GEORGIA CONSTITUTION OF 1976
(text as ratified by Georgia voters on November 2, 1976)

 

 

 

ARTICLE IX.

COUNTIES AND MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS

SECTION I.

COUNTIES

Paragraph I. Counties a Corporate Body; Boundaries. Each county shall be a body corporate with such powers and limitations as are provided in this Constitution and as prescribed by law. All suits by or against a county shall be in the name thereof; and the metes and bounds of the several counties shall remain as now prescribed by law, unless changed as hereinafter provided.

Paragraph II. Number Limited. There shall not be more than one hundred and fifty-nine counties in this State.

Paragraph III. New Counties Permitted, When. No new county shall be created except by the consolidation or merger of existing counties.

Paragraph IV. County Lines. County lines shall not be changed, unless under the operation of a general law for that purpose.

Paragraph V. County Sites Changed; Method. No county site shall be changed or removed, except by a two-thirds vote of the qualified voters of the county, voting at an election held for that purpose and by a majority vote of the General Assembly.

Paragraph VI. County Government Uniform; Exceptions. Whatever tribunal, or officers, may be created by the General Assembly for the transaction of county matters, shall be uniform throughout the State, and of the same name, jurisdiction, and remedies, except that the General Assembly may provide for County Commissioners in any county, may abolish the office of County Treasurer in any county, may fix the compensation of County Treasurers, and may consolidate the offices of Tax Receiver and Tax Collector into the office of Tax Commissioner, and may fix his compensation, without respect to uniformity.

Paragraph VII. Power to Create County Commissioners. The General Assembly shall have power to provide for the creation of county commissioners in such counties as may require them, and to define their duties.

Paragraph VIII. County Officers; Election; Term; Removal; Eligibility. The county officers shall be elected by the qualified voters of their respective counties or districts, and shall hold their office for four years. They shall be removed upon conviction for malpractice in office; and no person shall be eligible for any of the offices referred to in this Paragraph unless he shall have been a resident of the county for two years and is a qualified voter.

Paragraph IX. Compensation of County Officers. County officers may be on a fee basis, salary basis, or fee basis supplemented by salary, in such manner as may be directed by law.

Paragraph X. Method of County Consolidation, Merger, or Division. The General Assembly shall have power, with the concurrence of a majority of the qualified voters voting thereon in each of the counties affected, to provide for the consolidation of two or more counties into one, or the merger of one or more counties into another, or the division of a county, and the merger of portions thereof into other counties; provided, however, upon the filing with the Judge of the Probate Court of any county of a petition signed by not less than twenty per centum (20%) of the duly qualified voters of such county, seeking such merger, consolidation or division, it shall be the duty of such Judge of the Probate Court to transmit a certified copy of such petition to each Judge of the Probate Court of all other counties affected thereby, and shall be the duty of the latter to provide for the publication of such petition, omitting therefrom the names affixed to such petition, in the newspaper in which the sheriff's advertisements are published, once a week for a period of six consecutive weeks. If within a period of two years thereafter, a petition is presented to the Judge of the Probate Court or Judges of the Probate Courts of the other county or counties affected, expressing favor or approval of the original petition, signed by not less than twenty per centum (20%) of the duly qualified voters voting therein, it shall thereupon be the duty of the Judges of the Probate Courts of all such counties affected by such petitions, to certify the fact of such petitions to the Governor, whose duty it shall then be to call immediately an election on the same day in each such county, to be held not later than sixty (60) days, and not sooner than thirty (30) days, after the filing of the last petition, publishing notice thereof once a week for two weeks in the newspaper in each county in which sheriff's advertisements are published. Provided, however, that only one such election shall be called by the Governor within any twelve-month period. The Judges of the Probate Courts of each county shall conduct the election, canvass the returns, and certify the results thereof to the Governor, who shall issue his proclamation thereon, and such results shall become effective at such time as may be prescribed by law, but not later than two (2) years following the date of such election, as hereinafter referred to. Provided, however, any election held pursuant to the call of the Governor hereunder shall be null and void unless 51% of the registered voters of the portion or portions of the counties affected shall have voted in said election. The members of the General Assembly whose districts lie wholly or partially within such counties shall serve out the remainder of their terms for which elected, and at the Session of the General Assembly next following such election, the county site shall be changed by law, without regard to the provisions of Paragraph V hereof, and the General Assembly shall likewise provide by law for the effective date of such merger, consolidation or division, as the case may be, subject to the above limitation of two years, and shall provide for the election of county officials, where required. The General Assembly shall have power to further implement this Paragraph by law.

SECTION II.

COUNTY HOME RULE

Paragraph I. Home Rule for Counties. (a) The governing authority of each county shall have legislative power to adopt clearly reasonable ordinances, resolutions or regulations relating to its property, affairs and local government for which no provision has been made by general law and which is not inconsistent with this Constitution, or any local law applicable thereto. Any such local law shall remain in force and effect until amended or repealed as provided in Subparagraph (b). This, however, shall not restrict the authority of the General Assembly by general law to further define this power or to broaden, limit or otherwise regulate the exercise thereof. The General Assembly shall not pass any local law to repeal, modify or supersede any action taken by a county governing authority under this Section except as authorized under Subparagraph (c) hereof.

(b) Except as provided in Subparagraph (c), a county may, as an incident of its home rule power, amend or repeal the local acts applicable to its governing authority by following either of the procedures hereinafter set forth:

1. Such local acts may be amended or repealed by a resolution or ordinance duly adopted at two regular consecutive meetings of the county governing authority not less than seven nor more than sixty days apart. A notice containing a synopsis of the proposed amendment or repeal shall be published in the official county organ once a week for three weeks within a period of sixty days immediately preceding its final adoption. Such notice shall state that a copy of the proposed amendment or repeal is on file in the office of the clerk of the superior court of the county for the purpose of examination and inspection by the public. The Clerk of the Superior Court shall furnish anyone, upon written request, a copy of the proposed amendment or repeal. No amendment or repeal hereunder shall be valid to change or repeal an amendment adopted pursuant to a referendum as provided in 2. of this Subparagraph or to change or repeal a local act of the General Assembly ratified in a referendum by the electors of such county unless at least twelve months have elapsed after such referendum. No amendment hereunder shall be valid if inconsistent with any provision of this Constitution or if provision has been made therefor by general law.

2. Amendments to or repeals of such local acts or ordinances, resolutions or regulations adopted pursuant to Subparagraph (a) hereof may be initiated by a petition filed with the Judge of the Probate Court of the county containing, in cases of counties with a population of five thousand or less, the signatures of at least twenty-five per centum of the electors registered to vote in the last general election; in cases of counties with a population of more than five thousand but not more than fifty thousand, at least twenty per centum of the electors registered to vote in the last general election; and in cases of a county with a population of more than fifty thousand, at least ten per centum of the electors registered to vote in the last general election, which petition shall specifically set forth the exact language of the proposed amendment or repeal. The Judge of the Probate Court shall determine the validity of such petition within 60 days of its being filed with the Judge of the Probate Court. In the event the Judge of the Probate Court determines that such petition is valid, it shall be his duty to issue the call for an election for the purpose of submitting such amendment or repeal to the registered electors of the county for their approval or rejection. Such call shall be issued not less than ten nor more than sixty days after the date of the filing of the petition. He shall set the date of such election for a day not less than sixty nor more than ninety days after the date of such filing. The Judge of the Probate Court shall cause a notice of the date of said election to be published in the official organ of the county once a week for three weeks immediately preceding such date. Said notice shall also contain a synopsis of the proposed amendment or repeal and shall state that a copy thereof is on file in the office of the Judge of the Probate Court of the county for the purpose of examination and inspection by the public. The Judge of the Probate Court shall furnish anyone, upon written request, a copy of the proposed amendment or repeal. If more than one-half of the votes cast on such question are for approval of the amendment or repeal, it shall become of full force and effect, otherwise it shall be void and of no force and effect. The expense of such election shall be borne by the county and it shall be the duty of the Judge of the Probate Court to hold and conduct such election. Such election shall be held under the same laws and rules and regulations as govern special elections, except as otherwise provided herein. It shall be the duty of the Judge of the Probate Court to canvass the returns and declare and certify the result of the election. It shall be his further duty to certify the result thereof to the Secretary of State in accordance with the provisions of Paragraph III of this Section. A referendum on any such amendment or repeal shall not be held more often than once each year. No amendment hereunder shall be valid if inconsistent with any provision of this Constitution or if provision has been made therefor by general law.

In the event that the Judge of the Probate Court determines that such petition was not valid, he shall cause to be published in explicit detail the reasons why such petition is not valid: Provided, however, that in any proceeding in which the validity of the petition is at issue, the tribunal considering such issue shall not be limited by the reasons assigned. Such publication shall be in the official organ of the county in the week immediately following the date on which such petition is declared to be not valid.

(c) The power granted to counties in Subparagraphs (a) and (b) above shall not be construed to extend to the following matters or any other matters which the General Assembly by general law has preempted or may hereafter preempt, but such matters shall be the subject of general law, or the subject of local acts of the General Assembly to the extent that the enactment of such local acts is otherwise permitted under this Constitution:

1. Action affecting any elective county office, the salaries thereof, or the personnel thereof, except the personnel subject to the jurisdiction of the county governing authority.

2. Action affecting the composition, form, procedure for election or appointment, compensation and expenses and allowances in the nature of compensation, of the county governing authority.

3. Action defining any criminal offense or providing for criminal punishment.

4. Action adopting any form of taxation beyond that authorized by law or by this Constitution.

5. Action extending the power of regulation over any business activity regulated by the Public Service Commission beyond that authorized by local or general law or by this Constitution.

6. Action affecting the exercise of the power of eminent domain.

7. Action affecting any court or the personnel thereof.

8. Action affecting any public school system.

(d) The power granted in Subparagraphs (a) and (b) of this Paragraph shall not include the power to take any action affecting the private or civil law governing private or civil relationships, except as is incident to the exercise of an independent governmental power.

(e) Nothing in this Paragraph shall affect the provisions of Paragraph II of this Section.

Paragraph II. Salary of County Employees; How Fixed. The governing authority of each county is authorized to fix the salary, compensation and expenses of those employed by such governing authority and to establish and maintain retirement or pension systems, insurance, workmen's compensation, and hospitalization benefits for said employees.

Paragraph III. Filing and Publication of Laws. No amendment or revision of any local act made pursuant to Paragraph I of this Section shall become effective until a copy of such amendment or revision, a copy of the required notice of publication, and an affidavit of a duly authorized representative of the newspaper in which such notice was published to the effect that said notice has been published as provided in said Paragraphs, has been filed with the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State shall provide for the publication and distribution of all such amendments and revisions at least annually.

SECTION III.

MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS

Paragraph I. General Assembly Authorized to Delegate its Powers. The General Assembly is authorized to provide by law for the self-government of municipalities and to that end is hereby expressly given the authority to delegate its powers so that matters pertaining to municipalities may be dealt with without the necessity of action by the General Assembly. Any powers granted as provided herein shall be exercised subject only to statutes of general application pertaining to municipalities.

SECTION IV.

GENERAL PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS

Paragraph I. Consolidation of Governments; Submission to Voters. The General Assembly may provide by general law optional systems of consolidated county and municipal government, providing for the organization and the powers and duties of its officers. Such optional systems shall become effective when submitted to the qualified voters of such county and approved by a majority of those voting.

Paragraph II. Supplementary Powers. In addition to and supplementary of any powers now conferred upon and possessed by any county, municipality, or any combination thereof, any county, any municipality and any combination of any such political subdivisions may exercise the following powers and provide the following services;

(1) Police and fire protection.

(2) Garbage and solid waste collection and disposal.

(3) Public health facilities and services; including hospitals, ambulance, emergency rescue services, and animal control.

(4) Street and road construction and maintenance; including curbs, sidewalks, street lights and devices to control the flow of traffic on streets and roads constructed by counties and municipalities or any combination thereof.

(5) Parks, recreational areas, programs and facilities.

(6) Storm water and sewage collection and disposal systems.

(7) Development, storage, treatment and purification and distribution of water.

(8) Public housing.

(9) Urban redevelopment programs.

(10) Public transportation system.

(11) Libraries.

(12) Terminal and dock facilities and parking facilities.

(13) Building, housing, plumbing, and electrical codes.

(14) Air Pollution Control.

(15) Planning and zoning, which is the power to provide within their respective jurisdictions for the zoning or districting of such political subdivisions for various uses and other or different uses prohibited in such zones or districts; to regulate the use for which said zones or districts may be set apart; and to regulate the plans for development and improvements on real estate therein.

Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph as to planning and zoning, nothing contained within this Paragraph shall operate to prohibit the General Assembly from enacting general laws relative to the above subject matters or to prohibit the General Assembly by general law from regulating, restricting or limiting the exercise of the above powers, but, the General Assembly shall not have the authority to withdraw any such powers. The General Assembly shall act upon the above subject matters only by general law. If population is used as a basis for classification for the applicability of any Act to any political subdivision or subdivisions of this State on the above subject matters, the Act shall apply only to political subdivisions of less than a specified population or shall apply to political subdivisions of more than a specified population. The General Assembly shall not, in any manner, regulate, restrict or limit the power and authority of any county, municipality, or any combination thereof, to plan and zone as herein defined.

Provided, however, that no City or County may exercise any such powers or provide any such service herein listed inside the boundaries of any other local governments except by contract with the City or County affected unless otherwise provided by any local or special law and no existing local or special laws or provision of this Constitution is intended to be hereby repealed.

Each county and municipality, and any combination thereof, shall have the authority to enact ordinances and to contract with each other in pursuance of this Paragraph and for the purpose of carrying out and effectuating the powers herein conferred upon such political subdivisions and in order to provide such services. Any county, municipality, and any combination thereof, or the General Assembly, may provide for the creation of special districts within which the above services, or any portion thereof, shall be provided, and to determine and fix reasonable charges and fees for such services. In addition, the powers of taxation and assessment may be exercised by any county, municipality or any combination thereof, or within any such district, for the above powers and in order to provide such services.

Paragraph III. Taxing Power and Contributions of Counties, Cities and Political Division Restricted. The General Assembly shall not authorize any county, municipal corporation or political division of this State, through taxation, contribution or otherwise, to become a stock holder in any company, corporation or association, or to appropriate money for, or to loan its credit to any corporation, company, association, institution or individaul [sic] except for purely charitable purposes. This restriction shall not operate to prevent the support of schools by municipal corporations within their respective limits.

Paragraph IV. Slum Clearance and Redevelopment. The General Assembly may provide by law that any city or town, or any housing authority now or hereafter established, or any county may undertake and carry out slum clearance and redevelopment work, including the acquisition and clearance of areas which are predominantly slum or blighted areas, the preparation of such areas for reuse, and the sale or other disposition of such areas to private enterprise for private uses or to public bodies for public uses. Any such work shall constitute a governmental function undertaken for public purposes, and the powers of taxation and eminent domain may be exercised and public funds expended in furtherance thereof.

SECTION V.

COUNTY GOVERNMENT; TAXATION POWER

Paragraph I. Power of County Government. The General Assembly may authorize any county to exercise the power of taxation for any public purpose as authorized by general law or by this Constitution, and unless otherwise provided by this Constitution or by law, no levy need state the particular purposes for which the same was made nor shall any taxes collected be allocated for any particular purpose, unless expressly so provided by the General Assembly or this Constitution.

Paragraph II. Purposes of Taxation. In addition such other powers and authority as may be conferred upon any county by this Constitution or by the General Assembly, counties are hereby authorized to exercise the power of taxation for the following purposes which are hereby declared to be public purposes, and expend funds raised by the exercise of said powers for said purposes and such other public purposes as may be authorized by the General Assembly:

1. Pay the expenses of administration of the county government.

2. Acquire, construct, maintain, improve, or aid in the acquisition, construction, maintenance, or improvement of public buildings, bridges, parks, recreation areas and facilities, libraries, streets, sidewalks, roads, airports, docks, facilities for mass transit system for the transportation of passengers for hire, and other properties for public use; and to acquire any real property or any interest therein in connection with the foregoing.

3. Provide for the operation of the courts, the maintenance and support of prisoners, and the handling of litigation affecting the county.

4. Establish and conduct public health and sanitation programs and provide for the collection and preservation of records and vital statistics.

5. Establish and maintain a county police department.

6. Provide medical or other care and hospitalization for the indigent sick and to support paupers.

7. Pay county agricultural and home demonstration agents and conduct programs utilizing the services of such agents.

8. Establish and conduct programs of welfare benefits and public assistance as may be provided by law.

9. Provide fire protection for forest lands and conserve natural resources.

10. Provide insurance, retirement and pension benefits, coverage under Federal Old Age and Survivors' Insurance programs, hospitalization benefits, and workmen's compensation benefits for its officers and employees, their dependents and survivors, and for public school teachers and personnel, their dependents and survivors: Provided that all such payments for public school teachers and personnel, their dependents and survivors, shall be paid from education funds.

11. Establish and maintain a recreation system.

12. To provide for paying the principal and interest of any debt of the county and to provide a sinking fund therefor.

13. To provide for reasonable reserves for public improvements as may be fixed by law.

14. To provide for the support and maintenance of public schools, public education, and activities necessary and incidental thereto, including school lunches, as provided in Article VIII of this Constitution, upon the assessed value of all taxable property within the county, exclusive of any independent school system therein.

The grant of powers to counties contained in this Paragraph and in Paragraph IV of this Section shall not operate to prohibit the General Assembly from enacting general laws relative to the above subject matters or to prohibit the General Assembly by general law from regulating, restricting or limiting the exercise of such powers, except that the authority of the General Assembly provided herein shall not be construed to authorize the General Assembly to affect or modify the authority and duty of the governing authorities of counties to levy the tax provided for by subparagraph 14 above. The General Assembly shall act upon the above subject matters only by general law. The General Assembly shall not have the authority to withdraw any such powers. If population is used as a basis for classification for the applicability of any Act to any political subdivision or subdivisions of this State on the above subject matters, the Act shall apply only to political subdivisions of less than a specified population or shall apply to political subdivisions of more than a specified population.

Paragraph III. Establishment of Taxing Districts. Except as provided in Paragraph II of Section IV herein or under the authority of a general or local law, a county governing authority may not district a county to provide water, sewerage, garbage, electricity, gas, or fire protection services. Such services shall be authorized only by an act of the General Assembly establishing, or authorizing the establishment of, a special district or districts therefor, and authorizing such county to levy a tax only upon the taxable property in such districts for the purpose of constructing and maintaining facilities therefor, conditioned upon the assent of a majority of the qualified voters of any such proposed district voting in an election for that purpose held as provided by law.

Paragraph IV. Eminent Domain. Any county is hereby authorized to exercise the power of eminent domain for any public purpose.

SECTION VI.

CONTRACTS

Paragraph I. Contracts For Use of Public Facilities. (a) The State, State institutions, any city, town, municipality or county of this State may contract for any period not exceeding fifty years, with each other or with any public agency, public corporation or authority now or hereafter created for the use by such subdivisions or the residents thereof of any facilities or services of the State, State institutions, any city, town, municipality, county, public agency, public corporation or authority, provided such contracts shall deal with such activities and transactions as such subdivisions are by law authorized to undertake.

Notwithstanding any other provision of any other section of any other Article of this Constitution, the General Assembly shall include in each General Appropriations Act in the appropriation payable to each department, agency, or institution of the State, in addition to such other items as may be included in such appropriation, and whether or not any other items are included, sums sufficient to satisfy the payments required to be made in each year under lease contracts now entered into pursuant to this Paragraph I(a) by and between such department, agency, or institution of the State and any state authority which was created and activated on or before November 8, 1960, which said lease contracts constitute security for bonds or any other obligations heretofore issued by any such authority. In the event for any reason any such appropriation is not made, then the fiscal officers of the State are hereby authorized and directed to set up on their appropriation accounts in each fiscal year as an appropriation the respective amounts required by each such department, agency, or institution of the State to pay the obligations called for under any such lease contract. The amount of the appropriation in each fiscal year to meet such lease contract obligations as authorized hereunder shall be due and payable to each such department, agency, or institution of the State in each fiscal year to be expended for the purpose of paying the lease contract obligation required under the terms and conditions of such lease contracts and said appropriation shall have the same legal status as if the General Assembly had included the amount of the appropriation in a General Appropriations Act.

(b) Any city, town, municipality or county of this State is empowered, in connection with any contracts authorized, by the preceding paragraph, to convey to any public agency, public corporation or authority now or hereafter created, existing facilities operated by such city, town, municipality or county for the benefit of residents of such subdivisions, provided the land, buildings and equipment so conveyed shall not be mortgaged or pledged to secure obligations of any such public agency, public corporation or authority and provided such facilities are to be maintained and operated by such public agency, public corporation or authority for the same purposes for which such facilities were operated by such city, town, municipality or county. Nothing in this Section shall restrict the pledging of revenues of such facilities by any public agency, public corporation or authority.

(c) Any city, town, municipality or county of this State, or any combination of the same, may contract with any public agency, public corporation or authority for the care, maintenance and hospitalization of its indigent sick, and may as a part of such contract obligate itself to pay for the cost of acquisition, construction, modernization or repairs of necessary buildings and facilities by such public agency, public corporation or authority, and provide for the payment of such services and the cost to such public agency, public corporations or authority of acquisition, construction, modernization or repair of buildings and facilities from revenues realized by such city, town, municipality or county from any taxes authorized by the Constitution of this State or revenues derived from any other sources.

Paragraph II. Liability Insurance. The governing authority of each county is hereby authorized in its discretion to purchase liability insurance to cover damages on account of bodily injury or death to any person or damage to property of any person arising by reason of ownership, maintenance, operation or use of any motor vehicle by such county, whether as a result of a governmental undertaking or not, and to pay premiums therefor. The governing authority is hereby authorized to levy a tax for such purpose. In the event of purchasing such insurance, the governmental immunity of the county shall be waived to the extent of the amount of insurance so purchased. Neither the county nor the insurer shall be entitled to plead governmental immunity as a defense and may make only such defense as could be made if the insured were a private person. The county shall be liable only for damages suffered while said insurance is in force. No attempt shall be made in the trial of any action brought against the county to suggest the existence of any insurance which covers in whole or in part, any judgment or award which may be rendered in favor of the plaintiff. If the verdict rendered by the jury exceeds the limitation of the insurance, the court shall reduce the amount to a sum equal to the applicable limitations stated in the policy.

SECTION VII.

LIMITATION ON COUNTY AND MUNICIPAL DEBTS

Paragraph I. Debts of Counties and Cities. The debt hereafter incurred by any county, municipal corporation or political subdivision of this State except as in this Constitution provided for, shall never exceed ten per centum of the assessed value of all the taxable property therein, and no such county, municipality or division shall incur any new debt except for a temporary loan or loans, to supply casual deficiencies of revenue, not to exceed one-fifth of one per centum of the assessed value of the taxable property therein, without the assent of a majority of the qualified voters of the county, municipality or other political subdivision voting in an election for that purpose to be held as prescribed by law; and provided further that all laws, charter provisions and ordinances heretofore passed or enacted providing special registration of the voters of counties, municipal corporations and other political subdivisions of this State to pass upon the issuance, of bonds by such counties, municipal corporations and other political subdivisions of this State are hereby declared to be null and void; and the General Assembly shall hereafter have no power to pass or enact any law providing for such special registration, but the validity of any and all bond issues by such counties, municipal corporations or other political subdivisions made prior to January 1, 1945, shall not be affected hereby; provided, that any county or municipality of this State may accept and use funds granted by the Federal Government, or any agency thereof, to aid in financing the cost of architectural, engineering, economic investigations, studies, surveys, designs, plans, working drawings, specifications, procedures, and other action preliminary to the construction of public works, and where the funds so used for the purposes specified are to be repaid within a period of ten years.

Every county is hereby empowered to create debt, by way of borrowing from private individuals, firms, corporations, or partnerships as well as from the State, for the purpose of paying the whole or part of the cost of property valuation and equalization programs for ad valorem tax purposes; to contract for the repayment thereof and to issue notes or other like instruments as evidence of the obligation to repay the debt so contracted without being subject to any limit as to amount of such debt so created and without the necessity of approval thereof by the qualified voters of that county; provided nevertheless that the debt shall be payable in one or more equal installments, one of which shall fall due at least each year, but which may fall due each month, the last of which shall mature not more than seven years from the date of creation and shall not bear interest in excess of five (5%) per cent per annum on unpaid principal; and a tax shall be levied on the taxable property of the county as may be needed to repay such debt so created; provided, however, that no county shall be empowered to create debt under the provisions of this paragraph for the purposes of a property valuation and equalization program until such program and all contracts to be entered into pursuant thereto shall have been approved by the State Revenue Commissioner, and until such county shall have entered into an agreement with the State Revenue Commissioner that such program shall be carried out in accordance with such Rules and Regulations pertaining to such programs as may be promulgated by the Commissioner.

All existing local constitutional amendments adopted prior to November 5, 1974, relating to maximum bond debt limitation shall continue to be of full force and effect and shall not be affected by this Paragraph.

Paragraph II. Levy of Taxes to Pay Bonds. Any county, municipal corporation or political division of this State which shall incur any bonded indebtedness under the provisions of this Constitution, shall at or before the time of so doing, provide for the assessment and collection of an annual tax sufficient in amount to pay the principal and interest of said debt, within thirty years from the date of the incurring of said indebtedness.

Paragraph III. Additional Debt Authorized, When. In addition to the debt authorized in Paragraph I of this section, to be created by any county, municipal corporation or political subdivision of this State, a debt may be incurred by any county, municipal corporation or political subdivision of this State, in excess of seven per centum of the assessed value of all the taxable property therein, upon the following conditions: Such additional debt, whether incurred at one or more times, shall not exceed in the aggregate, three per centum of the assessed value of all the taxable property in such county, municipality, or political subdivision; such additional debt shall be payable in equal installments within the five years next succeeding the issuance of the evidences of such debt; there shall be levied by the governing authorities of such county, municipality or political subdivision prior to the issuance of such additional debt, a tax upon all of the taxable property within such county, municipality or political subdivision collectible annually, sufficient to pay in full the principal and interest of such additional debt when as due; such tax shall be in addition to and separate from all other taxes levied by such taxing authorities, and the collections from such tax shall be kept separate and shall be held, used and applied solely for the payment of the principal and interest of such additional indebtedness; authority to create such additional indebtedness shall first have been authorized by the General Assembly; the creation of such additional indebtedness shall have been first authorized by a vote of the registered voters of such county, municipality or political subdivision at an election held for such purpose, pursuant to and in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution and of the then existing laws for the creation of a debt by counties, municipal corporations, and political subdivisions of this State, all of which provisions, including those for calling, advertising, holding and determining the result of, such election and the votes necessary to authorize the creation of an indebtedness, are hereby made applicable to an election held for the purpose of authorizing such additional indebtedness.

Paragraph IV. Temporary Loans Authorized; Conditions. In addition to the the [sic] obligations hereinbefore allowed, each county, municipality, political subdivision of the State authorized to levy taxes, and county board of education, is given the authority to make temporary loans between January 1st and December 31st in each year to pay expenses for such year, upon the following conditions: The aggregate amount of all such loans of such county, municipality, political subdivision or county Board of Education outstanding at any one time shall not exceed 75% of the total gross income of such county, municipality, political subdivision or county Board of Education, from taxes collected by such county, municipality, political subdivision or county Board of Education in the last preceding year. Such loans shall be payable on or before December 31st of the calendar year in which such loan is made. No loan may be made in any year under the provisions of this Paragraph when there is a loan then unpaid which was made in a prior year under the provisions of this Paragraph. Each such loan shall be first authorized by resolution fixing the terms of such loan adopted by a majority vote of the governing body of such county, city, political subdivision or county Board of Education, at a meeting legally held, and such resolution shall appear upon the minutes of such meeting. No such county, municipality, subdivision or county Board of Education shall incur in any one calendar year, an aggregate of such temporary loans and other contracts or obligations for current expenses in excess of the total anticipated revenue of such county, municipality, subdivision, or county Board of Education for such calendar year, or issue in one calendar year notes, warrants or other evidences of such indebtedness in a total amount in excess of such anticipated revenue for such year.

SECTION VIII.

REVENUE OBLIGATIONS

Paragraph I. Revenue Anticipation Obligations. Revenue anticipation obligations may be issued by any county, municipal corporation or political subdivision of this State, to provide funds for the purchase or construction, in whole or in part, of any revenue-producing facility which such county, municipal corporation or political subdivision is authorized by the Act of the General Assembly approved March 31,1937, known as "The Revenue Certificate Laws of 1937," as amended by the Act approved March 14, 1939, to construct and operate, or to provide funds to extend, repair or improve any such existing facility, and to buy, construct, extend, operate and maintain gas or electric generating and distribution systems, together with all necessary appurtenances thereof. Such revenue anticipation obligations shall be payable, as to principal and interest, only from revenue produced by revenue-producing facilities of the issuing political subdivisions, and shall not be deemed debts of, or to create debts against, the issuing political subdivisions within the meaning of this paragraph or any other of this Constitution. This authority shall apply only to revenue anticipation obligations issued to provide funds for the purchase, construction, extension, repair or improvement of such facilities and undertakings as are specifically authorized and enumerated by said Act of 1937, as amended by said Act of 1939; and to buy, construct, extend, operate and maintain gas or electric generating and distribution systems, together with all necessary appurtenances thereof; provided further any revenue certificates issued to buy, construct, extend, operate and maintain gas or electric generating and distribution systems shall, before being undertaken, be authorized by a majority of those voting at an election held for the purpose in the county, municipal corporation or political subdivision affected, and provided further that a majority of the registered voters of such county, municipal corporation or political subdivision affected shall vote in said election, the election for such to be held in the same manner as is used in issuing bonds of such county, municipal corporation or political subdivision and the said elections shall be called and provided for by officers in charge of the fiscal affairs of said county, municipal corporation or political subdivision affected; and no such issuing political subdivision of the State shall exercise the power of taxation for the purpose of paying the principal or interest of any such revenue anticipation obligations or any part thereof.

Provided that after a favorable election has been held as set forth above, if municipalities, counties or other political subdivisions shall purchase, construct, or operate such electric or gas utility plants from the proceeds of said revenue certificates, and extend their services beyond the limits of the county in which the municipality or political subdivision is located, then its services rendered and property located outside said county shall be subject to taxation and regulation as are privately owned and operated utilities.

The General Assembly is authorized to create an instrumentality and department of the State of Georgia to be known as the Brunswick Ports Authority, and to provide for its powers and functions. Act number 314 of the Acts of the General Assembly of 1945 (Ga. L. 1945, p. 1023) as amended by House Bill number 1053 of the General Assembly of 1958 (Ga. L. 1958, p. 82) is hereby ratified and confirmed, so that the said Acts shall have the same force and effect as if they had been enacted subsequent to the amendment adopted November 8, 1960, to Article VII, Section VII, Paragraph V of the Constitution of 1945; provided, however, that nothing herein shall prevent the General Assembly from amending said Acts, so as to add and enlarge powers of the Authority.

Paragraph II. Revenue Obligations Authorized. The development of trade, commerce, industry and employment opportunities is hereby declared to be a public purpose vital to the welfare of the people of this State. The General Assembly may create Development Authorities to promote and further such purposes or may authorize the creation of such an Authority by any county or municipal corporation or combinations thereof under such uniform terms and conditions as it may deem necessary. The General Assembly may exempt from taxation Development Authority obligations, properties, activities or income and may authorize the issuance of Revenue Obligations by such Authorities which shall not constitute an indebtedness of the State within the meaning of Section VII of this Article. The General Assembly may provide for the validation of any Revenue Obligations authorized, and that such validation shall thereafter be incontestable and conclusive.

Paragraph III. Refunding Bonds. The General Assembly is hereby authorized to create a commission and to vest such commission with the power to secure all necessary information and to approve or disapprove the issuance of bonds for the purpose of refunding any bonded indebtedness of any county, municipality or political subdivision of this State issued prior to the adoption of the Constitution of 1945, including the authority to approve or disapprove the amount and terms of such refunding bonds, together with such other powers as to the General Assembly may seem proper, but not in conflict with the provisions of the Constitution. Such refunding bonds shall be authorized only where such county, municipality or political subdivision has not the funds available to meet the payment of outstanding bonded indebtedsess [sic] through failure to levy and collect the required taxes, or through failure to maintain the required sinking fund for such bonds. The General Assembly may approve the issuance of the said refunding bonds under the conditions stated. Such refunding bonds shall not, together with all other outstanding bonded indebtedness, exceed the limits fixed by this Constitution for the maximum amount of bonded indebtedness which may be issued by such county, municipality, or political subdivision and shall be otherwise governed by all of the terms and provisions of this Constitution. No bonds shall be issued under this paragraph to refund any bonds issued after the adoption of the Constitution of 1945.

Paragraph IV. Refunding Bonds to Reduce Bonded Indebtedness. The General Assembly is further authorized to the said Commission the power and authority to approve or disapprove the issuance of bonds to refund any outstanding bonded indebtedness of any county, municipality or political subdivision now or hereafter issued, for the purpose of reducing the amount payable, principal or interest, on such bonded indebtedness, and upon the condition that, the issuance of such refunding bonds will reduce the amounts payable upon such oustanding [sic] bonds, principal or interest. Such refunding bonds shall replace such outstanding bonded indebtedness. The said Commission shall have the authority to approve or disapprove the terms of any such proposed refunding bonds. The General Assembly may authorize the issuance of such refunding bonds issued for the said purpose, when approved by the said Commission and authorized by the governing authority of such county, municipality or subdivision, without an election by the qualified voters as otherwise required, but in all other respects such refunding bonds shall comply with the provisions of this Constitution.

Paragraph V. Sinking Funds For Bonds. All amounts collected from any source for the purpose of paying the principal and interest of any bonded indebtedness of any county, municipality or subdivision and to provide for the retirement of such bonded indebtedness, above the amount needed to pay the principal and interest on such bonded indebtedness due in the year of such collection, shall be placed in a sinking fund to be held and used to pay off the principal and interest of such bonded indebtedness thereafter maturing.

The funds in such sinking fund shall be kept separate and apart from all other moneys of such county, municipality or subdivision, and shall be used for no purpose other than that above stated. The moneys in such sinking fund may be invested and reinvested by the governing authorities of such county, municipality or subdivision or by such other authority as has been created to hold and manage such sinking fund, in the bonds of such county, municipality or subdivision, and in bonds or obligations of the State of Georgia, of the counties and cities thereof and of the government of the United States, of subsidiary corporations of the Federal Government fully guaranteed by such government, and no other. Any person or persons violating the above provisions shall be guilty of malpractice in office and shall also be guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall be punished, when convicted, as prescribed by law for the punishment of misdemeanors, until the General Assembly shall make other provisions for the violation of the terms of this Paragraph.

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