Newspaper Page Text
The Augusta News-Review NOVEMBER 3, 1984
Summary
of proposed
constitutional
admendments
If you desire to vote FOR o proposed Amendment, punch
opposite the word “YES". If you wish to vote AGAINST a
proposed Amendment, punch opposite the word “NO".
SPECIAL ELECTION
RICHMOND COUNTY, GEORGIA
"Shall the Act providing for the
reduction in si2e of the Richmond
County Board of Education from 16
members to nine members with
staggered terms of office be NO
approved?"
STATEWIDE REFERENDUMS
Shall the Act declaring property used exclusively at the state YES
headquarters of a non-profit corporation organized to promote
cooperation between parents snd teachers to be an extension
of the public schools of this state, to bo treated as public prop
erty, and granting an exemption from ad valorem taxation for
such property bo approved?
Shall motor vehicles used principally for the purpose of trans- YES
porting handicapped or disabled students to or from any school
or educational Institution bo exempted from ad valorem taxation? nq
YES
Shall the Act granting an exemption from ad valorem taxation on
property of nonprofit homes for the mentally handicapped be ap
proved? NO
PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS
Shall the Constitution bo amended so as to provide that a judge ygc
may be suspended from office upon being Indicted for s felony
land may be removed from office upon being convicted of a
felony by this state or by the United States and to provide for
procedures and other matters relative thereto?
Shall the Constitution be amended so as to provide that certain ygs
public officials may be suspended from office upon being Indicted
2 for a felony and may bo removed from office upon being can
victed of a felony by this state and to provide for procedures N q
and other matters relative thereto?
YES
3 Shall the Constitution be amended so as to authorize the State
Board of Education to appoint the State School Superintendent?
Shall the Constitution bo amended so as to:
(1) Authorize the General Assembly by taw to change pre
viously existing public retirement or pension laws of this state
to redefine Involuntary separation from employment and to yES
provide additional or revise existing limitations or restrictions
on the right to qualify for a retirement or pension benefit based
on Involuntary separation from employment and to affect present
members of public retirement or pension systems as a result of
the revision of such laws;
4(2) Authorize the General Assembly by taw to define or redefine
part-time service, Including but not limited to service an a member
of the General Assembly, for the purposes of any previously
existing or future public retirement or pension system and place
limitations or restrictions on the use of part-time service as
creditable service under any such system and to affect present
members of any public retirement or pension system in con
nection therewith; and
(3) Provide restrictions on retirement or pension benefits based
on involuntary separation from employment as applied to public
retirement or pension systems created in the future?
Shall the Constitution bo amended so as to prohibit the payment
of retirement benefits baaed on involuntary separation from em
-sployment to any paet, present, or future Governor of the State
of Georgia as a result of ceasing to hold office as Governor
for any reason, except for medical disability?
Shall the Constitution bo amended so as to provide that the
office of any state, county, or municipal elected official shall be Tt ->
declared vacant upon such elected official qualifying for another
state, county, or municipal office or qualifying for the House of
Representatives or the Senate of the United States If the term of
6 office for which such official Is qualifying for beglna more than
30 days prior to the expiration of ouch official's present term
of office? NO
Shall the Constitution bo amended so as to change the amount YES
7 of and eligibility for the homestead exemption granted Io disabled
veterans and provide a method of changing thia amount and
eligibility In the future? NO
Shall the Constitution be amended Io authorize general obllga- yES
tlon debt to bo Incurred to provide public library facilities for
8 county and Independent school systems or for counties, muni
clpalitles, or boards of trustees of public libraries or public
library systems?
Shall the Constitution be amended so as to provide that property Y _,
qualifying for preferential assessment which Is devoted to bona
fide agricultural purposes may bo owned by an estate of which
9 the dlvlsees or heirs are one or more natural or naturalized
citizens or by a trust of which the beneficiaries are one or NO
more natural or naturalized citizens?
Shall the Constitution bo amended so as to authorize the creation YES
Wof community Improvement districts for the purpose of providing
governmental services? NO
Shall the Constitution bo amended so as to require that a local vcc
law which authorizes the exercise of additional redevelopment Tts
H powers by counties and municipalities bo approved In a refer-
endum by a majority of the qualified voters voting therson in the
county or municipality affected?
Page 8
—l—
Resolution No 267
Resolution Act No 86
Georgia Laws 1984. p 1722
I I YES Shall the Constitution
be amended so as to
I I NO provide that a judge
may be suspended
from office upon being
indicted for a felony
and may be removed
from office upon being
convicted of a felony by
this state or by the
United States and to
provide for procedures
and other matters
relative thereto?
This proposal provides a procedure
for the suspension from office of any
judge who has been indicted for a
felony by a grand jury of this state or
of the United States. Upon indictment,
the Judicial Qualifications Commis
sion shall determine whether the in
dictment relates to and adversely af
fects the administration of the judge s
oilice II the commission finds that
the indictment does adversely affect
the judge's office, the judge shall be
suspended until the case is finally
disposed of This proposal further pro
vides for removal from office of a
judge who is finally convicted of a
felony.
A copy of this entire proposed
amendment is on file in the office of
the judge of the probate court and is
available for public inspection.
—2—
Senate Resolution No. 268
Resolution Act No 87
Georgia Laws 1984, p. 1719
( | YES Shall the Constitution
be amended so as to
( ) NO provide that certain
public officials may be
suspended from office
upon being indicted for
a felony and may be
removed from office
ujxin being convicted of
a felony by this state
and to provide for pro
cedures and other mat
ters relative thereto?
This proposal provides a procedure
for the suspension from office of a
■ public official’’ who has been in
dicted for a felony by a grand jury of
this state Upon the officer’s indict
ment. a commission will be appointed
to determine whether the indictment
relates to and adversely affects the
administration of the office of the in
dicted official If the commission
finds that the indictment does
adversely affect the office, the official
shall be suspended until the case is
finally disposed of This proposal fur
ther provides for removal from office
of a public official who is finally con
victed of a felony. This proposal
states that the term public official’’
means the Governor, the Lieutenant
Governor, the Secretary of State, the
Attorney General, the State School
Superintendent, the Commissioner of
Insurance, the Commissioner of
Agriculture, the Commissioner of
Labor, and members of the Genera)
Assembly.
A copy of this entire proposed
amendment is on file in the office of
the judge of the probate court and is
available for public inspection.
-3
House Resolution No. 505
Resolution Act No. 85
Georgia Laws 1984, p 1716
1 J YES Shall the Constitution
be amended so as to
I 1 NO authorize the State
Board of Education to
appoint the State
School Superintendent?
This proposal provides that the
State School Superintendent shall be
appointed by the State Board of
Education rather than being elected.
It provides that the State School
Superintendent in office on January
1,1985, shall continue to serve the re
mainder of the term to which such
school superintendent was elected
A copy of this entire proposed
amendment is on file in the office of
the judge of the probate court and is
available for public inspection.
—4—
Senate Resolution No. 274
Resolution Act No 90
Georgia Laws 1984, p. 1726
[ ] YES Shall the Constitution
be amended so as to:
( ] NO (1) Authorize the
General Assembly by
law to change previous
ly existing public
retirement or pension
laws of this state to
redefine involuntary
separation from
employment and to
provide additional or
revise existing limita
tions or restrictions on
the right to qualify for
a retirement or pension
benefit based on in
voluntary separation
from employment and
to affect present
members of public
retirement or pension
systems as a result of
the revision of such
laws;
<2> Authorize the
General Assembly by
law to define or
redefine part-time ser
vice, including but not
limited to service as a
member of the General
Assembly, for the pur
poses of any previously
existing or future
public retirement or
pension system and
place limitations or
restrictions on the use
of part-time service as
creditable service
under any such system
and to affect present
members of any public
retirement or pension
system in connection
therewith; and
(3) Provide restric
tions on retirement or
pension benefits based
on involuntary separa
tion from employment
as applied to public
retirement or pension
systems created in the
future?
This proposal authorizes the
General Assembly by law to make
changes in existing public retirement
systems relative to involuntary
separation from employment. It pro
vides that such changes may affect
persons who are members of public
retirement or pension systems on
January 1, 1985, and who became
members at any time prior to that
date.
This proposal authorizes the
General Assembly to redefine in
voluntary separation from employ
ment. It also authorizes the General
Assembly to provide limitations and
restrictions on the right to qualify for
retirement benefits based on involun
tary separation. It further authorizes
the General Assembly to limit or
restrict the use of part-time service
for credit under a retirement system.
This proposal further provides that no
retirement or pension system created
in the future shall grant any person
whose retirement is based on involun
tary separation a retirement or pen
sion benefit more favorable than such
benefit granted to a person whose
separation from employment is
voluntary.
A copy of this entire proposed
amendment is on file in the office of
the judge of the probate court and is
available for public inspection.
-5-
Senate Resolution No 307
Resolution Act No 84
Georgia Laws 1984, p. 1714
1 | YES Shall the Constitution
be amended so as to
| ) NO prohibit the payment of
retirement benefits
based on involuntary
separation from
employment to any
past, present, or future
Governor of the State of
Georgia as a result of
ceasing to hold office as
Governor for any
reason, except for
medical disability?
This proposal provides that no per
son holding the office of Governor
shall receive a retirement benefit bas
ed on involuntary separation from
employment as a result of ceasing to
hold office as Governor This applies
to any past, present, or future Gover
nor but provides an exemption for any
person who ceases to hold office as
Governor by reason of medical
disability.
A copy of this entire proposed
amendment is on file in the office of
the judge of the probate court and is
available for public inspection
House Resolution No 30
Resolution Act No. 24
Georgia Laws 1983, p. 972
I 1 YES Shall the Constitution
be amended so as to
( j NO provide that the office
of any state, county, or
municipal elected of
ficial shall be declared
vacant upon such
elected official qualify
ing for another state,
county, or municipal of
fice or qualifying for
the House of Represen
tatives or the Senate of
the United States if the
term of the office for
which such official is
qualifying for begins
more than 30 days prior
to the expiration of
such official’s present
term of office?
This proposal provides that when
any elected state, county, or
municipal official qualifies in a
general or special primary or a
general or special election for another
state, county, or municipal elective
office or for the House of Represen
tatives or the Senate of the United
States the office which such official is
holding at the time of qualifying shall
be declared vacant Such vacancy
will not occur if the term of the office
which such official is holding when
qualifying will terminate within 30
days after the term of the second of
fice begins Also, such vacancy will
not occur if the holding of both offices
is specifically authorized by law.
A copy of this entire proposed
amendment is on file in the office of
the judge of the probate court and is
available for public inspection.
—7—
House Resolution No. 185
Resolution Act No. 71
Georgia Laws 1984, p. 1707
f ] YES Shall the Constitution
be amended so as to
| 1 NO change the amount of
and eligibility for the
homestead exemption
granted to disabled
veterans and provide a
method of changing
this amount and
eligibility in the future?
This proposal makes certain
changes with respect to the
homestead exemption from ad
valorem taxes which is currently
granted to disabled American
veterans. It provides that the
homestead exemption shall be the
greater of $32,500.00 or the maximum
amount which may be granted to a
disabled veteran under the United
States Code as hereafter amended
This proposal expands the group of
disabled veterans who are eligible for
the Georgia homestead exemption so
as to include all disabled veterans
who are now or hereafter eligible for
such federal grants It also authorizes
the General Assembly by general law
to provide for a different amount or
a different method of determining the
amount of or eligibility for the
homestead exemption granted to
disabled veterans Any such law shall
be enacted by a simple majority of
the votes of all the members to which
each house is entitled and may
become effective without a
referendum.
A copy of this entire proposed
amendment is on file in the office of
the judge of the probate court and is
available for public inspection.
-8—
Senate Resolution No 300
Resolution Act No. 83
Georgia Laws 1984, p 1713
1 I YES Shall the Constitution
be amended to
( 1 NO authorize general
obligation debt to be in
curred to provide
public library facilities
for county and indepen
dent school systems or
for counties,
municipalities, or
boards of trustees of
public libraries or
public library systems?
This proposal authorizes general
obligation debt to be incurred to pro
vide public library facilities for coun
ty school systems, independent school
systems, counties, municipalities,
boards of trustees of public libraries,
and boards of trustees of library
systems This is added to the list of
purposes for which state debt may be
incurred.
A copy of this entire proposed
amendment is on file in the office of
the judge of the probate court and is
available for public inspection.
-9
House Resolution No. 589
Resolution Act No 80
Georgia Laws 1984, p. 1711
[ ] YES Shall the Constitution
be amended so as to
( ] NO provide that property
qualifying for preferen
tial assessment which
is devoted to bona fide
agricultural purposes
may be owned by an
estate of which the
devisees or heirs are
one or more natural or
naturalized citizens or
by a trust of which the
beneficiaries are one or
more natural or
naturalized citizens?
This proposal makes certain
changes with respect to the preferen
tial assessment for pre perty tax pur
poses which may be granted to
owners of land devoted to agricultural
purposes. Under the present Constitu
tion, agricultural land which receives
preferential assessment must be own
ed either by a family-owned farm cor
poration or by one or more individual
citizens. This proposal provides that
land which receives preferential
assessment may also be owned by an
estate or by a trust if the trust or
estate is for the benefit of one or more
individual citizens.
A copy of this entire proposed
amendment is on file in the office of
the judge of the probate court and is
available for public inspection.
-10—
House Resolution No 733
Resolution Act No 68
Georgia Laws 1984, p. 1703
I | YES Shall the Constitution
be amended so as to
I | NO authorize the creation
of community improve
ment districts for the
purpose of providing
governmental ser
vices?
This proposal authorizes the crea
tion of one or more "community im
provement districts" for any county
or municipality The purpose of a
community improvement district is to
be the furnishing of governmental .
services and governmental facilities
which are specially required by the
density of development within the
community improvement district
The first step in the creation of a
community improvement district will
be the passage of a local Act by the
General Assembly The local Act of
the General Assembly will either
create the community improvement
district or authorize the affected
county or municipal government to
create the community improvement
district Such an Act of the General
Assembly will not be put into effect
unless it is approved by: (1) the as
fected county or municipality; (2) a
majority of the property owners who
will be subject to the special taxes,
fees, and assessments levied within
the community improvement
district; and (3> the owners of 75 per
cent, by value, of the property subject
to these taxes, fees, and assessments.
As specified in the local Act relating
to each community improvement
district, the district will be governed
either by the government of the coun
ty or municipality for which the
district is created or by a separate
government for the community im
provement district.
The government of a community
improvement district will be authoriz
ed to levy up to 25 mills of ad valorem
property taxes, fees, or assessments
on the assessed value of nonresiden
tial real estate located within the
community improvement district.
The proceeds of such taxes, fees, and
assessments will be used only for the
purpose of providing specified
governmental services and facilities
which are specially required by the
degree of density of development
within the district The governing
body of an administrative district will
be authorized for these purposes to in
cur debt to be repaid from such taxes,
fees, and assessments
A copy of this entire proposed
amendment is on file in the office of
the judge of (he probate court and is
available for public inspection
1 1—
House Resolution No 444
Resolution Act No. 72
Georgia Laws 1984, p. 1709
( ] YES Shall the Constitution
be amended so as to re-
1 ) NO quire that a local law
which authorizes the
exercise of additional
redevelopment powers
by counties and
municipalities be ap
proved in a referendum
by a majority of the
qualified voters voting
thereon in the county or
municipality affected?
This proposal makes a change with
respect to the requirement that a
local law which authorizes a county
or municipality to exercise certain
redevelopment powers must be ap
proved by the voters of the county or
municipality. Under the present Con
stitution, any such local law must be
approved by a majority of all
qualified voters of the county or
municipality This proposal provides
that such law shall become effective
upon the approval of a majority of the
voters voting on the question.
A copy of this entire proposed
amendment is on file in the office of
the judge of the probate court and is
available for public inspection.
The strongest weapon an in
dividual has to affect public policy
is the right to vote. Black
Americans, long denied the right
to exercise the franchise, have a
major stake in the election of
public officials at every level
municipal, state and national to
insure that racial discrimination
and segregation are limited in
every aspect of public life.
Poverty is a constant companion
in the Black community. The
poverty rate for Blacks is 36 per
cent, compared to 12 percent for
whites. The prevailing mood of
conservatism, the high rate of
unemployment (16 percent Black;
42 percent Black youth), and the
plight of the urban cities were 81
percent of all Balck Americans
reside mandate that every Black
American of voting age register to
vote, become informed on the issues
that affect the very survival of
Blacks, and cast a ballot on Elect
ion Day.
BLACK AMERICANS CAN
NOT AFFORD THE LUXURY
OF NOT VOTING.