Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Referendum topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Legal, financing staff outline referendum options; council weighs November timing
Summary
City legal and finance staff told council a nonbinding referendum may be possible under Georgia law but requires charter and statutory review; staff also explained bonds are typically authorized as 'not‑to‑exceed' amounts, giving flexibility if private funds arrive.
Council asked whether a nonbinding referendum could be used to gauge public appetite before authorizing a bond. A staff legal advisor said nonbinding referenda are allowed in Georgia in some contexts but he needs to review the city charter and state statutes to confirm whether a nonbinding ballot question can be used specifically for a bond issue.
Finance staff explained a common approach is a not‑to‑exceed bond authorization: "there would be a maximum amount and then a maximum interest that the city would pay on those bond issues," a finance staffer said, allowing the city to borrow less than the maximum if private fundraising reduces the capital gap. Council discussed deadlines for placing a question on the ballot and the tradeoffs of proceeding in November versus delaying to May 2026 to allow more time for community outreach and fundraising.
