March 30, 2016
www.gfb.org
Vol. 34 No. 13
GA LEGISLATURE: GATE UNCHANGED, BUDGET BOOSTS AG PROGRAMS The Georgia Agricultural Tax Exemption (GATE) program will continue unchanged for another year, the UGA Cooperative Extension received funding for a number of positions to enhance its research programs and the ag water metering program continues to be assigned to the Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission (GSWCC) under the FY 2017 budget, highlighting ag issues considered in the 2016 session of the Georgia Legislature. Both the House of Representatives and the Senate each passed a resolution asking the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to withdraw its Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule. Stemming from the Sales Tax Study Committee created in the 2015 legislative session, GATE was under scrutiny as legislators evaluated ways to improve accountability within the program while curbing abuse. GFB participated in the GATE discussions and helped shape favorable provisions to maintain access to the program for the state’s agriculture producers. “We’re proud of how our members and staff worked to represent the interests of agriculture,” said GFB President Gerald Long. “When our members reach out to their legislators, it adds emphasis to the work our legislative staff does in Atlanta throughout the session.” For example, GFB members submitted more than 400 letters to state elected officials regarding the livestock liability issue alone. “This level of engagement gives us a seat at the table and provides us an opportunity to best represent our members. It is definitely a team effort,” said GFB Legislative Director Jeffrey Harvey. A bill to make adjustments to the program, HB 911, passed the House. Then the Senate passed it with changes and the differences were not resolved before the session adjourned for the year, meaning the GATE program will continue operating with the same requirements for at least another year. The fee remains at $25 per year and the $2,500 farm income qualification threshold stays in place. The legislature included an additional $200,000 in the FY17 budget appropriation to the Department of Agriculture for GATE program investigators to enhance compliance -continued