---
title: SB 457. City of Mulberry; provision of services and exercise of powers by the city; provide
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/sb457
cite_as: SB 457, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb457
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb457.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb457/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72822
date: 2026-05-11
status: passed
corpus_version: bills-2026-09-13
license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
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omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 891
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb457.md?full=1
bill_number: SB 457
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: Senate
bill_type: bill
status_date: 2026-05-11
last_action: Effective Date 2026-05-11
sponsors:
  - Clint Dixon
  - Bill Cowsert
  - Shawn Still
  - Chuck Efstration
text_version: Enrolled
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SB457/2025
upstream_id: 2106677
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
  - City of Mulberry
  - local government charter
  - city manager
  - municipal elections
  - city council terms
---

# SB 457. City of Mulberry; provision of services and exercise of powers by the city; provide

## Text

Senate Bill 457
By: Senators Dixon of the 45th, Cowsert of the 46th and Still of the 48th
AS PASSED
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend an Act to incorporate the City of Mulberry, approved February 13, 2024
(Ga. L. 2024, p. 3518), as amended, so as to provide for the provision of services and
exercise of powers by the city; to provide for a city manager; to provide for staggered terms
of office for councilmembers; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and
for other purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
An Act to incorporate the City of Mulberry, approved February 13, 2024 (Ga. L. 2024,
p. 3518), as amended, is amended by revising Section 1.14 as follows:
"SECTION 1.14.
Powers and construction.
(a) This city shall have all the powers possible for a city to have under the present or future
Constitution or laws of this state as fully and completely as though they were specifically
enumerated in this charter, 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.
This city shall have all the powers of self-government not otherwise prohibited by this
charter or by general law.
(b) The city shall exercise the powers granted to it under the present or future Constitution
and laws of this state for the purposes of providing planning and zoning, community
development, economic development, code adoption and enforcement, solid waste
collection and disposal, and storm-water collection and disposal and those items related to
the provision of such services and for the general administration of the city in providing
such services.
(c) The provision of services and exercise of powers may be provided by the city
contracting with service providers via intergovernmental agreements or contracts,
franchises, or other lawful agreements with private parties.
(d) The powers of this city shall be construed liberally in favor of the city. The specific
mention or failure to mention powers shall not be construed as limiting in any way the
powers of this city."
SECTION 2.
Said Act is further amended by revising Sections 2.26 through 2.30 as follows:
"SECTION 2.26.
City manager; appointment; qualifications;
compensation; chief administrative officer.
(a) The mayor shall appoint, subject to confirmation by the city council, for an indefinite
term an officer whose title shall be "city manager" who shall serve at the pleasure of the
city council. The city manager shall be appointed without regard to political beliefs and
solely on the basis of his or her executive and administrative qualifications with special
reference to his or her educational background and actual experience in, and knowledge of,
the duties of office as hereinafter prescribed.
(b) The city manager shall be the chief administrative officer of the government of the City
of Mulberry. The city manager must devote all of his or her working time and attention to
the affairs of the city and shall be responsible to the mayor and city council for the proper
and efficient administration of the affairs of the city over which said officer has
jurisdiction.
SECTION 2.27.
Removal of city manager.
(a) The mayor and city council may remove the city manager from office in accordance
with the following procedures:
(1) The city council shall adopt by the affirmative vote of a majority of all
councilmembers a preliminary resolution removing the city manager and may suspend
the city manager from duty for a period not to exceed 45 days. A copy of the resolution
shall be delivered promptly to the city manager;
(2) Within five days after a copy of the resolution is delivered to the city manager, he or
she may file with the city council a written request for a public hearing. This hearing
shall be held at a council meeting not earlier than 15 days nor later than 30 days after the
request is filed. The city manager may file with the city council a written reply not later
than five days before the hearing; and
(3) The city council may adopt a final resolution of removal, which may be made
effective immediately, by the affirmative vote of four councilmembers at any time after
five days from the date when a copy of the preliminary resolution was delivered to the
city manager, if he or she has not requested a public hearing, or at any time after the
public hearing if he or she has requested one.
(b) The city manager shall continue to receive his or her salary until the effective date of
a final resolution of removal and, unless he or she has been convicted of a felony at that
time, he or she shall be given not less than 60 days' severance pay. The action of the city
council in suspending or removing the city manager shall not be subject to review by any
court or agency.
(c) If the city manager becomes disabled and is unable to carry out the duties of the office
or if the city manager dies, the acting city manager shall perform the duties of the city
manager until the city manager's disability is removed or until the city manager is replaced.
Removal of the city manager because of disability shall be carried out in accordance with
the provisions of subsection (a) of this section.
SECTION 2.28.
Acting city manager.
By letter filed with the city clerk, the city manager shall designate, subject to approval by
the city council, a qualified administrative officer to exercise the powers and perform the
duties of city manager during the city manager's temporary absence or physical or mental
disability. During such absence or disability, the city council may revoke such designation
at any time and appoint another officer of the city to serve until the city manager shall
return or the disability shall cease.
SECTION 2.29.
Powers and duties of the city manager.
The city manager shall have the power, and it shall be his or her duty to:
(1) See that all laws and ordinances are enforced;
(2) Appoint and employ all necessary employees of the city, except those officers and
employees who by this charter are appointed or elected by the city council or departments
not under the jurisdiction of the city manager;
(3) Remove employees employed by said officer without the consent of the city council
and without assigning any reason therefore;
(4) Exercise supervision and control of all departments and all divisions created in this
charter or that may hereafter be created by the city council except as otherwise provided
in this charter;
(5) Attend all meetings of the city council with a right to take part in the discussions, but
having no vote. The city manager shall be entitled to notice of all special meetings;
(6) Recommend to the city council, after prior review and comment by the mayor, for
adoption of such measures as the city manager may deem necessary or expedient;
(7) See that all terms and conditions imposed in favor of the city or its inhabitants in any
public utility franchise are faithfully kept and performed and upon knowledge of any
violation thereof to call the same to the attention of the city attorney, whose duty it shall
be forthwith to take such steps as are necessary to protect and enforce the same;
(8) Make and execute all lawful contracts on behalf of the city as to matters within said
officer's jurisdiction to the extent that such contracts are funded in the city's budget,
except such as may be otherwise provided by law; provided, however, that no contract,
purchase, or obligation requiring a budget amendment shall be valid and binding until
after approval by the city council;
(9) Act as budget officer to prepare and submit to the council, after review and comment
by the mayor, prior to the beginning of each fiscal year a budget of proposed expenditures
for the ensuing year, showing in as much detail as practicable the amounts allotted to
each department of the city government and the reasons for such estimated expenditures;
(10) Keep the city council at all times fully advised as to the financial condition and
needs of the city;
(11) Make a full written report to the city council on the first day of each month showing
the operations and expenditures of each department of the city government for the
preceding month, and a synopsis of such reports shall be published by the clerk of the
city;
(12) Fix all salaries and compensation of city employees in accordance with the city
budget and the city pay and classification plan; and
(13) Perform such other duties as may be prescribed by this charter or required by
ordinance or resolution of the city council.
SECTION 2.30.
Council interference with administration.
Except for the purpose of inquiries and investigations under Section 2.15 of this charter,
the city council and councilmembers shall deal with city officers and employees who are
subject to the direction or supervision of the city manager solely through the city manager,
and neither the city council nor the councilmembers shall give orders to any such officer
or employee, either publicly or privately."
SECTION 3.
Said Act is further amended by revising Section 5.11 as follows:
"SECTION 5.11.
Regular elections; time for holding.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in Article VIII of this charter for the initial elections,
there shall be a municipal general election on the Tuesday next following the first Monday
in November, 2027, and on such day biennially thereafter.
(b)(1) At the municipal general election in 2027, councilmembers shall be elected as
follows:
(A) The councilmembers for Districts 1, 3, and 5 elected at such election shall be
elected to four-year terms of office and shall serve until December 31, 2031, and until
their successors are elected and qualified; and
(B) The councilmembers for Districts 2 and 4 elected at such election shall be elected
to two-year terms of office and shall serve until December 31, 2029, and until their
successors are elected and qualified.
(2) Successors to the councilmembers elected pursuant to paragraph (1) of this
subsection shall be elected in the general election in the year in which the respective
terms of office expire and shall take office on the first day of January immediately
following their election for terms of four years and until their successors are elected and
qualified."
SECTION 4.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.

## Summaries written by Georgia Commons

The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the bill. Quote the text, not the summary.

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.

### Plain-language summary

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 it 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.

## Status

- Status: Passed (2026-05-11)
- Last action: Effective Date 2026-05-11 (2026-05-11)
- Sponsors: Clint Dixon, Bill Cowsert, Shawn Still, Chuck Efstration
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72822

> The history, votes, and amendments (891 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb457.md?full=1