Newspaper Page Text
DUN
www.ReporterNewspapers.net | APRIL5 — APRIL 18,2013 | 5
COMMUNITY
must be introduced in the first year of
the General Assembly’s two-year leg
islative cycle. Residents must then
raise the approximately $30,000 need
ed to fund a study that will determine
whether or not a city is financially fea
sible. If the study determines a city
would be viable, the bill may be con
sidered by the General Assembly the
following year.
If approved in the Legislature, the
question of incorporation will go be
fore voters on a ballot referendum. At
least a 50 percent plus one must ap
prove the city in order for it to be cre
ated.
Millar, who sponsored the Lakeside
bill, said he doesn’t expect any serious
cityhood efforts
will come out of
the flurry of last-
minute placehold
er bills.
“Do I think
some of these bills
are going to be go
ing anywhere? Ab
solutely not,” Mil
lar said. “I think
the only one that
will go anywhere
— if they can raise
the money — is
the city of Lake
side.”
Millar noted that the creation of
new cities has been a partisan issue in
the past, with the bills to create cities
in the metro Atlanta area led almost
exclusively by Republican lawmakers.
But this year, all of the last-minute in
corporation bills were sponsored by
Democrats.
“All the Democrats have done for
the last couple years is complain about
the growth of cities, and now you’ve
got five bills filed by Democrats for
cities,” Millar said.
“I guess the municipalization trend
in DeKalb County is now bipartisan.
There’s a bipartisan feeling that our
current form of government isn’t very
effective. It’ll be interesting to see what
happens next year.”
Millar thinks there are likely a few
factors that have led to the desire to in
corporate new cities.
“It’s a reaction to DeKalb County,
and it’s a reaction to Brookhaven and
Dunwoody, and, ‘We don’t want to be
left behind,”’ Millar said.
DeKalb County Commissioner Jeff
Rader, who represents portions of the
proposed cities, said he worries that
the people left behind would be the
remaining taxpayers in unincorporat
ed DeKalb. He said they could po
tentially pay higher taxes as a result of
wealthier tax bases being drawn into
cities.
“There’s always the issue of the tax
base they’re looking to incorporate is
richer than county as a whole. That
leaves the county tax base poorer than
the new city,” Rader said. “Those are
the issues that occur every time one of
these things hap
pens.”
Rader said
there’s a broad
constituency po
tentially affected
by being drawn
inside or outside
the boundaries of
a proposed city.
“In the case of
Brookhaven, there
was a majority
vote against the
city of Brookhav
en everywhere
south of Windsor
Parkway. But there were insufficient
votes to overcome the votes north of
Windsor Parkway,” Rader said. “It’s
the dynamic of‘how did we get pulled
into this’ or ‘how did we get left out
of this?”’
Rader said the current process al
lows the groups studying new cities to
draw the boundaries.
“If two differently bounded cities
pursue the same area, it’s not clear how
you reconcile that,” Rader said. “Who
makes that call? They either have to
reconcile that themselves or the Legis
lature has to pick winners and losers.”
Rader said if different groups look
ing to create cities aren’t able to resolve
their border conflicts, there’s no legis
lative mechanism in place to do so.
“The party line has been ‘this is
about self-determination.’ But who
gets priority in self-determination?”
Rader said.
“The party line has
been ‘this is about self-
determination.’ But
who gets priority in
self-determination?”
- JEFF RADER
DEKALB COUNTY COMMISSIONER
NOW IN SANDY SPRINGS
LEGAL CARE FOR AGING SENIORS
Everyone needs something a little different - it just takes personalized attention.
WILLS, MEDICAL & ESTATE PLANNING,
TRUSTS, PROBATE, SMALL BUSINESS LAW
SENIOR LAW SERVICES OF GA
William W. Dreyfoos, Esq.
Atlanta native and Member of the GA & SC Bars for more than 30 years.
My experiences with my own family members can help you with yours.
5 Concourse Parkway, Suite 3000 • Atlanta, GA 30328
Call 770-392-3313 or Email: dreyfooslaw@aol.com
• first appointment free •
Join us for a complimentary lunch and tour
A gracious senior community promoting resident dignity in an
elegant, yet “heimisch” atmosphere, encouraging independence
and dynamic programming, while offering supportive services,
24-hour care staff, managed by our RN and full-time licensed nurses.
WELCOME
Move In Special
We will waive the One Time Community Fee of $1,250!
Move in For Free! We will handle your moving and costs!
Call 404-843-8857 today to schedule your free lunch and tour,
>90 Mt. Vernon Highway, Sandy Springs, GA 30328 Space is limite
