February 06, 2008
While no one is crying conspiracy, many people feel that Fulton County needs to do some reevaluating of its budget in light of the newly incorporated North Fulton cities.
"Most people rush to judgment that there is some evil plan at Fulton County in terms of the budget," said Johns Creek Mayor Mike Bodker, who led the charge in discussing the county's budget at the last North Fulton Mayor's Association meeting (NFMA).
The NFMA does not believe that is the case, however, they do believe some changes need to be made since the number of residents in its unincorporated areas has dwindled to below 45,000, according to Fulton County Commissioner Lynn Riley.
"The only thing I'm concerned about, seriously concerned about, is the fact that Fulton County has changed dramatically in the last three years and I fundamentally believe [it] must adjust everything that it does to recognize that change," Bodker said.
Until recent years, Fulton County was entirely responsible for the care and service of its residents in the unincorporated areas, which was much of the northern county outside of Atlanta. But with the incorporation of Johns Creek, Milton, Sandy Springs, and Mountain Park that is no longer the case. Each of the new cities has taken over some, if not most, of the services that used to be provided to residents by the county.
"There are literally tens of millions of dollars coming out of the Fulton General Fund that arguably should or could be coming out of the Special Services District [Fund], which is the fund intended for the unincorporated areas," said Bodker. "And if those funds were removed from the General Fund and shifted to the SSD, the vast majority of the citizens of Fulton County would see a tax decrease."
High up on the NFMA's list of general fund issues are: police, fire, community development and roads.
Calling the expenditures inappropriate, the NFMA takes issue with the county's continued charge for emergency services in cities that provide their own or, like Johns Creek, pay for the transitional service until its departments get up and running.
"Why should [we] be taxed twice," said Bodker.
The association also questions why the county's community development money should come out of the general fund when enforcement, creation and advice related to zoning matters are strictly handled by the cities at this point, relegating the county to handling unincorporated zoning only.
And finally, NFMA questioned the county's road taxes. The county has long justified the expense by using the argument that since all residents can drive on the roads, they should be paid for from the general fund.
However, "I think you'd be hard pressed to get the majority of Fulton County citizens to tell you that they believe that a road that you improve in one small part of the county is of true benefit to everybody in the county," said Bodker. "And once that area becomes incorporated into a city, there's on question [the city] pays for it so you really should treat the unincorporated areas the same way you treat a city."
Riley told the mayors that she would do everything possible to assist them in their discussions with the county and get to the bottom of budget questions. It is her duty as the North Fulton representative for the county, she said.
The NFMA intends to speak to its issues with the county through the upcoming SSD renegotiation talks, through direct discussion with county commissioners and only through possible legal action as a last resort.
"It's not preferable," Bodker said.
- www.northfulton.com
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