Friends and Neighbors-

I've had eight bills drawn up to introduce in the House when session convenes January 10. I'll briefly explain each of them (which have state-wide implications) in the next update. I limited this email to an explanation of the one bill that would have the greatest impact on this House district and Fulton County overall. Here goes:

I'll introduce a general bill calling for a local referendum to create a new city including all the unincorporated northwest Fulton County area bordered by Alpharetta, Roswell, Cherokee County and Forsyth County. The bill was patterned after a model bill from the Georgia Municipal Association, although I modified several items. The legislation calls for a 7-member city council including the mayor, all elected at-large, with term limits and a city tax limited to no more than the special county tax solely levied on unincorporated Fulton residents. The working name for the proposed incorporation is the city of Milton.

WHY INCORPORATE? WHY A "CITY?"

My conviction is that local government is best when it's smaller and closer to the people. Many in unincorporated northwest Fulton have expressed a desire for self-government.

Fulton County, with 850,000 residents (which is larger than the population of six individual states), cannot provide true local government and local representation no matter how hard it tries. A smaller, more local government allows for more meaningful participation by citizens; it also promises greater efficiencies because the government isn't trying to be all things to all people, but rather provide just what the local citizens want, but no more.

The only forms of local government that Georgia's constitution allows are county, city and school board. A new city's residents can define for themselves what their city will be - or not be - and what it will become. The state constitution requires only that three services be offered, such as planning/zoning, recreation/parks and roads. The new city would also offer fire, police and 911 service either contractually or in-house. Fulton County would cease providing these specific services, so there would be no duplication.

The new city's creation would benefit Alpharetta and Roswell residents because it would offer greater consistency and shared goals among geographic neighbors.

TAX NEUTRAL

By state law, the city of Milton's creation would be tax-neutral for its citizens. Because of the restriction on the city's millage rate that I included in the legislation, the city's tax could not exceed the special county property tax that unincorporated residents pay for municipal-like services. At the time of the city's creation, one tax would replace the other. The new city should receive a proportionate population share of the current Fulton County one-cent sales tax (re-negotiated by Fulton County and all of its cities). The timing of the Fulton County local sales tax re-negotiations will be reviewed by the legislature this session. All development and recreation fees and police fines would remain within the new city.

I believe unincorporated residents should have the opportunity to decide for themselves if they want self-government --- and compare it to the trade-offs of remote government at the same price.

WHAT AREA?

The proposed city would have a population of approximately 20,000 persons and cover 23,000 acres. The area is double the physical size of the city of Alpharetta with half its population. The new city would include the northwest unincorporated island that is bordered by Cherokee County to the north and west; Forsyth County to the east; Roswell city limits to the southwest (a little west of Arnold Mill Road); Alpharetta city limits to the south (roughly, Mayfield Road to Cogburn Road to Windward Parkway). With citizen input, the final borders may be very slightly modified to provide for clearly defined borders and facilitate smoother service delivery with adjoining Alpharetta and Roswell.

HOW WOULD THE PROCESS WORK AND WHEN?

I intend to introduce the bill in January during the first session of the upcoming two-year cycle. All bills remain active throughout that cycle. I plan to move the bill forward in January 2006. This will give residents one full year to consider all the ramifications before the bill could become law and 18 months before a citizens' referendum. A just-forming "city of Milton" committee will help coordinate information and research.

In January 2006, the bill will need to pass the state legislature and be signed by the Governor. I believe the state legislature will approve self-government as expressed through this bill. A referendum involving the citizens that live within the proposed city would follow most likely in mid-2006 to approve or disapprove the city's creation. Should the referendum receive a majority affirmative vote, an election would follow in the fall to elect the city council. The city's charter would not take effect until year-end 2006 immediately prior to the collection and distribution of Fulton County property taxes.

As an aside, the long-proposed incorporation of Sandy Springs will follow a similar process; many expect this bill to pass the legislature winter 2005. We will learn much from the impending Sandy Springs' incorporation of 90,000 Fulton County residents.

HOW DOES THIS DIFFER FROM RE-CREATING MILTON COUNTY?

The state constitution limits the total number of counties to the current 159. Changing the state constitution is considerably more challenging, but north Fulton legislators will continue to work towards it. Creating new north Fulton cities coupled with additional annexations would make it easier for a new county to get started should the legislature authorize it. The new county government wouldn't have to gear up to provide as many local services.

ELECTED GOVERNANCE

The new city would continue to be a part of Fulton County with county commission representation. The difference would be that most services would be decided by local city council members rather than Fulton County commissioners.

Ask yourself: In making day-to-day decisions that affect your neighborhood, would you rather have a majority vote by four of seven local city council members (each of whose election you'd participate in) or four of seven commissioners (and you have no vote in four of the commissioners' elections)? Has there ever been even a single commissioner elected from northwest Fulton? Do you want elected neighbors deciding how to spend your property tax dollars or commissioners from Atlanta that live up to 50 miles away?

MY VISION

Can I offer my vision for this city? Keep in mind it's only my personal vision, and it's yours that matters in the end. My vote in a citizens' referendum, should the legislature approve the bill in 2006, would count no more than yours.

I envision a nimble, lean city, one offering a limited number of services, but including outstanding parks and recreation; improved, safer roads; a separated multi-purpose trail network along several arterial roads connecting up parks/schools and to Alpharetta's and Roswell's greenway systems;fire/police/911 of Alpharetta/Roswell's caliber; balanced planning and zoning that reflects this area's unique, suburban perspective; modest staffing and city facilities; a close working relationship with Alpharetta and Roswell on mutual concerns such as safety, transportation and recreation; enormous pride and participation by citizens. And I look forward to working with a future part-time citizens' city council made up of your neighbors.

Frankly, I see a better model for local governance in the city of Milton than reliance on Fulton County for local services, a county that's too big and too remote to responsively serve the unincorporated northwest island.

I've found that the bigger the government, the harder it is to be efficient, flexible, accountable, and responsive. The federal government should leave all that it can to the states. The state should leave all that it can to the counties and school boards. The county should leave all that it can to the cities. The school board should leave all that it can to the individual schools. And in general, government should cede all that it can to individuals. Each should do what it does best, and no more.

One final thought - I have the greatest respect for the dedicated service our north Fulton County Commissioners give on our behalf. And we will continue to need their leadership because Fulton County will continue to provide water, sewer, libraries, jails, courts, health services and regional planning, no matter what. These services will continue to be paid for with three-quarters of your Fulton County taxes, so our north Fulton commissioners matter greatly. Commission Chair Karen Handel has established herself as an effective, strong leader on regional and state issues. We need her at the helm of our county. Our new district commissioner, Lynne Riley, has more than earned my loyalty through her integrity and hard work for her constituents. And I thank them both for all that they do.

QUESTIONS?

I know some of you will have questions. And I'll try to answer them, although I may not be able to respond at length since the legislative session starts next week. I'll compile a Frequently Asked Questions/Answers write-up, and send it out by email. Residents will want to learn from the impending incorporation of Sandy Springs. And conduct a financial and service analysis. I've considered the prospect of incorporation over the last year, but many specifics remain to be worked out.

MEETING

I'll publicize and host a town hall meeting for interested residents in later January to discuss this issue/bill. As citizens form the "City of Milton" committee, I encourage you to participate.

Know this, my friends. We have time to give this proposal a thorough evaluation; should it succeed through the legislative process, and I expect it will, a referendum would not take place before mid-2006. Other details that may interest you follow at the end of this email.

Thank you for allowing me the privilege of serving as your state representative. It is truly my pleasure to work towards a better Georgia.

Best-

Jan Jones - janjones@bellsouth.net

State Representative - District 46

(Serving northwest Fulton, including portions of unincorporated, Roswell and Alpharetta)

MORE ON TAXES AND LOGISTICS

- The county levies unincorporated citizens an extra tax for municipal-type services, called the Special Services District Tax (SSD). It is currently 4.731 mills (one mill equals 1/1000 of a property's assessed value). The SSD tax is about 25 percent of the total Fulton County tax paid by unincorporated citizens. Alpharetta and Roswell citizens do not pay the SSD tax, but rather pay a city tax for their municipal services. Their millage rates are 7.0 and 6.168 respectively.

- I reviewed the millage rates for cities throughout Georgia, including cities in the metro area; many, including cities in metro counties such as Gwinnett, have millage rates comparable to Fulton County's SSD tax.

- Numerous factors are involved in constructing a city's or county's milage rate, such as the level of and type of services the local residents want, the amount of commercial property, the average value of the residential homes, the availability of tax revenue from other sources such as the one-cent sales tax in Fulton County. Northwest Fulton has a low commercial-to-residential ratio. Commercial properties generally pay more in property taxes than they consume in direct services. On the other hand, northwest Fulton has a high proportion of high value residential homes, which also generally pay more in property taxes than they receive in direct services. A number of metro suburban bedroom counties share a similar residential-to-commercial ratio with the proposed city of Milton.

- All building/zoning/land disturbance/recreation fees and police fines would remain within the city. As an example, according to one Alpharetta official, an incremental police officer in Alpharetta generates more in fines than his individual salary. An earlier analysis showed that the proposed area would generate well over $1 million in yearly police fines with higher enforcement.

- The city would not have to immediately, or even in the near-term, provide its own fire, police and 911 protection. It could negotiate and sign contracts with Fulton, Forsyth, Cherokee, Roswell or Alpharetta or private providers. The city council could choose to leave garbage pick-up as-is with private providers, or not. Water and sewer would continue to be purchased through the county because the county owns the pipes and plants. Health services would continue to be provided through the county (as it is with both cities and unincorporated areas). Library services are paid for and provided by the county through a Fulton/Atlanta board.

- All Fulton County residents elect one district commissioner (there are five geographic district commissioners) and two at-large commissioners. Four of seven commissioners are not elected or answerable to you. They do, though, constitute a majority in any commission vote. The size and structure of Fulton County is more suited to regional planning and services, not the day-to-day services that make each community unique. Each district commissioner represents a population one and one-half times the population of Alpharetta (35,000) and Roswell (85,000) combined. Five of the current seven commissioners live south of the Chattahoochee River (three in the city of Atlanta; one on the Atlanta border; one in south Fulton).