ATLANTA --- Georgians would pay a new $100 fee to file a civil lawsuit, and would also pay more to start a corporation, obtain specialty license plates and complete several other official procedures under legislation that moved rapidly through a key House panel on Thursday.
The bill contains six new fees and dozens of fee hikes expected to raise millions of dollars to help fill a widening budget hole. Although Georgia's Republican leaders have said they oppose tax increases to balance the budget, they argued that many of Georgia's user fees haven't been increased in decades and don't come close to paying the cost of administering the services and programs they're supposed to cover.
House Speaker David Ralston supported the measure before the House Ways and Means Committee, saying the state's fiscal climate means lawmakers have to make tough decisions.
Georgia is facing a $785 million budget hole for the fiscal year that begins July 1. New and increased fees are expected to bring in about $96 million in new revenue.
More than half of that would come from a new $100 fee on all civil court filings.
The bill's sponsor, state Rep. Richard Smith, R-Columbus, said those fees would fund the judicial system and could raise $53 million a year.
Smith said it could work to reduce frivolous lawsuits.
But local governments lined up against the proposal, saying they fund the courts and it isn't fair to slap on a fee and then funnel it to the state.
Clint Mueller, the legislative director for Association County Commissioners of Georgia, said the group will fight the plan. He labeled it "a hidden tax increase."
The bill was unveiled Thursday morning and breezed through a subcommittee and the full Ways and Means Committee.
Among the fee proposals in the bill:
- A new $150 fee to hold a hearing for those convicted of drunken driving to reinstate a driver's license
- A $250 registration fee for paid lobbyists
- A boost in the airport inspection fee to $100 per runway with a $400 cap
- A $500 jump in fees for conducting fireworks displays
- Specialty license plate fees would jump from $25 to $35
- Mortgage closing fees would increase from $6.50 to $10
- Late fees for candidates or elected officials who don't file personal financial disclosure or campaign disclosure forms on time
- Grocery stores and child care centers would have to file new licensing fees, based on their size
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