Every time I read bellyaching comments from county commissioners representing Atlanta and south Fulton about Sandy Springs' incorporation, I recall a scene from the movie "The Kid." I think of the main character, played by Bruce Willlis, looking straight at a whining client and uttering, "Waaaaaa, waaaaaaa," slowly, quietly, and rising in pitch until the client realizes Willis' total lack of sympathy for her self-absorbed, inconsequential complaints.

I can't summon one whit of sympathy over several Fulton County commissioners' distress on how to balance the county checkbook after Sandy Springs votes June 21 for responsive local government. I can't because I know the bald-faced truth - and it makes me angry. I know their cries of "devastating" and "tax increase" are baseless.

I look forward to Sandy Springs' incorporation for all Fulton County residents. And I'm proud of the 10 north Fulton legislators' collaboration on House Bill 36, which facilitated statewide opportunities for more local governance. The effect will be healthy because the bill forces much-needed transparency and accountability for our bloated, inefficient county government. More transparency and accountability will be uncomfortable to some commissioners, and that's what their cries are about. Our tax-and-spend commissioner majority likes the comfortable old ways.

So, what's the truth behind the commissioners' griping rhetoric on HB 36 and Sandy Springs' imminent incorporation?

1. Commissioners should enact no less than a 25 percent general property tax reduction before north Fulton residents finally reach their homes tonight after commuting on inadequate county roads. Fulton County taxes and spends 100 percent more per resident than Cobb County. You'd think that would be enough to improve a few north Fulton county roads. And you read it right - double Cobb County. Fulton County taxes and spends 63 percent more per resident than Gwinnett County. These figures do not include the Marta one-cent sales tax, which generates another $195 million. Fulton County raises more tax revenue per mill levied (one-thousandth of assessed property value) than 157 other Georgia counties. Why? Because its tax digest is higher. Only Forsyth County has a more valuable tax digest. How do Forsyth County commissioners handle the enviable dilemma of high property values? They keep the Forsyth general property tax rate among the lowest in Georgia.

2. Fulton County should dedicate a portion of its local option one-cent sales tax share to provide local services to its unincorporated residents. State law explicitly allows counties to spend one-cent sales taxes on local services such as fire, police and parks. And other counties do, but Fulton County claims it can't. Why do Roswell and Alpharetta have dramatically superior services than unincorporated residents? Among other reasons, cities receive a portion of the one-cent sales tax proceeds and spend it at home. Not so in the unincorporated areas, whose residents pay the tax, but see their contribution washed into the general budget's slush fund.

3. Residents countywide will be just fine after Sandy Springs incorporates, including the 50,000 living in south Fulton. The 10 existing cities will continue to receive their same one-cent sales revenue share. And Fulton County will be required to more equitably provide services for all unincorporated residents. What you haven't read is that unincorporated south Fulton will receive 38 percent more per capita in property tax expenditures for services such as police and recreation than the 70,000 John's Creek residents receive today. Because of HB 36 provisions, though, commissioners won't be able to continue to spend 300 percent more per south Fulton resident. How does all of this merit words from several commissioners such as "devastating," and "tax increase?" It doesn't. Not one whit.

4. Saying something is so doesn't make it so no matter how many times you say it. Several county commissioners would have you believe they will have no choice but to raise taxes after Sandy Springs incorporates. But don't you believe it. It's past time our Atlanta and south Fulton commissioners face up to the reality that a tax increase is not the solution to mismanagement and their overspending ways.

Note: This guest editorial was recently published in the Alpharetta/Roswell ReVue.