GA SB517

Reincorporates the City of Jeffersonville, Georgia, under a new charter, repealing the previous charter approved April 10, 2014 (Ga. L. 2014, p. 3791) and all its amendments

Establishes a governing authority consisting of a mayor elected at-large and seven councilmembers — four elected from Voting District 1 and three from Voting District 2 — all serving four-year terms, with elections held every four years on the Tuesday following the first Monday in November

Designates the mayor as chief executive officer with powers to appoint and remove department heads (with council confirmation), prepare operating and capital budgets, veto ordinances and resolutions (overridable by five council votes), and preside over council meetings; the mayor votes only to break ties or provide a fourth affirmative vote

Creates the Municipal Court of the City of Jeffersonville with jurisdiction over charter and ordinance violations, authority to impose fines up to $1,000.00 and/or imprisonment up to 180 days, and requires judges to be members of the State Bar of Georgia

Grants the city broad municipal powers including taxation (ad valorem, occupation, and business taxes), bonding authority, eminent domain, franchising (limited to 35 years), planning and zoning, public utilities operation, and environmental protection, with powers construed liberally in favor of the city