Georgia Courts Lack Authority in Water Tax Dispute, Justices Say

The state court system can’t assess whether a city imposed an illegal tax on water services outside of its boundaries because this item isn’t required to be negotiated under service agreements, the Georgia Supreme Court ruled Tuesday.

Georgia superior courts can’t evaluate whether the city of Winder imposed illegal water service rates on nonresidents because, while the state’s Service Delivery Strategy Act requires local governments to negotiate certain services items, that doesn’t pertain to the city’s water rates, the opinion said.

The county challenging Winder “seeks a judicial determination that is beyond the scope of the Act,” and “its requested ...