Residents, business and civic leaders support a united Atlanta
Buckhead secession a bad idea for the state of Georgia
Atlanta – In response to an effort by some to separate Buckhead from the City of Atlanta, a group of over 200 Buckhead residents, business owners, and civic leaders who live in Buckhead today urged the public to support a united Atlanta and resist efforts to carve up Georgia’s capital city.
“Like most people in Buckhead, I am furious about the increase in violent crime and the absence of leadership at City Hall. Our current leaders are basically ignoring our community. All that being said, I do not believe de-annexing Buckhead from Atlanta is the right approach. We have an election in November when we will elect a new Mayor and City Council. All of the candidates are talking about addressing the situation we are facing in Buckhead. We need to give them a chance. Splitting off a part of the City will have major ramifications for not only Atlanta but the state and the greater Atlanta region,” said Eric Tanenblatt, a prominent business leader who lives in Buckhead.
Tanenblatt observed that in the 2017 and 2009 municipal elections, the voter turnout in Buckhead was less than 40% and in both elections the outcome was determined by approximately 800 votes. “I implore my neighbors in Buckhead to channel their energy toward the November elections and vote. We deserve new leadership in Buckhead and Atlanta and can only blame ourselves if we don’t go to the polls.”
A new fiscal analysis on the consequences of the proposed break-up of Atlanta determined that the Atlanta Public Schools (APS) and the City of Atlanta would stand to lose financially, economically, and socially. Moreover, the study concluded that tax rates would likely rise for Buckhead area residents and quality of life would suffer.
Some of the key findings of the fiscal analysis include:
The annual net fiscal loss to the City of Atlanta would range from $80 million to $116 million.
For APS, the school district would be substantially depleted, with an estimated $232 million loss annually.
Issues regarding service of current debt and future debt, economic development disunity, and reduced community services are all likely to be significant difficulties for the City of Atlanta, APS, and the Buckhead area if a de-annexation would move forward.
It is almost certain that Buckhead area residents would pay higher tax rates due to the need to refinance debt assumed for existing infrastructure and start-up spending. In fact, both the City of Atlanta and Buckhead residents will see taxes raised because of the loss of combined financial resources.
Because both Buckhead and Atlanta would be weaker entities if separated, economic development initiatives will suffer. Should Buckhead de-annex, Atlanta will not only continue to compete with Charlotte, Nashville, Houston, and Dallas, but it will also find itself competing with a part of its former self. The result could easily be a race to the bottom with both entities giving away critical financial resources in a zero-sum game of economic development gamesmanship.
If de-annexation would occur, public education will be a major problem for Buckhead families and kids. APS owns all public schools in the Buckhead area, and the Georgia constitution prevents creating new school districts.
In order for a new ‘Buckhead City’ to be created, the Georgia General Assembly would have to authorize a de-annexation from the City and a public referendum, in which only those who live in a designated Buckhead neighborhood would be allowed to vote.
A small group of state senators are supportive of breaking up the city, but Linda Klein, Co-Chair of the Committee for a United Atlanta, noted that none of them are from Atlanta. “I hope that our state legislators will listen to local representatives first. These representatives know their communities best and local control should be respected.”
Klein also warned of the precedent a de-annexation of Atlanta would set. “A de-annexation of a big city has never been done before in Georgia’s history. We could suddenly have cities throughout our state breaking apart and with it our unity as a state. If Atlanta is carved up, our competitors in Nashville, Charlotte, and beyond would rejoice. Georgia would no longer be the best state in the country to do business.”
Problems with crime will not be solved by carving up the City. All those charged with serious crimes must still stand trial in the Fulton County courts, which continue to suffer from numerous backlog and funding issues.
Instead, both Tanenblatt and Klein urged that city and state leaders work together to find solutions, improve state and local government, and enhance the quality of life for all citizens.
On behalf of the Committee for a United Atlanta, the full-page ad below will appear in several newspapers in metro Atlanta.
