Another DeKalb city proposed (Atlanta, East Point: mall, accreditation, affluent)

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by arjay57

Or just let them become their own city. No reason to pay city of Atlanta taxes.

Well Fulton Industrial should be annexed into the city. But too many cities will lead to further balkanization of the metro. Atlanta hasn't raised taxes during Reed's administration, yet its reduced its budget, increased savings, restructured pension plan, and reopened all rec centers.

[jeoff]

I think that the Dekalb area around Emory/CDC (and even further out) could beneifit from being annexed by Atlanta. The public schools in the area are being considedred by fewer folks working at Emory and CDC, while the Atlanta schools in the area considered stronger alternatives. Annexation could reverse the decline and help ease overcrowding in the Atlanta schools in the area by making more resources available. Stronger public schools would help strengthen the tax base, which is good for everyone (except private schools). I think that Atlanta taxes are preferable to being part of a decaying suburb--a "City of Dekalb" would just further codify the current mess.

[cqholt]

At this rate DeKalb County taxes will exceed Atlanta's without the quality services.

[LynnHarris]

Hundreds Turn Out for Lakeside Cityhood Meeting - Brookhaven, GA Patch

[jsvh]

Originally Posted by cqholt

At this rate DeKalb County taxes will exceed Atlanta's without the quality services.

It looks like it already may be at that threshold. Somebody that know mill rates better can maybe help clarify: https://etax.dor.ga.gov/ptd/cds/cshe...006OD_2012.pdf

Looks like Unincorporated Dekalb pays 18.79 (Unincorporated County), 2.42 (Bond), 23.98 (School). Where Atlanta pays 11.94 (Atlanta) + 10.28 (Fulton Inc) , 1.2 (Atlanta Bond) + 0.27 (Fulton Bond), 21.64 (Atlanta School). That works out to 45.19 for Unicorp Dekalb and 45.33 for Atlanta.

[jeoff]

Yeah, the big difference is that the areas with good schools in Atlanta (and CoD) are outpacing DeKalb in home values--so their taxes paid are higher. But, with so much of Dekalb now with homes worth less than 100K and (with homestead exemption) paying very little tax, anyplace in the county that still has homes with moderate or better value will probably have to pay even higher rates eventually.

[lastminutemom]

Originally Posted by jeoff

Yeah, the big difference is that the areas with good schools in Atlanta (and CoD) are outpacing DeKalb in home values--so their taxes paid are higher. But, with so much of Dekalb now with homes worth less than 100K and (with homestead exemption) paying very little tax, anyplace in the county that still has homes with moderate or better value will probably have to pay even higher rates eventually.

This is very true and an astute observation of the reality in DeKalb. Additionally, sanitation services, which is what DeKalb does best, will be scaled back in the next 18 months or so, which means that those DeKalb residents whose home values have been fairly steady or actually increased will be paying more for less...

[LynnHarris]

New Lakeside Cityhood Map Includes Sagamore Hills, Leafmore

The Lakeside City Alliance's second map falls as far south as North Druid Hills Road and includes Toco Hill Shopping Center.

New Lakeside Cityhood Map Includes Sagamore Hills, Leafmore - North Druid Hills-Briarcliff, GA Patch




Also, below is a link to another related article.

Holcomb: Current Cityhood Process Not the Best Approach

"The District 81 state representative believes communities such as Lakeside should come together with other areas to discuss their concerns before incorporating..."


Holcomb: Current Cityhood Process Not the Best Approach - North Druid Hills-Briarcliff, GA Patch

[Saintmarks]

Thanks for the links. If this proposed city is going outside the boundary lines of Lakeside High School, then they need to find a new name. What lake is really there to be called Lakeside anyway? A pond or two here or there. But really, that is not an appropriate name for a proposed city of 60k.

What suggestions would you guys think would better suit the area?

[aries4118]

Originally Posted by Saintmarks

Thanks for the links. If this proposed city is going outside the boundary lines of Lakeside High School, then they need to find a new name. What lake is really there to be called Lakeside anyway? A pond or two here or there. But really, that is not an appropriate name for a proposed city of 60k.

What suggestions would you guys think would better suit the area?

I don't think this potential new city should be crossing I-285. It should not include any part of "Tucker."


I think the area of this proposed city (except the "Tucker" part) should be annexed by the City of Atlanta.


However, if it did become an independent city, a more suitable name could potentially be...

Briarcliff.

Briarcliff, GA.


Another option--if the rest of Druid Hills is annexed by the City of Atlanta, I think another suitable name for the proposed city could be...

North Druid Hills.

North Druid Hills, GA