A panel of state representatives on Wednesday detailed recommendations for improving rural conditions in broad areas including health care, economic growth, education and telecommunications.
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The House Rural Development Council’s proposals are set to become a handful of “omnibus” bills with the backing of top Republicans including House Speaker David Ralston, who said rural issues will be a focus during the 2018 legislative session when the measures would be introduced.
“We’re going to have a lot of fun in the House next session,” Ralston told the council, which includes 26 Georgia representatives.
“Keep in mind that the ultimate goal of this group is empowering private business to expand and grow jobs in rural Georgia and lift the quality of life up for a major, major part of this state,” he said.
The council, created earlier this year, held 11 meetings in rural parts of Georgia, from Bainbridge in the south to Ellijay in the north.
The proposal that most directly illustrates challenges faced by rural Georgia may be one geared toward incentivizing people to move into rural areas of the state, with what could amount to a $100,000 tax deduction over 10 years.
People who move to counties with population growth of 5 percent or less over five consecutive years, about three-fourths of Georgia’s 159 counties, would be eligible.
“The purpose of all of these is to try to reverse the migration trends that we’re seeing,” said council co-chair Rep. Jay Powell.
The council’s recommendations for health care are some of its most complex and extensive and are likely to change before a final report is submitted.
A few could spark controversy, including the possible expansion of health-related services that can be provided by pharmacists, physicians’ assistants and social workers.
All of the proposals could be overhauled when the General Assembly meets next year and additional lobbyists and lawmakers exert their influence.
Council co-chair Rep. Terry England seemed to anticipate an onslaught of calls and requests when he addressed onlookers at the end of Wednesday’s meeting.
“I’m asking that each and every one be respectful of the holiday season for our members of this council and allow everyone next week and the week after Christmas … time to be with our families,” he said. “We’ll have plenty of time to talk about this come the first of January.”
The council will continue to meet next year, even after the legislative session, but it’s proposing a permanent department be established that would coordinate Georgia’s response to problems in rural areas.
England said these communities need support when it comes to planning and leadership, and a new department would help with that.
“One of the things that they would do is go out and into communities and do an assessment of those communities and see what their needs are,” England said.
In other states, including Pennsylvania and Michigan, agencies are specifically tasked with responding to rural issues.
In terms of improving education, the council suggested additional grant funding for early childhood education, and grants under the purview of the newly hired chief turnaround officer for “character education.”
The council also suggested a variety of changes in taxes and regulations to incentivize rural broadband expansion, which it says could fix some of rural Georgia’s issues with health care and education by boosting programs like telemedicine and online learning.
