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8 | APRIL 5-APRIL 18, 2013 I
New laws will reduce the size of
Fulton County government
In the March 22-April 4 issue of the Buckhead Reporter, Fulton
County Commission Chairman John Eaves wrote that bills pending
in the state Legislature would “devastate" Fulton County. In this is
sue, state Rep. Ed Lindsey reviews the status of the legislation and dis
cusses w!?y he thinks it is needed.
For the past decade, Fulton County has been transforming
into a county whose population lives within the limits of one
city or another. Today, 90 percent of Fulton County is munici
palized.
As a result, concerned state and county leaders have twice be
fore offered ideas which would reform the operations and scope
of Fulton County government.
Eight years ago, a Blue Ribbon Commission in Fulton Coun
ty suggested sweeping reforms. Six years ago, a bi-partisan House-
Senate Study Committee on Fulton County — which I chaired
— once again recommended a wide range of changes. On both
occasions, the Fulton County Commission by and large blocked
the suggested reforms. However, with a new House delegation
elected in 2012, we have finally been able to move forward.
Thirteen pieces of legislation concerning Fulton County gov
ernment reforms await Governor Deals signature, which are list
ed and summarized below:
1) HB 171 - Reapportionment of Fulton County Commis
sion Districts
The Fulton County Commission redistricting maps include
six districts and one at-large seat for the chairman or chairwom
an.
2) HB 347 - Fulton County Board of Registrations and Elec
tions revise appointment
The board will remain five members; two will be nominat
ed by the prevailing political party and two by the losing politi
cal party. One member will be nominated by the Fulton Coun
ty House and Senate Legislative Delegation.
3) HB 435 - State Court of Fulton County — chief judge du
ties
Spells out duties for chief judge and adjusts salary to reflect in
creased responsibilities. New duties will include scheduling regu
lar judges’ meetings, managing available court space, making de
terminations of divisions, selection and oversight of jury clerk,
and developing a personnel system.
4) HB 437 - Superior Court of Fulton County — chief judge
duties
Outlines duties for chief judge, including scheduling regular
judges’ meetings, managing available court space, making deter
minations of divisions, selection and oversight of jury clerk, and
developing a personnel system.
5) HB 441 - Superior Court of Fulton County — budget over
sight
Fulton County Superior Court will operate more efficiently
with ability to control budget.
6) HB 442 - State Court of Fulton County — budget oversight
Fulton County State Courts will operate more efficiently with
ability to control budget.
7) HB 443 - Magistrate Court of Fulton County — appoint
ment of chief judge
The chief magistrate will be a nonpartisan, elected position.
Fulton County is the only Georgia county where the magistrate
court is operated and administered under the state court, and the
chief magistrate is appointed by the
state court judges.
8) HB 444 - Superior Court of
Fulton County — judge salary supple
ments
Despite being the largest court
system in the state, the Superior
Court of Fulton County (Atlanta Ju
dicial Circuit) is ranked 11 of 49 cir
cuits in judicial salary supplements.
This legislation provides a 4 percent
increase. If the other circuits remain
the same, this increase will raise the
Atlanta circuit to fifth, still behind
both Gwinnett and Cobb counties.
9) HB 526 — North Fulton re
gional radio system
Provides for development of re
gional communication system for public safety and public service
for Sandy Springs, Roswell, Milton and Alpharetta. Requested by
numerous cities to reduce costs and privatize.
10) HB 594 — Fulton County personnel
Future employees will have unclassified status, except for pub
lic safety employees.
11) HB 598 — Fulton County Superior, State and Magistrate
Courts
Employees will be unclassified.
12) HB 604 — Fulton County millage rate
Suspends any attempt to increase the ad valorem millage rate
in 2013 and 2014. Requires five of seven commissioners to vote
to increase millage rate in 2015, when reapportionment takes ef
fect.
13) HB 627 — Fulton County Community Improvement
Districts
Revise provisions to allow Fulton County Community Im
provement Districts located outside Atlanta to renew prior to ter
mination date. It was requested by all CIDs affected.
These reforms look to provide the taxpayers of Fulton Coun
ty with streamlined, concise government that aims to do its job
properly in the name of fiscal responsibility. Furthermore, these
are only the first round of reforms for Fulton County.
I believe that these are positive steps in the right direction for
Fulton County in a two-year legislative process that will hopeful
ly culminate in lowering the footprint of the Fulton County gov
ernment.
As for next session concerning carry-over legislation, the del
egation tabled both the Fulton County Homestead Exemption
and the revisions to the appointment of the Fulton County Tax
Commissioner. Both bills will be vetted further before returning
to the desks of the General Assembly.
I expect my friends across Fulton to continue to diligently
fight for the interests of their communities and trust they expect
me to do the same. My hope is that we will keep our focus on
ways in which our interests overlap, refrain from using inflam
matory rhetoric, and work together for the mutual good of all of
Fulton County.
Rep. Ed Lindsey represents District 54 in the state House of Rep
resentatives.
REP. ED
LINDSEY
GEORGIA HOUSE
OF REPRESENTATIVES
Weinman nominated for Press Club award
Reporter Newspapers staff writer Melissa Weinman is a finalist for an Atlanta Press Club Award of
Excellence.
Melissa is one of three finalists chosen for the club’s “Rising Star Award” for journalists younger than 30.
David Michaels of The News Enterprise and Atlanta Unfiltered, and Jonathan Shapiro of WABE were also
named finalists for the award.
The winner will be announced April 16 at a presentation at The Commerce Club in downtown Atlanta.
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