Knowledge Center

A recent Georgia Supreme Court ruling striking down Chatham County’s fire service fee could have significant implications for how cities across Georgia fund fire protection and other essential services.

The Office of Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire (OCI) has issued Bulletin 26-EX-3, notifying Georgia cities and counties how it plans to handle compliance with Senate Bill 285, which requires local governments to remit 1.5% of certain insurance tax distributions to the Peace Officers' Annuity and Benefit Fund (POAB) each year by October 30.

This webinar covers PTRLOST/FLOST, the local option sales tax created by House Bill 581 in 2024 that funds an across-the-board property tax millage reduction.

Leadership consultant Dr. John Unger told Georgia mayors that AI, automation, and connectivity are reshaping what local government can do, but declining public trust is reshaping what it takes to lead at all. His talk closed on four leadership shifts and a warning that no amount of technology can replace the harder work of earning trust.

This Georgia Department of Audits and Accounts online resource was created to help local government officials understand HB 244 (passed in 2026) and its audit implications. The webpage includes a plain-language summary of the legislation and guidance designed to help local government finance, budgeting and compliance professionals understand the new requirements.