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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
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