BOC changes now await Governor’s call

Whether the next chairman of the Barrow County Board of Commissioners retains his power when his term begins in 2013 is now in the hands of Gov. Nathan Deal.

If the governor allows the Georgia General Assembly to consider local bills like Barrow’s during the special session on redistricting in August, the proposed changes to the county’s form of government could become effective in time for the start of the next chairman’s term.

But if the governor does not allow such legislation at the summer session, the earliest the county chairman’s role could be changed would be six years from now, according to Rep. Terry England.

The legislature’s next opportunity to consider the bill would be at the 2012 winter session. But the mandatory voter referendum in the bill could not be scheduled in time for the 2012 county elections, England said.

“The law prohibits you from being able to change the duties of the person after they are elected,” he said. “So it would go into effect at the end of that four-year term on Jan. 1, 2017.”

England said previous governors have allowed local bills at special sessions over the past decade or so.

Gov. Deal’s decision will be disclosed sometime in the next six weeks when he issues his written “call” of the special session.

For the full story, see the July 6 issue of the Barrow Journal.