Real and Personal Property; conveyance of municipal property interests to independent school systems; provide

School land transfers require replacement parks

The law covers Georgia cities with more than 300,000 people under the 1960 census or a later decennial census. These cities can lease, grant land-use rights over, or transfer recreational property to an independent school system operating within the city. The school system must use the property for education, and the deal must provide payment or something else of value. Both governing bodies must find that the deal serves their communities’ best interests. After a transfer of ownership, the city must replace the land with at least as much acreage. Replacement land must offer substantially equal or greater public benefit, considering local uses and needs. Separate qualifying land transfers can count toward replacement requirements for later school transfers, but total city-owned park acreage cannot fall. Existing deed, contract, and public-use protections remain in place. The law also allows recreational property leases and land-use rights for up to 50 years in exchange for something of value. Former regional fair property no longer used for annual fairs can be leased to private film and television production facilities. Agreements to jointly operate, maintain, and fund recreational property, including renewals and extensions, cannot exceed ten years.