About Sandy Springs reporter. (Sandy Springs, GA) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 8, 2013)
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ATLANTA 5730 Glenridge Dr Suite 220, Atlanta, GA 30328 ROSWELL 1360 Upper Hembree Rd Suite 201A, Roswell, GA 30076 CUMMING 1400 Northside Forsyth Dr Suite 320, Cumming, GA 30041 770-751-7437 www.northsidehearingcenter.com Chairman defends Fulton as reforms loom BY DAN WHISENHUNT Danwhisenhunt@reporternewspapers.net Fulton County’s legislative delegation will soon use its new Republican majori ty to push bills targeting county govern ment, saying it needs sweeping reforms. County Commission Chairman John Eaves said a better solution would be more cooperation between the county and north Fulton governments. Currently Republicans hold a 13-12 majority in Fulton County’s state House Delegation and a 7-4 majority in the Senate. Cooperation won’t be required to achieve their goals. North Fulton lawmakers laid out their plans for the current session during a Jan. 24 luncheon for the delegation held in Sandy Springs. Their strategy in volves both changing the structure and funding of government and introducing legislation to recreate Milton County. Rep. Jan Jones, R-Milton, speaker pro tem of the House, said the delegation agrees that change is needed, even if some members differ on how to make those changes. Calls to rec reate Milton Coun ty divide delegation members, with some saying the delegation should wait to see if it can change the county government to their liking. “I want no foot- print from Fulton County in my area, but in the end we want a lesser footprint for Fulton County,” Jones said. “We want residents to have accountable gov ernment that’s responsible to them.” Milton County will be a long-shot because it would face constitutional and electoral challenges. The Georgia Con stitution sets a limit of 159 counties, meaning it would require an amend ment approved by voters in a statewide election. Another option legislators dis cussed would be allowing a county-wide vote by petition, but it would have to be approved by a majority of county voters. The delegation will redraw the coun ty’s district maps, which it is required to do by law, and there are proposals to in crease the authority of the chairman and impose term limits. Eaves said the measure that concerns him most is a bill J ones introduced to increase the homestead tax exemption from $30,000 to $60,000. Eaves called the bill “mean spirited” and said it would reduce county revenue by $48 million. He said the exemption would mean the county would cut funding for librar ies, the arts, senior centers, public safety and Grady Memorial Hospital. “There’s been no conversation be tween the sponsors of the legislation and “We’ve done a lot to tighten our belt. Have we tightened it as much as it can possibly be tightened? Probably not, but we can more efficient.” - JOHN EAVES FULTON COUNTY COMMISSION CHAIRMAN the county,” Eaves said. “It’s an attempt to minimize the spending authority of the Fulton County Commission.” Fulton County’s tension with its northern residents boiled over in 2005 when Republicans took control of the Legislature and allowed a referendum to incorporate the city of Sandy Springs. Soon, Johns Creek and Milton formed. Residents of the northern part of the county complained they weren’t getting enough for the tax money they paid. A subtext of the argument has always been racial. Most of north Fulton and its affluent new cities have a majority white population, and the southern end of the county is majority minority. The commission chairman said the county has provided “tremendous sup port” to north Fulton residents, build ing libraries, senior centers and donat ing to nonprofits. But he said the county has “tremendous so cial needs” that come with its 25 percent poverty rate. Eaves said Fulton County has made do with less, trimming its budget by $100 million. He said the county hasn’t raised the millage or had massive layoffs. “We’ve done a lot to tighten our belt,” Eaves said. “Have we tightened it as much as it can possibly be tightened? Probably not, but we can more efficient.” The belt-tightening talk isn’t likely to sway lawmakers who attended the Jan. 24 luncheon. Their denouncements of county government drew rounds of ap plause and the incorporation of Geor gia’s new cities whetted their appetite for more change. Rep. Lynne Riley, R-Johns Creek, said the new cities of Sandy Springs and Johns Creek are proof that local govern ment can better serve residents. “I am committed to the recreation of Milton County because I truly believe, as our new cities have proven, smaller is better,” Riley said. “You’re very responsive. You’re agile, you’re versatile and you can immediate ly meet the demands of government ser vices that a city is required to provide.” Jones said Eaves’ is trying to scare res idents. She said Fulton spends 121 percent more per capita than Cobb, Fulton and Gwinnett counties. “It’s the oldest bureaucratic trick in the book to list popular services and claim that Armageddon is coming, but nothing could be further from the truth,” she said. 4 | FEB.8 — FEB.21,2013 | www.ReporterNewspapers.net ss
