Chamber breakfast is popular

The number of open seats is dwindling for a Nov. 27 breakfast with Georgia's Speaker of the House and the county's legislative delegation.

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State Rep. Glenn Richardson, R-Hiram, will be the featured guest for the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce's annual Pre-Legislative Breakfast at Savannah Rapids Pavilion. Tickets are available, but they are going fast for the breakfast, which is open only to chamber members, said Chris Baum, the chamber's director of programs.

Changes to Georgia's tax code will be one of the hotter topics of conversation, Baum said. Richardson's proposed Georgia's Repeal of Every Ad Valorem Tax, or GREAT plan, would fundamentally alter the way the state and local jurisdictions collect revenue.

Under the plan, local property taxes would be replaced by increases in and an expansion of sales taxes, the speaker has said.

"The other thing that will be topic of discussion will be water usage," Baum said. "I think that and the tax plan will be two very important issues that our legislative body will have to debate in the upcoming session."

The local legislative delegation, which includes state Reps. Ben Harbin, Barry Fleming, Barbara Sims and state Sen. Bill Jackson, have confirmed their attendance, Baum said. The event begins at 7 a.m. in the main banquet hall.

"We did have to turn some people away in the spring, so people need to get their reservations in immediately," she said. "The list is filling quickly."

Tickets cost $10 and must be reserved in advance of the event. To reserve tickets, call Baum at (706) 651-0018.