Incorporation of City of Sharon Springs in South Forsyth (HB 626) (Alpharetta: appointed, apartment complexes)

[AnsleyPark]

I just visited the Sharon Springs Alliance web page. Doesn't look like it has been updated in several years.

[ca2dfw]

Originally Posted by AnsleyPark

I just visited the Sharon Springs Alliance web page. Doesn't look like it has been updated in several years.

Found this website which has quite of bit of documents

https://sharonspringscommittee.com/

Even though the original intention may be to do a "city lite", I fear that once the city is formed, it can expand as it wished, with the corresponding increases in fees and taxes.

[bu2]

Originally Posted by ca2dfw

Found this website which has quite of bit of documents

https://sharonspringscommittee.com/

Even though the original intention may be to do a "city lite", I fear that once the city is formed, it can expand as it wished, with the corresponding increases in fees and taxes.

Allowing "city-lite" (except for the very smallest cities) is one of the flaws in Georgia's laws.

If they aren't willing to take over most of the responsibilities of a city, they shouldn't be a city. It creates unnecessary and unproductive conflicts with the county.

[primaltech]

Originally Posted by bu2

Allowing "city-lite" (except for the very smallest cities) is one of the flaws in Georgia's laws.

If they aren't willing to take over most of the responsibilities of a city, they shouldn't be a city. It creates unnecessary and unproductive conflicts with the county.

The deeper issue is that there's no other type of municipalities in Georgia besides a city. We don't have towns, townships, villages, anything else. So as a result, we have all these "cities", that are hardly that.

Milton, for example. Or even Johns Creek. Those should be townships.

And Vinings could be like an incorporated town. That just does zoning and planning or whatever, using the county for most everything.

[bu2]

Originally Posted by primaltech

The deeper issue is that there's no other type of municipalities in Georgia besides a city. We don't have towns, townships, villages, anything else. So as a result, we have all these "cities", that are hardly that.

Milton, for example. Or even Johns Creek. Those should be townships.

And Vinings could be like an incorporated town. That just does zoning and planning or whatever, using the county for most everything.

There's no problem with just having cities and counties. But we have semi-cities and counties that pretend to be cities.

[ca2dfw]

Here's the fiscal impact report published by the Center for State & Local Finance in Georgia State University on 2/5/2018.

https://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/0db32...7a8471ec18.pdf

The report projects that if the City of Sharon Springs is incorporated, the loss in revenue to Forsyth County would require a 6.6% to 10.2% increase in property tax millage for everyone in Forsyth County to cover the gap.

The pro-city people rely on an outdated report that investigated only the feasibility of forming the city; it did not consider any fiscal consequences to the county as a whole. While there might not be any property tax (or very small amount) payable to the city, it appears there would be significant property tax increases payable to the county if the city is incorporated.

[greycat213]

In response to bu2, you can download the Georgia State study at oneforsyth.com...

There will a Forsyth Town Hall meeting on Tuesday, February 27, which will be held in the Forsyth Convention Center at Lanier Tech... https://www.oneforsyth.org/single-po...MING-TOWN-HALL

Read the bill as it was passed by the Georgia Legislature:

http://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/5c05d8...acbf268ea5.pdf

SECTION 1.12.18 PLANNING AND ZONING - With only about 10% of the land in the area not already zoned, I question what the proposed city fathers will plan and zone!

SECTION 1.12.27: TAXES: AD VALOREM - "To levy and provide for the assessment, valuation, revaluation, and collection of taxes on all property subject to taxation subject to a maximum of 0.5 mill . . . THE MILAGE RATE MAY BE ADJUSTED UPWARD for the sole purpose of complying with the millage rate rollback provisions set forth therein."

Needless to say, I do not see any advantage to a new city that will provide very limited services, one of which my homeowners association already provides!

[ca2dfw]

This says that the property tax from the county will likely increase

https://www.opposingsharonsprings.co...-Incorporation

[AnsleyPark]

Taxes will increase for everyone in the county, and services will remain unchanged except for the provider of a few. It makes absolutely no sense.

[ca2dfw]

There is a town hall meeting, hosted by the county, on Sharon Springs, tomorrow 2/27/2017:

| Proposed City of Sharon Springs to be Focus of Town Hall Meetin