HIRAM, Ga. — A proposal circulating at the Georgia State Capitol could lead to the dissolution of the City of Hiram, a Paulding County municipality incorporated nearly 70 years ago, after a state lawmaker signaled plans to introduce legislation repealing the city’s charter amid concerns about its financial stability.
The proposal surfaced through a legal notice published in the Dallas New Era, Paulding County’s official legal organ, stating that legislation would be introduced during the 2026 session of the Georgia General Assembly to repeal the law incorporating Hiram. The notice specifies that the bill would repeal the original 1956 act that established the city, effectively dissolving the municipal government if approved.
Legislator Raises Concerns Over City Finances
State Sen. Jason Anavitarte, whose district includes Hiram, acknowledged discussions about the possibility of dissolving the city government as one option to address what he described as serious financial concerns.
Anavitarte said conversations with city leaders focused on the municipality’s financial condition, including an audit indicating that the city had spent down nearly $2 million in reserve funds while facing budget deficits.
According to the senator, lawmakers and local officials discussed several potential solutions, including restructuring the city’s finances, implementing new revenue sources such as property taxes, or—if the fiscal problems persist—considering the dissolution of the city government.
“If you can’t manage your budget with no property taxes, why would the residents believe you can with a tax?” Anavitarte said in comments addressing the situation.
What the Proposed Bill Would Do
If introduced and ultimately passed by the General Assembly, the legislation would repeal the act incorporating Hiram, which was approved Feb. 27, 1956.
Repealing the charter would effectively eliminate Hiram as an incorporated municipality. In practical terms, that could:
- Transfer municipal responsibilities such as police services, zoning and governance to Paulding County government.
- End Hiram’s city council and mayoral authority.
- Shift administrative and service responsibilities to county agencies or neighboring jurisdictions.
The proposal is still in its earliest stages and would require approval by both chambers of the Georgia General Assembly and the governor before taking effect.
City Leaders Warn of Impact on Local Control
Officials with the City of Hiram said the proposal raised significant concerns about the future of local governance and the potential impact on residents and city employees.
In a public statement, the mayor and city council said they were not informed beforehand about the advertisement announcing the bill and urged residents to contact members of the local legislative delegation to express their views.
City officials also warned that dissolving the municipal government would not eliminate taxes or service costs. Instead, those responsibilities would likely shift to other levels of government.
“In many cases, this shift results in higher costs and less local control for residents,” the city said in its statement.
What Happens Next
The potential legislation has not yet been formally introduced in the General Assembly, but the legal notice indicates it could be filed during the 2026 legislative session.
In the coming weeks, discussions between city officials, state lawmakers and the local legislative delegation are expected to continue as they evaluate options for addressing Hiram’s financial challenges.
For residents of the roughly 4,000-person Paulding County city, the debate raises broader questions about the future of the community’s local government and whether the nearly seven-decade-old municipality could ultimately cease to exist.
