Friends and Neighbors-

The Governor signed the City of Milton and the City of Johns Creek bills today. The cities' corporate boundaries are now legally established.

{I apologize for not sending out legislative updates more often during the January-March session. Between working on the budget and other legislation, I seemed to come up short on time. It became a challenge just to read the several hundred daily emails I received on every conceivable issue. I'll try to make up for it by recapping legislative changes and addressing relevant issues after session ends at midnight tomorrow. Friday, we'll likely vote on over 75 bills, including one I authored that would revise the one-cent sales tax for education to better serve Fulton County and other areas of the state. It will be a tremendous challenge to garner the 2/3 vote in the other chamber (Senate) required for a constitutional amendment, but I'm working the votes because it matters greatly in assuring our school property taxes don't rise. I finished my work on the education portion of the budget today, which we'll also vote on tomorrow.}

FULL INCORPORATION BRINGS TREMENDOUS ADVANTAGES TO EVERY NORTH FULTON CITIZEN

- Three new cities, Milton, Sandy Springs and Johns Creek, means bringing home $35 million in existing one-cent sales tax dollars to make infrastructure improvements. Currently, these sales tax dollars are washed into the county General fund for who-knows-what-and-for-who-knows-whom.

1. The 300,000 north Fulton residents don't care which jurisdiction they're driving through. They just want less congested, improved roads.

2. Residents want police/fire/ambulance/911 services readily available wherever an automobile accident or crime occurs.

3. Residents want more options for recreation services for themselves and their children. North Fulton's population continues to grow (just look at school board plans for additional schools to relieve overcrowded schools), but parks and recreation slots haven't kept up. Walking/running trails are scarce, and children can't get into close-to-home programs for basketball, soccer, lacrosse and baseball.

4. New cities mean more careful planning and land use decisions, which impact residents regardless of which city border they live near. Sandy Springs has already demonstrated it by immediately and firmly enforcing code violations and implementing adult entertainment ordinances.

5. It means fresh ideas and opportunities for more efficient, effective services. It means greater scrutiny and comparison of local government expenditures by all north Fulton citizens.

WHAT'S NEXT?

A voter referendum to ratify the city charter will be held July 18 at the Primary election. City council elections will take place November 8 at the General election.

The City of Milton Committee, led and comprised of citizen volunteers, will continue to plan for the new city. There's much to be done. Contact them, join in or read more at http://www.cityofmilton-ga.org

I'll make recommendations next month to the Governor for a separate five-member official commission that will also make preparations for Milton's future city council.

I've already asked the Georgia Municipal Association to consider and suggest a successful, innovative metro-area mayor to serve and advise on the Governor's commission. Commission members with particular expertise may come from outside the city, and the remainder will be Milton residents.

No plans or decisions will be final or binding, though, until an elected city council (representing the entire citizenry) takes action.

MORE INFORMATION

I'd like to share information, which I conveyed on the House floor, in committee or with legislators while shepherding the legislation. You may read the bill at www.legis.state.ga.us. Click on Legislation and type in the bill number, HB 1470.

1. Why create cities, more governments, in Fulton County?

If you add up half of all counties' populations in Georgia, the sum equals Fulton County's population. That's right - 78 of 159 counties' populations. Fulton County can't offer true local government no matter how hard it tries or how much money it taxes and spends.

In fact, the city of Milton with close to 20,000 residents will be greater in population than each of 78 counties in Georgia. Johns Creek will be greater than 80 percent of Georgia counties. Both new cities will rank 25th and 10th respectively among Georgia's 550 cities.

George H.W. Bush Sr. said, "And I don't hate government. A government that remembers that the people are its master is a good and needed thing."

Elected representatives and their staff tend to forget the people are their masters the more diluted residents' votes become. Citizens' votes count more in a smaller government closer to home, which lessens the influence of special interest groups. More citizens can become more involved. Look to the federal government as a contrast.

2. What will be the effect on property taxes?

Essentially, none. I wrote the bill so that citizens could choose between two equally-priced governments - Fulton County and the city of Milton. Residents can decide for themselves which can deliver services more responsively, effectively and efficiently.

I included homestead exemptions that closely mirror existing Fulton County exemptions. I added a $15,000 homestead exemption that will mean a tax decrease for citizens aged 65 years and older.

The legislation caps the city property tax rate at 4.731 mills, which is the current unincorporated rate for local services. It can be increased only through a voter referendum. The new city tax will replace the special county tax that is levied only on unincorporated residents. The city millage rate is comparable to numerous other suburban cities throughout Georgia. Additionally, on a per capita basis, Fulton County's tax digest is the highest in the state. A valuable tax digest means that a lower property tax rate generates more dollars per capita than elsewhere in Georgia.

3. What will the city council be like?

A great one, I hope! In the bill, I constructed a hybrid, part-time city council borrowing elements from different cities. The city will have a mayor and six city council members, and all will be elected by citywide vote. Each must have been a resident for 12 months at the time of qualifying to run for election. The mayor may live anywhere in the city. Council members must live within a district. Districts are geographically dispersed with equal populations in each to assure balanced geographical representation.

A professional city manager will be hired through a city council vote.

4. Where will city hall be located?

The decision will be made by the city council. Council may elect to use vacant office or retail space near Hwy. 9, such as the Sandy Springs Council decided. The city council may prioritize improving parks, road improvements and fire/police/911 services for now over building a city hall.

5. What will the city council do first?

The city will need to open the doors to first take care of pressing day-to-day city business. Permits and requests that matter to individual homeowners and businesses must be processed. The council will interview and hire a city manager. And lots more.

The county is legally required to offer all current local services for up to two years as a protection to new city residents (north Fulton legislators made sure through HB 36 last year). Fairly quickly, the council will decide which services to offer itself, how soon and which to contract out. It may contract with a private firm to offer some services quickly and efficiently. And the Sandy Springs City Council eagerly awaits Milton's and Johns Creek's incorporations so the three cities can collaborate on joint service contracts where it makes sense (like 911, for example).

FINALLY

I'm proud to have a role in bringing more local decision-making to north Fulton. It's been an incredible experience, and one I don't want to replicate - ever! The political, legal and practical challenges were tremendous in passing the Milton and Johns Creek legislation - more than I ever imagined. I want to thank Representative Mark Burkhalter for his friendship and leadership in helping to change north Fulton's future forever and for the better.

Viva La Freedom For All Of North Fulton! It's been a long time coming. And our history-making adventure has only just begun.

Best-

Jan Jones

State Representative - District 46

(Serving northwest Fulton, including the soon-to-be Milton, Roswell and Alpharetta)