This bill requires local governments to send, via electronic PDF file, their annual budgets and audits to the Carl Vinson Institute of Government to be posted on a centralized website.  Counties will have up to 30 days to submit their budget once it is adopted.  

This legislation requires the DNR to establish the Georgia Geospatial Advisory Council to audit Georgia's GIS capabilities at the county, regional and state level.  The Council shall make recommendations to the General Assembly on how to move forward in achieving governmental GIS interoperability for the benefit of Georgia citizens in the areas of floodplain management and notification, service delivery, transportation, public safety and economic development, among others.                     

Any county failing to contract for their annual audit within 180 days of the end of their fiscal year may be subject to an audit conducted on behalf of the State Auditor. Local sales tax money would be withheld to pay for the audit and a penalty equal to 50% of the cost of the audit would be imposed.

This legislation requires the state to prepare an annual report showing all user fees, the statute or regulation authorizing the fee, the estimated cost of the goods or services, the amount collected from the user fee and whether the fee is retained by the department or remitted to the general fund.  The Office of Planning and Budget would publish the compilation of reports on the Open Georgia website.  This legislation does not apply to local government user fees.

This bill creates a Transparency in Government Act would require the Department of Audits and Accounts to post various financial information of all state departments, commissioner, authorities and agencies; the Board of Regents; any regional educational service agency; the General Assembly; and local boards of education.