Why we know so little about what’s behind the Buckhead City Committee
By J.D. Capelouto, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The committee pushing for the formation of “Buckhead City” has been active for over a year now, aggressively fundraising with a goal of amassing over seven figures by the end of this year in the hopes of splintering away one of Atlanta’s wealthiest communities.
But as the General Assembly begins its legislative session for the year and considers bills that would allow residents to vote on secession, the public is shielded from the full picture of who is financing the group and what they’re spending money on.
That’s because state and federal law allows nonprofit groups like the Buckhead City Committee to avoid disclosing details on its finances — unlike candidates running for public office. Cityhood committees, and groups that oppose them, are also not required by statute to hold public meetings, disclose how decisions are made or publish their bylaws.
As a result, the pro-cityhood committee in Buckhead, which said last year it had already raised over half a million dollars, has kept its donor list anonymous. It also hasn’t released its bylaws, board of directors or details about fundraising — who is giving and how it’s being spent. If a ballot referendum on Buckhead cityhood is approved by the legislature, the group would have to file some campaign finance reports later this year, though the requirements are less strict than those candidates have to follow.
William Perry, the former executive director of Common Cause Georgia who now runs the group Georgia Ethics Watchdogs, said he thinks nonprofits on both sides of an issue should be required to disclose more information about their organizations. Particularly when it comes to fundraising.
Information about how a cause raises and spends money can provide the public with valuable information about where they are seeking support, what special interests are behind them and what their motivations are, transparency advocates say.
“Unfortunately, Georgia law is such that until you start advocating for something specifically on the ballot ... there’s no disclosure for it,” Perry said. “It all makes it quite the challenge for those who are wanting to find out the pros and cons.”