Demorest, City of; Redevelopment Powers Law; provide for a referendum
Summary
HB709 authorizes the City of Demorest, Georgia, to exercise the full range of redevelopment powers available under Georgia’s Redevelopment Powers Law. In practical terms, the bill would allow the city to undertake community redevelopment projects, create tax allocation districts, issue tax allocation bonds, and incur related obligations permitted by state law and the Georgia Constitution. The bill is framed broadly so that Demorest may use redevelopment powers now or in the future as the law is amended.
The bill does not itself create a redevelopment project or district; instead, it gives the city legal authority to do so if local voters approve the measure. It requires a referendum in Demorest at the November 2025 election, with the act becoming effective only if a majority of voters approve. If the referendum fails or is not properly conducted, the bill is automatically repealed on January 1 following the election date. The city would bear the cost of the election, and the election superintendent must certify the result to the Secretary of State.
Impact
If approved by Demorest voters, HB709 would amend the city’s powers under state law by enabling it to use redevelopment tools authorized by Chapter 44 of Title 36 of the O.C.G.A. and Article IX, Section II, Paragraph VII(b) of the Georgia Constitution. This would allow the city to finance redevelopment through tax allocation districts and tax allocation bonds, potentially affecting property tax revenues and local development planning within the city. The bill is a local authorization measure and does not change statewide redevelopment law, but it expands the set of powers available to Demorest under that law.
Sentiment
The available voting history suggests strong support and little opposition. The bill passed the Georgia House 160-0 and the Senate 51-1, indicating broad bipartisan approval for giving Demorest the option to use redevelopment powers. No committee transcript is available, so there is no recorded debate in the provided materials, but the near-unanimous votes suggest the measure was viewed as a routine local authorization rather than a controversial policy change.
Contention
The main point of contention, if any, is the decision to place redevelopment authority before local voters rather than granting it outright. The bill conditions effectiveness on a referendum, which means the city cannot use these powers unless Demorest residents approve the measure in the November 2025 election. Another possible concern is the use of tax allocation districts and bonds, which can affect future tax revenues and public financing, though no explicit opposition or debate is included in the provided record.