SPRINGFIELD — Despite relentless political earthquakes that are shaking the state and nation, Rep. Jon Burns thinks there is an area of common ground on which Georgians can build a consensus.

Burns told the crowd at the Georgia Hunting and Fishing Federation's Meet the Candidate Cookout on Sept. 15 that the Nov. 6 ballot will feature a measure worthy of  their support. It is called the Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Amendment and is listed as Amendment 1.

If approved, the amendment would generate approximately $20 million in dedicated annual funding for a period of 10 years. 

"This would be in addition to what already goes to (the Georgia Department of Natural Resources)," Burns said.

Burns cautioned the crowd that enacting the amendment wouldn't result in a tax increase or new fees.

"It's simply a dedication of taxes already collected on outdoor sporting goods," he said.

The amendment would dedicate up to 80 percent of the existing sales and use tax on outdoor sporting goods to stewardship efforts, including the following:

— Protect lands critical to clean drinking water and the quality of Georgia’s lakes, rivers and streams

— Support community efforts to build parks and trails

— Maintain and create new places to hunt and fish

— Support Georgia’s $27 billion outdoor recreation industry and the jobs created by it and other economic sectors that rely upon access to land and water

See the Sept. 26 edition of the Effingham Herald for more details.