South Forsyth lawmaker introduces bill for township model of government (Cumming: house, taxes)

[Airforceguy]

I think this might be a better alternative to cityhood and it looks like it won't hurt the counties. Perhaps the folks pushing Greenhaven should go this route...

The move comes after his bill for a proposed city of Sharon Springs was withdrawn earlier this month.

The exact framework of a township in Georgia wasn’t immediately defined. But in a statement, Dudgeon said the state “needs a township model where local citizens can vote to create a community and exercise zoning authority without taking on the services and tax burdens of a full city.”

“I think that, should the General Assembly and the voters approve this amendment, that it is the best path for my community to pursue in the future,” he said.

A proposed city of Sharon Springs was introduced in the state legislature last year as House Bill 660. Pitched as a “city light,” it would have had a maximum millage rate of .5 mills and offered three services — zoning, sanitation and code enforcement.

The area in question covers land east of Ga. 400, south of Hwy. 20, west of the Chattahoochee River and north of the Fulton County line. It encompasses an estimated 50,000 people, or about a quarter of Forsyth’s population.

Those in favor of Sharon Springs, most notably members of the nonprofit Sharon Springs Alliance, contend the area has been underrepresented in zoning and planning.

Opponents have aired concerns about higher taxes and a possible burden to the rest of the county.

Recent legal opinions have cast doubt on the constitutionality of a city being limited in services or taxes, Dudgeon said, leading the seven-member local delegation to withdraw HB 660.

South Forsyth lawmaker introduces bill for township model of government

[skbl17]

Georgia Township Act Part II: Cityhood Boogaloo. The 2007 version was passed in the Senate but never got a vote in the House, despite a favorable committee report. Let's see how the 2016 version fares.

- skbl17

[Gulch]

Forsyth would probably be best served by consolidating with the city of Cumming.

[zedsmith]

"We want to be able to tell people what to do, but without providing anything in return"

[aries4118]

Originally Posted by Gulch

Forsyth would probably be best served by consolidating with the city of Cumming.

No.

[aries4118]

I like the township option.


Option of organizing as a city or a township. Would be good for the metro and good for preventing sprawl and poor planning.

[sedimenjerry]

That's basically what it's like here in PA. There seems to be no unincorporated pieces of land near me

[bryantm3]

i think it would be advantageous to create a system where multiple counties can band together and form a 'township'. georgia has 159 counties and for many of the rural counties, it just doesn't make sense to have that many separate municipal authorities for such small populations. the state and local governments could save millions if, for example, we had groupings of 5-6 counties in rural areas combine municipal services and keep the county designations essentially out of tradition.

[OhioNative]

This is close to how municipalities work in Ohio. There you live in either a City, Village, or Township based on the size of population and what level of services are provided. Townships are usually less densely populated areas that receive police services from the county, but there is local control over zoning and development, etc. There is no such thing as "unincorporated county" areas there.

[demonta4]

Originally Posted by OhioNative

This is close to how municipalities work in Ohio. There you live in either a City, Village, or Township based on the size of population and what level of services are provided. Townships are usually less densely populated areas that receive police services from the county, but there is local control over zoning and development, etc. There is no such thing as "unincorporated county" areas there.

The problem here is that most unincorporated areas aren't low density, and this township bill would allow these areas to be controlled but without the services they need in the first place.