ATLANTA – State Representative Terry England (R-Auburn) recently received a 2014 Association County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG) Legislative Service Award. ACCG chose to honor Rep. England with the award for his work to secure the passage of Gov. Deal’s recommended budget during this year’s legislative session. ACCG presented Rep. England with his award at the Barrow County Board of Commissioners meeting on September 9, 2014.
“It is a great honor to receive this award from the ACCG,” said Rep. England. “It is crucial that we, as legislators, stay connected to our counties and remember our local communities back home while we are in Atlanta. We would not be doing the work of the people without their support, and it is important for us to work alongside ACCG to ensure that all of our local community’s needs are met.”
ACCG recognized Rep. England for his work in ensuring the passage of Gov. Deal’s recommended budget to increase reimbursements under Georgia’s Forestland Protection Act by $26 million for FY 2014. This brought the FY 2014 budget amount up to $40 million and is aimed at assisting counties with the property tax revenue that was lost under the Forest Land Protection Act.
“Rep. England’s work at the General Assembly exhibited the growing collaborative partnership between Georgia’s state and county government,” said ACCG Associate Legislative Director Debra Nesbit. “Because of his efforts in 2014, counties regained revenue lost under the Forest Land Protection Act and received an $8 per day increase in the per diem rate for housing state prisoners.”
During the 2014 legislative session, Rep. England was also responsible for increasing the daily per diem rate paid to counties for housing state prisoners in the county jail from $22 per day to a House recommendation of $43 per day. Ultimately, the budget conference committee approved an increase to $30 per day, an $8 per day increase. This increase is designed to help counties toward their goal of reimbursing the actual cost incurred by counties while housing state inmates.
“ACCG is pleased to honor our state legislators with the 2014 Legislative Service Awards,” said ACCG Executive Director Ross King. “We applaud their diligent efforts on behalf of counties and all citizens of the State of Georgia.”
Each year, ACCG presents legislative service awards to recognize Georgia House and Senate members. ACCG presents Legislative Service Awards to recognize lawmakers who it believes demonstrate distinguished leadership and interest in working with county governments for the benefit of Georgia’s citizens. Presented annually, the awards have gained recognition among elected and appointed officials as a prestigious way to acknowledge Georgia lawmakers for exemplary leadership.
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, go to www.accg.org.
Representative Terry England represents the citizens of District 116, which includes portions of Barrow County. He was elected into the House of Representatives in 2005, and currently serves as the Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, and the Ex-Officio of the Ways & Means Committee. He also serves on the Agriculture & Consumer Affairs, Education, Industry and Labor, and Natural Resources & Environment committees.
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