If you live in or around Atlanta, (and the majority of Georgians do) it’s easy to forget about the issues faced by those in the vast rural parts of the state. When connecting to high speed internet is just a matter of picking a (overpriced) provider, or choosing which hospital to go to just means looking up which ones provide the services you need, the thought of not having access to those basic needs doesn’t even cross one’s mind.
But the state legislature is made up of representatives from all parts of the state, including a House Speaker from Blue Ridge who certainly hasn’t taken his eye off the needs of rural Georgians. The House Rural Development Council was created for that very reason, and last week the committee released its recommendations to the legislature in an effort to address many of the issues facing rural Georgia.
The council’s ideas include income tax reductions of $3,000 for individuals who move to ‘rural’ areas, state funding for internet providers to bring high-speed service to areas where it is lacking, and the creation of a ‘Center for Rural Prosperity and Innovations’ to help coordinate and spur economic development.
While its ideas could turn into actual legislation during the 2018 session, that process will assuredly be a complicated one. Tax reductions are always a popular idea in theory for a Republican-dominated legislature, but taking money out of the state budget is always a tricky proposition. Using taxpayer dollars to prop up internet providers who have little to gain by building out infrastructure in far-flung areas of the state? Not exactly a Conservative proposal.
The Georgia Chamber of Commerce’s statement on the council’s report echoed those sentiments, thanking them for their efforts but stopping short of voicing a full endorsement for their proposals.
Said chamber CEO Chris Clark, “The Georgia Chamber of Commerce commends the House of Representatives Rural Development Council on their continued effort to address and resolve issues critical to Georgia’s rural communities. Providing solutions that lead to improved economic opportunities, access to quality healthcare, improved education outcomes and job-readiness, as well as access to critical infrastructure including broadband, continues to be a priority for the Georgia Chamber of Commerce. While these topics are complex, often with no easy solutions, we applaud the Council’s hard work, leadership, and dedication. The Georgia Chamber looks forward to further review of the recommended policy solutions and our continued work with members of the General Assembly to improve both the quality of life and business climate in communities across the state.”
