Section 36-36-51. Legislative declaration of policy

   It is declared to be the policy in this state:

   (1) That municipal corporations are created for the purpose of providing local governmental services and for ensuring the health, safety, and welfare of persons and the protection of property in areas being used primarily for residential, commercial, industrial, and institutional purposes;

   (2) That the orderly growth of municipal corporations, based on the need for municipal services and the ability of the municipal corporation to serve, is essential to the economic progress of the state and to the well-being of its urban citizens;

   (3) That the extension of municipal boundaries to accomplish orderly growth should be in accordance with standards established by the General Assembly; and

   (4) That any areas included within municipal boundaries under this article should receive all services provided by the annexing municipal corporation as soon as possible after coming within its boundaries.

Ga. L. 1970, p. 426, § 1; Ga. L. 1971, p. 398, § 1; Code 1981, § 36-36-41; Code 1981, § 36-36-51, as redesignated by Ga. L. 1992, p. 2592, § 3.