08 SR996/AP
Senate
Resolution 996
By:
Senators Weber of the 40th, Reed of the 35th, Thompson of the 5th, Balfour of
the 9th, Moody of the 56th and others
AS
PASSED
A
RESOLUTION
Proposing
an amendment to the Constitution so as to authorize community redevelopment and
authorize counties, municipalities, and local boards of education to use tax
funds for redevelopment purposes and programs, including the payment of debt
service on tax allocation bonds; to provide for submission of this amendment for
ratification or rejection; and for other purposes.
BE
IT RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION
1.
Article
IX, Section II, Paragraph VII is amended by adding a new subparagraph and by
revising subparagraph (b) to read as follows:
"(a.1)
The General Assembly may authorize any county, municipality, or housing
authority to undertake and carry out community redevelopment.
(b)
The General Assembly is also authorized to grant to counties or municipalities
for redevelopment purposes and in connection with redevelopment programs, as
such purposes and programs are defined by general law, the power to issue tax
allocation bonds, as defined by such law, and the power to incur other
obligations, without either such bonds or obligations constituting debt within
the meaning of Section V of this article, and the power to enter into contracts
for any period not exceeding 30 years with private persons, firms, corporations,
and business entities. Such general law may authorize the use of county,
municipal, and school tax funds, or any combination thereof, to fund such
redevelopment purposes and programs, including the payment of debt service on
tax allocation bonds, notwithstanding Section VI of Article VIII or any other
provision of this Constitution and regardless of whether any county,
municipality, or local board of education approved the use of such tax funds for
such purposes and programs before January 1, 2009. No county, municipal, or
school tax funds may be used for such purposes and programs without the approval
by resolution of the applicable governing body of the county, municipality, or
local board of education. No school tax funds may be used for such purposes and
programs except as authorized by general law after January 1, 2009; provided,
however, that any school tax funds pledged for the repayment of tax allocation
bonds which have been judicially validated pursuant to general law shall
continue to be used for such purposes and programs. Notwithstanding the grant
of these powers pursuant to general law, no county or municipality may exercise
these powers unless so authorized by local law and unless such powers are
exercised in conformity with those terms and conditions for such exercise as
established by that local law. The provisions of any such local law shall
conform to those requirements established by general law regarding such powers.
No such local law, or any amendment thereto, shall become effective unless
approved in a referendum by a majority of the qualified voters voting thereon in
the county or municipality directly affected by that local
law."
SECTION
2.
The
above proposed amendment to the Constitution shall be published and submitted as
provided in Article X, Section I, Paragraph II of the Constitution. The ballot
submitting the above proposed amendment shall have written or printed thereon
the following:
|
"( ) YES
( ) NO
|
Shall
the Constitution of Georgia be amended so as to authorize community
redevelopment and authorize counties, municipalities, and local boards of
education to use tax funds for redevelopment purposes and
programs?"
|
All
persons desiring to vote in favor of ratifying the proposed amendment shall vote
"Yes." All persons desiring to vote against ratifying the proposed amendment
shall vote "No." If such amendment shall be ratified as provided in said
Paragraph of the Constitution, it shall become a part of the Constitution of
this state.