Fulton County commissioner taps Carstarphen to join development board

Atlanta Public Schools Superintendent Meria Carstarphen has been nominated to serve on the board of the Development Authority of Fulton County.

The Fulton County Board of Commissioners is scheduled to vote on her appointment at its meeting tomorrow.

County Commissioner Lee Morris, who represents Buckhead, parts of Midtown and the southern part of Sandy Springs, nominated Carstarphen to fill the remaining portion of a term that ends May 31, 2019. The seat has been held by Michael Bell, who resigned.

VIDEO: Previous coverage of Meria Carstarphen

Video: Day One with Atlanta Public Schools Superintendent Meria Carstarphen

The development authority’s mission is to expand and diversify the tax base, spur job growth and retain businesses.

It offers a number of economic tools to do so, including issuing bonds to economic development projects and tax credits.

If appointed, Carstarphen would bring the school district's interests to the development authority.
Earlier this month, the school board unanimously approved its legislative priorities for the upcoming year, including a goal to "protect" the APS property tax base.

The school board’s priorities include restricting tax abatements by the development authority “to those projects that would not be developed otherwise” as well as a desire to “formalize” an APS “voice” on the development authority.

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