Georgia CommonsSB 457: City of Mulberry; provision of services and exercise of powers by the city; provide
Last action May 11, 2026 · Effective Date 2026-05-11
A Senate bill would amend the City of Mulberry's charter to spell out which services the city provides, create a city manager position, and set staggered four and two year terms for city councilmembers starting in 2027.
The summaries below were written by an AI model (claude-sonnet-5) from the text of the bill and are not part of it. Quote the text, not the summary. The stored text is the Enrolled version, the latest LegiScan holds.
In plain language
The City of Mulberry was incorporated by the Georgia General Assembly in 2024. This bill amends that charter law. It rewrites the section on the city's powers to clarify that the city cannot levy property taxes but can provide services such as planning and zoning, community development, economic development, code enforcement, solid waste collection, and storm water management, either directly or through contracts with other governments or private providers. The bill also creates a city manager position, appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the city council, who runs day-to-day city operations, hires and fires most employees, prepares the budget, and reports monthly to the council. It sets out a detailed process for removing the city manager. Finally, it changes the 2027 municipal election so councilmembers from Districts 1, 3, and 5 serve four-year terms while those from Districts 2 and 4 serve two-year terms, staggering future elections.
What the bill does
- Rewrites the city's powers section to bar property tax collection while authorizing specific services like zoning, code enforcement, and waste and storm water collection.
- Allows the city to provide services through intergovernmental agreements, franchises, or contracts with private companies instead of hiring city staff for everything.
- Creates a city manager position appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the council, who serves as chief administrative officer of the city.
- Lays out a formal, multi-step process the city council must follow to suspend or remove the city manager, including a possible public hearing.
- Lists specific city manager duties including enforcing laws, hiring and firing staff, preparing the annual budget, and reporting to the council monthly.
- Staggers council terms starting with the 2027 election, giving Districts 1, 3, and 5 four-year terms and Districts 2 and 4 two-year terms.
Who it affects
Residents and officials of the City of Mulberry, including the mayor, city council, city manager, and any staff or contractors delivering city services, as well as future candidates for city council seats affected by the new staggered election terms.
Why it matters
The changes create a professional management structure for Mulberry by adding a city manager to handle daily operations, and they set up staggered council terms so the entire council does not turn over at once. Residents would see continuity in leadership and clearer rules for how services like waste collection are delivered.
Key provisions
- Section 1 revises Section 1.14 of the charter to bar the city from levying property taxes while listing services it can provide, such as zoning and code enforcement.
- Section 2 revises Sections 2.26 through 2.30 to create the city manager position, define appointment and removal procedures, and list the manager's 13 specific duties.
- Section 2.27 requires a majority council vote for a preliminary removal resolution and a possible public hearing before a final removal vote of at least four councilmembers.
- Section 3 revises Section 5.11 so that in the 2027 general election, Districts 1, 3, and 5 get four-year terms and Districts 2 and 4 get two-year terms, staggering future elections.
- Section 4 repeals any conflicting laws.
From the bill
“This city shall have all the powers of self-government not otherwise prohibited by this charter or by general law.”
“except that the city shall not have the power to assess, levy, or collect ad valorem taxes on real or personal property within the corporate limits of the city”
“The action of the city council in suspending or removing the city manager shall not be subject to review by any court or agency.”
Status timeline
- Effective Date 2026-05-11
- Act 610
- Senate Date Signed by Governor (Senate)
- Senate Sent to Governor (Senate)
- House Passed/Adopted (House)
- House Third Readers (House)
- House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
- House Second Readers (House)
Show full history (13 actions)
- House First Readers (House)
- Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
- Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
- Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
- Senate Hopper (Senate)
Sponsors
- Clint Dixon (R, SD-045)
- Bill Cowsert (R, SD-046)
- Shawn Still (R, SD-048)
- Chuck Efstration (R, HD-104)
Votes
- Senate voteMarch 3, 2026
45 yea, 0 nay (6 not voting, 4 absent)
- House voteMarch 20, 2026
153 yea, 0 nay (14 not voting, 9 absent)
Topics
- City of Mulberry
- local government charter
- city manager
- municipal elections
- city council terms