Lawmakers push to prevent redirection of dedicated fees

By Christopher Quinn and Kristina Torres

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Fees such as the $1 per tire that consumers pay to clean up tire dumps and recycle tires could no longer be spent on other programs under proposed legislation.

House Bill 811 got immediate support from local governments, who often are left paying for fee-based programs, such as indigent legal defense, while the fees collected are moved around to cover state budget shortfalls elsewhere.

The bill coincides with Senate Resolution 704, which would let voters decide whether to change the state constitution and give lawmakers the ability to permanently set where the fees go.

If passed, its impact on the state's budget process could be immense. For instance, more than $37 million in scrap tire fees collected over the past decade have been redirected to other state programs, the Association County Commissioners of Georgia said.

Other programs covered by dedicated fees include cleanup for hazardous waste sites, training for law enforcement officers and driver’s education.

Rep. Jay Powell, the primary sponsor of HB 811, and more than 60 House members believe if the fees are not appropriated and spent for their intended purposes in the state budget, then they should be reduced or eliminated proportionate to the amount that is redirected to other programs.

“We should either appropriate the fees as promised, reduce the fee to what is being appropriated or get rid of the fee altogether," Powell said. "House Bill 811 strengthens transparency in the budget process and trust in our government."

Senate Minority Leader Steve Henson, D-Tucker, sponsored SR 704. He said he wanted to eliminate the "sleight of hand" involved with the process.