GMA Publications

Displaying Items 1-15 (of 21)

A Guide for Local Government on Medical Cannabis in Georgia

February 8, 2024

January 2024

The purpose of this guide is to educate and familiarize local governments about the Hope Act and foster a better understanding of the important role they serve in potentially providing local access to medical cannabis in their communities through dispensaries and pharmacies licensed and regulated by the state.

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2022 Georgia Municipal Redistricting Guide

January 28, 2022

Georgia Municipal Association

Redistricting, or "reapportionment" is the redrawing of the boundaries of an elective political district. It may be the most difficult task that governing bodies in republican forms of government face. It involves making difficult decisions constricted by extremely complicated federal and state jurisprudence in the context of a political process.

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Renegotiating Local Option Sales Tax (LOST)

September 13, 2021

April 2021

State law requires periodic renegotiation of the LOST distribution certificate. With the release of the 2020 Census data, all counties and municipalities that currently impose a LOST are required to renegotiate the distribution certificate for the proceeds of the tax on or before July 1, 2022. The Georgia Municipal Association prepares a publication to inform city officials who will be involved in the LOST renegotiation process about the requirements, processes, and timelines that are set forth in state law.

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Distilling the Basics of Municipal Alcoholic Beverage Regulation

October 29, 2020

October 2020 - Fourth Edition

This publication is to familiarize city officials with some of the important basics in the area of alcoholic beverage regulation.

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Preparing Tomorrow's Leaders Today: A Guide to Creating Youth Councils

April 8, 2019

June 2021 - Third Edition

Throughout the state, city leaders are beginning to see their younger citizens as a resource for community problem-solving. In these cities, youth councils are working with elected officials and other city leaders to tackle important issues, and discovering that their voice matters to their city leaders. This publication has been produced to help you in your decision on how to establish a youth council and which versions would work best for your city.

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Best Practices For Streamlining the Permitting Process

January 25, 2018

January 2018 / First Edition

The permitting process can be daunting. Many Georgia cities have streamlined the permitting process by implementing best practices to offer more transparent solutions, and to encourage economic development to improve their communities.

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Municipal Courts: A Guide for Municipal Elected Officials

December 21, 2017

1st Ed. (2017-12-01); Appx. 2nd Ed. (2020-07-14)

To help educate elected municipal officials on necessary components of municipal court operations, the Georgia Municipal Association published the first edition of Municipal Courts: A Guide for Municipal Elected Officials on December 1, 2017. By reviewing this publication, municipal elected officials and municipal employees will gain a greater understanding of municipal courts, their operations, and the laws which govern them. The Appendix, updated July 14, 2020, contains several documents developed by GMA: a city self-assessment of municipal court best practices; a sample Annual Report & Affirmation for Municipal Court Judges and Clerks; model municipal court judge ordinances; sample Service Agreements for municipal court judges (one as employee, one as independent contractor); a model municipal court prosecutor ordinance; a model resolution appointing a municipal court prosecutor; and a sample contract with a probation service provider. As with any model documents, GMA recommends that city officials consult with the city attorney before using any model self-assessments or adopting any contracts, ordinances, resolutions, or other model documents.

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Immigration Mandates on Municipalities

April 12, 2017

April 2017 - Fourth Edition

This edition contains information on and from Senate Bill 529, which passed in the 2006 Session of the Georgia General Assembly, House Bill 2, which passed in the 2009 Session, House Bill 87, which passed in the 2011 Session, Senate Bill 160, which passed in the 2013 Session, and Senate Bill 269, which passed in the 2016 Session.

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Occupation Taxes and Regulatory Fees: Make Them Work for Your City

May 15, 2015

May 2015 - Second Edition

This guide is an overview of the current law governing occupation taxes and regulatory fees and should be helpful to municipal officials when implementing occupation tax and regulatory fee ordinances.

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Government in the Sunshine: A Guide to Georgia's Open Meetings and Open Records Laws for Municipal Officials

August 1, 2014

August 2014, eleventh edition

GMA is pleased to provide for municipal officials a review of the key features of the Georgia open meetings and open records laws. These laws were significantly revised in the 2012 session of the Georgia General Assembly.

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Georgia Model Municipal Charter

January 1, 2014

January 2014, fifth edition

GMA is pleased to provide this revised Georgia Model Municipal Charter as an aid to city officials who wish to modernize their existing city charter. While a complete revision of a city charter requires action by the General Assembly, many amendments can be accomplished by a mayor and council acting pursuant to the Home Rule Act of 1965.

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Growing Cities, Growing Georgia: A Guide to Georgia's Annexation Law

January 1, 2014

January 2014, sixth edition

The purpose of this publication is to provide a step-by-step guide to the present annexation laws contained in Title 36 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated for use by lay persons, city officials, city staff and particularly, local government attorneys.

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SPLOST: Building for the Future

June 1, 2012

June 2012 - Third Edition

This publication has been prepared to provide municipal officials a discussion of legal and policy considerations relevant to the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST). This publication is intended to assist municipal officials in identifying issues so that they can discuss them and appropriately consult with their city attorney.

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Municipal Officials Guide to Tax Reform: HB 386

April 1, 2012

April 2012

Passed during the 2012 Legislative Session, HB 386 had several provisions that did not pertain to local governments’ revenue, such as the personal income tax exemption for married filers, state jet fuel tax exemption expansion, changes to the state tax credit for conservation easements and capping the personal income tax retirement exclusion.

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A Survival Guide for Newly Elected Municipal Officials

February 1, 2012

February 2012, 4th Edition

This publication has been prepared to assist newly elected officials in becoming more acquainted with their roles and responsibilities as mayors and council members in Georgia. It contains numerous tips to help officials perform their duties and avoid unnecessary pitfalls.

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Displaying Items 1-15 (of 21)