Capitol Connection E-Newsletter – August 2017
 August 17,2017
2017 Legislative Leadership Conference
In less than one month we'll be heading to the beautiful Augusta-Richmond County! Join ACCG and Georgia’s county officials for the fall policy conference as we explore a new location and finalize ACCG's Legislative Agenda and Priorities for the 2018 legislative session. Contact your county clerk to register today. Click  here for more information. 

Get Ready to Appoint Your County's Voting Delegate
It’s that time again! Time to appoint your county voting delegate for the upcoming Legislative Leadership Conference. Please be on the lookout for an email from Rhonda Ligons with more information.
Learn Why Your County’s Response is Important to the ACCG Aging Survey
The ACCG Aging Survey covers the six topics of: Community Services, Medical Services, Transportation, Workforce Development, Housing, and Elderly Abuse and Neglect. View the video to learn more about senior service needs across the state. If your county has not already completed the survey, please do so by using this survey form to help provide ACCG with the most comprehensive survey results.

House Commission on Transit Governance and Funding 
The Commission met for the second time on Wednesday, August 2nd. The Commission voted to approve the release of an RFP for a statewide study of Georgia’s transits systems. The next commission meeting will be held in Gwinnett at a date and time to be determined and will focus on funding options. To view meeting materials and a video of the most recent meeting go to: House Commission on Transit Governance & Funding

Solid Waste Management Rule Updates
If your county owns a landfill (active or closed) or you have a private landfill located in your county, be aware that the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) Land Protection Branch is in the process of updating rule changes for solid waste management. A stakeholder meeting to discuss the proposed rule changes will take place August 17th at the Tradeport Training Center in Atlanta from 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. - info here. The draft rules will soon be posted to the EPD website and the division will be accepting public comments until September 8th. If you have questions, contact: Kathleen Bowen ( kbowen@accg.org). 

FY 2018 Applications Open for Nonpoint Source Implementation Grant
The Georgia Environmental Protection Division receives an annual grant under Section 319(h) of the Clean Water Act to help prevent, control and/or abate nonpoint source pollution in support of Georgia’s Nonpoint Source Management Program. GA EPD then conducts a competitive process to fund eligible projects that will lead to direct reductions in pollutant loads and measurable water quality improvements in impaired waters throughout the state. Public entities such as cities or county governments with Qualified Local Government status; regional and state agencies; authorities that 
operate public services or delivery programs; regional commissions; county extensions; local school systems; and state colleges and universities may apply.
Application Deadline is OCTOBER 31, 2017. Visit here for more details.

Updated Energy Excise Tax County List Now Available
In 2012, the Georgia General Assembly passed a law that would allow counties and cities to enact a local excise tax on energy used in manufacturing. This is an optional tax that was designed to replace the local sales tax revenues lost to the statewide sales tax exemption on energy used in manufacturing enacted the same year. Since that time, ACCG has tracked counties on an annual basis that have enacted this tax. By surveying counties and researching county ordinances, ACCG has surmised that there are 48 counties that have passed an ordinance to levy the tax. Of these counties, two (Baker and Tift) do not currently the levy the tax. As such, 46 counties are currently levying the tax. A complete list of the counties that have the tax can be found here
Check out ACCG TV
Are you interested in seeing what's going on at ACCG? Visit ACCG TV to view conference videos, interviews and more. Stay Tuned to see what ACCG.tv has in store!
Save the Date for the 2017 Legislative Leadership Conference!