Douglas to Receive Pre-Paid Wireless Fees

Discussion regarding an ordinance that would result in pre-paid wireless fees being redistributed back to Douglas County each year dominated the Board of Commissioners’ meeting on Tuesday.

Douglas County 911 Director Greg Whitaker said that the fees have been collected on pre-paid wireless card sales since the 1990s but have been sent to the Department of Community Affairs. Now, approximately $25 million from these fees is sitting the state’s general fund.

“I don’t think we’ll see any of that $25 million,” he said. “We’ve been told not to hang our hat.”

The board voted unanimously to approve the ordinance that follows House Bill 256. The bill, signed by Gov. Nathan Deal in May, stipulates that pre-paid wireless fees be sent to the Department of Revenue to be redistributed to counties and cities on an annual basis. However, in order to be eligible for the funds, governing bodies must pass the ordinance by Dec. 31.

“This is not a new fee,” Whitaker said. “It’s not a new tax. Wireless fees have been collected since the '90s. We’re just changing the point of collection.”

County Attorney Ken Bernard told the board to adopt the ordinance with an effective date of Oct. 18 to preserve any claims going forward and to change the section regarding repeals so that it doesn’t apply to past collections.

“What I don’t want to do is cut us off without knowing what we’re cutting ourselves off from,” Bernard said.

The pre-paid wireless fees can only be used for 911 purposes.

In other business, the BOC:

• Approved an intergovernmental agreement with the City of Douglasville regarding the Bright Star Connector project.
• Promoted a Community Outreach Case Manager I to Community Outreach Case Manager II to replace a case manager who resigned.
• Accepted a $15,000 grant from the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety to cover expenses associated with the operation of the Western Regional Traffic Enforcement Network.
• Voted to spend $13,150 from the sheriff’s office forfeiture account to purchase a surveillance robot for the Sheriff’s Emergency Response Team.
• Accepted $2,121.90 from the sheriff’s office special projects account to cover travel expenses related to the K9 seminar hosted by the Douglas County Sheriff's Office.
• Approved a contract with Remona Williams for coffee and breakfast service at the Transportation Center.
• Voted to amend the budget in the amount of $105,000 for fuel expenses for Rideshare for the remainder of 2011.
• Voted to allow electronic deposits from Healthways.
• Accepted the dedication deeds for the Chestnut Hills subdivision.
• Approved a refund of $12,200 to United Community Bank, LLC, for overpayment on sidewalk installation for Nolanwood Lake Unit, and amended the sidewalk fund for fees and land improvement.
• Approved an amendment to the FY 2012 aging services contract with the Atlanta Regional Commission.
• Awarded a bid in the amount of $105,600 to Glossen Enterprise for sidewalk installation in multiple subdivisions.
• Awarded a bid of $284,370 to Peek Pavement Marking, LLC, for a thermoplastic striping project.
• Voted to execute documents for land donation from Barnes Land & Investments, LLC.
• Voted to advertise the new NSP 3 Target Area Map for 15 days for public comment.