Conservation and natural resources; grants and special revenue disbursements; revise provisions

More grant access for Georgia counties

Eligible Georgia counties can receive annual public-service grants while also receiving the separate state-land grant under section 48-14-1. Counties must have at least 20,000 acres of unimproved state land controlled by the Department of Natural Resources. That land must exceed 10% of the county’s taxable real property and represent at least 10% of its assessed tax digest. The department estimates the yearly value of county services, using only land bought with Outdoor Stewardship Trust Fund money. Grants cannot exceed what the county charges other landowners for those services. The department must request funding each year; when funding falls short, counties receive proportional shares based on estimated service values. No more than 10% of the trust fund’s money can support these tax-offset grants in any fiscal year. Eligibility and service values must be reviewed by December 31 each year. The stated first-review deadlines are December 31, 2020, under section 12-6A-12 and December 31, 1993, under section 48-14-4.