That's the feeling of the dean of the Hall County state Legislative delegation, Rep. James Mills (R-Gainesville).
Mills says the state has to find a way to streamline the the building of additional reservoirs in the wake of the drought that caused water shortages, tight water use restrictions, and record low lake levels of the last half of 2007 - and is expected to continue this year.
He also says one water-related issue is going to demand immediate attention.
"By law, we have to pass a statewide water plan by the 20th day of the session," Mills said. (See separate story on the drought, water management and the state legislature).
He also expects much of the session to be taken up with transportation issues, calling for "plenty of 'thinking out of the box' ideas" short of increasing taxes. Mills listed greater use of bus and van transportation and did not close the book on commuter rail service as options to the use of cars, trucks and SUVs.
He also says there needs to be some changes in the way the state Department of Transportation (DOT) does business, a re-examination of the way its plans and carries out projects.
On the subject of the selection of a 9th District representative on the DOT board, Mills said he has not made up his mind who he will support.
"I think I would be doing our district a disservice to come out now publicly one way or the other...because this controversy has risen to such a level that, you know, people are throwing around loose threats."
The current representative, Mike Evans, who also serves as chairman of the board, hopes to continue to serve but Mills says he wants to see who else will offer for the post before decided who he will support. Evans is embroiled in a bit of controversy with House Speaker Glenn Richardson because he cast the deciding vote when the DOT board elected Gena Abraham the new DOT commissioner Abraham was not Richardson's choice for the job.
DOT board members are elected by the state Legislators from their district.
Mills said Thursday he does not know when the election will take place but it is expected to occur during the legislative session.
Mills also said he has not decided whether to support Richardson's call for an elimination of state property taxes. Richardson's so-called Great Plan would dump property taxes in Georgia but they would be replaced by taxes on many goods and services not now taxed.
"You know when you start measuring that out to all services and how you define those services, that is critical," Mills said. "It's early yet for me to form an opinion because I don't have all the facts."
Mills said, as late as Thursday, he still had not read the entire 40-page bill as proposed by Richardson.
Georgia State Capitol
http://accesswdun.com/article/2008/1/205723