Overview of the operations of area planning and development commissions in Georgia, 1988

IIII~III
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4 I to
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01 19

OVERVIEW OF THE OPERATIONS OF AREA PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT COMMISSIONS
IN GEORGIA: 1988
AUGUST, 1988

I JUN 2 5 1990
DOCUMENTS UGA lIBRARI S
1111111111111' GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF
COMMUNITY AFFAIRS

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OVERVIEW OF THE OPE~ATIONS OF AREA PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT COMMISSIONS
IN GEORGIA: 1988
Georgia Department of Community Affairs Jim Higdon, Commissioner
Government Information Division 1200 Equitable Building
100 Peachtr~e Street N.W. Atlanta, Georgia 30303
August, 1988
An Equal Opportunity Employer

,

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The Department of Community Affairs gratefully appreciates the cooperation of the executive directors and the staffs of the Area Planning and Development Commissions in the completion of the survey from which this report was developed.

Altamaha Georgia Southern Ted Fortino
Atlanta Regional Commission Harry West
Central Savannah River Tim F. Maund
Chattahoochee-Flint David T. Barrow
Coastal Vernon D. Martin
Coosa Valley C. D. Rampley
Georgia Mountains Sam F. Dayton
Heart of Georgia Nicky Cabero
Lower Chattahoochee Ronald L. Starnes

McIntosh Trail Lanier E. Boatwright, Jr.
Middle Flint Bobby L. Lowe
Middle Georgia James C. Tonn
North Georgia George Sutherland
Northeast Georgia James R. Dove
Oconee J. E. Gentry
South Georgia Hal A. Davis
Southeast Georgia Nash Williams
Southwest Georgia Carroll C. Underwood

"(l-
I
~

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

Introduction . . . . . .

i

Chapter 1. Administrative Overview. .. 1

APDC Board Composition

~.

1

Geographic Service Areas

- _1

Number of Employees . . . . . . .. 2

Sources of Funding . . . . . . . . .. 3

Local Funding Sources . . . . . .. 4

State Funding Sources . . . . . .. 5

Federal Funding Sources . . . . .. 6

Comparison of Funds by Type, FY 1985

and FY 1988 . . . . . . . . . . 6

Chapter 2. APDC Work Program and Capabilities . . . . . . . . . . . .. 9 Technical Assistance Capabilities .. 9 Studies or Plans of Local Governments . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Chapter 3. Other APDC Programs and
Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 13 DHR Elderly Programs . . . . . . . . . 13 Department of Labor JTPA Programs . . 13 Business Loan Programs . . . . . . .. 14 Historic Preservation Programs . . . . 14 Transportation Planning and Coordina-
tion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 15 Other Types of Programs Provided . .. 15

Chapter 4. Computers in'the APDCs

17

Appendix A. Comparison of Revenue Sources,

as a Percentage of Total: FY 1985 and

FY 1988

21

INTRODUCTION
Georgia's eighteen (18) Area Planning and Development Commissions (APDCs ) were organized in the early 1960's to assist local governments. Some of the many types of assistance provided are outlined herein.
This report serves as an update to a survey conducted by the Georgia Mountains APDC in the summer of 1985, on behalf of the State Advisory Committe on Area Planning and Development.
This update, also prepared on behalf of the State Advisory Committee on APDCs, is based upon a survey conducted by the Department of Community Affairs in April, 1988. It provides an overview of the various activi ties and programs of APDCs. In addition to providing information about APDC programs and activities, the report also displays information on sources of revenue, board composition, staffing levels, computer utilization, and several other areas.
All APDCs responded to the survey.

Chapter 1: Administrative Overview
APDC Board Composition
Georgia's eighteen APDCs reported a total of 494 persons occupying positions on their boards. Commission boards range in size from a minimum of 13 persons to a maximum of 35 persons. The average size was 27 persons. Of these 27 persons, an average of 20 were local elected officials, either mayors, council members or county commissioners; 5 were minority non-local elected officials; and the balance were other non-elected me~bers.
Composition of APDC Boards: FY 1988
Non-ejected (lIl.S")
lAlnority (17.1")
DCA
The percentages are almost identical to the findings in the 1985 report on APDCs. Sixty-four percent of the board members are local elected officials; the remaining, almost equally split at 18% each, are either minority members or other non-local elected officials. Geographic Service Areas
The service areas or geographic areas of the 18 APDCs vary greatly, from a minimum of five counties in one region to a maximum of 14 counties in another. The number of cities within APDCs
1

vary as well: from a minimum of 13 cities to a maximum of 49 cities in the largest. The averages are 9 counties and 28 cities within each APDC.
Number of Employees The eighteen APDCs reported a total full-time emploYment of
446 persons in FY 1988. This total inCluded 362 professional positions and 84 clerical positions. EmploYment ranged from a low of 9 positions to a maximum of 71 positions.
APDC Employment by Type: FY 1988
Part-Um. (6.3_~ _"'i _
F'ull-Um. professional (61 ,7~)
DCA
In 1985, 15 of the APDCs responded to the request for information and were included in the report findings. Those 15 APDCs in that year reported a total emploYment level of 407 full-time professional and clerical positions. In 1988, those same 15 APDCs reported a slightly reduced level of employment of 398 positions. Nine of these APDCs reported fewer positions and 6 reported more positions of that type in 1988. The span of1position changes ranged from losses of 12 positions to a gain'of 12 positions.
2

Table 1: Full-Time Employment by APDC: FY 1988

Region

---- 1985 ---Total Prof. C1er.

FY 1988 ---Total Prof. Cler.

Total

407 320

87

A1tamaha Ga Southern

18 14

4

Atlanta Region

80

60

20

CSRA

16 12

4

Chattahoochee-Flint

14 10

4

Coastal

35 28

7

Coosa Valley

35 29

6

Georgia Mountains

38

34

4

Heart of Georgia

NA NA

NA

Lower Chattahoochee

NA NA

NA

McIntosh Trail

12

9

3'

Middle Flint

18 15

3

Middle Georgia

18 14

4

North Georgia

28 23

5

Northeast Georgia

24

18

6

Oconee

NA NA

NA

South Georgia

41 32

9

Southeast Georgia

16 12

4

Southwest Georgia

14 10

4

446 362

84

17 14

3

71

57

14

21 18

3

18 13

5

23

18

5

28

22

6

26

20

6

12 _ 10

2

13 10

3

9

7

2

15 11

4

15 12

3

27

19

8

32

28

4

23

20

3

44

39

5

26 22

4

26

22

4

Sources of Funding For Area Planning and Development Commissions

The regional planning commissions remain dependent upon the same basic funding sources: state funds, local funds, federal funds, and other general funds. Total funding for the 18 APDCs in FY 1988 amounted to a reported $53.7 million. A breakdown by type is found in the following graph.

Sources of Funding: FY 1988

Slale (66.7'1) DCA
3

state funding accounts for the greatest portion of the funds received by APDCs. From all state sources in FY 1988, APDCs received a total of $35.8 million or over 70% of total funds. Federal funding amounted to $6.8 million or almost 15% of total ,funding and local funds amounted to $5.5 million or almost 11%. Other funds amounted to just under $2 million or 4% of total funding.
Local funding Sources One source of local funds is derived from dues paid by the
member local governments of the APDCs. These per capita local dues in FY 1988 amounted to a total of $2.6 million or 5% of total funding. Funds received from contracts with local governments amounted to $842,000 or less than 2% of total funds. Other local funding sources amounted to $2 million or 4% of total funds.
Local Revenue Sources: FY 1988
I'Dues (5.370) ___--r-;.~ _ Contracts (1. 770)
- Other (4.070)
Total other (89.070) non-local
DCA
The amount of the per capita dues can vary greatly from one region to another with a low of $0.25 to a high of $1 per capita. The average for the 18 APDCs was $0.52. In 1985, the average for the 15 APDCs included in that report was $0.48.
4

Per Capita Dues: FY 1985 and FY 1988

APDC

1985

1988

Average Altamaha Ga Southern Atlanta Region CSRA Chattahoochee-Flint Coastal Coosa Valley Georgia Mountains Heart of Georgia Lower Chattahoochee McIntosh Trail Middle Flint Middle Georgia North Georgia Northeast Georgia Oconee South Georgia Southeast Georgia Southwest Georgia

$0.45 0.45 0.30 0.30 0.30 0.50 0.50 0.60 NA NA 0.25 '0.45 0.35 0.65 0.40 NA 0.73 0.80 0.60

$0.52
0.65 0.40 0.30 0.35 0.50 0.50 0 .. 60 0.50 0.35 0.25 0.45 0.35 0.65 0.40 1.00 0.83 0.80 0.50

Only 1 APDC reported charging its member governments a flat fee or a fixed charge for general membership privileges. However, a total of 16 reported charging member governments for services or special projects.

State Funding Sources

State Revenue Sources: FY 1988
Total other (28.7m non-state

Other (11.5")

DHR (23.47.)

DCA
5

Department of Labor JTPA funds accounted for $14.8 million or almost 30% of the total funds received by APDCs. The DHR aging program contributed $11.7 million or 23% of the state funds received by APDCs. Other state funds amounted to $5.8 million or 12% of total funding for APDCs. The DCA contracts amounted to $1.4 million or almost 3% of the state funding. Overall, state funds accounted for over $0.70 of each $1 received by APDCs.
Federal Funding Sources
Funds from the Economic Development Administration amounted to $4.7 million or over 9% of total funding in FY 1988. Other types of federal funds amounted to $1.8 million or less than 4% of total funds while funds from the Appalachian Regional Commission amounted to $320,000 or less than 1%.
Federal Revenue Sources: FY 1988
Other federal (3.6")... __--~ Appalachian Regional (0.6")-

Total other (66.4%) non-federal

DCA

Comparison of Funds by Type, FY 1985 and FY 1988

According to the data submitted by the APDCs, funding

sources as a percentage of total funds have changed notably in

the period of FY 1985 to FY 1988. Federal funds now contribute

almost 14% of total revenues for APDCs as opposed to just

slightly over 10% three years ago.

Local and state funds have

decreased as a percentage of total funds over the period. Other

funds have increased from less than 1% to 4% of total funds.

6

The changes from FY 1985 to FY 1988, such as the percentage change in federal funding, may not signal an overall change in funding patterns, but rather may be due to other factors. Certain APDCs might receive one-time competitive grants or varying levels of administrative funds from one year to the next.

Revenue Sources by type as a Percentage of Total Revenues: FY 1985 and FY 1988

Category

FY 1985

FY 1988

Local -state Federal Other funds

13.6% 75.5% 10.2%
0.7%

10.9% 71.5% 13.6%
4.0%

See Appendix A for a more detailed breakdown of the revenue sources of APDCs in FY 1988.

7

8

Chapter 2: APDC Work Program and Capabilities

Technical Assistance Capabilities

One of the primary purposes of APDCs is to provide assistance to local governments in areas where the government may not employ staff with specialized skills to address varying problems. Following is a list of the types of technical assistance services that are available to local government through the APDCs.

Table 3. Types of Technical Assistance Provided

Type

Number Providing

Bonds

*******

( 7)

Budget and finance

**************** (16)

Business license

**************

(14)

Business loan packaging

*************** (15)

Cartographic support services

***************** (17)

Codes and ordinances

****************** (18)

Community betterment programs

*************** (15)

Community services planning

**************

(14)

Data processing

**********

(10)

Exporting

*******

( 7)

Financial packaging technical assistance **************** (16)

Grants administration

*************** (15)

Grantsmanship

****************** (18)

Graphics

***************** (17)

Historic preservation

*************** (15)

Housing

**************** (16)

Human service projects

**************** (16)

Industrial development support

***************** (17)

Inventory control

*******

( 7)

Law enforcement

**********

(10)

Management, government

*************

(13)

Mapping

***************** (17)

Other economic development

*************** (15)

Personnel management

*************** (15)

Planning and zoning

****************** (18)

Program planning and evaluation

**************** (16)

Property numbering systems

***************** (17)

Purchasing and inventory

*********

( 9)

Recreation programs

**************** (16)

Redistricting

*************** (15)

Solid waste collection and disposal

***************** (17)

Tax assessment and revenue

***********

(11)

Water and sewer management

*************** (15)

9

As the table shows, all APDCs are capable of providing the basic types of technical assistance that local governments might require, such as budgeting and finance, codes and ordinances, grantsmanship, and mapping. However, not as many provide support in the areas of inventory control, purchasing, or inventory management.

studies or Plans of Local Governments

APDCs also serve to provide specialized studies or plans

that might be required by local governments.

Al though

capabilities may vary greatly, such as only 8 providing space

studies while all 18 provide land use studies, the capabilities

are generally present in all APDCs.

Table 4. Types of Studies or Plans Provided

Type

Number Providing

Administrative space studies ********

( 8)

Administrative studies

********

( 8)

Annexation studies

*************** (15)

Codes and ordinances

****************** (18)

Economic base studies

**************** (16)

Economic development studies **************** (16)

Environmental protection

*************

(13)

studies

Existing land use studies

****************** (18)

Feasibility studies

*************

(13)

Financial management studies *****-N****

(10)

Future land use studies

****************** (18)

Handicap access evaluation

**************

(14)

and plans

Housing analyses

***************** (17)

Industrial site selection

*************** (15)

Local government administration ***********

(11)

Local transportation studies ***************** (17)

Manpower studies

***********

(11)

Mobile home ordinances

***************** (17)

Personnel management plans

*************** (15)

Population studies

***************** (17)

Recreation plans

***************** (17)

Research projects

***************** (17)

Resource atlases

**********

(10)

Soil erosion and sedimentation *************

(13)

ordinances

Staffing studies

********

( 8)

Subdivision regulations

***************** (17)

Zoning ordinances

***************** (17)

10

These studies and plans represent only those that are provided by a majority of the APDCs. Individual APDCs may be ,able to provide additional studies depending upon their own available resources and capabilities.
11

12

Chapter 3: Other APDC Programs and Services

The following serves as a summary of additional activities or programs that are offered by APDCs to local governments and citizens of their regions.

DHR Elderly Programs

APDCs continue to be very active in the provision of programs for the elderly utilizing the DHR funding that they receive. Only two APDCs sponsored no programs for the elderly in FY 1988. The other 16 APDCs provide various elderly program activities.

Table 5. Programs Provided for the Elderly

Type

Number Providing

Civil legal services

****************

Community care act coordination ****************

Coordination of nursing home

****************

ombudsman program

Elderly abuse and neglect

***********

Escort services

*************

Health and wellness

***************

Home health services

*************

Homemaker services

**************

Information and referral

****************

Meals for the homebound

****************

Nutrition sites

****************

Operation of senior centers

***************

Outreach to special groups

***************

Personal care homes

***********

Retired senior volunteer program ********

Senior employment programs

*************

Technical assistance to other ***************

agencies

Transportation

****************

(16) (16) (16)
(11) (13) (15) (13) (14) (16) (16) (16) (15) (15) (11)
( 8)
(13) (15)
(16)

Department of Labor Job Training Partnership Programs
The largest portion of the state dollar to APDCs comes from the Department of Labor for job training programs, amounting to almost $15 million in FY 1988. However, not all APDCs are involved in the Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) program. Only 13 APDCs serve as the administrative agency for programs under
13

JTPA. In those areas of the state where APDCs do not serve as the administrative agency, private industry councils (PICs) serve in that function.

Table 6. Extent of Activities in the Job Training Partnership Program

Type

Number Providing

Number serving as administrative agency *************

Title II-A Full-Year EmploYment and

************

Training

Title II-B Summer Youth Program

*************

Title III Dislocated Worker Program

**********

Vietnam Veterans EmploYment and Training ***

Program

Senior EmploYment Programs

*********

(13) (12)
(13) (10)
( 3)
( 9)

Involvement in Business Loan Programs
Fifteen of the 18 APDCs are involved to some extent in providing business loan programs in their areas. These 15 provide some form of assistance in loan packaging. Thirteen are involved in the SBA 503 program, while 7 are involved in the SBA 502 program.

Table 7. Involvement in Business Loan Programs

Type

Number Providing

SBA 503 Program SBA 502 Program Revolving loan program Loan packaging assistance Working capital guarantee

************* ******* ****** *************** *****

(13)
( 7)
( 6)
(15)
( 5)

Historic Preservation Programs
APDCs are actively involved in historic preservation efforts in Georgia. Only two APDCs reported no Involvement in historic preservation. Sixteen APDCs provide technical assistance, public information or assistance in historic zoning matters. Fifteen provide assistance in downtown revitalization programs.

14

Table 8. Involvement in Historic Preservation Programs

Type

Number Providing

Coordination of investment credit ***********

tax program

Development of nominations

*************

Downtown revitalization programs ***************

Environmental review assistance **************

National register inventory

*************

Planning assistance

***************

Public information

****************

Site surveys

***.***********

Technical assistance

****************

Zoning assistance

****************

(11)
(13) (15) (14) (13) (15) (16) (14) (16) (16)

Transportation Planning and Coordination
All of the APDCs are involved in transportation planning in their regions. A review of the previous chapter shows that DOT funding for this function amounted to $610,000 for APDCs in FY 1988. The extent of Involvement in other transportation functions, however, varies from one APDC to another.

Table 9. Involvement in Transportation Planning and Coordination Activities

Type

Number Providing

Planning contract with DOT

****************** (18)

Rural transportation (Rideshare) **************

(14)

contract

Metropolitan planning organization **

( 2)

Airport planning assistance

**********

(10)

Rail abandonment assistance

**************

(14)

Traffic engineering

**

( 2)

Airport system planning

******

( 6)

Fourteen APDCs reported the provision of assistance with rail abandonment proceedings while only two provide assistance wi th traffic engineering. Six APDCs provide planning services for airport systems.

Other Types of Programs Provided
The uniqueness of the individual APDCs is demonstrated by the number of special programs or services that they provide to their member governments. Fourteen APDCs assist local govern-
15

ments in the field of areawide tourism development. Thirteen provide assistance in policy planning for land use management and 12 provide assistance in the area of water and resources management.

Table 10. Other Types of Programs Provided by the APDCs

Type

Number Providing

Areawide tourism development

**************

Administration of Georgia land

******

sales act review program

Administration of metropolitan

***

river protection act

Development impact review

*******

Land use management policy

**************

planning

Market studies

***********

Regional enterprise development ****

program

River and lake management planning *******

Water and resources management

************

(14) ( 6)
( 3)
( 7) (14)
(11) ( 4)
( 7) (12)

16

Chapter 4: Computers in the APDCs
Computers have become more numerous and of more importance to APDCs in Georgia since the 1985 survey and report. In 1985, APDCs reported a total of 22 computer systems in use. In 1988 that number has increased to a total of 57 systems. The computers are not only used for internal uses but also for providing assistance to local governments in the APDC areas.
Each of the 18 APDCs use computers to some extent in their operations. Three reported the use of only one computer. Twelve have at least three computers and one reported a total of 10 computers.
Twelve of the APDCs use at least one of their computers or systems for internal payroll work. Internal accounting work is done on computers by sixteen of the APDCs. All but one of the APDCs reported using their computers for other internal work, such as word-processing and spreadsheet work. Four APDCs reported using their computers to assist member governments with payroll uses. Five of the APDCs use their computers or systems to assist local governments with accounting uses. Two reported using their computers to assist local governments with property tax administration. Eight of the APDCs use their computers to assist local governments with other computer uses, such as wordprocessing and spreadsheet preparations.
The following table summarizes the types of computers or systems and their uses by the APDCs.
17

Table 11. Utilization of Computers within the APDCs

System

--- Internal Uses --Payroll Account Other

------- External Uses -------

Property

Payroll Account Tax

Other

Altamaha Georgia Southern

1 IBM PC AT

x

2 Panasonic PC

x

x

Atlanta Regional Commission

1 DEC Vax 11/751

x

x

x

x

1 DEC Vax 11/751

x

x

x

x

2 AT&T 6300

x

3 AT&T 6300

x

4 AT&T 6300

x

5 AT&T 6300

x

6 AT&T 6300

x

7 IBM PC AT

x

x

8 IBM PC AT

x

x

9 IBM PC AT

x

x

10 IBM PC AT

x

x

Central Savannah River

1 Digital PC 100-A

x

x

x

Chattahoochee-Flint

1 IBM Wordprocessor

x

2 Kaypro PC XT

x

Coastal

1 NA

x

x

x

2 IBM PC XT

x

3 IBM PC AT

Coosa Valley

1 IBM PC AT

x

x

Georgia Mountains

1 Wang 2200 MVP Multi-User

x

x

x

2 Compaq 286 PC

x

x

3 IBM XT Compatible

Heart of Georgia

1 IBM PC

x

x

x

x

Lower Chattahoochee

1 Radio Shack TRS 80

x

x

x

2 IBM AT

x

x

x

3 Compaq Desk-Pro 286

x

4 Radio Shack

x

McIntosh Trail

1 Televideo 802H

x

2 Televideo 802

x

3 IBM PC AT

x

Middle Flint

1 Compaq Desk-Pro 286

x

x

x

2 Wyse PCT

x

3 Wyse PCT

x

18

System
Middle Georgia 1 Altos 986-40 2 IBM PC
North Georgia 1 IBM PC 36 System 2 Compaq 386 Model 20 3 IBM At Compatible
Northeast Georgia 1 Basic 4 Model 610 2 IBM PC XT 3 IBM PC XT 4 IBM PC AT
Oconee 1 Zenith Model 149 2 IBM 3270 PC 3 Compaq 286 4 IBM PC AT
South Georgia 1 IBM System 38 2 IBM PC 3 IBM XT 4 IBM XT 5 IBM XT
Southeast Georgia 1 IBM AT Compatible 2 IBM XT 3 IBM PC
Southwest Georgia 1 Compugraphic MSC 20 2 Epson OX-16 3 Epson OX-16

Table 11. Continued

--- Internal Uses --Payroll Account Other

------- External Uses -------

Property

Payroll Account Tax

Other

x x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

19

APPENDIX A: COMPARISON OF REVENUE SOURCES, AS A PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL: FY 1985 AND FY 1988

Category

FY 1985

Total local Dues Contracts from local governments Other

13.6% 5.3% 1.5% 6.8%

Total state DCA contract DOT planning contracts DOT rideshare contracts DNR preservation planning contract DNR DHR aging program DOL JTPA contracts Other

75.5% 10.7%
0.4% 1.9% 0.3%
NA 16.2% 30.9% 15.1%

Total federal

10.2%

Economic Development Administration 1.9%

Appalachian Regional Commission

0.8%

Other federal

7.5%

Total other funds

0.7%

Total funds

100.0%

FY 1988
10.9% 5.3% 1.7% 4.0%
71.5% 2.7% 1.2% 1.2% 0.6% 1.1%
23.4% 29.6% 11.5%
13.6% 9.4% 0.6% 3.6%
4.0%
100.0%

21

3~\~2'~1I'0&U~t05l7\3l2l\6\4\91
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DCA
GEORGIA DEPARrMENT OF COMMUNI1Y AFFAIRS 1200 Equitable Building 100 Peachtree Street Atlanta. Georgia 30303