Sunday Solutions — Feb. 18, 2024
Good morning! The lawmakers have been busy, and so have we. There’s a lot of news today, a new tool to help you watch your elected officials’ work, and topics to ponder as we barrel toward spring and Crossover Day at the legislature. Oh, and there’s more on everyone’s favorite economic growth lure: tax breaks.
Officials: Rare whale likely killed by vessel strike
The plight of the endangered North Atlantic right whale drifted a bit closer home this week as a young whale was found dead off Tybee Island. The yearling was towed to shore, examined and buried at the beach there. Officials say injuries to its skull show a great likelihood that it died after being struck by a vessel. More tests are expected soon. Read the report from The Current’s Mary Landers about the find and why proposed regulations to help the whales are a hot topic among recreational fishing industry, harbor pilots and some lawmakers, including U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter (R-St. Simons).
Man’s medications mired in bureaucracy
In 2021, disabled veteran Charles Dawson moved to a new house on Coopers Street in Midway. Since then, the neighborhood has grown but the dirt road, one of 438 in Liberty County, still hasn’t been paved. Officials and engineers agree the loamy road isn’t built properly for drainage but nothing has been done and no one takes responsibility or has the funds to fix it. Now, sediment has washed over to create a mushy mess at his mailbox and the post office vehicle will no longer deliver his necessary medications because it gets stuck there. The Current’s Liberty County reporter, Robin Kemp, writes about Dawson’s frustrating battle that’s taken him from local developers to city, county, state and federal representatives.
Dome work
Bills are flying fast and furiously as Crossover Day on Feb. 29 nears. In the Georgia General Assembly, a bill should pass in either the House or the Senate by that day to survive. Here are a few highlights from the week:
- Georgia Senate panel OKs latest version of ‘Don’t Say Gay’ restrictions: This bill limits what public and private schools can discuss about gender identity without both parents’ consent, restrict changes to records and other controversial moves. In the hearing, opponents were not allowed to speak. The measure faces opposition from a variety of groups including one that says the wording will gut parental rights laws already in place.
- Georgia Senate advances tax break for firearm safety devices as lawmakers push gun-related incentives: This bill is different from one that passed previously to grant 5 days of sales-tax-free purchases for firearms and accessories. The newer bill places the focus on safe storage for weapons.
- Fishing rights bill heads to full House for vote: If you fish in Georgia waterways from a boat, kayak or canoe, this bill could affect your catch and time on the water. In an effort to clean up broad language in a law signed last year, this version uses language for “navigable waterways” that once pertained to small barges and river boats to determine if you can fish next to private property.
Introducing The Coastal Navigator
As regular readers will know, one of The Current’s key missions is to help you learn more about how government works and how to take action on issues you care about. This week, we’re expanding our regular government meeting listings and agendas and dropping them straight into your inbox each Monday morning. Coastal Navigator is compiled for every Coastal Georgia county and most municipalities, planning agencies and development authorities. If there’s something else you’d like to see, let us know.
The list is computer-generated, thanks to The Current’s data reporter, Maggie Lee. Our reporters use this list to help plan coverage and to keep informed on zoning, county spending, liquor licenses and other local developments. And while we love to keep an eye on public work, it’s more important that officials know you know what they are doing and how they do it. If you are there, they know you care.
We include a link to any agendas that are published or the place to check for an agenda closer to the meeting date. You’ll also find links to video feeds and a few other pertinent details.
This is the debut edition and we’re still shaping it — it will morph as we learn more from you about what’s useful and what’s not. Tell us what would make it more useful for you with an email to staff@thecurrentga.org.
Show your news savvy
There’s a new leader this week for the weekly news quiz — Welcome to Savvy in Savannah! Every Sunday, we’ll give you the opportunity to test your news knowledge with a few short questions related to stories we published earlier in the week.
Leaderboard 2/11/24:
First Place (10/10): Savvy in Savannah
Second Place (8/10): EMF33, Peaches
Third Place (7/10): Laurie
Overall Leaderboard:
First Place – Peaches
Second Place – SG Mark
Third Place – Sandy B
It’s not too late to start your climb up the board. Leave a first name or nickname below so we can keep track of your score. We now track your average scores over time, so make sure to include your name or nickname with each weekly News Quiz. Here’s this week’s link.
Film tax credits face restrictions
Georgia’s tax credit program for the movie and film industry has been a resounding success by drawing productions and skilled workers to the state. After studies in the past year, legislators have set up 7 criteria for new credits and require productions to meet 4 of them to receive credits. Criteria include a minimum expenditure, location and workforce restrictions. Here’s a wrap of the measure working its way toward a vote in the legislature. Here’s a link to the full story from Capitol Beat’s Dave Williams.
☕ Your second cup: A taxing question
A few months ago, The Current’s Maggie Lee put together a deep dive about tax-exempt properties in Chatham County. The story pointed out that tax abatements granted as economic investments to industries and businesses included a break on school taxes, milli0ns of dollars that normally would fund local public education. Only one of dozens of companies in these deals had opted to pay school taxes. Bulloch County officials say they never put school taxes on the table for newcomers because it wants to maintain education for a quality workforce.
As the worker shortage becomes acute for new and old businesses, public schools have risen again as a priority with fewer funds to bridge the skills and staffing gaps. It’s not an isolated problem. Today’s consideration for your second cup of Sunday morning coffee is a look at how similar tax breaks for companies are affecting other cities and their school districts across the country.
🍀Shamrocks are starting to sprout: It’s time to order your St. Patrick’s gear, and we’ve got some merch selections for you in The Current Store. Click here to see more. 🍀
Yearling whale likely killed by vessel strike, federal officials say
By Mary Landers
Expanded protections remain unfinalized as a second endangered right whale is discovered with evidence of being struck by a vessel in the Southeast in 2024.
Post office won’t deliver to Midway veteran due to dirt road erosion
By Robin Kemp
Midway veteran on dirt road fights to get medications delivered while governmental entities point at each other for a fix to road erosion, flooding.
Georgia Senate panel OKs latest version of ‘Don’t Say Gay’ restrictions
By Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder
If it becomes law, private schools will not be allowed to implement curriculum or instruction addressing “issues of gender identity, queer theory, gender ideology or gender transition” without getting written permission from a parent.
Georgia Senate advances tax break for firearm safety devices as lawmakers push gun-related incentives
By Jill Nolin/Georgia Recorder
Bill would exempt safes and devices that temporarily disable firearms when not in use from state and local sales tax.
Fishing rights bill heads to full House for vote
By Dave Williams/Capitol Beat
Bill leaves out fishing access to streams navigable by small boats, canoes or kayaks.
Bill would impose more restrictions Georgia film tax credit
By Dave Williams/Capitol Beat
Filmmakers must meet 4 of 7 criteria to earn tax credits. The credit generated $8.55 billion in economic impact in fiscal 2022, according to a study released late last year.
Students lose out as cities, states give billions in property tax breaks to businesses
By Christine Wen/Texas A&M University, Danielle McLean/The Conversation, Kevin Welner/University of Colorado Boulder, and Nathan Jensen/The University of Texas at Austin
Districts can’t afford to maintain facilities or add to curricula as business tax breaks go to large corporate entities.
Georgia House gives overwhelming support for more parental leave for state workers
By Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder
The 240 hours of leave would be available to mothers or fathers, whether their addition is a newborn or an adoptee, as long as they’ve been employed for at least six months.
The Current Store
By The Current
We’ve added some St. Patrick’s flavor to our lineup of shirts, hats, mouse pads, and mugs ready for you to make your own fashion statement. And, when you show your purchase, send us a picture! Click here to see all the goods.
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