HB748 is a local act affecting Carroll County, Georgia, that revises the compensation package for the county coroner. The bill amends the existing 1973 local law, as previously amended in 1997, to set the coroner’s annual base salary at $43,620, payable monthly from county funds, and to provide an annual expense allowance of $3,100, also paid monthly from county funds under conditions established by the county governing authority. The bill also specifies that these amounts are subject to annual adjustments under the general state statute governing compensation adjustments for county officers.
The measure is narrowly focused on one county office and does not alter statewide coroner law generally. Its practical effect is to update the local salary structure for the Carroll County coroner and require county funding of the revised compensation beginning July 1, 2025. It also preserves the county’s role in administering the expense allowance and incorporates the standard annual adjustment mechanism already used for certain local officer salaries.
Impact
HB748 amends a special local act governing the Carroll County coroner’s pay, increasing and formalizing the coroner’s base salary and expense allowance and tying those amounts to annual adjustments under O.C.G.A. Section 36-5-28. The bill affects Carroll County’s budget and compensation practices for that office, but it does not create a new statewide program or change the duties of coroners generally. It becomes effective July 1, 2025, and repeals conflicting laws only to the extent they apply to this local compensation scheme.
Sentiment
The available voting history indicates strong bipartisan support and no recorded opposition. The bill passed the House 158-0 on the Local Calendar and the Senate 53-0 on the Local Consent Calendar, suggesting it was viewed as a routine local compensation measure rather than a controversial policy change. No committee transcripts were provided, but the unanimous votes indicate broad agreement.
Contention
There is no visible contention in the available record. Because the bill is a local act limited to Carroll County and concerns compensation for a single county officer, any discussion would likely have centered on the appropriateness of the salary and expense allowance level, county funding responsibility, and alignment with existing adjustment formulas. However, the unanimous votes and absence of committee debate suggest no significant disagreement among legislators.