O.C.G.A. § 36-43-4 (2019)

Upon the establishment of any city business improvement district pursuant to this chapter, the governing authority of any municipality to which this chapter is applicable shall have authority to exercise the following powers with respect to each such district, subject to this chapter: (1) To adopt a district plan for the provision of supplemental services to the district and to adopt budgets for the implementation of such supplemental services; (2) To fix and levy annually a millage upon real and personal property within the district, to make such assessments liens upon the properties, and to enforce such liens in the same manner as other city taxes; (3) To provide supplemental services or to contract with nonprofit corporations or to contract with downtown development authorities established pursuant to Chapter 42 of this title for all or part of the supplemental services required to implement the plan;

(4) To mandate design and rehabilitation standards for buildings located within the district subject to any existing or established historic preservation requirements or ordinances; and (5) To levy and collect a surcharge on existing business license and occupation taxes upon businesses and occupations within the district and to enforce liens for nonpayment of said surcharges in the same manner as other city taxes.