Forming a Parks and Recreation Authority
The process of forming the proposed Authority is handled at the State level in the legislature and can only be done during the legislative session that starts in early January and usually ends at the end of March. Here are some questions being asked about the Authority and how it might affect Irwin County and its citizens. If there are questions you have that are not answered on this page or in the articles published in the Ocilla Star in late October and early November, please use our comment section to ask them. We will answer back and post common questions for everyone to see on this site. Thanks for your interest in improving your community!
Q: What is involved in the resolution being talked about at Ocilla City Council and Irwin County Commission?
A: A resolution is a non-binding letter voted on by a governing body. In this case, it is a formal request for our State Legislators to take some action. The legislators do not have to have this in order to take action, nor are they required by law to take the action asked of them if a resolution is passed. In conversations with our State Senator Tyler Harper and State Representative Clay Pirkle, they have asked to receive letters (the resolutions) from the local governing bodies requesting the action to make sure that they are doing the will of the people in the community where the action is requested. They have also recommended making the resolution broad enough so that details can be worked out as any new information or input is gained to form the new Authority in the best way possible. To put too much detail in a resolution is like doing the state legislative process at the local level before you know you are going to move forward with the legislation.
A copy of the resolution as it was presented to, and approved by, the Ocilla City Council is here.
A: A resolution is a non-binding letter voted on by a governing body. In this case, it is a formal request for our State Legislators to take some action. The legislators do not have to have this in order to take action, nor are they required by law to take the action asked of them if a resolution is passed. In conversations with our State Senator Tyler Harper and State Representative Clay Pirkle, they have asked to receive letters (the resolutions) from the local governing bodies requesting the action to make sure that they are doing the will of the people in the community where the action is requested. They have also recommended making the resolution broad enough so that details can be worked out as any new information or input is gained to form the new Authority in the best way possible. To put too much detail in a resolution is like doing the state legislative process at the local level before you know you are going to move forward with the legislation.
A copy of the resolution as it was presented to, and approved by, the Ocilla City Council is here.
ocilla-irwin_recreation_resolution.pdf | |
File Size: | 8 kb |
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Q: Who would be on the Authority Board?
A: A Parks and Recreation Authority Board can have between 5-9 members by state guidelines. In the Mayor's proposal, 7 board members were recommended: the Mayor, 1 City Councilmember, and 1 At-Large member voted by the Ocilla City Council; the Chairman of the County Commission, 1 additional Commissioner, and 1 At-Large member voted by the Commission; and the Superintendent of Irwin County Schools or other representative chosen by the Irwin County School Board. Feedback received during the Town Hall Meeting suggested the desire to see more non-elected officials on the Authority Board. Discussions have already taken place with Senator Tyler Harper to put language in the legislation leaving more flexibility for the Council and Commission each to be able to send 2 non-elected members to the Board instead of just 1. As local legislation at the State level, changes can be made after the Authority is formed if necessary, but only during the legislative session at the beginning of each year.
Q: What effect will a Parks and Recreation Authority have on local taxes?
A: Taxes can be directed to a new Parks and Recreation Authority from property taxes, but the Parks and Recreation Authority Board would NOT have the ability to set or change taxes on its own. Any recommended change to taxes for the Authority would have to be approved by both the Ocilla City Council and the Irwin County Commission. This is exactly the structure for our Ocilla-Irwin Industrial Development Authority that has been in existence since 1964.
Another thing to consider is that tax dollars are currently used for recreation from both the City and the County. Initially, City and County property taxes could go down, offsetting any new tax that goes directly to the new Authority. In this way, the change would just ensure that funds dedicated to recreation purposes cannot be used for other categories, it would be out of the hands of the City and County governements. There are many possibilites with regard to funds used for recreation, but the bottom line is that forming the Authority does NOT automatically mean a tax increase for Irwin County and City of Ocilla taxpayers.
Q; If taxes stay the same, won't the resources be the same as they are now?
A: Many other Parks and Recreation programs in communities not far from ours generate revenue for their annual budget through effective fundraising, which can include organized ticket sales, concession sales, and additional events. A better structured organization would be able to generate additional revenue to grow desired programs and facilites. Taxes are one source of possible revenue, but not the only source. Increased events and activities could potentially have a positive economic impact in our community. Long term, this could actually be a boost, enabling financial stability and perhaps even lower taxes.
Q: What are the advantages to having this setup as a separate Authority?
A: The first is to create a collaborative organization that combines efforts of the City, County and School Board focused on recreation and leisure in our community. Additionally, this separate organization will be able to apply for grants, low interest loans, and make use of SPLOST funds for the creation and improvement of recreation facilities. At the very least, if we do the same level of activities, this could be a more efficient way to organize those activities. If we decide we want more in the way of recreation programs and activities, forming an Authority would be a focused and effective way to do that, without necessarily increasing taxes overall.