The full Georgia Senate could vote on proposals to create cities of LaVista Hills and Tucker next week after a Senate committee approved them Thursday.
The Senate State and Local Governmental Operations Committee supported the measures, which would allow residents in the affected areas to vote on the idea in November. The state House of Representatives passed these initiatives last week.
The committee amended the legislation to move about 2,000 residents from Tucker's territory into LaVista Hills. By shifting the Livsey Elementary precinct into LaVista Hills, senators altered a compromise map that the cityhood movements and lawmakers in the House of Representatives had agreed to in December.
If the full Senate approves these measures, the House would have to decide whether to accept or reject the changes.
Supporters of a city of Tucker legislation, House Bill 515, said they felt betrayed by the late change in their borders, just days before this year’s legislative session concludes April 2.
But LaVista Hills backers said they heard from residents in the Livsey Elementary area who wanted the change because LaVista Hills would provide police and road services, while Tucker’s smaller city government would only provide planning and zoning, code enforcement and parks and recreation.
Meanwhile, the Senate committee heard testimony on a bill to move toward forming a city of South Fulton, but they didn’t vote on the measure.
The legislation is House Bill 514 for South Fulton, House Bill 515 for Tucker and House Bill 520 for LaVista Hills.
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