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

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.

• 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.

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.

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.

• 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.

1. 2026-05-11Effective Date 2026-05-11
2. 2026-05-11Act 610
3. 2026-05-11Senate Date Signed by Governor (Senado)
4. 2026-04-10Senate Sent to Governor (Senado)
5. 2026-03-20House Passed/Adopted (Cámara de Representantes)
6. 2026-03-20House Third Readers (Cámara de Representantes)
7. 2026-03-20House Committee Favorably Reported (Cámara de Representantes)
8. 2026-03-06House Second Readers (Cámara de Representantes)

• Clint Dixon (R, SD-045)Patrocinador principal
• Bill Cowsert (R, SD-046)
• Shawn Still (R, SD-048)
• Chuck Efstration (R, HD-104)

1. AprobadaVotación: Senado3 de marzo de 2026

   45 a favor, 0 en contra (6 sin votar, 4 ausentes)

   Local Consent Calendar: Senate Vote #600

2. AprobadaVotación: Cámara de Representantes20 de marzo de 2026

   153 a favor, 0 en contra (14 sin votar, 9 ausentes)

   Local Calendar : House Vote #734

• City of Mulberry
• local government charter
• city manager
• municipal elections
• city council terms