Levy of joint county and municipal sales and use tax by consolidated governments; use of proceeds; referendum.

(b) In a special district containing a consolidated government referred to in subsection (a) of this Code section, the rate of tax imposed under this article may be increased from 1 percent to 2 percent if such increase is approved by:

(1) A resolution of the governing authority of the consolidated government in the same manner as otherwise required for the initial 1 percent sales tax pursuant to Code Section 48-8-84; and

(2) A referendum conducted in the same manner as otherwise required for the initial 1 percent sales tax pursuant to Code Section 48-8-85, except that the ballot shall have written or printed thereon the following: “() YES Shall the retail sales and use tax levied within the special district within County be increased from 1 percent to 2 percent?” () NO Click to view

(c) Such increased tax rate shall become effective 60 days after the date of the election at which such increase was approved by the voters.

(d) (1) Any consolidated government that imposes the tax authorized by subsection (b) of this Code section shall:

(A) Only expend the proceeds of such tax in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (2) of this subsection; and

(B) Annually reduce the millage rate for ad valorem taxation of tangible property within the consolidated government to the extent required by paragraph (2) of this subsection.

(2) (A) As a condition precedent for authority to levy the tax or to collect any proceeds from the tax authorized by this article for the year following the initial year in which it is levied, the consolidated government whose geographical boundary is conterminous with that of the special district and each qualified municipality therein receiving any proceeds of the tax shall reduce the millage rate for ad valorem taxation of tangible property within such political subdivisions by five mills.

(B) For all subsequent years, the consolidated government whose geographical boundary is conterminous with that of the special district and each qualified municipality therein receiving any proceeds of the tax shall adjust annually the millage rate for ad valorem taxation of tangible property within such political subdivisions as provided in this subsection. The governing authority shall compute the millage rate necessary to produce revenue from taxation of tangible property in its respective political subdivision which, when combined with other revenues reasonably expected to be received by the political subdivision during the year, other than revenues derived from the tax imposed pursuant to this article, would provide revenues sufficient to defray the expenses of the political subdivision for the year. The millage rate so ascertained shall then be reduced by the number of mills per dollar which, if levied against the tangible property within the political subdivision, would produce an amount equal to the distribution of the proceeds of the tax imposed by this article which were received by the political subdivision during the preceding year.

(e) The tax increase authorized by subsection (b) of this Code section shall cease to be imposed on the earlier of:

(1) The final day of the fifth calendar year following the year in which the increased tax rate became effective and levied; or

(2) As provided for in subsections (f) and (g) of this Code section.

(f) (1) Such increased tax rate may be decreased from 2 percent to 1 percent if such decrease is approved by:

(A) A resolution of the governing authority of the consolidated government in the same manner as otherwise required under Code Section 48-8-92; and

(B) A referendum conducted in the same manner as otherwise required for discontinuation of the tax under Code Section 48-8-92, except that the ballot shall have written or printed thereon the following: “() YES Shall the retail sales and use tax levied within the special district within County be decreased from 2 percent to 1 percent?” () NO Click to view

(2) Such decreased tax rate as provided for in this subsection shall become effective on the first day of the second calendar quarter following the month in which the commissioner receives certification of the result of the election.

(g) (1) Between 365 and 180 days prior to the expiration of the tax increase authorized by this Code section pursuant to paragraph (1) of subsection (e) of this Code section, or prior to any renewal of the tax increase pursuant to this subsection, the governing authority of the consolidated government may elect to renew the term of the increased tax rate another five years if such renewal is approved by:

(A) A resolution of the governing authority of the consolidated government in the same manner as otherwise required under Code Section 48-8-92; and

(B) A referendum conducted in the same manner as otherwise required for discontinuation of the tax under Code Section 48-8-92, except that the ballot shall have written or printed thereon the following: “() YES Shall the retail sales and use tax levied within the special district within County be renewed at 2 percent?” () NO Click to view

(2) If a term for the increased tax rate is approved and renewed, this renewed term for the increased tax rate shall become effective the first day of the calendar year following the expiration of the previous increased tax rate term as described in paragraph (1) of subsection (e) of this Code section.

(3) Any renewed term for the increased tax rate is subject to the condition precedent as described in paragraph (2) of subsection (d) of this Code section, provided that the proceeds of such tax shall be expended in accordance with the provisions of subparagraph (d)(2)(B) of this Code section during the entirety of any subsequent renewed terms.

(h) In all respects not otherwise provided for in this Code section, the levy of a tax under this article by a consolidated government referred to in subsection (a) of this Code section shall be in the same manner as the levy of the tax by any other county.

(i) If any tax authorized under this article is to be newly imposed in the county whose geographical boundary is conterminous with that of the special district containing a consolidated government, for any rental, lease, or other agreement related to property in the special district that is in effect at the time of levy of such tax, or may be entered into subsequently, which utilizes the millage rate of any such political subdivision or the consolidated government in calculating payments in lieu of taxes payable by the tenant, lessee, or occupant, no reduction as set forth in subsection (d) of this Code section in the millage rate for ad valorem taxes of any political subdivision or consolidated government resulting from the tax authorized under this article shall apply to such agreements, unless the parties thereto specifically have provided that the effects of the tax to be imposed under this article be included in said calculations. History. Code 1981, § 48-8-97, enacted by Ga. L. 2021, p. 310, § 1/HB 575; Ga. L. 2022, p. 352, § 48/HB 1428. Effective date. This Code section became effective May 4, 2021. The 2022 amendment, effective May 2, 2022, part of an Act to revise, modernize, and correct the Code, substituted “subsections (f) and (g)” for “subsections (g) and (f)” in paragraph (e)(2).