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May, 2013
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Marketplace Fairness Act Passes Senate
May 13, 2013
The Marketplace Fairness Act (MFA), S. 743, passed the U.S.Senate on May 6 by a vote of 69-27. Sen. Isakson and Sen. Chambliss both voted for the bill's passage.
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Essay Contest Winners Recognized
May 8, 2013
Rebecca Ledlow, a 6th grader at Southeast Bulloch Middle School in Brooklet, would listen to others, protect the environment and bring business to town if she were mayor.
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Georgia's Smaller Cities Share Issues, Heart
May 7, 2013
Georgia’s smaller cities are looking for more technical assistance and seeking budget solutions, according to meetings GMA has had with small city leaders around the state.
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April, 2013
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Final Senate Consideration for Marketplace Fairness Set for May 6th
April 30, 2013
On Friday, April 25, the Marketplace Fairness Act advanced in the Senate by clearing its fourth procedural hurdle this year. The Senate adjourned for a one week recess and will return for final consideration of the bill on Monday, May 6.
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GMA Adds Pre-Convention Workshop
April 23, 2013
GMA has scheduled a special pre-convention workshop for Friday, June 21 from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm at the Savannah International Trade and Convention Center. The workshop, Big Changes Coming to Retirement Plans, will focus on new accounting requirements made by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) that will change how cities report pension liabilities on their financial statements.
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Marketplace Fairness Act Could Be Voted On Next Week
April 18, 2013
GMA has learned that the Marketplace Fairness Act, S. 336, could come up for a vote on the Senate floor as early as next week.
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Heart and Soul Bus Tour Showcases Downtown Progress
April 15, 2013
The 13th annual "Heart and Soul of Georgia" bus tour took about 45 developers, business leaders and elected officials to nine downtowns to get an up close view of what can happen when city officials collaborate with residents, business owners and other stakeholders to revitalize their downtowns.
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Muni Bond Exemption Cap Included in President's Budget Proposal
April 15, 2013
President Obama’s FY2014 budget proposal includes measures designed to bring in additional revenues by closing tax loopholes. Among the proposals is a 28 percent cap on tax-exempt interest for municipal bonds, a limitation that the President sought in FY2013.
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Retiring Senator Chambliss Shares Insight on Federal Regulations
April 9, 2013
Earlier this year, United States Senator Saxby Chambliss announced he would not seek re-election when his term ends in 2014. This will mark the end of a long career of public service for Chambliss, who was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1994.
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Four Cities Receive Federal Historic Preservation Grants
Georgia Department of Natural Resources
April 5, 2013
Four Georgia cities received federally funded grants to conduct historic preservation projects
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March, 2013
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Parts of Georgia's Immigration Laws Struck Down
March 27, 2013
On March 20, federal district court judge Thomas Thrash issued a permanent injunction preventing enforcement of portions of the Georgia's immigration laws.
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Senate Supports Marketplace Fairness Act Amendment
National League of Cities
March 27, 2013
Just before departing Washington for a two week recess, the Senate passed an amendment to the FY2014 Budget Resolution by a vote of 75 - 24 that puts the Senate on record as supporting the Marketplace Fairness Act.
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$9.7 Million Awarded for Water/Waste-Water Improvements
March 27, 2013
The cities of Alma, Calhoun, Tybee Island, and the Polk County Water, Sewage & Solid Waste Authority, were recently awarded financing totaling $9,700,000 for water and wastewater infrastructure improvements by the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA).
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Federal Issues Update: Marketplace Fairness Act & Muni Bond Tax Exemption
March 22, 2013
As both houses of Congress continue to debate budget issues, both the muni bond tax exemption and Marketplace Fairness Act remain in play. GMA encourages city officials to stay in touch with their contacts in federal offices and request their support.
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Buzz Wachsteter: Fighting for Internet Tax Fairness
peopleplacepurpose.com
March 20, 2013
Rome City Commissioner Buzz Wachsteter has been advocating for Internet tax fairness on behalf of Rome, other Georgia cities and GMA for a number of years. In this Q&A, he talks about Internet tax fairness and how Georgia city officials can help get the federal Marketplace Fairness Act passed.
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February, 2013
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Muni Bonds and Internet Sales Tax Collections in Play in D.C.
February 28, 2013
As Congress and the Administration continue the debate over the national deficit, federal budget, and tax code reform, most of the news has focused on the political standoff associated with sequestration. Two areas that appear to have bipartisan support, removing the tax exemption on interest paid for municipal bonds and legislation to begin enforcing the collection of taxes on remote/internet sales, impact cities directly.
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Broadband Bill Could Limit Economic Growth In Rural Communities
February 28, 2013
City officials from Elberton, Thomasville and Lagrange told legislators at a Georgia House Energy, Utility and Telecommunications subcommittee hearing that HB 282 could impede economic development in rural Georgia. HB 282 would limit the ability of Georgia cities to deploy or expand broadband service in their communities.
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Employer PPACA Health Insurance Exchange Notification Delayed
February 28, 2013
A requirement that employers provide a notice required by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) to their employees about health insurance exchanges by March 1, 2013, has been indefinitely delayed.
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The Need for Speed
February 27, 2013
Does 1.5Mbps meet the broadband needs of businesses and individuals in the 21st Century?
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Downtown Renaissance Act Gets Hearing, Supported by Developers
February 14, 2013
Rep. Allen Peake (R-Macon) presented HB 128, the Georgia Renaissance Act, to the House Ways and Means Income Tax Subcommittee on Wednesday, February 13.
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A Narrow Minded Approach to Broadband
February 13, 2013
It’s becoming a recurring theme when the Georgia General Assembly meets each year: legislation is introduced that would severely limit the ability of cities to deploy or expand broadband services in their communities. Last year it was Senate Bill 313, this year it’s House Bill 282, Municipal Preemption on Broadband Deployment.
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City Officials Ponder Their Role in Education
February 13, 2013
Cities leaders from across the state spent January 25, the Friday afternoon before the Georgia Municipal Association’s Mayors’ Day, talking and brainstorming ideas about how they can play a greater role in improving the state’s education system.
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January, 2013
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$13.4 Million Awarded for Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Improvements
January 31, 2013
The Georgia Environmental Finance Authority awarded $13,455,529 to seven local governments for water and wastewater infrastructure improvements on January 29, 2013.
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NLC Announces 2013 Federal Legislative Priorities
Carolyn Coleman, National League of Cities
January 30, 2013
With action getting underway in the new Congress, NLC and city leaders are preparing to make their voices heard on a number of key legislative priorities that are likely to be considered this year.
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Time for Cities to Update Their Road Centerline Mileage Information with DOT
January 30, 2013
In the ongoing effort of the Georgia Department of Transportation to provide the best possible information on our state’s road network, the department is asking for each city and county to provide it with the total number of paved and unpaved roads within their jurisdiction.
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DNR Board Approves Inert Landfill Rule Change
January 24, 2013
The Board of the Department of Natural Resources has approved a rule change that creates a new permitting process for inert landfills.
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Bill Would Boost Downtown Investment
GPB
January 14, 2013
A new bill would give tax credits to entrepreneurs developing property in Georgia’s downtowns. Its backers say those areas deserve help because they draw tourists and are still where many jobs are.
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GMA Property & Liability Program Announces $5 Million Dividend for 2013
January 10, 2013
The Board of Trustees of GMA’s property and liability insurance program has declared a $5 million dividend for the May 1, 2013, renewal
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Fiscal Cliff Averted but Muni Bonds Still at Risk
January 9, 2013
On New Years’ Day, 2013, Congress approved legislation to address the year-end tax hikes and spending cuts commonly referred to as the “fiscal cliff." Importantly for cities, the bill does not call for any changes to the tax exemption status of municipal bonds.
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Debate Over New Georgia Cities Returns to the Legislature
WABE
January 5, 2013
Recently, metro Atlanta has seen an explosion of new cities, and advocates in other areas are trying to start cityhood drives in their neighborhoods. But one Georgia lawmaker says the process is too careless, failing to take into account the effect new cities have on their counties, and on surrounding cities.
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December, 2012
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Turner municipalities win historic first arbitration ruling
Albany Herald
December 22, 2012
In what may well be a landmark decision, Georgia Senior Judge O. Wayne Ellerbee ruled Monday and released Friday his findings in the first “baseball arbitration” local-option sales tax ruling that has gone through the entire process laid out by the state Legislature.
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$836,684 Approved for Water Infrastructure Projects
December 20, 2012
The cities of Edison, Jeffersonville and Patterson were awarded financing totaling $836,684 for water and wastewater infrastructure improvements by the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA) executive committee today.
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Tax Credits Proposed to Revitalize Georgia Downtowns
13WMAZ
December 15, 2012
Sprucing up storefronts and houses in downtown Macon could mean state tax credits for business and homeowners.
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SPLOST Reports Due December 31
December 14, 2012
All local governments receiving proceeds from SPLOST must publish a SPLOST report in a newspaper of general circulation within that city or county and on the government website, if they have one, by December 31 of each year.
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Young Gamechangers Aim to Help Americus
peopleplacepurpose.com
December 7, 2012
How can Americus and Sumter County—a mostly agricultural community with a population of approximately 17,000, about the same at its height in 1901—become a destination for the young, entrepreneurial and/or retirees?
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November, 2012
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Investing in Georgia's Downtowns: A Georgia Downtown Renaissance Act Q&A
November 29, 2012
Paul Radford, GMA's Deputy Director for External Affairs, has been making presentations around the state about the Georgia Downtown Renaissance Act. In this Q&A, he briefly talks about the proposed legislation and its importance to Georgia's downtowns and the state.
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NLC Appoints New Executive Director
November 29, 2012
The National League of Cities Board of Directors have appointed Clarence E. Anthony as NLC's new Executive Director. Anthony served as mayor of South Bay, Florida, for 24 years and is past president of both NLC and the Florida League of Cities.
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Immigration Annual Reports Due by End of the Year
November 29, 2012
GMA would like to remind Georgia's cities that the 2012 reports for Georgia's immigration laws are all due by the end of the year.
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Governor Deal Addresses Metro Atlanta Mayors
November 21, 2012
Gov. Nathan Deal spent about 40 minutes in conversation with more than 45 members of the Metro Atlanta Mayors Association (MAMA) at a luncheon he hosted at the Governor’s Mansion on Nov. 13.
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NLC Pressures Congress to Avert Sequestration
Carolyn Coleman, National League of Cities
November 19, 2012
With less than six weeks to go before more than $100 billion in automatic spending cuts to federal defense and non-defense programs start taking effect, pressure on Congress and the Administration to find other options for reducing the federal deficit continues with a wide range of diverse groups who will be hit hard by the cuts intensifying their lobbying campaigns in Washington.
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State Looks at Changing Penalties for Minor Traffic Offenses
November 6, 2012
Three separate state committees are looking at the issue of decriminalizing or reclassifying minor traffic offenses, with the goal of introducing legislation for the 2013 session.
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