development authorities Archives

A modest proposal to do something about development authorities gets its shot in the General Assembly

by Tom Baxter March 7, 2022 7:11 pmFebruary 17, 2023 4:02 pm

One of the most mind-boggling things about economic development authorities in Georgia is just how many of them there are.

Columns

Georgia’s joint development authorities vary widely in meeting transparency

by John Ruch August 9, 2021 8:00 amFebruary 17, 2023 3:59 pm

Little-known government bodies called joint development authorities around the state, with such powers as issuing bonds and conducting regional plans, vary widely in transparency and public accessibility, a SaportaReport review has found. At least two multi-county JDAs may be violating a state law requiring them to meet quarterly, including a DeKalb/Newton/Gwinnett authority that was last […]

Obscure six-county development authority collects fees, hired lobbyist, meets privately

by John Ruch July 22, 2021 11:45 pmFebruary 17, 2023 3:57 pm

An obscure joint development authority of six metro Atlanta counties has ignored state financial reporting requirements and open meetings laws for years while collecting and spending public money: $15,000 a year in membership fees, a $10,000-a-year lobbyist, and the ability of companies in member counties to get job-based tax breaks. The Joint Development Authority of […]