Agenda Item # 1

Columbus Consolidated Government
Council Meeting

11/14/2017

Agenda Report # 43


TO: Mayor and Council

SUBJECT: Increase Municipal Court Jurisdiction

INITIATED BY: Judge Steven D. Smith, Municipal Court

Recommendation: Approval is requested to add item #20 to the 2018 Legislative Agenda to request local legislation to increase the civil jurisdiction of the Municipal Court of Columbus from $15,000 to $50,000.

Background: The jurisdictional limit of the Court was last changed in 1985.

Analysis: See attached letter of Judge Steven Smith.

Financial Considerations: None

Projected Annual Fiscal Impact Statement: None

Legal Considerations: A local act of the General Assembly is required to increase the civil jurisdiction of the Municipal Court of Columbus.

Recommendations/Actions: Amend the 2018 Legislative Agenda adopted by this Council to request a Local Act of the General Assembly increasing the civil jurisdiction of the Municipal Court of Columbus from $15,000 to $50,000.

Steven D. Smith Letter.pdfSteven D. Smith Letter.pdf

A RESOLUTION
No._____


WHEREAS, the Municipal Court of Columbus handles many civil actions with the jurisdictional limit of $15,000; and,

WHEREAS, the General Assembly has not changed the jurisdictional limit of the Municipal Court of Columbus since 1985; and,

WHEREAS, the jurisdictional limit of the Civil Courts of Bibb County and Richmond County are both $45,000; and,

WHEREAS, this Council desires that the jurisdictional limit of the Municipal Court of Columbus be similar to that of the Civil Courts of Bibb County and Richmond County; and,

WHEREAS, this Council desires that the local delegation to the Georgia General Assembly introduce local legislation to increase the civil jurisdiction of the Municipal Court of Columbus from $15,000 to $50,000.

NOW, THEREFORE, THE COUNCIL OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA HEREBY RESOLVES:

We hereby respectfully request that the local legislative delegation to the Georgia General Assembly introduce local legislation to increase the civil jurisdiction of the Municipal Court of Columbus from $15,000 to $50,000. Let a copy of this resolution be forwarded by the Clerk of Council to each member of the local delegation to the Georgia General Assembly.
______________

Introduced at a regular meeting of the Council of Columbus, Georgia held on the _____ day of _________ 2017, and adopted at said meeting by the affirmative vote of ten members of Council.


Councilor Allen voting __________.
Councilor Baker voting __________.
Councilor Barnes voting __________.
Councilor Davis voting __________.
Councilor Garrett voting __________.
Councilor Henderson voting __________.
Councilor Huff voting __________.
Councilor Thomas voting __________.
Councilor Turner Pugh voting __________.
Councilor Woodson voting __________.



_______________________________ __________________________
Tiny B. Washington, Clerk of Council Teresa Pike Tomlinson, Mayor