Cyber Preparedness Starts Here

Cyberattacks have hit water and wastewater utilities in at least seven states since late July, including incidents at two Georgia water authorities. New FBI guidance on protecting control systems has been added to GMA's cybersecurity toolkit, along with resources to help your city prepare.

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This Week in D.C.

EPA Relaunches Local Government Advisory Committee, Senator Ossoff Introduces Mystic Alerts Act

EPA relaunched the Local Government Advisory Committee reappointing Fairburn, GA Mayor Hattie Portis-Jones. Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff also introduced the bipartisan Mystic Alerts Act to upgrade the nation’s emergency alert system by enabling satellite delivered Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEAs).
Data Tool Landing Page

Municipal Wage & Salary Navigator

Use this tool to benchmark compensation rates across Georgia cities. Filter by job title, DCA district (region), population size, and administrative category. Data sourced from the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) annual Wage & Salary Survey.
Article | Ethics & Transparency

Ethics Commission Shares Guidance on New PeachFile E-Filing Requirements

City officials should prepare for upcoming ethics filing changes by registering for PeachFile, understanding new filing requirements, and taking advantage of available training.

Upcoming Events

Aug
17
2026 Georgia Downtown Conference
Rome
Aug
19
Customer Service Principles for Local Government-Excellence in Service
Perry
Aug
20
RMEBS On The Road - Rome
Rome
Aug
20
TIUT: Social Media & the Law: What Every City Official Needs to Know
View Full Calendar

In the Spotlight

Article | Ethics & Transparency

Social Media and Public Officials

July 18, 2026
Social media has become an everyday tool for city officials to share updates, highlight events, and respond to residents. But recent court decisions make clear that this convenience comes with legal risk. And that personal accounts can, under certain circumstances, be treated as an official government forum subject to First Amendment protections.
Grant and Award Opportunities | Public Works

Local Maintenance & Improvement Grant (LMIG)

The annual LMIG allocation is based on the total centerline road miles for each local road system and the total population of each county or city as compared with the total statewide centerline road miles and total statewide population. Deadline: February 01, 2027

Smart Solutions for City Success

Empowering City Leaders with Knowledge and Skills

The Harold F. Holtz Municipal Training Institute offers city officials a comprehensive learning experience, covering everything from municipal finance and budgeting to ethics and data literacy. Designed to enhance leadership and expertise in local government, this program is a partnership between GMA and the University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government—equipping officials with the tools they need to serve their communities effectively.

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Person receiving training certificate.

City Spotlight

Hull, located in GMA’s District 5, is a Madison County city with a population of about 230 people. Incorporated in 1921, this city with small-town charm covers a total area of 0.3 square miles.

Fun Fact: Hull was nicknamed “The Well City” after a historic well in the town’s center.