Business View Magazine | July 2019

366 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE JULY 2019 times, these preemption bills are couched in terms of being “pro-business,” but Georgia’s cities demonstrate their pro-business stance every day, while recognizing that communities are different. Many cities have enacted fast permitting processes to help businesses get off the ground more quickly; others, like Auburn, find innovative ways to help new businesses establish their footing. GMA, during the most recent legislative session, reached a compromise with industry leaders on legislation that allows telecommunications companies to roll out 5G technology faster and more efficiently. The on-going need for infrastructure improvements is a challenge that will take federal, state, and local partnerships to resolve. Georgia’s cities are investing heavily in their own futures. Voters see the vision and value in plans city leaders have laid out for their communities, as evidenced by the fact that 94 percent of all special-purpose, local option sales tax referenda have been approved by voters in the past 10 years; from 2013 to 2017, $2.4 billion was collected in the sales tax to fund capital needs projects. Cities have also committed to $6.8 billion in bond obligations to pay for infrastructure from 2014- 2018. Despite all that local governments are doing for themselves, there is still a large funding gap that is going to require state and national assistance to fill. Georgia’s cities have projected $11.2 billion in infrastructure needs over the next five years. As Georgia continues to grow and cities drive that growth, it is imperative that we have the foundation – roads, water, sewer, parks, transit, and sidewalks – that allows businesses to grow, residents to flourish, and visitors to explore this great state. Cities are at the heart of this growth and GMA is at their side to help them achieve their goals.