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Committee backs Roswell flood-recovery bond plan, approves tax-rate amendment to raise upfront funds
Summary
A committee substitute for Senate Bill 383 was amended to increase a local gross-receipts tax cap so Roswell can issue flood-recovery bonds and meet FEMA’s upfront funding expectations; the amendment passed in committee after testimony from city officials and local supporters.
Senate Finance members considered a committee substitute for Senate Bill 383 on Oct. 12, 2025, a bill intended to give the City of Roswell a tool to finance recovery from severe flooding. The committee adopted an amendment that raised the proposed local gross-receipts tax cap from one-quarter percent to three-eighths percent to increase the city’s bond capacity.
Senator Zell introduced the committee substitute with an emergency clause and described the flood damage Roswell suffered after a major event on Oct. 21, 2004, including roadway, bridge and building damage, two fatalities and extensive silt and sewer loss. He said the proposed mechanism would let Roswell issue flood-recovery revenue bonds funded by a temporary, dedicated local gross-receipts tax to provide upfront dollars that FEMA would later reimburse. Staff and the city briefed the committee that FEMA typically reimburses about 75% of eligible, documented costs and that raising the cap to three-eighths percent would allow the city to bond roughly $66 million — a threshold staff and the city said FEMA required to proceed rapidly with rebuilding.
Bernard Treat, a Roswell-based business lobbyist, spoke in support on behalf of the community. Mayor Tim Jennings (present by remote comment) said that a larger local match would unlock federal recovery funds and speed reconstruction, including museum restoration and infrastructure repairs.
Several senators asked procedural and policy questions. One member asked why the local governing body rather than a ballot election would be empowered to adopt the dedicated tax; Roswell representatives said speed was essential given the magnitude of the damage and extensive local emergency planning. Committee members discussed bond terms (staff estimated up to 20 years could be used in negotiations) and reimbursement expectations from FEMA.
The committee approved the amendment in a roll-call vote and then proceeded with the committee substitute on the bill. Supporters said the measure aims to allow the city to act quickly to gather the local share FEMA expects before federal disbursement. Opponents and some members urged that local voters be given the option in the future; at least one member said if Roswell later chose to add a ballot option, the legislature could accommodate that change.
Action on the amendment and the committee substitute will allow staff to proceed with drafting conforming language and to prepare the bill for subsequent committee or floor consideration.
Direct quotations and testimony in this article are taken from the committee hearing record and from public commenters on the Roswell recovery proposal.
