HB1530: HB1530 Fairmount, City of; future mayors shall be elected to four-year terms; provide

The City of Fairmount operates under a city charter originally enacted in 1975. This bill amends that charter to change the mayor's term of office. Starting with the mayor elected in 2027, the mayor will serve a four-year term instead of the current term, matching the four-year terms already used for city council members. Council elections will continue to be staggered, with Posts 1 and 3 elected together and Posts 2 and 4 elected two years later. The bill also rewrites the charter's compensation section so that the mayor and council set their own salaries by ordinance, but any pay increase cannot take effect until after the next election following the vote to raise it. It also allows reimbursement of actual expenses with itemized vouchers. The bill repeals any conflicting laws.

• Changes the mayor's term of office in the City of Fairmount charter from the current term to four years, starting with the mayor elected in 2027.
• Keeps council members' terms at four years and preserves the staggered election schedule for Posts 1-4.
• Restates residency, voter registration, and eligibility requirements for anyone running for mayor or council.
• Revises the charter's compensation section so pay raises for the mayor or council cannot take effect until after the next election following the vote to raise them.
• Allows the mayor and council to be reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses upon presenting itemized vouchers.
• Repeals any prior laws that conflict with these charter changes.

The bill affects the City of Fairmount's mayor and city council members, candidates running for those offices starting in 2027, and residents and registered voters of Fairmount who elect them.

Fairmount voters will elect their mayor to a longer, four-year term starting in 2027 rather than a shorter cycle, aligning the mayor's schedule with council terms. The compensation change also means any future pay raises for city officials take effect only after the next election, not immediately.

• Section 1 revises Section 2.11 of the Fairmount charter so the mayor elected in 2027 and successors serve four-year terms.
• Section 1 keeps council terms at four years with staggered elections: Posts 1 and 3 at one election, Posts 2 and 4 two years later.
• Section 1 restates candidate eligibility rules, including one year of residency, voter registration, and meeting Georgia House of Representatives qualification standards.
• Section 2 revises Section 2.13 so mayor and council salaries are set by ordinance but pay increases only take effect after the next regular election following the vote.
• Section 2 allows itemized voucher reimbursement of actual and necessary expenses for the mayor and council.
• Section 3 repeals all laws and parts of laws in conflict with the Act.

1. 2026-05-12Effective Date 2026-05-12
2. 2026-05-12Act 671
3. 2026-05-12House Date Signed by Governor (House)
4. 2026-04-06House Sent to Governor (House)
5. 2026-03-20Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
6. 2026-03-20Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
7. 2026-03-19Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
8. 2026-03-18House Passed/Adopted (House)

• Matt Barton (R, HD-005)Primary sponsor
• Jason Ridley (R, HD-006)

1. PassedHouse voteMarch 18, 2026

   161 yea, 2 nay (7 not voting, 6 absent)

   Local Calendar : House Vote #712

2. PassedSenate voteMarch 20, 2026

   44 yea, 0 nay (5 not voting, 5 absent)

   Local Consent Calendar: Senate Vote #761

• local government
• city charters
• Fairmount Georgia
• municipal elections
• elected official pay