Atlanta City Council offers olive branch to APS

[AnsleyPark]

Originally Posted by jsvh

A contract is not a contract.

Just because you wrote a contract with a partner to evenly split $1M in expected profit does not mean you should sue them for $500K when the project only brings in $400K in actual profit. Even if the fine print of the contract says as much.

As the supreme court has just showed, intent is important. The Beltline TAD was not intended to being a funding mechanism for APS.

Likewise, our schools shouldn't be paying for the Beltline.

[fourthwarden]

Originally Posted by AnsleyPark

Likewise, our schools shouldn't be paying for the Beltline.

They haven't paid a thing. In fact, had they not entered the contract, they would not even be getting that $4mil, let alone the $14mil. The money that the Beltline was supposed to be getting was based off of increased revenue from the TADs, while APS continued to get the base amount. Had APS not made the contract, they would not be getting any funds, since the TAD revenues dropped so bad after 2008.

[demonta4]

Why does APS need 14 Million anyway. They obviously have money, have you guys seen some of the schools they're building, especially North Atlanta High.

[AnsleyPark]

The schools agreed that the Beltline would receive 100% of tax revenue increases within the TAD in exchange for a set annual payment. So, yep - the schools are paying the Beltline.

[fourthwarden]

Originally Posted by AnsleyPark

The schools agreed that the Beltline would receive 100% of tax revenue increases within the TAD in exchange for a set annual payment. So, yep - the schools are paying the Beltline.

Was pretty sure the Beltline was gonna get anything above a certain revenue mark on the TAD, and then would owe a set amount to APS. So APS gets TAD money, just not the increased revenue from risen property values (which didn't happen since, y'know, housing crash).

[AnsleyPark]

Originally Posted by fourthwarden

Was pretty sure the Beltline was gonna get anything above a certain revenue mark on the TAD, and then would owe a set amount to APS. So APS gets TAD money, just not the increased revenue from risen property values (which didn't happen since, y'know, housing crash).

You're right. They do owe APS.

[0nyxStation]

Originally Posted by Gulch

Yeah, at this point it would be best for the two sides to get a deal done and move on.

Yea I agree It is definitely time. Good news though.

[cqholt]

City of Atlanta and APS getting closer on BeltLine tax negotiations - SaportaReport

By Maria Saporta
For years, the City of Atlanta and the Atlanta Public Schools have been at an impasse over how much money the city owes the school system in payments over the Atlanta BeltLine.
But leaders on both sides are encouraged by recent negotiations, and they believe they could finalize an agreement in the near future.
“I think we are within reach of a deal that works for us – APS and the kids; one that works for the city; and one that works for the BeltLine,” said
Courtney English, chairman of the Atlanta School Board. “We are close enough where I think it’s important for us to hammer out the details.”
English stopped short of saying there was a year-end deadline to reach an agreement.
But he said both sides are interested in putting this dispute behind them.
“Honestly at this point there are other issues we should be working together on,” English said. “What is driving us to collaborate is to work on those issues that affect our kids and our city.”
English said negotiations are happening on two levels – between him and Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed and between the attorneys for both governmental entities.
Ceasar Mitchell, president of the Atlanta City Council who has tried to bring both sides together, said he also is encouraged.
“I’m hopeful that an agreement will be reached soon,” Mitchell said. “I would love for it be done by the end of the year. A new year potentially could bring in new issues.”
One of those issues is that the city would owe the Atlanta Public Schools another payment by the start of the new year.
English, however, said there is no firm deadline. The agreement that is being proposed would address future payments.
But English did say there’s another motivation on both sides to get the issue resolved.
We are tired of talking about it,” English said. “It’s been a long time.”