such municipality or county.
(a) A group of municipalities or a group of counties may execute an intergovernmental contract among themselves to form and become members of an interlocal risk management agency. After an interlocal risk management agency has been formed, any municipality or county may, subject to the bylaws and requirements of such agency, become a member and, through participation in the agency, may:
(1) Pool its general liability risks in whole or in part with those of other municipalities or counties;
(2) Pool its motor vehicle liability risks in whole or in part with those of other municipalities or counties;
(3) Pool its property damage risks in whole or in part with those of other municipalities or counties; or
(4) Jointly purchase accident, disability, supplemental medical, general liability, motor vehicle liability, or property damage insurance with other municipalities or counties participating in and belonging to the interlocal risk management agency, the participating municipalities or counties to be coinsured under a master policy or policies with the total premium apportioned among such participants.
(b) For the purposes of this chapter, municipalities and counties shall be deemed to constitute separate classes, and no member of any one such class shall join with a member of another class for the purpose of creating an interlocal risk management agency. There shall be only one interlocal risk management agency established for each class; provided, however, if the Commissioner determines that there are special or unique circumstances or needs of a group of counties or municipalities which justify the establishment of an additional interlocal risk management agency or agencies, he may authorize the establishment of such additional agency or agencies. Each agency may establish such group self-insurance funds as may be authorized by the Commissioner of Insurance.
(c) All arrangements and agreements made under the authority of this chapter shall be in writing. A municipality or county may become a member of an interlocal risk management agency by the adoption of a resolution or ordinance by the governing authority of the municipality or county. The interlocal risk management agency shall operate under such name and style as shall be provided in the intergovernmental contract creating such agency and shall have the power to bring and defend actions in all courts.
(d) All books, records, and files maintained by any administrator of any fund established by the agency, including but not limited to audit data and all active and inactive claim files, shall at all times be the sole property of the agency and shall be surrendered immediately to the agency upon demand.
Each intergovernmental contract establishing an intergovernmental risk management agency shall provide for a board of trustees which shall govern the agency. Such board shall be authorized to administer the agency in accordance with the provisions of the intergovernmental contract establishing the agency and shall be authorized to adopt such bylaws, rules, and regulations as may be necessary or desirable in administering such agency.
An interlocal risk management agency created pursuant to this chapter is not an insurance company or an insurer under Title 33, and the development and administration by such agency of one or more group self-insurance funds shall not constitute doing business as an insurer.
(a) No interlocal risk management agency shall establish a group self-insurance fund or funds until such agency has been issued a certificate of authority by the Commissioner of Insurance as provided in this Code section and under such rules and regulations as the Commissioner may promulgate to assure compliance with this chapter.
(b) The Commissioner shall not be authorized to issue any certificate of authority pursuant to this Code section prior to April 30, 1987. Any application for a certificate of authority pursuant to this Code section which is filed prior to March 1, 1987, shall be updated by the applicant in order to comply with any statute, rule, or regulation which may be promulgated or enacted prior to the issuance of the certificate of authority.
(c) When applying for a certificate of authority, an interlocal risk management agency shall file with the Commissioner an application setting forth:
(1) The name of the agency;
(2) The location of the agency's principal office;
(3) The names and addresses of the members of the agency;
(4) The names and addresses of the members of each fund;
(5) The name and address of a Georgia resident designated and appointed as each fund's proposed registered agent for service of process in this state;
(6) The names and addresses of the members of the board of trustees of the agency;
(7) A copy of the bylaws of the agency;
(8) A copy of the intergovernmental contract establishing the agency;
(9) A copy of the agreement or agreements establishing each fund;
(10) A copy of any agreements between the agency, any fund of the agency, and any administrator of a fund;
(11) A statement of the financial condition of the agency and each fund of the agency listing all of their assets and liabilities as of the end of the last preceding month prior to the date of the application on such a form as may be prescribed by the Commissioner;
(12) A copy of each contract, endorsement, and application form proposed to be issued or used in connection with each fund. Such contracts, endorsements, applications, or revisions thereto shall be filed with and approved by the Commissioner prior to their use; and
(13) A copy of the rates, rating systems, and rules proposed to be used in connection with each fund. Such rates, rating systems, rules, and any revisions thereto shall be filed with and approved by the Commissioner prior to their use.
(d) A fund authorized by this chapter may be established by an agency only if the agency has enrolled members which:
(1) For each motor vehicle liability and general liability fund shall generate an annual gross premium of not less than $300,000.00;
(2) For each property damage fund shall generate an annual gross premium of not less than $200,000.00;
(3) For each fund which includes motor vehicle liability or general liability with property damage shall generate an annual gross premium of not less than $500,000.00;
(4) For each fund which includes motor vehicle liability, general liability, and property damage shall generate an annual gross premium of not less than $800,000.00; or
(5) For each fund which includes accident, disability, or supplemental medical coverage shall generate an annual gross premium of not less than $500,000.00.
(a) The Commissioner shall examine the application made under Code Section 36-85-5 to determine whether the agency and any established fund will be able to comply with this chapter and applicable rules and regulations. If the Commissioner finds that the agency and any established fund are capable of complying with such requirements, he shall issue a certificate of authority to the agency.
(b) If the Commissioner refuses to issue a certificate of authority, he shall issue an order setting forth the reasons for refusal and forward it to the agency. A copy of the order shall be sent to each member of the fund.
(c) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (b) of Code Section 36-85-5, the Commissioner shall approve or disapprove the application for a certificate of authority within 60 days of receipt by him of the application and all of the supporting information requested.
(d) The Commissioner may refuse to issue or renew or may suspend or revoke the certificate of authority of any agency, in accordance with Code Section 36-85-12, for failure of the agency to comply with any provision of this chapter or with any of the rules, regulations, or orders of the Commissioner issued pursuant thereto.
(e) The certificate shall be renewed annually in accordance with rules and regulations promulgated by the Commissioner.
Each fund formed pursuant to this chapter shall possess and thereafter maintain minimum surplus in an amount such as the Commissioner may reasonably establish or subsequently require for the protection of the members. The Commissioner may authorize a fund to maintain a deposit with the Commissioner consisting of securities eligible for deposit by domestic insurance companies in accordance with Chapter 12 of Title 33 or, for a period not to exceed 60 months, to post a surety bond in lieu of maintaining the minimum surplus required by this Code section.
The investable assets of a fund may be invested in securities or other investments permitted by the laws of this state for the investment of assets constituting the legal reserves of property and casualty insurance companies or in such other securities or investments as the Commissioner may permit such insurers to invest their funds under Title 33. Such investments shall be subject to the same terms, conditions, and limitations which apply to property and casualty insurance companies under Title 33.
Each county or municipality shall be jointly and severally liable for all legal obligations of a fund which arise out of an event which occurred while such county or municipality was a member of such fund; provided, however, that a fund shall not assume a risk greater than an amount to be determined by the Commissioner; and provided, further, that this legal obligation may be enforced by an assessment against such member as provided in the bylaws of the agency.
(a) If an agency contracts with an administrator, the agency and the administrator must enter into a written agreement which shall be subject to review and approval by the Commissioner in accordance with this Code section and which shall contain at least the following:
(1) A contractual provision obligating the administrator to obtain and maintain such bonds, deposits, or insurance coverage as may be required to be maintained by this chapter; and
(2) A requirement that errors and omissions coverage or other appropriate liability insurance in an amount which is not less than that specified by the rules and regulations of the Commissioner be maintained at all times by the administrator.
(b) The terms of any such agreement shall be reasonable and equitable, and the agreement and any amendments thereto shall be filed with the Commissioner at least 30 days prior to their use. Any such agreement and any and all amendments thereto which have not been specifically disapproved by the Commissioner within 30 days after the filing thereof shall be deemed to be approved.
(c) A copy of the agreement and any and all amendments thereto shall be furnished to each agency or fund member upon request.
(a) The Commissioner shall require each administrator to have and maintain a fidelity bond in an amount which the Commissioner deems appropriate but which is not less than $100,000.00.
(b) Errors and omissions coverage or other appropriate liability insurance in an amount which is not less than that specified by the rules and regulations of the Commissioner shall be maintained at all times by an administrator of a fund; and a certificate by the insurer or other appropriate evidence of such coverage shall be filed with the Commissioner by the fund.
(c) Each administrator shall maintain an office in this state for the payment, processing, and adjustment of the claims of the fund or funds which it represents.
(a) The Commissioner may revoke, suspend, or refuse to issue or renew the certificate of authority of any agency when and if, after investigation, he finds that:
(1) Any certificate of authority issued to the agency was obtained by fraud;
(2) There was any material misrepresentation in the application for the certificate of authority;
(3) The agency, any fund established by the agency, the administrator of a fund, or any marketing representative has otherwise shown itself to be untrustworthy or incompetent;
(4) The agency, any fund established by the agency, the administrator of a fund, or any marketing representative has violated any of the provisions of this chapter or the rules and regulations of the Commissioner promulgated pursuant to this chapter;
(5) The agency, any fund established by the agency, or the administrator of a fund has misappropriated, converted, illegally withheld, or refused to pay over upon proper demand any moneys which belong to a member or a person otherwise entitled thereto and which have been entrusted to the agency, fund, or administrator in its fiduciary capacities; or
(6) The agency or any fund established by the agency is found to be in an unsound condition or in such condition as to render its future transaction of business in this state hazardous to its members.
(b) Before the Commissioner shall revoke, suspend, or refuse to issue or renew the certificate of authority of any agency, he shall give the agency an opportunity to be fully heard and to introduce evidence in its behalf. In lieu of revoking, suspending, or refusing to issue or renew the certificate of authority of any agency for any of the causes enumerated in this Code section, after hearing as provided in this Code section, the Commissioner may place the fund and its administrator on probation for a period of time not to exceed one year when, in his judgment, he finds that the public interest and the interests of the fund's members would not be harmed by the continued operation of the fund. At any hearing provided for by this Code section, the Commissioner or his designee shall have authority to administer oaths to witnesses. Any witness testifying falsely after taking an oath commits the offense of perjury.
(c) No fund shall be voluntarily dissolved or otherwise voluntarily cease to function unless:
(1) Written approval is first obtained from the Commissioner; and
(2) The Commissioner determines that all claims and other legal obligations of the fund have been paid or that adequate provisions for such payment have been made.
Interlocal risk management agencies and funds established by such agencies shall be exempt from state and local taxes and fees.
The Commissioner shall have the authority to require and conduct periodic examinations to verify the solvency of funds in the same manner and under the same conditions as insurers are examined under Chapter 2 of Title 33.
(a) If the assets of a fund are at any time insufficient to enable a fund to discharge its legal liabilities and other obligations and to maintain the reserves and surplus required of it under this chapter, the agency shall forthwith make up the deficiency or levy an assessment upon the members of the fund for the amount needed to make up the deficiency.
(b) If the agency fails to make up the deficiency or to make the required assessment of the fund members within 30 days after the Commissioner orders it to do so or if the deficiency is not fully made up within 60 days after the date on which any such assessment is made or within such longer period of time as may be specified by the Commissioner, the fund shall be deemed to be insolvent and shall be proceeded against in the same manner as are domestic insurers under Chapter 37 of Title 33; and the Commissioner shall have the same powers and limitations in such proceedings as are provided under that chapter, except as otherwise provided for in this chapter.
(c) If the liquidation of a fund is ordered, an assessment shall be levied upon its members for such an amount as the Commissioner determines to be necessary to discharge all liabilities of the fund, including the reasonable costs of liquidation.
The Commissioner shall have authority to promulgate rules and regulations to effectuate the provisions of this chapter.
Any party which is aggrieved by any act, determination, order, or any other action of the Commissioner taken pursuant to this chapter may request a hearing before the Commissioner or otherwise proceed in accordance with Chapter 13 of Title 50, the “Georgia Administrative Procedure Act.”
(a) An interlocal risk management agency shall maintain at all times an excess loss funding program acceptable to the Commissioner. An excess loss funding program may consist of excess insurance, self-funding from unobligated surplus of a fund, any combination of the foregoing, or any other funding program acceptable to the Commissioner.
(b) The excess loss funding program of an agency shall be approved by the Commissioner as a condition to the issuance and maintenance of a certificate of authority of any agency which establishes a fund or funds authorized pursuant to this article. An agency may be permitted to purchase excess insurance:
(1) From insurers authorized to transact business in this state; or
(2) From approved surplus lines carriers.
Each fund established under this chapter shall have an annual audit of its books and accounts performed by a certified public accountant. Such audit shall be conducted in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles or statutory accounting principles. A copy of such audit shall be made available to fund members.
The exercise by a municipality or county of the authority provided in this chapter shall not constitute the provision of liability insurance protection under Article I, Section II, Paragraph IX of the Constitution of the State of Georgia. The participation by a municipality or county as a member of an agency authorized by this chapter shall not constitute the obtaining of liability insurance and no sovereign immunity shall be waived on account of such participation.
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the “Local Government Efficiency Act.”
(a) The General Assembly finds and determines that there is a pressing need for modernization and reorganization of local government service delivery programs in many parts of the state. Both increasing population and urbanization in some areas of the state, as well as relative population decreases in other areas of the state, together with modern developments in transportation, communication, information, and other service delivery equipment and systems have rendered obsolete many of the traditional local government territorial systems for delivery of local government services.
(b) In many cases the consolidation of local government units or the consolidation of local government service delivery programs can lead to increased efficiency in the delivery of local government services, thereby providing either enhanced service delivery, lower levels of taxation, or both. In other cases, however, existing territorial systems for local government service delivery already operate in an efficient and cost-effective manner.
(c) The purpose of this chapter is to provide incentives and requirements relating to consolidation of local government units and local government service delivery programs in those cases where such consolidation will improve efficiency and cost effectiveness, without disturbing territorial arrangements which already operate in an efficient and cost-effective manner.
As used in this chapter, the term:
(1) “Local government unit” includes each county in the state, each municipality in the state, each consolidated government in the state, and each local authority in the state which operates any local government service delivery program but does not include local school systems.
(2) “Service” or “local government service” includes any and all services provided by a local government unit, including but not limited to the following:
(A) Law enforcement;
(B) Fire protection and fire safety;
(C) Road and street construction and maintenance;
(D) Public transportation;
(E) Water supply and distribution;
(F) Waste-water, sewage, and storm-water collection and disposal;
(G) Public housing;
(H) Public health services;
(I) Enforcement of building, housing, plumbing, and electrical codes and other similar codes;
(J) Parks and recreation systems;
(K) Planning and zoning;
(L) Solid waste management; and
(M) Electric or gas utility services.
(a) There is established within the Department of Community Affairs a local government efficiency grant program. Funds may be appropriated to such grant program by line item reference in any appropriations Act, and any funds so appropriated shall be used for the sole purpose of making grants to local governments for the following purposes:
(1) Conducting efficiency assessments to determine the need for and desirability of consolidation of local government units or local government service delivery programs, including privatization of such programs, or both;
(2) Planning for the consolidation of local government units or local government service delivery programs, including privatization of such programs, or both, when it has been determined that such consolidation is needed and desirable; and
(3) Implementing the consolidation of local government units or local government service delivery programs, including privatization of such programs, or both, where it has been determined that such consolidation is needed and desirable and a plan has been developed for carrying out the consolidation or furthering the efficiency and effectiveness of a single consolidated local government's service delivery programs.
(b) The Department of Community Affairs shall promulgate rules and regulations which shall provide for:
(1) Standards and procedures for local governments to make application for local government efficiency grant funds; and
(2) Standards and procedures for the awarding of local government efficiency grant funds, such standards to be consistent with the statement of legislative findings set out in Code Section 36-86-2.
(c) Funds appropriated for local government efficiency grants shall be subject to normal budgetary processes and controls, including the lapsing of unexpended and uncommitted funds at the end of each fiscal year.
(d) The Department of Community Affairs shall provide procedures and guidelines specifying the manner of conducting and the contents of the efficiency assessments that are authorized to be conducted under paragraph (1) of subsection (a) of this Code section.
(e) The efficiency assessments shall be conducted only for the purpose of providing the local government units with the cost savings and efficiencies, if any, which could be achieved through consolidation of governmental units or service delivery programs or both. There shall be no requirement that local government units that elect to conduct an efficiency assessment be compelled to consolidate local government units or local government service delivery programs as a result of the findings of the efficiency assessment.
(f) No local government shall be required to undertake any of the studies necessary for carrying out the provisions of subsection (a) of this Code section unless funds are appropriated for the purposes of that subsection.
Pursuant to Article III, Section VI, Paragraph II, subparagraph (a)(3) of the Constitution of Georgia, the General Assembly finds it to be in the public interest of the citizens of Georgia and a public purpose for counties and municipal corporations to be authorized to participate in certain federal programs.
(a) Each county and municipal corporation of the State of Georgia is authorized to participate in federal programs which provide federal grants and federal loans for such purposes including but not limited to housing, transportation, and water and waste-water treatment and distribution purposes. Supplementary to any existing authority granted by law, counties and municipal corporations shall be authorized to exercise the following powers:
(1) To expend revenues, but shall not impose any new form of taxation; and
(2) To contract:
(A) With the United States and its departments and agencies;
(B) With the State of Georgia and its departments, agencies, and authorities;
(C) With regional commissions, political subdivisions of the state, and public authorities of such subdivisions; and
(D) With private nonprofit entities organized for the purpose of providing services to persons of low and moderate income when such entities are exempt from federal income tax pursuant to Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986
when the exercise of such powers is necessary to comply with the conditions established by federal law and federal regulations for eligibility for participation in such federal programs.
(b)(1) Supplementary to any existing authority granted by law, counties and municipal corporations shall be authorized to expend public funds and participate in community development block grant programs and other federal programs to construct facilities to carry out the following purposes:
(A) Providing day-care services primarily to the children of persons of low and moderate income;
(B) Providing services to elderly persons;
(C) Providing health education, literacy and English language instruction, mental health and disability services, legal assistance, emergency food, and medical assistance to low and moderate income persons; and
(D) Any combination of services authorized in this paragraph.
(2) Counties and municipalities are further authorized to carry out the purposes of this subsection by contracting with public agencies and nonprofit entities described in paragraph (2) of subsection (a) of this Code section.
(3) Any contracts, programs, projects, or expenditures of public funds authorized by this subsection which were entered into, carried out, undertaken, or made prior to April 5, 1994, are validated and confirmed.
(c) State agencies rating applications from counties and municipal corporations for federal funding of the construction of child care learning centers shall, to the extent allowed under applicable federal laws or regulations, give priority to those child care learning centers located in or adjacent to industrial parks.
(d) Supplementary to any existing authority granted by law, counties and municipal corporations shall be authorized to:
(1) Participate in federal and state programs which provide funds for job training, job research assistance, and workforce development programs;
(2) Accept and expend grant funds subject to such terms as may be required by the grantor, including the duty to reimburse the grantor for any funds not expended in accordance with such terms;
(3) Contract with public agencies and nonprofit entities described in paragraph (2) of subsection (a) of this Code section for the purpose of carrying out such programs; and
(4) Ratify any contracts, programs, projects, or expenditures of public funds authorized by this subsection which were entered into, carried out, undertaken, or made prior to July 1, 1997.
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the “Enterprise Zone Employment Act of 1997.”
The General Assembly finds and determines that there is a need for revitalization in many areas of Georgia. Revitalization will improve geographic areas within cities and counties which are suffering from disinvestment, underdevelopment, and economic decline and will encourage private businesses to reinvest and rehabilitate such areas. The General Assembly recognizes that increased employment opportunities for the citizens of Georgia will assist in the implementation of welfare reform. It is the intent of the General Assembly that this chapter be liberally construed to accomplish these purposes.
As used in this chapter, the term:
(1) “Ad valorem tax” means property taxes levied for state, county, or municipal operating purposes but does not include property taxes imposed by school districts or property taxes imposed for general obligation debt.
(2) “Business enterprise” means any business engaged primarily in retail, manufacturing, warehousing and distribution, processing, telecommunications, tourism, research and development industries, new residential construction, and residential rehabilitation.
(3) “Department” means the Department of Community Affairs.
(4) “Enterprise zone” means the geographic area designated pursuant to Code Section 36-88-5.
(5) “Full-time job equivalent” means a job or jobs with no predetermined end date, with a regular work week of 30 hours or more, and with the same benefits provided to similar employees.
(6) “Low-income and moderate-income individual” means a person currently:
(A) Unemployed or unemployed for three of the six months prior to the date of hire;
(B) Homeless;
(C) A resident of public housing;
(D) Receiving temporary assistance for needy families or who has received temporary assistance for needy families at any time during the 18 months previous to the date of hire;
(E) A participant in the Workforce Investment Act 1 or who has participated in the Workforce Investment Act at any time during the 18 months previous to the date of hire;
(F) A participant in a job opportunity where basic skills are required or who has participated in such a job opportunity at any time during the 18 months previous to the date of hire;
(G) Receiving supplemental social security income; or
(H) Receiving food stamps.
(7) “New job” means employment for an individual created within an enterprise zone by a new or expanded qualified business or service enterprise at the time of the initial staffing of such new or expanded enterprise.
(8) “Qualified or qualifying business” means an employer that meets the requirements of Code Section 36-88-4 and other applicable requirements of this chapter.
(8.1) “Sales and use tax” means sales and use taxes applicable to sales transactions within the boundaries of an area designated as an enterprise zone pursuant to subsection (g) of Code Section 36-88-6, not to include:
(A) A sales and use tax for educational purposes exempted from such limitation under Article VIII, Section VI, Paragraph IV of the Constitution;
(B) Any tax levied for purposes of a metropolitan area system of public transportation, as authorized by the amendment to the Constitution set out at Georgia Laws, 1964, page 1008; the continuation of such amendment under Article XI, Section I, Paragraph IV(d) of the Constitution; and the laws enacted pursuant to such constitutional amendment; or
(C) Any tax levied for purposes of water and sewer projects pursuant to Article 4 or 5A of Chapter 8 of Title 48.
(9) “Service enterprise” means an entity engaged primarily in finance, insurance, and real estate activity or activities listed under the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) Codes 60 through 67 according to the Federal Office of Management and Budget Standard Industrial Classification Manual, 1987 edition, or engaged primarily in day-care activities.
(10) “Urban redevelopment plan” means a plan prepared and adopted pursuant to the requirements of Chapter 61 of this title.
1 P.L. 105-220.
(a) The following incentives are available to qualifying business and service enterprises to encourage revitalization within enterprise zones:
(1) The enterprise zone property tax exemption provided in Code Section 36-88-8;
(2) The occupational tax, regulatory fee, and business inspection fee abatement or reduction provided in Code Section 36-88-9; and
(3) For enterprise zones created pursuant to subsection (g) of Code Section 36-88-6, the sales and use tax exemption provided in such subsection pursuant to the authority granted by Article IX, Section II, Paragraph VII(c) of the Constitution of Georgia.
(b) A qualifying business or service enterprise is an enterprise which increased employment by five or more new full-time job equivalents in an area designated as an enterprise zone and which provides additional economic stimulus in such zone. The quality and quantity of such additional economic stimulus shall be determined, on a case-by-case basis, by the local governing body or bodies that have designated the enterprise zone. Such business or service enterprise may be new, an expansion or reinvestment of an existing business or service enterprise, or a successor to such business or service enterprise. Whenever possible, 10 percent of such new employees shall be low-income or moderate-income individuals.
(c) Notwithstanding any provision of this Code section to the contrary, a local governing body or bodies creating an enterprise zone prior to January 1, 2000, may provide the exemptions and abatements as provided in this chapter to any qualifying business or service enterprise which employs at least 5,000 persons and which creates ten or more new full-time job equivalents that did not exist prior to July 1, 1997, provided such qualifying business or service enterprise provides economic stimulus to such zone and the quality and quantity of such stimulus is acceptable to the local governing body or bodies creating the enterprise zone.
A local governing body or bodies may designate one or more geographic areas as enterprise zones. In such enterprise zone, local ad valorem taxes, occupation taxes, license fees, and other local fees and taxes, except local sales and use taxes or any combination thereof, may be exempted or reduced from applying to qualified business and service enterprises in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. A joint resolution by a county and one or more municipalities may provide such exemptions for jointly designated enterprise zones. Any areas designated as an enterprise zone may be redesignated as an enterprise zone after the expiration of its initial term as an enterprise zone if the area continues to meet the criteria for an enterprise zone contained in this chapter.
(a) In order to be designated as an enterprise zone, a nominated area shall meet at least three of the five criteria specified in subsections (b), (c), (d), (e), and (f), or the criteria specified in subsection (g) of this Code section. In determining whether an area suffers from poverty, unemployment, or general distress, the governing body shall use data from the most current United States decennial census and from other information published by the United States Bureau of the Census, the Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics, and the Georgia Department of Labor. In determining whether an area suffers from underdevelopment, the governing body shall use the data specified in subsection (e) of this Code section. The data shall be comparable in point or period of time and methodology employed.
(b) Pervasive poverty shall be evidenced by showing that poverty is widespread throughout the nominated area and shall be established by using the following criteria:
(1) The poverty rate shall be determined from the data in the most current United States decennial census prepared by the United States Bureau of the Census;
(2) For parcels within the nominated area, the parcels must be within or adjacent to a census block group where the ratio of income to poverty level for at least 15 percent of the residents shall be less than 1.0;
(3) Census geographic block groups with no population shall be treated as having a poverty rate which meets the standards of paragraph (2) of this subsection; and
(4) All parcels of a nominated area must abut and may not contain a noncontiguous parcel, unless such nonabutting parcel qualifies separately under the criteria set forth under paragraph (2) of this subsection.
(c) Unemployment shall be evidenced by the use of data published by the Office of Labor Information Systems of the Georgia Department of Labor indicating that the average rate of unemployment for the nominated area for the preceding calendar year is at least 10 percent higher than the state average rate of unemployment or by evidence of adverse economic conditions brought about by significant job dislocation within the nominated area such as the closing of a manufacturing plant or federal facility.
(d) General distress shall be evidenced by adverse conditions within the nominated area other than those of pervasive poverty and unemployment. Examples of such adverse conditions include, but are not limited to, a high incidence of crime, abandoned or dilapidated structures, deteriorated infrastructure, and substantial population decline.
(e) Underdevelopment shall be evidenced by data indicating development activities, or lack thereof, through land disturbance permits, business license fees, building permits, development fees, or other similar data indicating that the level of development in the nominated area is lower than development activity within the local governing body's jurisdiction.
(f) General blight within the nominated area shall be evidenced by the inclusion of any portion of the nominated area in an urban redevelopment area as defined by paragraph (20) of Code Section 36-61-2 for which an urban redevelopment plan has been adopted by the affected governing bodies according to the requirements of Chapter 61 of this title.
(g)(1) A nominated area under this subsection shall:
(A) Be included in an urban redevelopment area as defined by paragraph (23) of Code Section 36-61-2; and
(B) Contain within its borders the site for a redevelopment project having a minimum of $400 million in capital investment for the redevelopment of an area certified by the commissioner to have been chronically underdeveloped for a period of 20 years or more.
(2) Any nominated area meeting the criteria in paragraph (1) of this subsection may be designated as an enterprise zone. Any redevelopment project used to qualify an area for designation as an enterprise zone under this subsection shall, upon approval of such designation, qualify for an exemption of any sales and use tax levied within the boundaries of such project.
(3) Any variation in the sales price of goods and services within any redevelopment project used to qualify an area for designation as an enterprise zone under this subsection attributable to lease arrangements between a retailer and the owner of the project shall be a permitted practice under Parts 1 and 2 of Article 15 of Chapter 1 of Title 10.
(4) By resolution or ordinance, the local governing body designating and creating an enterprise zone under this subsection may assess and collect annual enterprise zone infrastructure fees from each retailer operating within the boundaries of the project in an amount not to exceed, in aggregate, the amount of sales and use tax on transactions of such retailer exempted under paragraph (2) of this subsection, which fees may be pledged by such local governing body, directly or indirectly, as security for revenue bonds issued for development or infrastructure within the enterprise zone.
(5) This subsection shall not apply to projects involving or related to casino gambling.
(a)(1) Each ordinance adopted by a local government possessing an approved enterprise zone, when applicable, shall provide encouragement and incentives to increase rehabilitation, renovation, restoration, improvement for new construction for housing and the economic viability and profitability of businesses and commerce located within such enterprise zones.
(2) Creation of an enterprise zone shall be consistent with the comprehensive plan or plans of the jurisdiction or jurisdictions designating the enterprise zone which plan or plans are adopted pursuant to Chapter 70 of this title.
(3) Each local government possessing an enterprise zone may review its ordinances to determine which ordinances may have a negative effect upon the rehabilitation, renovation, restoration, improvement, or new construction of housing, or the economic viability and profitability of businesses and commerce located within an enterprise zone. Such local government may waive, amend, or otherwise modify such ordinances so as to minimize such adverse effect.
(b) Nothing in this Code section shall authorize any local government to waive, amend, provide exceptions to or otherwise modify or alter any ordinance which is:
(1) Expressly required to implement or enforce any statutory provisions; or
(2) Designed to protect persons against discrimination on the basis of race, color, creed, national origin, sex, age, or handicap.
(c) Nothing in this Code section shall be construed so as to rescind the authority granted to local governments to create, maintain, and regulate enterprise zones pursuant to any local enterprise zone law in effect on July 1, 1997.
(a)(1) The governing body of a local government or governments creating an enterprise zone other than an enterprise zone under subsection (g) of Code Section 36-88-6, shall include in the creating ordinance a provision to exempt qualifying business and service enterprises from state, county, and municipal ad valorem taxes that would otherwise be levied on the qualifying business and service enterprises not to exceed the following schedule:
(A) One hundred percent of the property taxes shall be exempt for the first five years;
(B) Eighty percent of the property taxes shall be exempt for the next two years;
(C) Sixty percent of the property taxes shall be exempt for the next year;
(D) Forty percent of the property taxes shall be exempt for the next year; and
(E) Twenty percent of the property taxes shall be exempt for the tenth year.
(2) For any qualifying business or service enterprise, the schedule provided for in paragraph (1) of this subsection may begin in any year during which an area has an enterprise zone designation. Such tax exemption may continue even if the area's enterprise zone designation has terminated. A minimum of five new jobs must be maintained for a qualifying business or service enterprise to maintain eligibility for the tax exemption provided pursuant to this Code section.
(b) If the project consists of new residential construction, residential rehabilitation, or other rehabilitation of an existing structure and the value of the improvement exceeds the value of the land by a ratio of five to one, then the exemption schedule in subsection (a) of this Code section shall also apply whether or not the project is carried out by a qualifying business or service enterprise.
(c) In no event shall the value of the property tax exemptions granted to qualifying business and service enterprises within an enterprise zone created by a city, a county, or both, exceed 10 percent of the value of the property tax digest of the creating jurisdiction or jurisdictions.
(a) In addition to other incentives, the local governing body or bodies creating an enterprise zone may include in the creating ordinance an exemption or abatement from occupation taxes, regulatory fees, building inspection fees, and other fees that would otherwise have been imposed on a qualifying business. Such governing bodies may grant any of these incentives either when the enterprise is initially created or by subsequent resolution making such incentives applicable to an existing enterprise zone.
(b) Local governments shall report designations of enterprise zones to the department, providing sufficient information to identify at a minimum the geographic boundaries of the zones, the specific fees and taxes to be exempted or abated, and the beginning and end dates of the designation period. The time and manner of reporting shall be determined by the department.
An area designated as an enterprise zone shall remain in existence for ten years from the first day of the calendar year immediately following its designation as an enterprise zone; provided, however, that an area designated as an enterprise zone under subsection (g) of Code Section 36-88-6 shall remain in existence for 30 years from such day or until the redevelopment project required in subparagraph (g)(1)(B) of Code Section 36-88-6 is complete and any revenue bonds issued under paragraph (4) of subsection (g) of Code Section 36-88-6 are retired, whichever first occurs. Municipal and county governments may enter into agreements with qualifying business or service enterprises in designated enterprise zones to provide for modification or termination of the tax and fee exemptions and abatements. Property tax incentives available to a qualified business or service enterprise in an enterprise zone shall remain in effect for the full ten-year period established by Code Section 36-88-8, regardless of the termination of the designation of the enterprise zone.
As used in this chapter, the term:
(1) “Applicable rollback” means a:
(A) Rollback of an ad valorem tax millage rate pursuant to subsection (a) of Code Section 48-8-91 in a county or municipality that levies a local option sales tax;
(B) Rollback of an ad valorem tax millage rate pursuant to subparagraph (c)(2)(C) of Code Section 48-8-104 in a county or municipality that levies a homestead option sales tax;
(C) Subtraction from an ad valorem millage rate pursuant to Code Section 20-2-334 in a local school system that receives a state school tax credit;
(D) Reduction of an ad valorem tax millage rate pursuant to the development of a service delivery strategy under Code Section 36-70-24; and
(E) Reduction of an ad valorem tax millage rate pursuant to paragraph (2) of subsection (a) of Code Section 33-8-8.3 in a county that collects insurance premium tax.
(2) “County millage rate” means the net ad valorem tax millage rate, after deducting applicable rollbacks, levied by a county for county purposes and applying to qualified homesteads in the county, including any millage levied for those special districts reported on the 2004 ad valorem tax digest certified to and received by the state revenue commissioner on or before December 31, 2004, but not including any millage levied for purposes of bonded indebtedness and not including any millage levied on behalf of a county school district for educational purposes.
(3) “Eligible assessed value” means a certain stated amount of the assessed value of each qualified homestead in the state. The amount of the eligible assessed value for any given year shall be fixed in that year's General Appropriations Act.
(4) “Fiscal authority” means the individual authorized to collect ad valorem taxes for a county or municipality which levies ad valorem taxes.
(5) “Municipal millage rate” means the net ad valorem tax millage rate, after deducting applicable rollbacks, levied by a municipality for municipal purposes and applying to qualified homesteads in the municipality, including any millage levied for those special tax districts reported on the 2004 City and Independent School Millage Rate Certification certified to and received by the state revenue commissioner on or before December 31, 2004, but not including any millage levied for purposes of bonded indebtedness and not including any millage levied on behalf of an independent school district for educational purposes.
(6) “Qualified homestead” means a homestead qualified for any exemption, state, county, or school, authorized under Code Section 48-5-44.
(7) “School millage rate” means the net ad valorem tax millage rate, after deducting applicable rollbacks, levied on behalf of a county or independent school district for educational purposes and applying to qualified homesteads in the county or independent school district, not including any millage levied for purposes of bonded indebtedness and not including any millage levied for county or municipal purposes.
(8) “State millage rate” means the state millage levy.
In each year, the General Assembly shall appropriate funds for homeowner tax relief grants to counties, municipalities, and county or independent school districts in order to provide for more effective regulation and management of the finance and fiscal administration of the state and pursuant to and in furtherance of the provisions of Article III, Section IX, Paragraph II(c) of the Constitution; Article VII, Section III, Paragraph III of the Constitution; Article VIII, Section I, Paragraph I of the Constitution; and other provisions of the Constitution.
(a) In the fiscal year ending on June 30, 2009, the General Assembly shall appropriate to the Department of Revenue funds to provide homeowner tax relief grants to counties, municipalities, and county or independent school districts. When funds are so appropriated, the General Appropriations Act shall specify the amount appropriated and the eligible assessed value of each qualified homestead in the state for the specified tax year, which eligible assessed value shall, subject to annual appropriation by the General Assembly, be not less than that specified in the Fiscal Year 2004 General Appropriations Act. If for any reason the amount appropriated in the General Appropriations Act is insufficient to fund the eligible assessed value stated in the General Appropriations Act, the amount appropriated may be adjusted in amendments to the General Appropriations Act. If the amount appropriated in the General Appropriations Act is sufficient to fund the eligible assessed value stated in the General Appropriations Act, that amount shall not be reduced or withdrawn for any reason.
(b) In the fiscal year ending on June 30, 2009, the General Assembly shall appropriate to the Department of Revenue funds to provide homeowner tax relief grants to counties, municipalities, and county or independent school districts. When funds are so appropriated, the supplemental appropriation bill shall specify the amount appropriated and the eligible assessed value of each qualified homestead in the state for the specified tax year. If for any reason the amount appropriated in the supplemental appropriation bill is insufficient to fund the eligible assessed value stated in the supplemental appropriation bill, the amount appropriated is authorized to be, but is not required to be, adjusted in the General Appropriations Act for the next succeeding fiscal year. If the amount appropriated in the General Appropriations Act is sufficient to fund the eligible assessed value stated in the General Appropriations Act, that amount shall not be reduced or withdrawn for any reason.
(c) Subject to the limitations of subsection (d) of this Code section, in each fiscal year beginning on or after July 1, 2009, the General Assembly shall appropriate to the Department of Revenue funds to provide homeowner tax relief grants to counties, municipalities, and county or independent school districts. When funds are so appropriated, the supplemental appropriation bill shall specify the amount appropriated and the eligible assessed value of each qualified homestead in the state for the specified tax year. If for any reason the amount appropriated in the supplemental appropriation bill is insufficient to fund the eligible assessed value stated in the supplemental appropriation bill, the amount appropriated is authorized to be, but is not required to be, adjusted in the General Appropriations Act for the next succeeding fiscal year. If the amount appropriated in the General Appropriations Act is sufficient to fund the eligible assessed value stated in the General Appropriations Act, that amount shall not be reduced or withdrawn for any reason.
(d)(1) As used in this subsection, the term “budget report” means the budget report prepared pursuant to Code Section 45-12-74.
(2) For each fiscal year beginning on or after July 1, 2009, no funds shall be appropriated under subsection (c) of this Code section in any supplemental appropriation bill or General Appropriations Act unless the amount of estimated total revenues available for appropriation enumerated in the budget report for the current fiscal year exceeds the amount of estimated total revenues available for appropriation enumerated in the budget report for the most recent fiscal year in which homeowner tax relief grant funds were appropriated by 3 percent plus the percent change in the rate of economic inflation on individual taxpayers as determined under the Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the United States Department of Labor.
(e) When funds are appropriated as provided in this Code section, each fiscal authority shall follow the procedures specified in Code Section 36-89-4. When funds are not appropriated, each fiscal authority shall not follow the procedures specified in Code Section 36-89-4 and shall not include a notice on each tax bill regarding the unavailability of the credit.
(a)(1) When funds are appropriated as provided in Code Section 36-89-3, such grants shall be allotted to each county, municipality, and county or independent school district in the state as follows:
(A) Immediately following the actual preparation of ad valorem property tax bills, each county fiscal authority shall notify the Department of Revenue of the total amount of tax revenue which would be generated by applying the sum of the state and county millage rates to the eligible assessed value of each qualified homestead in the county. The total amount of actual tax credits, so calculated, given to all qualified homesteads in the county shall be the amount of the grant to that county;
(B) Immediately following the actual preparation of ad valorem property tax bills, each county or independent school district's fiscal authority shall notify the Department of Revenue of the total amount of tax revenue which would be generated by applying the school millage rate to the eligible assessed value of each qualified homestead in the county or independent school district. The total amount of actual tax credits, so calculated, given to all qualified homesteads in the county or independent school district shall be the amount of the grant to that county or independent school district; and
(C) Immediately following the actual preparation of ad valorem property tax bills, each municipality's fiscal authority shall notify the Department of Revenue of the total amount of tax revenue which would be generated by applying the municipal millage rate to the eligible assessed value of each qualified homestead in the municipality. The total amount of actual tax credits, so calculated, given to all qualified homesteads in the municipality shall be the amount of the grant to that municipality.
(2) Credit amounts computed under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be applied to reduce the otherwise applicable tax liability on a dollar-for-dollar basis, but the credit granted shall not in any case exceed the amount of the otherwise applicable tax liability after the granting of all applicable homestead exemptions except for any homestead exemption under Article 2A of Chapter 8 of Title 48, the “Homestead Option Sales and Use Tax Act,” as amended, and after the granting of all applicable millage rollbacks.
(b) The grant of funds to each county shall be conditioned on the county's fiscal authority reducing each qualified homestead's otherwise applicable liability for county taxes for county purposes by a credit amount calculated in subparagraph (a)(1)(A) of this Code section.
(c) The grant of funds to each county or independent school district shall be conditioned on the county or independent school district's fiscal authority reducing each qualified homestead's otherwise applicable liability for school taxes by a credit amount calculated in subparagraph (a)(1)(B) of this Code section.
(d) The grant of funds to each municipality shall be conditioned on the municipality's fiscal authority reducing each qualified homestead's otherwise applicable liability for municipal taxes by a credit amount calculated in subparagraph (a)(1)(C) of this Code section.
(e) Each fiscal authority shall show the credit amount on the tax bill, together with a prominent notice in substantially the following form: “This reduction in your bill is the result of homeowner's tax relief enacted by the Governor and the General Assembly of the State of Georgia.”
(a) The state revenue commissioner shall administer this chapter and shall adopt rules and regulations for the administration of this chapter, including specific instructions to local governments. The state revenue commissioner may adopt procedures for partial or installment distribution of grants when the commissioner determines that a full distribution will only result in the necessity of return of funds under subsection (b) of this Code section.
(b) If any excess funds remain from the funds granted to any county, municipality, or county or independent school district under this chapter, after the county, municipality, or county or independent school district complies with the credit requirements of Code Section 36-89-4, such excess funds shall be returned by the county, municipality, or county or independent school district to the Department of Revenue.
Any credit under this chapter which is erroneously or illegally granted shall be recoverable by the political subdivision granting such credit in the same manner as any other delinquent tax.
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the “Local Government Cable Fair Competition Act of 1999.”
As used in this chapter, the term:
(1) “Authorization” means the official act of a franchising authority to allow a public provider to deliver service.
(2) “Cable service” means:
(A) The one-way transmission to subscribers of (i) video programming or (ii) other programming service; and
(B) Subscriber interaction, if any, which is required for the selection or use of such video programming or other programming service.
(3) “Capital costs” means all costs of providing a service which are capitalized in accordance with generally accepted governmental accounting principles.
(4) “Cross-subsidization” or “cross- subsidize” means the payment of any item of direct or indirect costs of providing a service which is not accounted for in the full cost accounting of providing the service.
(5) “Direct costs” means those expenses of a public provider which are directly attributable to the provision of a service that would be eliminated if the provision of said service were discontinued.
(6) “FCC” means the Federal Communications Commission.
(7) “Franchising authority” means any governmental entity which is empowered by law to grant a franchise and which is also a public provider.
(8) “Full-cost accounting” means the accounting for all costs incurred by a public provider in providing a service, including all direct and indirect costs, as required by this chapter. In preparation of such accounting, a public provider shall utilize cost accounting standards promulgated by the federal Costs Accounting Standards Board of the federal Office of Management and Budget so as to assure that all direct and indirect costs are included.
(9) “Generally accepted governmental accounting principles” means the accounting standards promulgated from time to time by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board.
(10) “Indirect costs” means any costs identified with two or more services or other public provider functions and which are not directly identified with a single service. Indirect costs may include, but are not limited to, administration, accounting, personnel, purchasing, legal, and other staff or departmental support. Indirect costs shall be allocated to two or more services in proportion to the relative burden each respective service places upon the cost category.
(11) “Private provider” means any person, firm, partnership, corporation, or association offering service, other than a public provider.
(12) “Public provider” means any county, municipal corporation, or other political subdivision of the state which provides service; any authority or instrumentality acting on behalf of or for the benefit of any county, municipal corporation, or other political subdivision of the state which provides service; and any authority or instrumentality created by the state which provides service.
(13) “Service” means cable service provided by a private provider or a public provider.
(14) “Subscriber” means any private person lawfully receiving any cable service provided by a private or public provider by means of or in connection with a cable system.
(a) Before a franchising authority may begin the authorization process of permitting a public provider to deliver service, the franchising authority must notify each private provider serving the targeted market that the franchising authority intends to begin the process of authorizing a public provider to provide cable service. The notice must state that the private provider is not meeting the present and future needs of the community and shall set forth each such unmet need separately and fully in order that the private provider may reasonably ascertain the scope and nature of the issues identified by the franchising authority. The franchising authority must allow each private provider 30 days to present a plan to address the identified needs not being met, including a reasonable period of time to implement the plan. Neither the notification nor response to the notification provided for in this subsection shall affect the franchise agreement between a private provider and a franchising authority.
(b) If the franchising authority does not accept the private provider's plan to address the identified issues submitted as provided in subsection (a) of this Code section, the franchising authority shall then conduct an independent feasibility analysis and require the public provider to prepare a business plan to provide service. Such business plan shall set forth assumptions and specific findings as to:
(1) The cable service market share to be obtained by the public provider over a four-year period;
(2) The programming service offerings;
(3) Reasonable projections, for a period of at least four years, of the revenue and the direct, indirect, and imputed operating costs of providing service;
(4) The equipment needed to provide the service;
(5) The source and adequacy of the total direct and indirect capital to construct and operate the proposed system;
(6) The repayment of the debt service, including the length of payback of the principal debt;
(7) A cost-benefit analysis that shows a range of assumptions relating to market penetration rates, subscription rates, operating costs, and capital outlay;
(8) Assumptions as to programming costs;
(9) Assumptions as to actual or potential competition from all other providers;
(10) The allocation of costs between the public provider and other municipal operations; and
(11) The ability to address the issues cited in the notice to the private providers specified in subsection (a) of this Code section.
(c) In order for the business plan provided for in subsection (b) of this Code section to be adopted and the process to move forward, the business plan shall include, at a minimum, the following components:
(1) The total homes passed, provided that such shall be certified by the appropriate official responsible for municipal tax or census;
(2) Cable service basic penetration, estimated subscribers, and total homes passed, provided that such shall be reflective of the market analysis and not presume a penetration achieved by the fourth year of operation in excess of 40 percent without full independent verification;
(3) The overall estimated revenue takeout per home, provided that the same shall not exceed by more than 5 percent the amount being achieved by the private provider as developed from such publicly available information as franchise fee reports;
(4) The estimated miles of cable plant, provided that such shall be determined based on an actual survey conducted by public works employees and certified as to method and findings by a responsible supervisor;
(5) The average construction cost per cable service subscriber or cable plant mile or both, provided that such shall be based on an estimate provided by an independent supplier; and
(6) A definitive plan for the servicing of any capital utilized to fund the construction and operation of the cable system, including a reasonable payback period at an interest rate reflective of the public market and the inherent risks of the business.
(d) Prior to granting the authorization to the public provider, the franchising authority shall conduct at least two public hearings held at least two weeks apart. The public provider shall publish its business plan in its entirety and provide a complete copy to each private provider at least 30 days before the first public hearing. Such notice shall state that the business plan prepared by the public provider is available for public inspection each business day prior to the authorization and shall state the location where such inspection may be made. Notice of the time, place, and date of each hearing shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation within the jurisdiction of the county or municipality once a week for the two weeks preceding the week in which the hearing is to be held. In addition, the private provider shall be given two weeks' written notice of the proposed hearing.
(e) Any authorization by the franchising authority shall be by passage of an ordinance or resolution and must:
(1) Find that the public provider possesses satisfactory financial and technical capability to be a public provider;
(2) Set forth the terms and conditions with respect to franchise terms and conditions, conditions of access to public property, and pole attachment; and
(3) Adopt the business plan.
On and after January 1, 2000, each public provider shall prepare and maintain records in accordance with generally accepted governmental accounting principles which record the full cost accounting of providing service. Such records shall show the amount and source of capital, including working capital, utilized in providing service. Nothing contained in this chapter shall preclude a public provider utilizing capital from any lawful source, including the public provider's general funds, provided that the reasonable cost of such capital is accounted for as a cost of providing the service. No public provider shall cross-subsidize the costs of providing service. A public provider shall impute into its indirect costs of providing service an amount for franchise fees, regulatory fees, occupation taxes, pole attachment fees, and ad valorem property taxes, calculated in the same manner as such amounts are calculated for any private provider paying such costs to the public provider in the same service area.
(a) In providing service, a public provider shall not employ terms more favorable or less burdensome than those imposed by the public provider upon any private provider providing the same service within its jurisdiction with respect to franchise terms and conditions, conditions of access to public property, and pole attachment.
(b) A franchising authority shall not impose or enforce any local regulation on any private provider which is not also made applicable to any competing public provider, nor shall a franchising authority discriminate between a public provider and private provider.
(c) A public provider may not unreasonably withhold a request by a private provider to transfer, modify, or renew its existing franchise in accordance with the terms of the franchise and in accordance with the provisions of 47 U.S.C. Section 537, 47 U.S.C. Section 545, and 47 U.S.C. Section 546.
(d) In any action by a franchising authority to enforce any term or condition of a franchise agreement, a violation of this Code section by the public provider with respect to such respective term or condition shall be a defense in such action.
(e) Nothing contained in this Code section shall be interpreted to limit the authority of the public provider, as the franchising authority, to collect franchise fees, control and regulate its streets and public ways, or enforce its powers to provide for the public health, safety, and welfare.
On and after January 1, 2000, a public provider shall offer service at a price or rate to each subscriber which is either (1) equal to or greater than the price or rate for comparable service of competing private providers or (2) equal to or greater than the incremental direct and indirect costs of providing service to such subscriber. If, however, such service is required by state or federal law or regulation to be offered as a subsidized service, the funds to cover any deficiency in such costs shall be identified in the full cost accounting of such service.
All meetings and records of public providers of a service shall be subject to the Georgia public records and public meetings laws contained, respectively, in Article 4 of Chapter 18 of Title 50 and Chapter 14 of Title 50.
The immunity from antitrust liability afforded to local governments by the provisions of Code Sections 36-65-1 and 36-65-2 shall not apply to public providers in the offering and providing of services as defined in this chapter; and public providers shall be subject to applicable antitrust liabilities, subject, however, to the provisions of the federal Local Government Antitrust Act of 1984, 15 U.S.C. Sections 34-36.
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the “Georgia Local Government Public Works Construction Law.”
As used in this chapter, the term:
(1) “Alternate bids” means the amount stated in the bid or proposal to be added to or deducted from the amount of the base bid or base proposal if the corresponding change in project scope or alternate materials or methods of construction is accepted.
(2) “Base bid” or “base proposal” means the amount of money stated in the bid or proposal as the sum for which the bidder or proposer offers to perform the work.
(3) “Bid bond” means a bond with good and sufficient surety or sureties for the faithful acceptance of the contract payable to, in favor of, and for the protection of the governmental entity for which the contract is to be awarded.
(4) “Change order” means an alteration, addition, or deduction from the original scope of work as defined by the contract documents to address changes or unforeseen conditions necessary for project completion.
(5) “Competitive sealed bidding” means a method of soliciting public works construction contracts whereby the award is based upon the lowest responsive, responsible bid in conformance with the provisions of subsection (b) of Code Section 36-91-21.
(6) “Competitive sealed proposals” means a method of soliciting public works contracts whereby the award is based upon criteria identified in a request for proposals in conformance with the provisions of subsection (c) of Code Section 36-91-21.
(7) “Emergency” means any situation resulting in imminent danger to the public health or safety or the loss of an essential governmental service.
(8) “Governing authority” means the official or group of officials responsible for governance of a governmental entity.
(9) “Governmental entity” means a county, municipal corporation, consolidated government, authority, board of education, or other public board, body, or commission but shall not include any authority, board, department, or commission of the state, or a public transportation agency as defined by Chapter 9 of Title 32.
(10) “Payment bond” means a bond with good and sufficient surety or sureties payable to the governmental entity for which the work is to be done and intended for the use and protection of all subcontractors and all persons supplying labor, materials, machinery, and equipment in the prosecution of the work provided for in the public works construction contract.
(11) “Performance bond” means a bond with good and sufficient surety or sureties for the faithful performance of the contract and to indemnify the governmental entity for any damages occasioned by a failure to perform the same within the prescribed time. Such bond shall be payable to, in favor of, and for the protection of the governmental entity for which the work is to be done.
(12) “Public works construction” means the building, altering, repairing, improving, or demolishing of any public structure or building or other public improvements of any kind to any public real property other than those projects covered by Chapter 4 of Title 32 or by Chapter 37 of Title 50. Such term does not include the routine operation, repair, or maintenance of existing structures, buildings, or real property, or any energy savings performance contract or any improvements or installations performed as part of an energy savings performance contract.
(13) “Responsible bidder” or “responsible offeror” means a person or entity that has the capability in all respects to perform fully and reliably the contract requirements.
(14) “Responsive bidder” or “responsive offeror” means a person or entity that has submitted a bid or proposal that conforms in all material respects to the requirements set forth in the invitation for bids or request for proposals.
(15) “Scope of project” means the work required by the original contract documents and any subsequent change orders required or appropriate to accomplish the intent of the project as described in the bid documents.
(16) “Scope of work” means the work that is required by the contract documents.
(17) “Sole source” means those procurements made pursuant to a written determination by a governing authority that there is only one source for the required supply, service, or construction item.
(a) All public works construction contracts subject to this chapter entered into by a governmental entity with private persons or entities shall be in writing and on file and available for public inspection at a place designated by such governmental entity. Municipalities and consolidated governments shall execute and enter into contracts in the manner provided in applicable local legislation or by ordinance.
(b)(1) Prior to entering into a public works construction contract other than those exempted by Code Section 36-91-22, a governmental entity shall publicly advertise the contract opportunity. Such notice shall be posted conspicuously in the governing authority's office and shall be advertised on the Georgia Procurement Registry as provided for in Code Section 50-5-69 at no cost to the governmental entity. Such advertisement on such registry shall be for the same period of time specified under paragraph (3) of this subsection. Such notice may be advertised in the legal organ of the county or by electronic means on the website of the governmental entity or any other appropriate websites identified by the governmental entity.
(2) Contract opportunities that are advertised in the legal organ shall be advertised a minimum of two times, with the first advertisement occurring at least four weeks prior to the opening of the sealed bids or proposals. The second advertisement shall follow no earlier than two weeks from the first advertisement.
(3) Contract opportunities that are advertised solely on the Internet shall be posted continuously for at least four weeks prior to the opening of sealed bids or proposals. Inadvertent or unintentional loss of Internet service during the advertisement period shall not require the contract award or bid or proposal opening to be delayed.
(4) Contract opportunities that will be awarded by competitive sealed bids shall have plans and specifications available on the first day of the advertisement and shall be open to inspection by the public. The plans and specifications shall indicate if the project will be awarded by base bid or base bid plus selected alternates and:
(A) A statement listing whether all anticipated federal, state, or local permits required for the project have been obtained or an indication of the status of the application for each such permit including when it is expected to be obtained; and
(B) A statement listing whether all anticipated rights of way and easements required for the project have been obtained or an indication of the status as to when each such rights of way or easements are expected to be obtained.
(5) Contract opportunities that will be awarded by competitive sealed proposals shall be publicly advertised with a request for proposals which request shall include conceptual program information in the request for proposals describing the requested services in a level of detail appropriate to the project delivery method selected for the project.
(6) The advertisement shall include such details and specifications as will enable the public to know the extent and character of the work to be done.
(7) All required notices of advertisement shall also advise of any mandatory prequalification requirements or pre-bid conferences as well as any federal requirements pursuant to subsection (d) of Code Section 36-91-22. Any advertisement which provides notice of a mandatory pre-bid conference or prequalification shall provide reasonable advance notice of said conference or for the submittal of such prequalification information.
(c) Governmental entities are authorized to utilize any construction delivery method, provided that all public works construction contracts subject to the requirements of this chapter that:
(1) Place the bidder or offeror at risk for construction; and
(2) Require labor or building materials in the execution of the contract
shall be awarded on the basis of competitive sealed bidding or competitive sealed proposals. Governmental entities shall have the authority to reject all bids or proposals or any bid or proposal that is nonresponsive or not responsible and to waive technicalities and informalities.
(d) No governmental entity shall issue or cause to be issued any addenda modifying plans and specifications within a period of 72 hours prior to the advertised time for the opening bids or proposals, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays. However, if the necessity arises to issue an addendum modifying plans and specifications within the 72 hour period prior to the advertised time for the opening of bids or proposals, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays, then the opening of bids or proposals shall be extended at least 72 hours, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays, from the date of the original bid or proposal opening without need to readvertise as required by subsection (b) of this Code section.
(e) Bid and contract documents may contain provisions authorizing the issuance of change orders, without the necessity of additional requests for bids or proposals, within the scope of the project when appropriate or necessary in the performance of the contract. Change orders may not be used to evade the purposes of this article.
(f) Any governmental entity may, in its discretion, adopt a process for mandatory prequalification of prospective bidders or offerors; provided, however, that:
(1) Criteria for prequalification must be reasonably related to the project or the quality of work;
(2) Criteria for prequalification must be available to any prospective bidder or offeror requesting such information for each project that requires prequalification;
(3) Any prequalification process must include a method of notifying prospective bidders or offerors of the criteria for or limitations to prequalification; and
(4) Any prequalification process must include a procedure for a disqualified bidder to respond to his or her disqualification to a representative of the governmental entity; provided, however, that such procedure shall not be construed to require the governmental entity to provide a formal appeals procedure. A prequalified bidder or offeror can not be later disqualified without cause.
(a) It shall be unlawful to let out any public works construction contracts subject to the requirements of this chapter without complying with the competitive award requirements contained in this Code section. Any contractor who performs any work of the kind in any other manner and who knows that the public works construction contract was let out without complying with the notice and competitive award requirements of this chapter shall not be entitled to receive any payment for such work.
(b) Any competitive sealed bidding process shall comply with the following requirements:
(1) The governmental entity shall publicly advertise an invitation for bids;
(2) Bidders shall submit sealed bids based on the criteria set forth in such invitation;
(3) The governmental entity shall open the bids publicly and evaluate such bids without discussions with the bidders; and
(4) The contract shall be awarded to the lowest responsible and responsive bidder whose bid meets the requirements and criteria set forth in the invitation for bids; provided, however, that if the bid from the lowest responsible and responsive bidder exceeds the funds budgeted for the public works construction contract, the governmental entity may negotiate with such apparent low bidder to obtain a contract price within the budgeted amount. Such negotiations may include changes in the scope of work and other bid requirements.
(c)(1) In making any competitive sealed proposal, a governmental entity shall:
(A) Publicly advertise a request for proposals, which request shall include conceptual program information in the request for proposals describing the requested services in a level of detail appropriate to the project delivery method selected for the project, as well as the relative importance of the evaluation factors;
(B) Open all proposals received at the time and place designated in the request for proposals so as to avoid disclosure of contents to competing offerors during the process of negotiations; and
(C) Make an award to the responsible and responsive offeror whose proposal is determined in writing to be the most advantageous to the governmental entity, taking into consideration the evaluation factors set forth in the request for proposals. The evaluation factors shall be the basis on which the award decision is made. The contract file shall indicate the basis on which the award is made.
(2) As set forth in the request for proposals, offerors submitting proposals may be afforded an opportunity for discussion, negotiation, and revision of proposals. Discussions, negotiations, and revisions may be permitted after submission of proposals and prior to award for the purpose of obtaining best and final offers. In accordance with the request for proposals, all responsible offerors found by the governmental entity to have submitted proposals reasonably susceptible of being selected for award shall be given an opportunity to participate in such discussions, negotiations, and revisions. During the process of discussion, negotiation, and revision, the governmental entity shall not disclose the contents of proposals to competing offerors.
(d) Whenever a public works construction contract for any governmental entity subject to the requirements of this chapter is to be let out by competitive sealed bid or proposal, no person, by himself or herself or otherwise, shall prevent or attempt to prevent competition in such bidding or proposals by any means whatever. No person who desires to procure such work for himself or herself or for another shall prevent or endeavor to prevent anyone from making a bid or proposal therefor by any means whatever, nor shall such person so desiring the work cause or induce another to withdraw a bid or proposal for the work.
(e) Before commencing the work, any person who procures such public work by bidding or proposal shall make an oath in writing that he or she has not directly or indirectly violated subsection (d) of this Code section. The oath shall be filed by the officer whose duty it is to make the payment. If the contractor is a partnership, all of the partners and any officer, agent, or other person who may have represented or acted for them in bidding for or procuring the contract shall also make the oath. If the contractor is a corporation, all officers, agents, or other persons who may have acted for or represented the corporation in bidding for or procuring the contract shall make the oath. If such oath is false, the contract shall be void, and all sums paid by the governmental entity on the contract may be recovered by appropriate action.
(f)(1) Unless otherwise required by law, no governmental entity that contracts for public works construction shall in its bid documents, specifications, project agreements, or other controlling documents for a public works construction contract:
(A) Require or prohibit bidders, offerors, contractors, subcontractors, or material suppliers to enter into or adhere to prehire agreements, project labor agreements, collective bargaining agreements, or any other agreement with one or more labor organizations on the same or other related construction projects; or
(B) Discriminate against, or treat differently, bidders, offerors, contractors, subcontractors, or material suppliers for becoming or refusing to become or remain signatories or otherwise to adhere to agreements with one or more labor organizations on the same or other related construction projects.
(2) Nothing in this subsection shall prohibit bidders, offerors, contractors, subcontractors, or material suppliers from voluntarily entering into agreements described in paragraph (1) of this subsection.
(3) The head of a governmental entity may exempt a particular public works construction contract from the requirements of any or all of the provisions of paragraph (1) of this subsection if the governmental entity finds, after public notice and a hearing, that special circumstances require an exemption to avert an imminent threat to public health or safety. A finding of special circumstance under this paragraph shall not be based on the possibility or presence of a labor dispute concerning the use of contractors or subcontractors who are nonsignatories to, or otherwise do not adhere to, agreements with one or more labor organizations or concerning employees on the particular project who are not members of or affiliated with a labor organization.
(g) If any member of a governmental entity lets out any public works construction contract subject to the requirements of this article and receives, takes, or contracts to receive or take, either directly or indirectly, any part of the pay or profit arising out of any such contract, he or she shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
(h) No public works construction contract with a governing authority shall be valid for any purpose unless the contractor shall comply with all bonding requirements of this chapter. No such contract shall be valid if any governmental entity lets out any public works construction contract subject to the requirements of this chapter without complying with the requirements of this chapter.
(a) The requirements of this chapter shall not apply to public works construction projects, when the same can be performed at a cost of less than $100,000.00. Public works construction projects shall not be subdivided in an effort to evade the provisions of this chapter.
(b) Any governmental entity having a correctional institution shall have the power and authority to purchase material for and use inmate labor in performing public works construction projects; and in such cases, this chapter shall not apply. Any governmental entity may contract with a governmental entity having a correctional institution for the use of inmate labor from such institution and use the inmates in the performance of any public works construction project; and in such cases, this chapter shall not apply.
(c) In the event that the labor used or to be used in a public works construction project is furnished at no expense by the state or federal government or any agency thereof, the governing authority shall have the power and authority to purchase material for such public works construction project and use the labor furnished free to the governmental entity; and in such case, this chapter shall not apply.
(d) Where a public works construction contract involves the expenditure of federal assistance or funds, the receipt of which is conditioned upon compliance with federal laws or regulations regarding the procedures for awarding public works construction contracts, a governmental entity shall comply with such federal requirements and shall not be required to comply with the provisions of this chapter that differ from the federal requirements. The governmental entity shall provide notice that federal procedures exist for the award of such contracts in the advertisement required by subsection (b) of Code Section 36-91-20. The availability and location of such federal requirements shall be provided to any person requesting such information.
(e) The requirements of this chapter shall not apply to public works construction projects necessitated by an emergency; provided, however, that the nature of the emergency shall be described in the minutes of the governing authority. Any contract let by a county pursuant to this subsection shall be ratified, as soon as practicable, on the minutes of the governing authority, and the nature of the emergency shall be described therein.
(f) Except as otherwise provided in Chapter 4 of Title 32, the requirements of this chapter shall not apply to public works construction projects subject to the requirements of Chapter 4 of Title 32.
(g) The requirements of this chapter shall not apply to public works construction projects or any portion of a public works construction project self-performed by a governmental entity. If the governmental entity contracts with a private person or entity for a portion of such project, the provisions of this chapter shall apply to any such contract estimated to exceed $100,000.00.
(h) The requirements of this chapter shall not apply to sole source public works construction contracts.
(i) The requirements of this chapter shall not apply to hospital authorities; provided, however, that a public works construction contract entered into by a hospital authority shall be subject to the requirements of this chapter if, in connection with such contract, the hospital authority either:
(1) Incurs indebtedness and secures such indebtedness by pledging amounts to be received by such authority from one or more counties or municipalities through an intergovernmental contract entered into in accordance with Code Section 31-7-85; or
(2) Receives funds from the state or one or more counties or municipalities for the purpose of financing a public works construction project, which moneys are not for reimbursement of health services provided.
In awarding contracts based upon sealed competitive bids or sealed competitive proposals, no responsible bidder shall be disqualified from a bid or proposal or denied prequalification based upon:
(1) A lack of previous experience with a job of the size for which the bid or proposal is being sought if:
(A) The bid or proposal is not more than 30 percent greater in scope or cost from the responsible bidder's previous experience in jobs;
(B) The responsible bidder has experience in performing the work for which bids or proposals are sought; and
(C) The responsible bidder is capable of being bonded by a surety which meets the qualifications of the bid documents for a bid bond, a performance bond, and a payment bond as required for the scope of the work for which the bid or proposal is being sought; or
(2) A lack of previous experience with the construction delivery method to be used for the job for which the bid or proposal is being sought.
Public works construction contracts may include both liquidated damages provisions for late construction project completion and incentive provisions for early construction project completion when the project schedule is deemed to have value. The terms of the liquidated damages provisions and the incentive provisions shall be established in advance as a part of the construction contract and included within the terms of the bid or proposal.
(a)(1) Any bid bond, performance bond, payment bond, or security deposit required for a public works construction contract shall be approved and filed with the treasurer or the person performing the duties usually performed by a treasurer of the obligee named therein. At the option of the governmental entity, if the surety named in the bond is other than a surety company authorized by law to do business in this state pursuant to a current certificate of authority to transact surety business by the Commissioner of Insurance, such bond shall not be approved and filed unless such surety is on the United States Department of Treasury's list of approved bond sureties.
(2) Any bid bond, performance bond, or payment bond required by this Code section shall be approved as to form and as to the solvency of the surety by an officer of the governmental entity negotiating the contract on behalf of the governmental entity. In the case of a bid bond, such approval shall be obtained prior to acceptance of the bid or proposal. In the case of payment bonds and performance bonds, such approval shall be obtained prior to the execution of the contract.
(b) Whenever, in the judgment of the obligee:
(1) Any surety on a bid, performance, or payment bond has become insolvent;
(2) Any corporate surety is no longer certified or approved by the Commissioner of Insurance to do business in the state; or
(3) For any cause there are no longer proper or sufficient sureties on any or all of the bonds,
the obligee may require the contractor to strengthen any or all of the bonds or to furnish a new or additional bond or bonds within ten days. Thereupon, if so ordered by the obligee, all work on the contract shall cease unless such new or additional bond or bonds are furnished. If such bond or bonds are not furnished within such time, the obligee may terminate the contract and complete the same as the agent of and at the expense of the contractor and his or her sureties.
When a governmental entity invites competitive sealed proposals for a public works construction project and the request for proposals for such project states that price or project cost will not be a selection or evaluation factor, no bid bond shall be required unless the governmental entity provides for a bid bond in the request for proposals and specifies the amount of such bond.
Public procurement officers shall accept electronic signatures and electronic corporate seals on bonds issued pursuant to this part so long as such signatures and seals comply with the provisions of Chapter 12 of Title 10 and Code Section 33-24-14.
(a) Bid bonds shall be required for all public works construction contracts subject to the requirements of this article with estimated bids or proposals over $ 100,000.00; provided, however, that a governmental entity may require a bid bond for projects with estimated bids or proposals of $100,000.00 or less.
(b) In the case of competitive sealed bids, except as provided in Code Sections 36-91-52 and 36-91-53, a bid may not be revoked or withdrawn until 60 days after the time set by the governmental entity for opening of bids. Upon expiration of this time period, the bid will cease to be valid, unless the bidder provides written notice to the governmental entity prior to the scheduled expiration date that the bid will be extended for a time period specified by the governmental entity.
(c) In the case of competitive sealed proposals, the governmental entity shall advise offerors in the request for proposals of the number of days that offerors will be required to honor their proposals; provided, however, that if an offeror is not selected within 60 days of opening the proposals, any offeror that is determined by the governmental entity to be unlikely of being selected for contract award shall be released from his or her proposal.
(d) If a governmental entity requires a bid bond for any public works construction contract, no bid or proposal for a contract with the governmental entity shall be valid for any purpose unless the contractor shall give a bid bond with good and sufficient surety or sureties approved by the governing authority. The bid bond shall be in the amount of not less than 5 percent of the total amount payable by the terms of the contract. No bid or proposal shall be considered if a proper bid bond or other security authorized in Code Section 36-91-51 has not been submitted. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to any bid or proposal for a contract that is required by law to be accompanied by a proposal guaranty and shall not apply to any bid or proposal for a contract with any public agency or body which receives funding from the United States Department of Transportation and which is primarily engaged in the business of public transportation.
(a) In lieu of the bid bond provided for in Code Section 36-91-50, the governmental entity may accept a cashier's check, certified check, or cash in the amount of not less than 5 percent of the total amount payable by the terms of the contract payable to and for the protection of the governmental entity for which the contract is to be awarded.
(b) When the amount of any bid bond required under this article does not exceed $750,000.00, the governmental entity may, in its sole discretion, accept an irrevocable letter of credit issued by a bank or savings and loan association, as defined in Code Section 7-1-4, in the amount of and in lieu of the bond otherwise required under Code Section 36-91-50.
(a) As used in this Code section, the term “bid” includes proposal and the term “bidder” includes offeror.
(b) Any governmental entity receiving bids subject to this article shall permit a bidder to withdraw a bid from consideration after the bid opening without forfeiture of the bid security if the bidder has made an appreciable error in the calculation of his or her bid and if:
(1) Such error in the calculation of his or her bid can be documented by clear and convincing written evidence;
(2) Such error can be clearly shown by objective evidence drawn from inspection of the original work papers, documents, or materials used in the preparation of the bid sought to be withdrawn;
(3) The bidder serves written notice upon the governmental entity which invited proposals for the work prior to the award of the contract and not later than 48 hours after the opening of bids, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays;
(4) The bid was submitted in good faith and the mistake was due to a calculation or clerical error, an inadvertent omission, or a typographical error as opposed to an error in judgment; and
(5) The withdrawal of the bid will not result in undue prejudice to the governmental entity or other bidders by placing them in a materially worse position than they would have occupied if the bid had never been submitted.
(c) In the event that an apparent successful bidder has withdrawn his or her bid as provided in subsection (b) of this Code section, action on the remaining bids should be considered as though the withdrawn bid had not been received. In the event the project is relet for bids, under no circumstances shall a bidder who has filed a request to withdraw a bid be permitted to resubmit a bid for the work.
(d) No bidder who is permitted to withdraw a bid pursuant to subsection (b) of this Code section shall for compensation supply any material or labor to, or perform any subcontract or other work agreement for, the person or firm to whom the contract is awarded or otherwise benefit, directly or indirectly, from the performance of the project for which the withdrawn bid was submitted.
(a) As used in this Code section, the term:
(1) “Affiliated corporation” means, with respect to any corporation, any other corporation related thereto:
(A) As a parent corporation;
(B) As a subsidiary corporation;
(C) As a sister corporation;
(D) By common ownership or control; or
(E) By control of one corporation by the other.
(2) The term “bid” includes proposals.
(b) In any case where two or more affiliated corporations bid for a contract under this Code section and any one or more of such affiliated corporations subsequently rescind or revoke their bid or bids in favor of another such affiliated corporation whose bid is for a higher amount and the contract is awarded at such higher amount to such other affiliated corporation, then the bid bond, proposal guaranty, or other security otherwise required under this article of each affiliated corporation rescinding or revoking its bid shall be forfeited.
The obligee in any bid bond required to be given in accordance with this article shall be entitled to maintain an action thereon at any time upon any breach of such bond; provided, however, that no action may be instituted on the bonds or security deposits after one year from the completion of the contract and the acceptance of the public work by the governmental entity.
Performance bonds shall be required for all public works construction contracts subject to the requirements of this chapter with an estimated contract amount greater than $100,000.00; provided, however, that a governmental entity may require a performance bond for public works construction contracts that are estimated at $100,000.00 or less. No public works construction contract requiring a performance bond shall be valid for any purpose unless the contractor shall give such performance bond. The performance bond shall be in the amount of at least the total amount payable by the terms of the contract and shall be increased as the contract amount is increased.
When the amount of the performance bond required under this article does not exceed $750,000.00, the governmental entity may, in its sole discretion, accept an irrevocable letter of credit by a bank or savings and loan association, as defined in Code Section 7-1-4, in the amount of and in lieu of the bond otherwise required under this article.
The obligee in any performance bond required to be given in accordance with this article shall be entitled to maintain an action thereon at any time upon any breach of such bond; provided, however, no action can be instituted on the bonds or security deposits after one year from the completion of the contract and the acceptance of the public work by the governmental entity.
Payment bonds shall be required for all public works construction contracts subject to the requirements of this chapter with an estimated contract amount greater than $100,000.00; provided, however, that a governmental entity may require a payment bond for public works construction contracts that are estimated at $100,000.00 or less. No public works construction contract requiring a payment bond shall be valid for any purpose, unless the contractor shall give such payment bond; provided, however, that, in lieu of such payment bond, the governmental entity, in its discretion, may accept a cashier's check, certified check, or cash for the use and protection of all subcontractors and all persons supplying labor, materials, machinery, and equipment in the prosecution of work provided in the contract. The payment bond or other security accepted in lieu of a payment bond shall be in the amount of at least the total amount payable by the terms of the initial contract and shall be increased if requested by the governmental entity as the contract amount is increased.
If a payment bond or security deposit is not taken in the manner and form required in this article, the corporation or body for which work is done under the contract shall be liable to all subcontractors and to all persons furnishing labor, skill, tools, machinery, or materials to the contractor or subcontractor thereunder for any loss resulting to them from such failure. No agreement, modification, or change in the contract, change in the work covered by the contract, or extension of time for the completion of the contract shall release the sureties of such payment bond.
(a) The contractor furnishing the payment bond or security deposit shall post on the public works construction site and file with the clerk of the superior court in the county in which the site is located a notice of commencement no later than 15 days after the contractor physically commences work on the project and supply a copy of the notice of commencement to any subcontractor, materialman, or person who makes a written request of the contractor. Failure to supply a copy of the notice of commencement within ten calendar days of receipt of the written request from the subcontractor, materialman, or person shall render the provisions of paragraph (1) of subsection (a) of Code Section 36-91-93 inapplicable to the subcontractor, materialman, or person making the request. The notice of commencement shall include:
(1) The name, address, and telephone number of the contractor;
(2) The name and location of the public work being constructed or a general description of the improvement;
(3) The name and address of the governmental entity that is contracting for the public works construction;
(4) The name and address of the surety for the performance and payment bonds, if any; and
(5) The name and address of the holder of the security deposit provided, if any.
(b) The failure to file a notice of commencement shall render the notice to contractor requirements of paragraph (2) of subsection (a) of Code Section 36-91-93 inapplicable.
(c) The clerk of the superior court shall file the notice of commencement within the records of that office and maintain an index separate from other real estate records or an index with the preliminary notices specified in subsection (a) of Code Section 44-14-361.3. Each such notice of commencement shall be indexed under the name of the governmental entity and the name of the contractor as contained in the notice of commencement.
(a) Every person entitled to the protection of the payment bond or security deposit required to be given who has not been paid in full for labor or material furnished in the prosecution of the work referred to in such bond or security deposit before the expiration of a period of 90 days after the day on which the last of the labor was done or performed by such person or the material or equipment or machinery was furnished or supplied by such person for which such claim is made, or when he or she has completed his or her subcontract for which claim is made, shall have the right to bring an action on such payment bond or security deposit for the amount, or the balance thereof, unpaid at the time of the commencement of such action and to prosecute such action to final execution and judgment for the sum or sums due such person; provided, however, that:
(1) Any person having a direct contractual relationship with a subcontractor but no contractual relationship, express or implied, with the contractor furnishing such payment bond or security deposit on a public works construction project where the contractor has not complied with the notice of commencement requirements shall have the right of action upon the payment bond or security deposit upon giving written notice to the contractor within 90 days from the day on which such person did or performed the last of the labor or furnished the last of the material or machinery or equipment for which such claim is made, stating with substantial accuracy the amount claimed and the name of the party to whom the material was furnished or supplied or for whom the labor was performed or done. The notice to the contractor may be served by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, or statutory overnight delivery, duly addressed to the contractor, at any place at which the contractor maintains an office or conducts his or her business or at his or her residence, by depositing such notice in any post office or branch post office or any letter box under the control of the United States Postal Service; alternatively, notice may be served in any manner in which the sheriffs of this state are authorized by law to serve summons or process; and
(2) Any person having a direct contractual relationship with a subcontractor but no contractual relationship, express or implied, with the contractor furnishing such payment bond or security deposit on a public works construction project where the contractor has complied with the notice of commencement requirements in accordance with subsection (a) of Code Section 36-91-92 shall have the right of action on the payment bond or security deposit, provided that such person shall, within 30 days from the filing of the notice of commencement or 30 days following the first delivery of labor, material, machinery, or equipment, whichever is later, give to the contractor a written notice setting forth:
(A) The name, address, and telephone number of the person providing labor, material, machinery, or equipment;
(B) The name and address of each person at whose instance the labor, material, machinery, or equipment is being furnished;
(C) The name and the location of the public works construction site; and
(D) A description of the labor, material, machinery, or equipment being provided and, if known, the contract price or anticipated value of the labor, material, machinery, or equipment to be provided or the amount claimed to be due, if any.
(b) Nothing contained in this Code section shall limit the right of action of a person entitled to the protection of the payment bond or security deposit required to be given pursuant to this article to the 90 day period following the day on which such person did or performed the last of the labor or furnished the last of the material or machinery or equipment for which such claim is made.
(c) Every action instituted under this Code section shall be brought in the name of the claimant without making the governmental entity for which the work was done or was to be done a party to such action.
The official who has the custody of the bond or security deposit required by this article is authorized and directed to furnish to any person making application therefor a copy of the bond or security deposit agreement and the contract for which it was given, certified by the official who has custody of the bond or security deposit. With his or her application, such person shall also submit an affidavit that he or she has supplied labor or materials for such work and that payment therefor has not been made or that he or she is being sued on any such bond or security deposit. Such copy shall be primary evidence of the bond or security deposit and contract and shall be admitted in evidence without further proof. Applicants shall pay for such certified copies and such certified statements such fees as the official fixes to cover the cost of preparation thereof, provided that in no case shall the fee fixed exceed the fees which the clerks of the superior courts are permitted to charge for similar copies.
No action can be instituted on the payment bonds or security deposits after one year from the completion of the contract and the acceptance of the public works construction by the proper public authorities. Every action instituted under this article shall be brought in the name of the claimant, without the governmental entity for which the work was done or was to be done being made a party thereto.
As used in this article, the term:
(1) “Affected local government” means any county, municipality, or consolidated government in which water storage facilities of a project are located or proposed to be located, which will receive for local use water or services from such project, or which, under a service delivery agreement entered into pursuant to Article 2 of Chapter 70 of this title, provides or is authorized to provide within an area water facilities or services similar to water facilities and services proposed to be provided by a project in such area.
(2) “Lead local authority” means the sole local governing authority or local authority participating in a project or the local governing authority or local authority designated pursuant to subsection (b) of Code Section 36-91-102.
(3) “Local authority” means any local water authority created by Act of the General Assembly, any authority created pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 62 of this title, and any authority created by a county, municipality, or consolidated government which provides water, sewer, or waste-water treatment services.
(4) “Local governing authority” means any county, municipality, or consolidated government.
(5) “Project” has the meaning provided by paragraph (10) of Code Section 12-5-471 and includes environmental facilities as defined in subparagraph (B) of paragraph (5) of Code Section 50-23-4.
(a) Local governing authorities and local authorities shall be authorized to enter into contracts provided for by this article with private persons, firms, associations, or corporations providing for or delegating the responsibility for procuring all permits, licenses, and permissions from the United States of America or any agency or instrumentality thereof; the State of Georgia, its departments, agencies, or authorities; or any county or municipality of this state as necessary or required for the purpose of constructing projects within this state, and to plan, finance, construct, acquire, lease, operate, or maintain such projects or cause such projects to be planned, financed, constructed, acquired, leased, operated, or maintained. Such contracts may provide for the reimbursement to the private person, firm, association, or corporation of costs and expenses associated with the execution thereof through service payments, user fees, purchase payments, and such other consideration as the local governing authority or local authority may deem appropriate. Such contracts may provide for the assumption by such local governing authority or local authority of such projects, permits, licenses, and permissions at such times as appropriate for the construction of the project or as otherwise agreed upon.
(b) A local governing authority or local authority may take any action to obtain federal, state, or local assistance for a project that serves the public purpose of this article and may enter into any contracts required to receive such assistance. A local governing authority or local authority may determine that it serves the public purpose of this article for all or any portion of the costs of a project to be paid, directly or indirectly, from the proceeds of a grant or loan made by the federal, state, or local government or any instrumentality thereof. A local governing authority or local authority may agree to make grants or loans to the operator of a project from time to time from amounts received from the federal, state, or local government or any agency or instrumentality thereof.
(c) Nothing in this article shall be construed to delegate the power of eminent domain to any private entity with respect to any project commenced or proposed pursuant to this article. Any local governing authority may exercise the power of eminent domain in the manner provided by law for the purpose of acquiring any property or interests therein to the extent that such action serves the public purpose of this article.
(a) In addition to other methods of procurement authorized by law, local governing authorities and local authorities shall be authorized to utilize the procedures of this article to provide for the planning, finance, construction, acquisition, leasing, operation, and maintenance of projects. The provisions of this article shall be an alternative to such other methods to be exercised at the option of each local governing authority or local authority.
(b) After identifying or being informed of any project that may be suitable for utilization of the procedures of this article, one or more local governing authorities and local authorities may participate in consideration and implementation of a project. Where more than one local governing authority or local authority agrees to participate in consideration or implementation of a project, the participants shall designate one of their number to be the lead local authority for purposes of implementing the procedures of this article; provided, however, that not less than one representative of each such participating local governing authority or local authority, as agreed to by such local governing authorities or local authorities, shall have the right to participate in all aspects of such implementation.
(c)(1) The lead local authority shall evaluate a project to determine, in the judgment of the lead local authority, appropriate or desirable levels of state, local, and private participation in financing, constructing, and operating such project. In making such determinations, the lead local authority shall seek the advice and input of affected local governments and is encouraged to seek the advice and input of the Water Supply Division of the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority, affected local governing authorities, applicable planning organizations, and the private financial and construction sectors.
(2) The lead local authority shall be authorized to issue a written request for proposals indicating the scope of the project, the proposed financial participations in the project, and the factors that will be used in evaluating the proposals as well as the relative importance of the evaluation factors, and containing or incorporating by reference other applicable contractual terms and conditions, including any unique capabilities or qualifications that will be required of the contractor. Public notice of such request for proposal shall be made at least 90 days prior to the date set for receipt of proposals by posting the legal notice on the websites of each participating local governing authority and local authority in substantially the same manner utilized by such authority to solicit requests for proposals, with a copy of such notice provided simultaneously to each affected local government.
(3) Upon receipt of a proposal or proposals responsive to the request for proposals, the lead local authority shall accept written public comment, solicited in the same manner as provided for notice of proposals, for a period of 30 days beginning at least ten days after the date set for receipt of proposals. In addition, the lead local authority shall hold at least one public hearing on such proposals within the jurisdiction of each participating local governing authority, participating local authority, or affected local government not later than the conclusion of the period for public comment.
(4)(A) The lead local authority, acting by and through a designated representative appointed for such purposes, and with the participation of any designated representatives of other participating local governing authorities or local authorities, shall engage in individual discussions with each respondent deemed fully qualified, responsible, and suitable on the basis of initial responses and with emphasis on professional competence and ability to meet the level of private financial participation called for by the local governing authority. Repetitive informal interviews shall be permissible. Any affected local governments shall receive ten days' notice of any such individual discussions and interviews and may participate through an appointed representative. In the event that the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority or any other state authority or agency agrees to consider or participate in the project, a representative of such authority or agency appointed by such authority or agency may participate in such discussions and interviews.
(B) At the discussion stage, the representatives may discuss estimates of total project costs, including, but not limited to, life cycle costing and nonbinding estimates of price for services. Discussions conducted with respondents pursuant to this subparagraph shall not be public meetings subject to the provisions of Chapter 14 of Title 50. Proprietary information or trade secrets may be designated by a respondent as subject to one or more exemptions from public disclosure pursuant to the provisions of Code Section 50-18-72, but such designation shall not be binding on the participating local governing authorities, local authorities, and affected local governments unless consistent with applicable law.
(C)(i) At the conclusion of the discussion stage, on the basis of evaluation factors published in the request for proposal and all information developed in the selection process, the designated representative, with the input of the representatives of any other participating entity and in an open and public meeting subject to the provisions of Chapter 14 of Title 50, shall select in the order of preference one or more respondents whose qualifications and proposed services are deemed most meritorious.
(ii) Negotiations shall then be conducted by the designated representative with the selected respondents. A representative of any participating local governing authority, participating local authority, and participating state agency or authority shall have the right to notice of and participation in such negotiations. Negotiations conducted with selected respondents pursuant to this division shall not be public meetings subject to the provisions of Chapter 14 of Title 50.
(D) The designated representative shall select for approval by the lead local authority the respondent for project implementation based upon contract terms that are the most satisfactory and advantageous to the participating local governing authorities and local authorities based upon a thorough assessment of value and the ability of the final project's characteristics to meet the goals of the participating local governing authorities and local authorities, consistent with applicable state-wide and regional water plans and local comprehensive plans. Before making such selection, the designated representative shall consult in an open and public meeting subject to the provisions of Chapter 14 of Title 50 with the representatives of any participating local governing authority, participating local authority, participating state agency or authority, and affected local government. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the terms and conditions for multiple awards are included in the request for proposal, the lead local authority may award contracts to more than one respondent. Should the lead local authority determine in writing that only one respondent is fully qualified, or that one respondent is clearly more highly qualified and suitable than the others under consideration, a contract may be negotiated and awarded to that respondent.
(E) Upon approval of the selection by the lead local authority, a contract or contracts not exceeding 50 years in duration may be entered into with the selected respondents on behalf of all participating entities, subject to approval by each such participating entity and by each affected local government.
(5) A dispute over the award of a contract under this article shall be resolved by the filing of a petition in the superior court of the county in which the lead local authority is located within 30 days of the awarding of such contract and shall be determined through the use of a special master appointed by the judge of the superior court of the county in which the lead local authority is located. The decision of the special master with regard to such dispute shall be appealable for a de novo review to the superior court of the county in which the lead local authority is located within 30 days following the decision of the special master. Neither the special master nor the superior court shall be authorized to enjoin or otherwise delay or suspend the execution of the contract and any work to be performed under such contract.
(6) Nothing in this Code section shall require the designated representatives, the lead local authority, or any local governing authority, local authority, or state agency or authority to continue negotiations or discussions arising out of any request for proposal.
(7) Every local governing authority and local authority shall be authorized to promulgate reasonable rules or regulations to assist in its evaluation of proposals and to implement the purposes of this article.
(d) No public officer, employee, or member of a local governing authority or local authority, with respect to contracts of such local governing authority or local authority, or the General Assembly shall serve as an agent, lobbyist, or board member for any private entity directly or indirectly under a contract or negotiating a contract provided for by this article for three years after leaving his or her position as a public officer, employee, or member of the local governing authority, local authority, or the General Assembly.
As used in this article, the term:
(1) “Comprehensive agreement” means the written agreement between the private entity and the local government required by Code Section 36-91-115.
(2) “Develop” or “development” means to plan, design, develop, finance, lease, acquire, install, construct, operate, maintain, or expand.
(3) “Local authority” means any local authority created pursuant to a local or general Act of the General Assembly, including a joint public instrumentality.
(4) “Local government” means any county, municipality, consolidated government, or board of education.
(5) “Private entity” means any natural person, corporation, general partnership, limited liability company, limited partnership, joint venture, business trust, public benefit corporation, nonprofit entity, or other business entity.
(6) “Qualifying project” means any project selected in response to a request from a local government or submitted by a private entity as an unsolicited proposal in accordance with this article and subsequently reviewed and approved by a local government, within its sole discretion, as meeting a public purpose or public need. This term shall not include and shall have no application to any project involving:
(A) The generation of electric energy for sale pursuant to Chapter 3 of Title 46;
(B) Communications services pursuant to Articles 4 and 7 of Chapter 5 of Title 46;
(C) Cable and video services pursuant to Chapter 76 of this title; or
(D) Water reservoir projects as defined in paragraph (10) of Code Section 12-5-471, which shall be governed by Article 4 of this chapter.
(7) “Revenue” means all revenues, income, earnings, user fees, lease payments, or other service payments arising out of or in connection with supporting the development or operation of a qualifying project.
(8) “Unsolicited proposal” means a written proposal for a qualifying project that is received by a local government and is not in response to any request for proposal for a qualifying project issued by a local government.
(a) The Partnership for Public Facilities and Infrastructure Act Guidelines Committee is established to prepare model guidelines for local governments in the implementation of this article.
(b) The committee shall be composed of ten persons. Except for the local government officials or staff appointed to the committee, each committee member shall have subject matter expertise in architecture, construction management, engineering, finance, or real estate development. These appointments shall be made as follows:
(1) The following members shall be appointed by the Governor:
(A) One member or employee of a county governing authority;
(B) One member or employee of a municipal governing authority;
(C) One member or employee of a local board of education; and
(D) One licensed member of the State Bar of Georgia with expertise in representing local government in public works construction.
(2) The following members shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, provided that one of these appointees shall have expertise in working with local government:
(A) One member of the business community with expertise in construction management employed by a firm with less than $25 million in annual revenue;
(B) One member of the business community who is a licensed architect; and
(C) One member of the business community with expertise in real estate development; and
(3) The following members shall be appointed by the Lieutenant Governor, provided that one of these appointees shall have expertise in working with local government:
(A) One member of the business community with expertise in construction management employed by a firm with more than $25 million in annual revenue;
(B) One member of the business community who is a licensed professional engineer; and
(C) One member of the business community with expertise in finance.
(c) The terms of these committee appointments shall be for two years. At least three of these appointees shall reside outside of the metropolitan Atlanta area. The appointments shall be made as soon as feasible, but not later than August 1, 2015. The committee shall meet once a month or as needed and shall issue model guidelines to local governments no later than July 1, 2016. Such guidelines shall be updated every two years. The members of the committee shall elect a chairperson and a vice chairperson who shall serve for two-year terms in such office.
(d) Citizen members shall receive a daily expense allowance in the amount specified in subsection (b) of Code Section 45-7-21 as well as the mileage or transportation allowance authorized for state employees.
(e) Staff support shall be provided by the Department of Administrative Services, the Governor's office, and the Office of Planning and Budget.
(a) Prior to executing any comprehensive agreement for the development or operation of a qualifying project pursuant to an unsolicited proposal received by a local government under this article, the local government shall adopt either:
(1) The model guidelines from the Partnership for Public Facilities and Infrastructure Act Guidelines Committee; or
(2) Its own guidelines as a policy, rule, regulation, or ordinance, which shall contain each of the factors identified in subsection (b) of this Code section.
(b) The model guidelines shall include, at a minimum, the following:
(1) The period of time each calendar year when the local government will consider receiving, processing, reviewing, or evaluating unsolicited proposals for qualifying projects, and such limited time period shall be established within the sole discretion of the local government;
(2) Procedures for the financial review and analysis of an unsolicited proposal that may include:
(A) A cost-benefit analysis;
(B) Evaluation of the public need for or benefit derived from the qualifying project;
(C) Evaluation of the estimated cost of the qualifying project for reasonableness in relation to similar facilities;
(D) Evaluation of the source of funding for the project;
(E) Consideration of plans to ensure timely development or operation;
(F) Evaluation of risk sharing, including cost or completion guarantees, added value, or debt or equity investments by the private entity; and
(G) Consideration of any increase in funding, dedicated revenue source, or other economic benefit that would not otherwise be available;
(3) Criteria for determining any fees authorized in Code Section 36-91-113 that the local government elects to charge the private entity for the processing, review, and evaluation of an unsolicited proposal;
(4) A requirement for the issuance of a request for proposals upon a decision by the local government to proceed with a qualifying project pursuant to an unsolicited proposal;
(5) Procedures for posting and publishing notice of the opportunity to offer competing proposals;
(6) Procedures for the processing, review, and consideration of competing proposals, and the period for the processing, review, and consideration of competing proposals shall not be less than 90 days;
(7) Procedures for determining whether information included in an unsolicited proposal shall be released as part of any request for proposals to ensure fair competition; and
(8) Procedures for identifying and appointing an independent owner adviser to the local government with expertise in architecture, engineering, or construction management to assist in the evaluation of an unsolicited proposal and to serve as owner adviser to the local government if the local government chooses to pursue any ensuing solicited bid process. The local government shall not be obligated to engage such services.
(a) If a local government adopts a rule, regulation, or ordinance affirming its participation in the process created in this article, a private entity may submit an unsolicited proposal for a project to the local government for review and determination as a qualifying project in accordance with the guidelines established by the local government. Any such unsolicited proposal shall be accompanied by the following material and information:
(1) A project description, including the location of the project, the conceptual design of such facility or facilities, and a conceptual plan for the provision of services or technology infrastructure;
(2) A feasibility statement that includes:
(A) The method by which the private entity proposes to secure any necessary property interests required for the project;
(B) A list of all permits and approvals required for the project from local, state, or federal agencies; and
(C) A list of public utility facilities, if any, that will be crossed by the project and a statement of the plans of the private entity to accommodate such crossings;
(3) A schedule for the initiation and completion of the project to include the proposed major responsibilities and timeline for activities to be performed by both the local government and private entity as well as a proposed schedule for obtaining the permits and approvals required in subparagraph (B) of paragraph (2) of this subsection;
(4) A financial plan setting forth the private entity's general plans for financing the project, including the sources of the private entity's funds and identification of any dedicated revenue source or proposed debt or equity investment on behalf of the private entity; a description of user fees, lease payments, and other service payments over the term of the comprehensive agreement pursuant to Code Section 36-91-115; and the methodology and circumstances for changes to such user fees, lease payments, and other service payments over time;
(5) A business case statement that shall include a basic description of any direct and indirect benefits that the private entity can provide in delivering the project, including relevant cost, quality, methodology, and process for identifying the project and time frame data;
(6) The names and addresses of the persons who may be contacted for further information concerning the unsolicited proposal; and
(7) Such additional material and information as the local government may reasonably request.
(b) For any unsolicited proposal of the development of a project received by a local government, the local government may charge and retain a reasonable fee to cover the costs of processing, reviewing, and evaluating the unsolicited proposal, including, without limitation, reasonable attorney's fees and fees for financial, technical, and other necessary advisers or consultants.
(c) The local government may reject any proposal or unsolicited proposal at any time and shall not be required to provide a reason for its denial. If the local government rejects a proposal or unsolicited proposal submitted by a private entity, it shall have no obligation to return the proposal, unsolicited proposal, or any related materials following such rejection.
(d) A private entity assumes all risk in submission of a proposal or unsolicited proposal in accordance with subsections (a) and (b) of this Code section, and a local government shall not incur any obligation to reimburse a private entity for any costs, damages, or loss of intellectual property incurred by a private entity in the creation, development, or submission of a proposal or unsolicited proposal for a qualifying project.
(a) The local government may approve the project in an unsolicited proposal submitted by a private entity pursuant to Code Section 36-91-113 as a qualifying project. Determination by the local government of a qualifying project shall not bind the local government or the private entity to proceed with the qualifying project.
(b) Upon the local government's determination of a qualifying project as provided in subsection (a) of this Code section, the local government shall:
(1) Seek competing proposals for the qualifying project by issuing a request for proposals for not less than 90 days; and
(2) Review all proposals submitted in response to the request for proposals based on the criteria established in the request for proposals.
(c) When the time for receiving proposals expires, the local government shall first rank the proposals in accordance with the factors set forth in the request for proposal or invitation for bids. The local government shall not be required to select the proposal with the lowest price offer, but it may consider price as one of various factors in evaluating the proposals received in response to the request for proposals for a qualifying project. Factors that may be considered include:
(1) The proposed cost of the qualifying project;
(2) The general reputation, industry experience, and financial capacity of the private entity;
(3) The proposed design of the qualifying project;
(4) The eligibility of the facility for accelerated selection, review, and documentation timelines under the local government's guidelines;
(5) Benefits to the public;
(6) The private entity's compliance with a minority business enterprise participation plan;
(7) The private entity's plans to employ local contractors and residents; and
(8) Other criteria that the local government deems appropriate.
(d) After ranking the proposals, the local government shall begin negotiations with the first ranked private entity. If the local government and the first ranked private entity do not reach a comprehensive agreement or interim agreement, then the local government may conduct negotiations with the next ranked private entity. This process shall continue until the local government either voluntarily abandons the process or executes a comprehensive agreement or interim agreement with a private entity.
(e) At any time during the process outlined in this Code section but before the full execution of a comprehensive agreement, the local government may, without liability to any private entity or third party, cancel its request for proposals or reject all proposals received in response to its request for proposals, including the unsolicited proposal, for any reason whatsoever.
(f) Nothing in this article shall enlarge, diminish, or affect the authority, if any, otherwise possessed by the local government to take action that would impact the debt capacity of the State of Georgia or any local government. The credit of this state shall not be pledged or loaned to any private entity. The local government shall not loan money to the private entity in order to finance all or a portion of the qualifying project. A multiyear lease entered into by a local government which is not terminable at the end of each fiscal year during the term of the lease shall be considered a debt of the local government which enters into such lease, and such lease shall apply against the debt limitations of the local government.
(a) The comprehensive agreement entered into between the local government and the private entity selected in accordance with this article shall include:
(1) A thorough description of the duties of each party in the completion and operation of the qualifying project;
(2) Dates and schedules for the completion of the qualifying project;
(3) Any user fees, lease payments, or service payments as may be established by agreement of the parties, as well as any process for changing such fees or payments throughout the term of the agreement, and a copy of any service contract;
(4) Any reimbursements to be paid to the local government for services provided by the local government;
(5) A process for the review of plans and specifications for the qualifying project by the local government and approval by the local government if the plans and specifications conform to reasonable standards acceptable to the local government;
(6) A process for the periodic and final inspection of the qualifying project by the local government to ensure that the private entity's activities are in accordance with the provisions of the comprehensive agreement;
(7) Delivery of performance and payment bonds in the amounts required in Code Sections 36-91-70 and 36-91-90 and in a form acceptable to the local government for those components of the qualifying project that involve construction, and surety bonds, letters of credit, or other forms of security acceptable to the local government for other phases and components of the development of the qualifying project;
(8) Submission of a policy or policies of public liability insurance, copies of which shall be filed with the local government accompanied by proofs of coverage, or self-insurance, each in form and amount satisfactory to the local government and reasonably sufficient to ensure coverage of tort liability to the public and employees and to enable the continued operation of the qualifying project;
(9) A process for monitoring the practices of the private entity by the local government to ensure that the qualifying project is properly maintained;
(10) The filing of appropriate financial statements to the local government on a periodic basis; and
(11) Provisions governing the rights and responsibilities of the local government and the private entity in the event that the comprehensive agreement is terminated or there is a material default by the private entity, including conditions governing assumption of the duties and responsibilities of the private entity by the local government and the transfer or purchase of property or other interests of the private entity by the local government, including provisions compliant with state constitutional limitations on public debt by the local government. Such policies and procedures shall be consistent with Code Section 36-91-116.
(b) The comprehensive agreement may include such other terms and conditions that the local government determines will serve the public purpose of this article and to which the private entity and the local government mutually agree, including, without limitation, provisions regarding unavoidable delays and provisions where the authority and duties of the private entity under this article shall cease and the qualifying project is dedicated to the local government for public use.
(c) Any changes in the terms of the comprehensive agreement, as may be agreed upon by the parties from time to time, shall be added to the comprehensive agreement by written amendment.
(d) The comprehensive agreement may provide for the development of phases or segments of the qualifying project.
(a) In the event of a material default by the private entity, the local government may terminate, with cause, the comprehensive agreement and exercise any other rights and remedies that may be available to it at law or in equity, including, but not limited to, claims under the maintenance, performance, or payment bonds; other forms of security; or letters of credit required by Code Section 36-91-115.
(b) The local government may elect to assume the responsibilities and duties of the private entity of the qualifying project, and in such case, it shall succeed to all of the right, title, and interest in such qualifying project subject to statutory limitations on the availability of future appropriated or otherwise unobligated funds.
(c) The power of eminent domain shall not be delegated to any private entity with respect to any project commenced or proposed pursuant to this article. Any local government having the power of condemnation under state law may exercise such power of condemnation to acquire the qualifying project in the event of a material default by the private entity. Any person who has perfected a security interest in the qualifying project may participate in the condemnation proceedings with the standing of a property owner.
(d) In the event the local government elects to take over a qualifying project pursuant to subsection (b) of this Code section, the local government may develop the qualifying project, impose user fees, and impose and collect lease payments for the use thereof.
All power or authority granted by this article to public entities shall be in addition and supplemental to, and not in substitution for, the powers conferred by any other general, special, or local law. The limitations imposed by this article shall not affect the powers conferred by any other general, special, or local law and shall apply only to the extent that a local government elects to proceed under this article.
Nothing in this article shall be construed as or deemed a waiver of the sovereign or official immunity of any local government or any officer or employee thereof with respect to the participation in, or approval of, all or any part of the qualifying project or its operation, including, but not limited to, interconnection of the qualifying project with any other infrastructure or project.
(a) Local governments that proceed with procurement pursuant to competitive sealed bidding as defined in Code Section 36-91-2, or any other purchasing options available under current law, shall not be required to comply with this article.
(b) Nothing in this article shall apply to or affect the State Transportation Board, the Department of Transportation, or the State Road and Tollway Authority, or any project thereof.
(c) Nothing in this article shall abrogate the obligations of a local government or private entity to comply with the public meetings requirement in accordance with Chapter 14 of Title 50 or to disclose public information in accordance with Article 4 of Chapter 18 of Title 50.
As used in this chapter, the term:
(1) “Claim” means any demand against a local government entity for money for a loss caused by negligence of a local government entity officer or employee using a covered motor vehicle while carrying out his or her official duties or employment.
(2) “Covered” motor vehicle means:
(A) Any motor vehicle owned by the local government entity; and
(B) Any motor vehicle leased or rented by the local government entity.
(3) “Local government entity” means any county, municipal corporation, or consolidated city-county government of this state. Such term shall not include a local school system.
(4) “Local government officer or employee” means:
(A) An officer, agent, servant, attorney, or employee of a local government entity; or
(B) A sheriff, deputy sheriff, or other agent, servant, or employee of a sheriff's office.
(5) “Loss” means personal injury, disease, death, damage to tangible property, including lost wages and economic loss to the person who suffered the injury, disease, or death; pain and suffering; mental anguish; loss of consortium; and any other element of actual damages recoverable in actions for negligence.
(6) “Motor vehicle” means any automobile, bus, motorcycle, truck, trailer, or semitrailer, including its equipment, and any other equipment permanently attached thereto, designed or licensed for use on the public streets, roads, and highways of the state.
(7) “Occurrence” means an accident involving a covered motor vehicle.
(a) The sovereign immunity of local government entities for a loss arising out of claims for the negligent use of a covered motor vehicle is waived up to the following limits:
(1) $100,000.00 because of bodily injury or death of any one person in any one occurrence, an aggregate amount of $300,000.00 because of bodily injury or death of two or more persons in any one occurrence, and $50,000.00 because of injury to or destruction of property in any one occurrence, for incidents occurring on or after January 1, 2005, and until December 31, 2006;
(2) $250,000.00 because of bodily injury or death of any one person in any one occurrence, an aggregate amount of $450,000.00 because of bodily injury or death of two or more persons in any one occurrence, and $50,000.00 because of injury to or destruction of property in any one occurrence, for incidents occurring on or after January 1, 2007, and until December 31, 2007; and
(3) $500,000.00 because of bodily injury or death of any one person in any one occurrence, an aggregate amount of $700,000.00 because of bodily injury or death of two or more persons in any one occurrence, and $50,000.00 because of injury to or destruction of property in any one occurrence, for incidents occurring on or after January 1, 2008.
(b) The sovereign immunity of local government entities for a loss arising out of claims for the negligent use of a covered motor vehicle is waived only to the extent and in the manner provided in this chapter and only with respect to actions brought in the courts of this state. This chapter shall not be construed to affect any claim or cause of action otherwise permitted by law and for which the defense of sovereign immunity is not available.
(c) Local government entities shall have no liability for losses resulting from conduct on any part of local government officers or employees which was not within the scope of their official duties or employment.
(d) The waiver provided by this chapter shall be increased to the extent that:
(1) The governing body of the local governmental entity by resolution or ordinance voluntarily adopts a higher waiver;
(2) The local government entity becomes a member of an interlocal risk management agency created pursuant to Chapter 85 of this title to the extent that coverage obtained exceeds the amount of the waiver set forth in this Code section; or
(3) The local government entity purchases commercial liability insurance in an amount in excess of the waiver set forth in this Code section.
(e) Interest prior to judgment may be recovered pursuant to the “Unliquidated Damages Interest Act” as provided for in Code Section 51-12-14; however, any recovery of interest prior to judgment shall be included within the applicable aggregate amount per occurrence as set forth in this Code section.
(a) Any local government officer or employee who commits a tort involving the use of a covered motor vehicle while in the performance of his or her official duties is not subject to lawsuit or liability therefor. Nothing in this chapter, however, shall be construed to give the local government officer or employee immunity from suit and liability if it is proved that the local government officer's or employee's conduct was not within the performance of his or her official duties.
(b) A person bringing an action against a local government entity under the provisions of this chapter shall name as a party defendant the local government entity for which the officer or employee was acting and shall not name the local government officer or employee individually. In the event that the local government officer or employee is individually named for an act for which the local government entity is liable under this chapter, the local government entity for which the local government officer or employee was acting shall be substituted as the party defendant.
(c) For the purpose of presenting evidence at the trial of a case brought under the waiver provisions of this chapter, a plaintiff calling as a witness the present or former local government officer or employee whose alleged tort forms the basis of the claim against the local government entity defendant shall be allowed to subject such witness to cross-examination.
(d) Subject to the provisions contained in Code Sections 51-1-32 through 51-1-34, a settlement or judgment in an action or settlement on a claim brought pursuant to this chapter constitutes a complete bar to any further action by the claimant against a local government officer or employee or the local government entity by reason of the same occurrence.
(e) This chapter shall not waive the workers' compensation exclusive remedy when local government officers or employees are injured on the job.
(a) Local government entities may provide for the payment of claims, settlements and judgments, and their associated costs through any method including, but not limited to, self-insurance, use of a fund within the local government's budget for the payment of claims, the purchase of liability insurance, participation in an interlocal risk management agency organized pursuant to Chapter 85 of Title 36, or a combination thereof.
(b) No award for damages under this chapter shall include punitive or exemplary damages.
(c) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, any document or information which pertains to the requesting or giving of legal advice or the disclosure of reports or evaluations of persons, including adjusters, assigned to evaluate and adjust claims concerning or pertaining to pending or potential litigation, settlement, claims, administrative proceedings, or other judicial actions brought or to be brought by or against a local government entity under this chapter shall be considered privileged and confidential and shall not be subject to disclosure until final disposition of a claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection, upon filing a lawsuit pursuant to this chapter, Chapter 11 of Title 9 and any other law applicable to cases in litigation shall apply.
(d) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to authorize an execution or levy against any local government entity's property or funds. Execution or levy against a local government entity's property or funds is expressly prohibited. However, nothing in this Code section shall bar the pursuit of any other remedies that exist to enforce a judgment under state law.
(e) Where policies of insurance or contracts of indemnity have not been purchased or entered into by a local government entity for the purposes of paying claims and judgments under this chapter, the fiscal year aggregate liability of any local government entity under this chapter shall not exceed any self-insurance or other reserve or fund established to pay claims arising out of this chapter. Where policies of insurance or contracts of indemnity have been purchased or entered into and the local government entity also self-insures or establishes another reserve or fund to pay claims arising out of this chapter, the fiscal year aggregate liability of any local government entity under this chapter shall not exceed such entity's policies of insurance or contracts of indemnity and the amount of any self-insurance or other reserve or fund established to pay claims arising out of this chapter. Any judgment obtained in excess of this limitation on annual aggregate liability shall not be void. Such excess judgments shall be paid by the local government entity no later than six months from the end of the local government entity's fiscal year in which the final judgment was entered. If there are multiple judgments, the judgments shall be paid in the order in which each final judgment was entered by the court following any appeals.
(f) The existence or amount of the waiver of immunity specified in Code Section 36-92-2 shall not be disclosed or suggested to the jury.
(g) As a condition of the waiver of sovereign immunity authorized by this chapter, all tort actions filed against a local government entity under this chapter, including any action filed against a local government entity as a joint tort-feasor, shall be brought in the state or superior court of the county wherein the local government entity resides.
This chapter shall apply to all claims and causes of actions arising out of events occurring on or after January 1, 2005.
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