This legislation started off helping the Atlanta Beltline finance itself by allowing for contracts between local governments and the private sector. Language which would have required local governments to pay for the relocation of utilities located in the public rights-of-way was removed in the conference committee report that passed. ACCG commends conference committee members who worked to address counties' concerns.

This legislation instills meaningful reforms and more predictability in the process of creating new cities in Georgia.  Current law has very few requirements to formulate a new city, often putting legislators in the position of refereeing contentious local disputes with inadequate information by which both legislators and the public can make an informed decision.  Among other provisions, this legislation expands the new city's impact study to look at the fiscal and service delivery impacts on the entire county, prohibits unincorporated islands, places several of the current "rules" in statute so that they cannot be changed in the middle of the process, and studies what impact the newly incorporated area will have on past pension obligations to the county. For a more detailed summary, please click here.