ATLANTA – State Representative Gerald Greene (R-Cuthbert) recently received a 2016 Association County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG) Legislative Service Award. ACCG, Georgia’s county association, presented Rep. Greene with this award at the Dougherty County Commission meeting on Monday, October 17, 2016.
“I am honored to receive this award from ACCG,” said Rep. Greene. “It is essential that we, as legislators, stay connected with our local communities while we serve our districts at the Capitol. I am proud my work as a state representative brought about meaningful change, and I am grateful to ACCG for recognizing these efforts.”
Rep. Greene was recognized by ACCG for his work in preventing $10 million in state Forest Land Protection Act (FLPA) obligations from falling on county taxpayers. In the summer of 2016, the Georgia Department of Revenue (DOR), without notice or official rulemaking, revised its formula for calculating state reimbursements to local governments under the FLPA. This move would have shifted over $10 million in state FLPA obligations to county taxpayers. Rep. Greene worked diligently with ACCG, fellow legislators, local county leaders and school officials to reverse the change. The DOR reversed the rule change and now abides by the FLPA reimbursement formula specified in the state constitution.
“ACCG sincerely appreciates Gerald Greene’s commitment in honoring the state’s promise to reimburse counties for lost FLPA monies,” said ACCG Associate Legislative Director Todd Edwards. “His work with ACCG and his fellow legislators resulted in major financial protections for Georgia’s other property taxpayers.”
Each year, ACCG presents legislative service awards to recognize Georgia House and Senate members who it believes demonstrate distinguished leadership and interest in working with county governments for the benefit of Georgia’s citizens. The annual awards have gained recognition among elected and appointed officials as a prestigious way to acknowledge Georgia lawmakers for exemplary leadership.
“ACCG is proud to recognize this year’s Legislative Service Award recipients for their devoted service to Georgia’s counties,” said ACCG Executive Director Ross King. “Their efforts are a true reflection of government working collaboratively for the overall benefit of its citizens.”
ACCG is Georgia’s county association and works on behalf of county officials and their communities by providing public policy and legislative advocacy, leadership development, civic and community engagement initiatives, insurance and retirement programs that specialize in local government needs and other cost-saving programs. Formed in 1914 when county officials came together to help fund the state’s first highway department, ACCG today serves as a catalyst for advancing Georgia’s counties.
For more information on ACCG, please click here.
Representative Gerald Greene represents the citizens of District 151, which includes Calhoun, Clay, Early, Quitman, Randolph, Stewart, Terrell, and Webster counties, as well as portions of Dougherty County. He was elected into the House of Representatives in 1982, and serves as the Chairman of the Code Revision Committee and Secretary of the State Properties Committee. He is also a member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Public Safety and the Economic Development & Tourism, Public Safety & Homeland Security, Retirement, and Rules committees.
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