After a public presentation of the numbers surrounding a proposed city of Brookhaven, a string of residents took to the microphone Nov. 15 to ask that the process slow down.
“Cities are supposed to be organic,” resident Deborah Anthony told Jacobs. “They’re derived geographically and historically. I don’t see that here. … It seems we’re forcing this, to create a city like a business. I’m not sure that ultimately, 10 years from now, we’ll be as happy about this.
“Time, we’ve got lots of. Let’s take a step back.”
Others among the 200 or so residents attending the 2 ½-hour meeting at Cross Keys High School voiced similar thoughts. Rep. Mike Jacobs, a Brookhaven Republican, led the meeting and presenting findings from a just-completed study of the feasibility of creating a city of Brookhaven. The meeting – the first of two public meetings Jacobs planned to hold during the week — was attended by members of the Citizens for North DeKalb, the nonprofit that financed the $27,000 study. Jacobs is a member of the group’s board.
Before the meeting began, some residents circulated flyers questioning the need for a new city. One flyer, titled “Things To Question As You Listen Tonight,” was signed “Concerned Citizens for North DeKalb.”
The study, conducted by the Carl Vinson Institute at the University of Georgia, found a city could be financed without raising homeowners’ property taxes above the millage levied by DeKalb County. Jacobs, who authored a bill to create the city, said he believes a city could mean lower taxes for homeowners.
The study said the city could operate at a $3.4 million surplus, with $28.5 million in potential revenues and $25.1 million in expenses. If created as proposed in the study, the city would be the largest municipality in DeKalb County and the 16th largest in Georgia, Jacobs said.
During the meeting, Jacobs said the proposed city could provide more police patrols than the county police department now provides and would provide residents more local control over zoning and other issues
“This is an opportunity to get the best bang for your buck,” Jacobs said. “It’s an opportunity to get your money’s worth.”
He said legislation creating the city likely would include a millage “cap” that would prevent city officials from raising taxes without a vote by residents approving the increase. “Your millage rate would not go higher than it already is without a vote,” he said, “and that is a benefit you do not get in DeKalb County.”
But some residents weren’t convinced.
“It takes a lot of organization to form a city,” Mary Carol Ard said. “What guarantee do we have that we’ll be better off?”
Others residents worried about how the creation of the new city might change surrounding areas that would not be included. “People will want to know that what we’re doing is good for the people inside, but also good the people outside [the new city limits],” Ryan Swanson said.
Still others questioned what they saw as an unnecessarily speedy process to get the city started. Jacobs, who introduced a bill earlier this year to create the city, said that if the public feedback is positive, his bill could be approved in the 2012 session of the General Assembly.
That would mean a public vote to create the city could be held July 31, 2012, he said. If the voters approve the new city in that referendum, city elections could be held in September 2012 and the city could open for business in December 2012.
“Slow it down a little bit,” said Ronnie Mayer of the Ashford Park community. “If everybody wants it, it’s not going anywhere.”
