Each summer county officials from across the state come together to discuss legislative issues important to county government through committee meetings organized by the Association County Commissioners of Georgia. Dawson County District Two Commissioner James Swafford is a member of the ACCG General County Government Committee and also the Revenue and Finance Committee.

Swafford recently participated in meetings to discuss issues that ranged from service delivery strategies and regional planning to other policies under discussion at the state level that could impact local governance.

Swafford also participated in discussions that ranged from tax reform proposals to the use of local sales taxes for operations of E-911 systems.

“Participating in an ACCG policy committee helps me stay better informed about legislative issues, understanding trends in county government management and learn how new proposals could impact Dawson County,” Swafford said. 

“These meetings also provide a forum for hearing from state legislators and state agency officials who develop legislation and policies that have a direct impact on our community,” he added.

ACCG provides public policy development and advocacy on behalf of counties and their communities and works through a consensus building process to establish an annual legislative agenda called the County Platform.

The issues in the platform are developed through the work of six policy committees which include:  Economic Development and Transportation; General County Government; Health and Human Services; Natural Resources and the Environment; Public Safety and the Courts; and Revenue and Finance.

Speakers at the series of meetings included State Rep. Mark Hamilton, chairman of the House Governmental Affairs Committee; State Rep. Larry O’Neal, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee; and State Rep. David Knight.