Let’s start with the math: The city of Atlanta’s annual operating budget is $2.04 billion. Add to that the Atlanta Public Schools’ budget of $1.4 billion for a total combined budget of $3.44 billion.
According to the recently released “Fiscal Feasibility Analysis of a Proposed Buckhead City” prepared by the economic development specialists at Valdosta State University, Buckhead City revenues would be $203 million, less than six percent of $3.44 billion.
Even if you exclude the APS budget, $203 million is less than 10 percent of Atlanta’s $2.04 billion annual spend. Also remember that Buckhead City would relieve the city of Atlanta of responsibility of 20 percent of its population and square mileage – and related burdens of infrastructure, parks and law enforcement.
Credit: contributed
Credit: contributed
Every family in town can revise a kitchen table budget to accommodate a 10 percent reduction in funds, especially with a commensurate 20 percent drop in obligations. Why not the city of Atlanta? Any reduction in funds to the city of Atlanta due to the formation of Buckhead City will be offset by the reduction of responsibility for police, roads and parks.
A smaller Atlanta -- a smaller anything -- is easier to manage.
To be sure, there are challenges yet to address.
For instance, what to do about schools? The proponents of Buckhead City, many of them with children, intend to remain within the Atlanta Public Schools system. We believe state and local law provides for exactly this scenario. The law (Ga. L. 1950, p. 458) now makes clear that APS expands with Atlanta boundaries but is silent on what happens when the city limits contract.
The law does not say that APS shall have exactly the same boundaries as the city. The details will have to be worked out, but as the recent report by opponents of Buckhead City notes: “Of the $607 million that APS collected in [property taxes, retail sales taxes, and lodging taxes] $332 million (55%) are collected in Buckhead.”
Does anyone really think APS will forfeit that revenue? We are confident APS will continue to serve Buckhead families.
And then there are city of Atlanta bond obligations which assume revenues from Buckhead’s tax base. Buckhead City proponents are committed to honoring obligations related to Atlanta’s publicly issued bonds via a pro-rata portion of the debt. There are some discussions yet to be had, but we honor promises.
Buckhead City would continue to utilize (and fund through taxes and fees) services like water, sewer, trash collection and Fulton County libraries. The Buckhead City movement seeks to gain more influence for Buckhead residents only over public safety, parks, zoning, and road maintenance – functions the city of Atlanta has failed to satisfy for years.
Though there remains much work to do by those intent on making Buckhead City a reality, it’s time for the Georgia General Assembly – perhaps in the recently called special session – to allow Buckhead residents to vote on the matter by adding the issue to the November 2022 ballot.
We look forward to that vote.
Bill White is CEO of the Buckhead City Committee.
ANOTHER VIEW:
Opinion: Splitting off from Atlanta’s not way to make Buckhead safer
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