Amendment 3Constitutional amendment · Put on the ballot by lawmakers
Create a dedicated Next Generation 911 fund
Explain it like I'm 5
This would let lawmakers put money into a protected fund for modern 911 systems. Think of a jar that can only pay for emergency phone-system work, while the amendment itself does not say how much money goes in.
Yes vote
Allowing the legislature to create a nonlapsing Georgia Next Generation 9-1-1 Fund and dedicate specified revenues to it.
No vote
Not adding constitutional authority for that dedicated fund and leaving funding under current rules.
The question to ask yourself
Is a constitutionally protected 911 funding stream worth reducing future budget flexibility when its revenue source is not yet specified?
The case for
- A protected fund could provide steadier money for upgrading and maintaining statewide 911 systems.
- Dedicated funding could help systems adopt newer capabilities, including improved caller location and other next-generation functions.
- Restricting the money to 911 purposes could prevent later lawmakers from redirecting it to unrelated needs.
Backed by: Rep. Chuck Martin, Georgia Emergency Communications Authority, Georgia Municipal Association
The case against
- The amendment protects a fund before voters know which revenues or how much money will be dedicated.
- Earmarking revenue reduces legislative flexibility during future budget pressures.
- The legislature can decide the important funding details later, after this constitutional change is approved.
Opposed by: No organized opposition found
- Money
- The amendment creates no new tax or fee and sets no dollar amount or specific revenue source; those decisions would come later in legislation.
- Don't be misled
- Saying the amendment automatically creates a new 911 tax is misleading because it authorizes a fund but does not itself impose a tax or fee.