The new City of LaVista Hills - yes or no (Atlanta: purchase, tax)

[whodean]

As a recent former resident of the last new Dekalb city (Brookhaven), residents in this area will be much, much better off if they incorporate. Better roads, better property tax rates, most everything quantifiable. That said, the council did get a little too into trying to shut down the Pink Pony, which I didn't agree with either.

[Gulch]

I really wish they had stuck with either the Lakeside or Briarcliff names.

[Tito_d]

LaVista Hills is a necessity. The residents of LaVista Hills pay some of the highest taxes in the Atlanta metro area and get very few services to justify such high rates. The street are full of decades old pot holes. Dekalb police assigned to the area get called to help in the hot crime areas of Dekalb to the south. No parks, swimming pools or any recreational facilities. Water and Sewer services are high compared to other areas. There is very little hope that the "rotten to the core" Dekalb county administration will improve in the near or distant future. The residents of LaVista Hills have nothing to loose in leaving Dekalb County and a lot to gain from forming a new city. Staying in Dekalb county will guarantee the decline of the area, other areas that incorporate will see an improvement in infrastructure and services and will be able to attract new business and residents.

[Gulch]

Originally Posted by Tito_d

LaVista Hills is a necessity. The residents of LaVista Hills pay some of the highest taxes in the Atlanta metro area and get very few services to justify such high rates. The street are full of decades old pot holes. Dekalb police assigned to the area get called to help in the hot crime areas of Dekalb to the south. No parks, swimming pools or any recreational facilities. Water and Sewer services are high compared to other areas. There is very little hope that the "rotten to the core" Dekalb county administration will improve in the near or distant future. The residents of LaVista Hills have nothing to loose in leaving Dekalb County and a lot to gain from forming a new city. Staying in Dekalb county will guarantee the decline of the area, other areas that incorporate will see an improvement in infrastructure and services and will be able to attract new business and residents.

I hate to tell you this, but you're still in DeKalb either way.

[jsvh]

Originally Posted by Gulch

I hate to tell you this, but you're still in DeKalb either way.

But you can still cut away part of DeKalb's control and taxes. The county is not allowed to charge taxes for services the city provides.

I grew up in the area and I think more local control is needed.

[Gulch]

Originally Posted by jsvh

But you can still cut away part of DeKalb's control and taxes. The county is not allowed to charge taxes for services the city provides.

I grew up in the area and I think more local control is needed.

I don't disagree, it's just the phrase "we're leaving DeKalb" sounds silly.

[bu2]

Originally Posted by Gulch

I don't disagree, it's just the phrase "we're leaving DeKalb" sounds silly.

That's because DeKalb is silly. Its a county pretending to be a city. To the extent that permits, parks, zoning and police will be local, they are leaving DeKalb.

[jsvh]

Originally Posted by bu2

That's because DeKalb is silly. Its a county pretending to be a city. To the extent that permits, parks, zoning and police will be local, they are leaving DeKalb.

Agreed. I think the real source of the problem is GA allowing counties to act like large cities. This will become a problem for other counties too until it is fixed at the state level.

[arjay57]

Have they discussed where city hall, etc. will be located?

[demonta4]

What was the final boarders of the proposed city? Did they fix the Tucker situation?