DOUGLAS, GA (Apr. 16, 2010) – Policy authored by State Sen. Greg Goggans (R-Douglas) requiring greater transparency in state government was included in a piece of legislation overwhelmingly approved by the Georgia Senate Wednesday and after final approval from the Georgia House will soon become law. Goggans carried House Bill 1284 in the Senate, which contains the language from his Senate Bill 381 requiring the Office of Planning and Budget (OPB) to include in the Governor’s Budget Report a comprehensive account of all fees collected and administered by the state.
SB 381 was one of the Senate Budget Task Force recommendations aimed to identify cost savings and provide greater transparency in Georgia’s government. This legislation also complements Goggans’ Senate Bill 206 which requires annual tax expenditure reports during the budget process. SB 206 passed the General Assembly as a bipartisan, common-sense initiative designed to provide legislators a helpful tool to identify areas taxpayer dollars can be utilized more efficiently for the next fiscal year.
“I want to thank the Senate and House for working with me to help pass much-needed legislation bringing increased efficiency and accountability to the budget process,” said Goggans. “Currently, there are over 1,800 fees that impact the state budget and sunshine is necessary. These fees should be readily accessible online for the public because with so many outdated and antiquated fees, transparency is vital in order to decrease the burden on Georgia taxpayers. When a fee does not cover the cost of the service provided, taxpayers subsidize the user’s business, service or license by paying the remaining cost. This bill is another step in providing better government for the people of Georgia by providing the public and lawmakers updated information to make better informed decisions.”
“Senator Goggans continues to prove himself to be one of the most hardworking and diligent members of the State Senate. In a time when our state is facing some very significant decisions, Senator Goggans has made a real effort to bring more openness and transparency to state government allowing us to tackle the budget and cut spending,” said Lt. Governor Casey Cagle.
The term “fee” means any voluntary and mandatory payments including business license fees, application costs, fines, penalties, surcharges, add-ons, or assessments. This bill requires the budget act to include a report of all fees collected and administered and to include detailed fee information such as the statute authorizing and applicable termination of the user fee, the services provided in exchange of the user fee, the current rate and date of the user fee, and the total amount collected in the previous two fiscal years.
The budget report must also contain justification for any new fees, changes to fees or termination of existing fees. Each new or adjusted fee must show the relationship of the revenue raised and the cost in the service, inflationary pressures, the effect on the budget if fees are not increased, any comparable fees, and policies affecting the fee viability.
The fee report will be uploaded to the Open Georgia website (www.open.ga.gov) so Georgia citizens can have public access to this information included in the annual budget report provided by OPB.
Goggans noted a audit revealing that 347 user fees within four state agencies have not been updated for many years. The audit stated there were 20 fees that have not been updated for 20 years and six fees that have not been updated for 50 years.
HB 1284 cleared the Senate with Goggans’ additions, so it must be sent back to the House for them to approve the changes before it lands on the governor’s desk to be signed into law.
Sen. Greg Goggans represents the 7th Senate District, which includes Atkinson, Bacon, Berrien, Clinch, Coffee, Echols, Lanier, Pierce and Ware counties and a portion of Cook County.
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release:
April 16, 2010
For Information Contact:
Matt Colvin, Broadcast Specialist
matthew.colvin@senate.ga.gov
404.656.0028