ACCG would like to get a better idea of what issues your county is facing that need state assistance or a change to state law. To help ACCG prepare for upcoming Policy Committee meetings, ACCG is seeking your input in a brief survey. 

At ACCG Insurance Programs, staff consistently looks for ways to further enhance service and minimize costs to members of the ACCG Workers’ Compensation and ACCG Property & Liability programs. One such way is bringing the underwriting and administration of these programs inside ACCG, effective July 1, 2020.

The health and safety of county officials and the ACCG staff remain the top priority as we continue to provide service to counties in these uncertain times. After much discussion and in careful consideration of the current upward trajectory of COVID-19 positive cases in Georgia, recommended guidelines for gatherings of large groups from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and Gov. Brian Kemp’s Executive Order 06.29.20.02 (which includes detailed, stringent requirements for conferences of more than 100 people), the ACCG Executive Committee has decided to transition the 2020 Legislative Leadership Conference to a virtual meeting to adopt the 2021 Policy Agenda. 

Registration for the Lifelong Academy Summer CORE Session is now available. Scheduled for August 20-21 at the Great Wolf Lodge in LaGrange/Troup County, this will be the first in-person event that ACCG has hosted since early March!  ACCG is working with the Carl Vinson Institute of Government (CVIOG) at the University of Georgia and the Great Wolf Lodge, to bring county officials education and training opportunities in the safest way possible.

Does your county have a story to tell? The Georgia County Spotlight will allow counties to share with ACCG, and other counties throughout the state, what great things are taking place in their communities. Visit the County Spotlight page to get started. Once on the page, share your news by clicking the "Submit Your News Here" button in the top right corner. 

Another key change in transitioning the administration and underwriting services is the use of technology. Over the coming months, ACCG will migrate away from the Marsh MIMS platform (“Policy Management” on accginsurance.org), which has been used to handle renewals and mid-term changes. 

July's spotlight is shining directly on Yayu Zhu and her experience as an intern for DeKalb County's Office of Independent Internal Affairs. During her internship, she gained real-world experience that will prove valuable in her school work and her professional development. 

Now, more than ever, counties are celebrated for their tireless work on behalf of their communities. Help ACCG highlight those efforts by sending in your photos for Georgia's Local Lens, the newsletter that provides a weekly snapshot of Georgia's counties. Visit the ACCG website for more information.

The Georgia Department of Revenue (DOR) recently published notice of its intent to use certain values in the assessment of qualified timberland property (QTP). Counties should ensure that their boards of tax assessors review the proposed values and appraisal manual and direct any of their concerns to DOR.

The U.S. Census Bureau has had to make extensive modifications to its 2020 Census collection schedule and outreach programs due to COVID-19 safety concerns. Recently, the Census Bureau has published a revised schedule with additional outreach information on their website. Read on for an overview of the modifications.

The Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC) is seeking applications for funding under the Georgia Opioid Affected Youth Initiative. The grant allows for government and non-government entities to apply for up to $100,000 to support the implementation of the Georgia Opioid Affected Youth Strategic Plan. The deadline to apply is July 20.

As part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) ongoing efforts to support state, local, tribal, and territorial partners, Acting Secretary Chad F. Wolf today announced final allocations of $385 million for seven Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 DHS competitive preparedness grant programs. These allocations, together with the more than $1.3 billion in non-competitive grant funding announced by DHS in February and April, total nearly $1.8 billion in FY 2020 granted to assist states, local areas, tribal and territorial governments, nonprofit agencies, and the private sector with their preparedness efforts.