Friends and Neighbors- The local ReVue/Herald published the following guest editorial I wrote regarding the Atlanta-Fulton County Library System. The library system is but one example highlighting the Fulton County Commission majority's disregard for 300,000 residents living north of the Chattahoochee River. And Fulton County is but one example of what happens when government becomes distant, remote, unwieldy and unaccountable to its citizens. Remember, citizens are both governments' owners and customers. Government, unlike private enterprise, rarely enjoys economies of scale in efficiency or effectiveness. And there's a reason. With business, the customer communicates with his wallet and his feet. Business knows darn quickly how well, or poorly, it's doing. With government, though, the customer communicates indirectly through his elected representation. The bigger the government and the larger the population voting for its elected representation, the smaller and less consequential the customer's voice. And when government (or business for that matter) is insulated from its customers, it delivers less efficient, less effective, less targeted and less satisfying services. It's why government services should be limited, privatized where feasible, and pushed down closest to the people. All that can be ceded to the states by federal government, should be. All that can be ceded to local governments by the state, should be And local governments should be reconfigured and cut down to size when citizens' voices become diluted. Each should do what it does best - and no more. And, finally, all that can be ceded to the individual by all governments, should be. A great passion of mine as a state legislator is to bring government - its decision-making and services - closest to constituents and all Georgians. Whether it's libraries, public education, drivers licensing, parks or transportation, I'm committed to giving greater influence to the owners and customers of government - taxpaying citizens. To put north Fulton's size in perspective, its population ranks larger than all but four of 159 Georgia counties. I look forward to introducing a library reform bill next session that would split the Atlanta-Fulton County Library System into two or three parts. Atlanta and south Fulton can decide for themselves it they want to continue with a merged system, but I'll work towards giving north Fulton residents control over their community libraries. Best - Jan Jones State Representative - District 46 (Serving northwest Fulton, including unincorporated, Roswell and Alpharetta) GUEST EDITORIAL If someone suggests "service consolidation" between Fulton County and its cities, change the subject to the weather. Or hand over the facts. The Atlanta-Fulton Library System offers a telling example of consolidated services. Excessive expenditures and glaring service inequities confirm it should be the last example north Fulton residents ever endure. Several comparisons paint a compelling picture for library system reform - and, more importantly, full independence from Fulton through incorporation in 2006 and Milton County's re-creation by 2008.

Second, the library system isn't locally responsive to each community along the county's more than 70-mile length and with its 850,000-resident population. It could, though, at least try. Consider that the Atlanta-Fulton library system serves a population larger than that of six individual states. If Alaska, Delaware, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont and Wyoming had state-wide library systems, they would each serve fewer people than our county-wide system. Third, the system's board has decided not to locate branches where people live judging from population data. With 34 library branches system-wide, only five are located north of the Atlanta city limits. North Fulton, though, is home to 36 percent of the county's population. By population alone, you'd expect a minimum of eight north Fulton branches, instead of five. Until the Ocee location opened last year, north Fulton offered just four library branches. Fourth, the library board has chosen not to locate branches where demand for library services exists judging from circulation data. According to county circulation data, the five north Fulton branches collectively account for over half of the entire 34-branch system's book and materials circulation. With half the circulation, surely north Fulton merits more than 12 percent of the total branches' square footage. Merits more, I mean, if the library board cares about serving its customers. The Alpharetta branch's circulation is more than double that of the other four similarly-sized 10,000 square feet library branches. Its circulation ranks like a regional library, which offers double the square footage and substantially more materials. The three regional north Fulton libraries' (Spruill Oaks, Roswell, Sandy Springs) circulations each dwarf that of the downtown Atlanta main library's (Central), which has 10 times their square footage. For example, Spruill Oaks patrons used 2 million materials in 2004 in a 25,000-square feet facility. Downtown Atlanta Central patrons used half the materials in a 255,000-square feet facility. The commissioners' 4-3 vote recently to table a request to purchase books and materials to complete the Ocee branch collection tells it all. First in circulation since opening only last year, four commissioners couldn't bring themselves to release existing funds expressly designated for the Ocee branch. Why? Well, I guess because it would benefit north Fulton residents. What should change? Change, that is, in addition to closing underutilized branches and slashing other costs. For starters, north Fulton's residents merit at least two additional regional libraries, one on the east side to relieve the Spruill Oaks branch, and one on the west side to relieve the Roswell and Sandy Springs branches. Roswell has already even offered the land for an eastside branch. The Alpharetta branch should be replaced with a regional library double its current size and materials. And, certainly, the Ocee branch should be completed out with materials. I'm all for local control when it's responsive to its citizens. When local control means monopoly governance that's indifferent to its taxpaying customers, it's time for structural - and legislative - change. In that regard, I'll introduce a Fulton County library reform bill in the 2006 legislative session. And I'll push vigorously for every measure of independence for north Fulton residents, including full incorporation and a separate county.