Glynn County holds public hearing on hotel‑motel tax, commissioners’ pay and economic development seat; vote postponed

Glynn County held a public hearing during its Feb. 11 special‑call meeting on three requests the county plans to present to the state legislature as local legislation: (1) raise the hotel, motel and lodging (accommodation) excise tax from 5% to 7%; (2) adjust base salaries for the Glynn County Board of Commissioners; and (3) permit the board to appoint one county commissioner to serve on the Brunswick‑Glynn County Development Authority.

Commissioners opened each item for public comment; no members of the public spoke on the accommodation tax or the salary adjustment during the hearing. Commissioner Clark asked whether campground/RV stays (for example at Blythe Island) are captured by the tax and whether local exemptions for county residents would be possible. Aaron, the county attorney, responded that exemptions of that type would require state action and would need to be addressed by the county’s state legislative delegation; local law cannot unilaterally create that exemption.

On the commissioners’ pay item, county legal staff presented a draft approach requested by the county’s legislative delegation: tie commissioners’ base pay to a percentage of the Glynn County sheriff’s state‑set salary within the applicable population bracket. Under the draft, the chair would receive 30% of the sheriff’s base salary, the vice chair 29% and other commissioners 28%; the proposal would also raise the monthly expense allowance (for vehicle and incidental costs) and continue cost‑of‑living adjustments as authorized by state practice. The staff presentation noted the county’s last local salary change for commissioners took effect in 2002.

Commissioners discussed public notice and outreach. Several commissioners said the county has already run multiple public‑meeting opportunities on the issue and the legislative delegation asked that the county split the combined request into three separate legislative items. Given late delivery of the draft salary language, commissioners agreed to provide additional public notice and to bring the items back for a future meeting instead of voting on them the same day. County staff said the draft would be posted and additional hearings held; one commissioner explicitly requested the next public hearing be scheduled in the coming week.

On the development‑authority seat, commissioners and members of the public discussed the rationale for having a county commissioner on the Brunswick‑Glynn County Development Authority board. Supporters said a commissioner member would give Glynn County a voice in decisions about how roughly $800,000 in county contributions to economic development are spent and would help the county be part of negotiations when businesses consider locating locally. A city resident asked whether the seat would be paid (it would not) and whether the appointee would vote (the county appointee would be a voting member). Commissioners said appointment would be annual and made by the county chairman.

After discussion the board agreed to continue the public‑hearing process and to post the draft language for additional public comment; no formal adoption or vote on the three legislative requests occurred at the Feb. 11 meeting.

Speakers quoted or referenced in this article: Aaron (county attorney); Commissioner Clark (first name not provided); Commissioner Booker (first name not provided); Commissioner Rafalski (first name not provided); Julie Martin (city resident who asked questions about the EDA seat).