2008 Legislative Agenda for the
Georgia General Assembly

Statewide Water Management Plan: Georgia needs to better manage its water resources. A plan to create improved policy and structure for the use of water resources will be presented to the General Assembly in 2008. The Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce believes a plan should be approved during this session of the Georgia General Assembly and include several factors:

• The plan should allow for the collection of needed data before final decisions on regional water planning.
• Financial resources to conduct the planning process need to be adequate, and provided in such a manner so as to create equity in state-wide implementation.
• The plan should equally protect all areas of the state and their water resources. Supplementing water quantity in one distinct area of the state by removing bulk amounts water, treated or untreated, from river basins in a distinctly different area should be prohibited. Localized transfers between basins should be carefully controlled, and new transfers should require the return of equivalent waters to the donating basin as wastewater. Areas of the state requesting transfers should bear the cost of such transfers from, and the return of wastewater to, the donating basin. Areas requesting transfers should demonstrate they have fully implemented all appropriate conservation measures prior to approval of transfers, and donating basins should have the ability to cancel transfers should needs within the basin demand so.
• The plan should be workable. The cost and benefit of actions should be considered when conducting regional planning. The regulated entities should have a clear understanding of decision making, and the process should be open to participation and transparent.

Transportation:

• Regional Transportation Sales Tax: Different areas of our state have differing needs for transportation improvements. However, all areas lack adequate funding to meet their transportation requirements. The proposal of a one-cent, regional, special purpose local option sales tax creates an opportunity for communities of interest to take a step forward in building their needed infrastructure. Like other special purpose local option sales taxes it would have to be approved by the voters after they were given a project list, and renewed on a regular basis. This increase would be optional for each region, as well as for counties within the region. By allowing differing regions of the state to fund transportation needs through such a tax the pressure to raise statewide taxes will be reduced. Regions can institute a transportation SPLOST if they feel it is needed, and those funds will stay within the region. The Augusta Metro Chamber supports the development of this approach to the growing need for transportation funding.
• Statewide Funding Balance: Currently transportation funds in Georgia are partially distributed based on congressional district. This system assures all segments of the state receive a fair share of transportation improvements. However this system is difficult to manage effectively due to the design of district boundaries. Modification to this system to improve the efficiency and flexibility of transportation improvements should be made. Any new system must still provide for the guaranteed distribution of funds to all sections of the state; any proposal lacking a mechanism to fairly distribute funding, recognizing the varying legitimate needs of regions of the state, should be rejected.

Medical College of Georgia: The Medical College of Georgia, the State's health sciences university, is committed to its mission of improving health and reducing the burden of illness in society. Ongoing capital investment is needed to assure that MCG continues to provide the health professionals needed by the state. In 2008 the General Assembly should provide funding for a new School of Dentistry facility. This is the number one project on the Board of Regents list for FY 2009. The current facility is the state's only dental school and it is too small and outdated. The Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce supports inclusion of funds for a new School of Dentistry building at the Medical College of Georgia in the FY 2009 state budget.

Tax Exemption on Energy Used in Manufacturing: Rising energy costs have a large impact on Augusta area industry, already competing in a globalized economy. By removing the 4% state sales tax, Georgia would save some of Augusta's largest employers' significant costs. Given the tax policies of other southeastern states, the tax on energy for manufacturing puts Georgia at a distinct disadvantage. The Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce supports the removal of the state sales tax on energy for manufacturing.

State Healthcare Education: Georgia requires an ever-growing number of healthcare professionals to provide services to our state. As the state's premier public medical education institution, the Medical College of Georgia is at the center of the effort to keep up with this demand and to plan for the expansions necessary to educate health care professionals.

The Medical College of Georgia's expansion efforts should be planned in such a way that maximizes the benefit of existing programs and resources, enhances existing facilities in Augusta and expansion of programs and facilities in other areas of the state under the permanent leadership of the Medical College of Georgia.

Continued investment in MCG's Augusta campus, along with the removal of barriers to needed expansion, is critical. The Medical College of Georgia is the leader of health sciences education in Georgia, and is a vital economic driver in Augusta.

The Augusta Metro Chamber believes that the recent study conducted by TrippUmbach provides sufficient evidence that the State of Georgia must act immediately on the severe health care workforce shortage that currently exists and which poses further threat to our state's economic opportunity. The study identifies solutions for an MCG statewide expansion that offers both cost effective multi-partner strategies, maximum utilization of existing resources and the need for greater investment for medical and biotechnology research. We endorse the strategies as outlined in the report and we further support the plan's recommendation that expansion for Georgia's healthcare education be executed under the leadership of the Medical College of Georgia.

It is our further belief that the complexities of the plan in the areas of partnerships within the University System will require, in advance of implementation, a memorandum of understanding between the Board of Regents, the Medical College of Georgia and the University of Georgia, which contains provisions and guidelines that will ensure that MCG remains the state's single state-operated medical school. The Augusta Metro Chamber urges members of the Board of Regents, members of the General Assembly and the Executive Branch to adopt this plan.

Tax Reform: A business friendly tax environment is essential to the success of our members. In addition, every Georgian is dependent on services provided by state and local government. The Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce will closely monitor the progress and content of tax reform measures, such as the proposed GREAT plan, and evaluate their impact on our business community. The Augusta Metro Chamber will keep its members educated and informed regarding vital tax reform issues.

Standing Positions

Healthcare: Quality healthcare is one of the most basic needs for every Georgian. The increasing cost of providing healthcare coverage is a growing challenge for Augusta's businesses and their employees. Our state leaders should search for policy solutions that stabilize the rate of rise of healthcare cost for those businesses that are committed to providing healthcare benefits to their employees.

Workforce: Georgia's business climate is only as good as its workforce. Business needs prospective employees that are ready for work. Our educational system, at all levels, should be supported, and focused on creating students that are ready for the modern workforce and for additional training and education.

Interbasin Transfer: The Savannah River is a priceless resource for metro Augusta, and is integral to our economic wellbeing. This resource should be for the use of those who live adjacent to the water source and not sent to distant parts of Georgia or South Carolina. The Augusta Metro Chamber supports the reasonable restriction of movement of water between river basins.

Augusta State University: ASU's campus is a blend of modern and historic facilities, providing students with an inspiring place to receive a great education. ASU has experienced tremendous growth and needs to keep pace. Augusta State University is a critical part of our state's educational system and the Chamber supports funding for improvement on its campus and continued growth as part of the state's goal of providing an additional 100,000 student slots within the university system by 2020. The Augusta Metro Chamber supports Augusta State University.

Augusta Technical College: Augusta Tech is an important part of our regional educational infrastructure. As ATC continues to grow and offer a wider variety of vital educational opportunities it is important that funding to support its many missions keeps pace.

National Science Center/Fort Discovery: The National Science Center and Fort Discovery are assets to Georgia and Augusta, and the educational programs offered by the NSC impact students from across the state. State support for the various programs offered by the NSC leverages millions of dollars that benefit Georgia's children. The Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce supports state funding of the National Science Center and Fort Discovery.

Civil Justice Reform: The Augusta Metro Chamber supports recent improvements in Georgia's civil justice system. These changes will protect Georgia's standing as a business friendly state, as well as help maintain our health care quality. The Chamber opposes any effort to roll back civil justice reform.

Fort Gordon: Fort Gordon is the largest single employer in Augusta and an important part of our nation's defense. It is important that Georgia continue to pursue policy initiatives that make our state, and Fort Gordon in particular, a location that is friendly to our nation's military and its personnel and retirees. The Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce supports Fort Gordon.