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Newton County asks General Assembly to expand Public Facilities Authority financing powers
Summary
The Newton County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a resolution asking the state General Assembly to amend the local act creating the Newton County Public Facilities Authority to let the authority finance a broader range of county, school district and municipal projects.
Newton County commissioners on Jan. 7 unanimously approved Resolution R010725 requesting that the Georgia General Assembly introduce and pass a local act amending the law that created the Newton County Public Facilities Authority so the authority may finance a wider range of county projects and, with board approval, assist school district and municipal projects.
John Stetter, who spoke to the board on behalf of county finance and legal staff, said the authority was created in 2020 primarily as a conduit for revenue-like financing and that expanding its powers would allow the county to use more financing options for projects such as an E-911/EMS facility expansion. "I would recommend you approve this so you can put it into the hands of your legislative delegation at the earliest possible opportunity so they can get it presented during the session of the general assembly," Stetter said.
The proposed local amendment would authorize the Public Facilities Authority to undertake and finance buildings, facilities and equipment that are necessary or convenient for efficient county operations, and would expressly authorize the authority to assist financing Newton County School District projects and projects by municipal corporations within Newton County. The change is a local act request and would need sponsorship and introduction by the county’s legislative delegation to the General Assembly.
Commissioners said the change is intended to lower borrowing costs and issuance expenses by leveraging financing vehicles available to government entities. County staff and outside financial advisors had discussed using the authority to finance a joint county-city expansion of E-911 and related public improvements. The board discussed whether membership or appointment language in the authority’s enabling act should be adjusted to add community representation; staff said such changes could be proposed to the delegation but cautioned about delaying the authority’s ability to act when needed.
The board’s approval directs staff to forward the resolution to the county’s legislative delegation and to pursue the local act during the current General Assembly session.
