CLARKESVILLE, Ga. — The Clarkesville City Council unanimously approved a new $10 municipal court technology fee Monday night and signaled it is not ready to commit to a countywide fire consolidation effort that could reshape emergency services across Habersham County.
Technology fee approved
The council approved a resolution requesting local legislation to authorize the $10 fee, which will be added to fines processed through Clarkesville Municipal Court.
Police Chief Danny Clouatre said the fee is permitted under Georgia law and is available to most courts under Title 15 of state code.
“There’s a provision that’s available under Title 15 that allows municipal court — well, it allows most all courts — to impose a $10 technology fee onto fines that are collected or disposed of through the court,” Clouatre said.
The funds cannot be used for general operations and must be held in a separate account, he said. They are restricted to technology-related expenses for the court or police department.
“They will be specifically for the court — any kind of software or programming-wise for the municipal court, or reporting software for the police department,” Clouatre said. “There’s specific guidelines, and it has to be held in a different account, so it just can’t be put into general funds.”
The resolution will now be forwarded to state Rep. Victor Anderson, who will introduce the local legislation in the Georgia House. If approved by the General Assembly, the fee could take effect later this year.
“If we can get it done before the fifth or sixth, we can get it through this year’s cycle,” Clouatre said.
The move mirrors similar technology fees adopted by other municipal courts across Georgia as local governments seek to modernize court management and reporting systems without relying solely on property tax revenue.
Fire consolidation discussion
Earlier in the evening, council members discussed a recent countywide presentation outlining potential consolidation of fire services among Habersham County’s municipalities.
The discussion follows the recent agreement between the City of Demorest and Habersham County to consolidate fire services — a move county officials and consultants have described as a potential model for broader consolidation.
Consultants have said expanding consolidation could improve efficiency and potentially lower the county’s ISO (Insurance Services Office) rating, which affects homeowners’ insurance premiums. County officials have indicated they are aiming for a countywide ISO rating of 3.
Councilmembers Brad Coppedge and Angelia Kiker attended the county presentation and shared their impressions.
Coppedge said the county is not currently at an ISO 3 and suggested Clarkesville could play a critical role in reaching that target.
“Clarkesville is kind of that deciding factor of whether they can actually get the county from, I think around a five somewhere to three,” Coppedge said. “We seem to be that magical area that they’re looking for.”
However, he noted Clarkesville operates with one of the lowest fire budgets among municipalities and may not have a strong financial incentive to consolidate.
“There’s not a large amount of incentive to make the move,” he said, recommending the city “sit tight” until more information becomes available about how the county proposal would ultimately be structured.
Kiker said she did not see a clear benefit for Clarkesville based on the initial presentation.
“Our ISO rating currently is three, and that keeps our insurance rates low,” Kiker said. “I don’t think it would be a good move for residents, unless there’s something major that comes out.”
Clarkesville currently maintains an ISO rating of 3, which can result in lower insurance premiums for property owners.
No action was taken on fire consolidation Monday night. Council members indicated they plan to monitor the county’s efforts and review additional information before considering any formal proposal.
The discussion underscores Clarkesville’s cautious approach as Habersham County explores restructuring fire services countywide following the Demorest consolidation.
