Bill would limit Towns County assessment hikes
LEGISLATIVE REPORT
By REP. CHARLES JENKINS

Charles Jenkins

Last week, I reported on House Resolution 3, which I have co-sponsored as a proposed constitutional amendment that would cap annual property tax reassessments for homeowners at either 3 percent or the rate of inflation for that year, whichever is lower, throughout the state of Georgia.

For passage, this state-wide legislation requires a two-thirds majority vote by both the Georgia House of Representatives and the Georgia Senate. However, whether it passes or not during this legislative session, I will proceed this week to introduce local legislation with similar assessment caps for Towns County, requested by Sole Commissioner, Bill Kendall.

On Thursday, a celebration was held at the Capitol recognizing the milestone of one million HOPE Scholarship recipients since the inception of the program in 1993. It is truly an outstanding achievement for Georgia to have been able to send a million students to our state's colleges, universities and technical colleges at no tuition cost. This is a very proud accomplishments for our state and a reminder that we must continue to work diligently to protect HOPE against any attempt to cut, restrict otherwise derail the program.

Enotah Judgeship - I am also cosponsoring House Bill 104, which would create an additional Superior Court judgeship for the Enotah Judicial Circuit. This would help reduce the case load and speed up the justice system in the courts of Towns, Union, White and Lumpkin Counties.

Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice Leah Sears presented the

annual State of the Judiciary address to a joint legislative session Wednesday. Chief Justice Sears related, "In the halls of justice throughout the state, I have witnessed first hand first-rate judges, court staff and lawyers working together to provide for the peaceful resolution of disputes, to protect constitutional rights and to uphold the rule of law. Their commitment to Georgia is remarkable and gratifying."

Legislation has been introduced as an effort to protect the marshlands along the Georgia coast.

House Resolution 51 urges the state Department of Natural Resources to refrain from adopting rules that would put the state's marshlands in jeopardy by going to a 25-foot buffer between the marsh and upland development. The rules proposed would also not allow consideration of storm water runoff from upland developments. Members of the DNR's coastal committee defeated that proposal by a 4-2 vote and instead backed a measure placing a 50-foot buffer along Georgia's marshland under a measure the group could consider next month.

HR 51 states that Georgia has protected these salt marshlands by strong legislation since 1970, and the growing popularity of our coast as a place to visit and live makes it ever more important that the salt marsh be strongly protected. This is good news for Georgia's marshlands but there should be more to come on this issue, stay tuned.

State Highway 180 - Mr. Virgil Almond of Suches represented a large number of local citizens from Suches on January 26 in a meeting at the Capitol with D.O.T. Commissioner Harold Linnenkohl to discuss the increasing number of bicycles traveling a dangerous 12-mile stretch of Highway 180, between Suches and Vogle State Park. Mr. Almond expressed concern for the safe travel of bicycle riders and those in vehicles who negotiate the mountainous curves of the narrow road. After a lengthy discussion, Commissioner Linnenkohl offered assurance the D.O.T. engineers would study the situation to determine if changes could be made to enhance safer travel for those who travel the state route. I will follow up in a later report of D.O.T.'s action.

Family Day at the State Capitol will be held Saturday, February 10. The legislature will be in session, and this is an opportunity for Georgians who are at work during the week to visit the Capitol and watch the lawmaking process. I hope you will take advantage of this event and join us that day.

Rep. Charles Jenkins (DBlairsville) represents the 8th District (Rabun, Towns, Union and White counties) in the Georgia House of Representatives. Contact him at 411 Coverdell Office Building, Atlanta, GA 30334; by phone at 404-656-0126 or by e-mail atcharles.jenkins@house.ga.gov.