Buckhead City Committee releases poll showing 62% support for cityhood vote (Atlanta: rental car, sales)

[jeoff]

There is a big potential downside to this for the Republicans—if they push a vote, and it goes down in flames (and, it could)—this really could be the hill that they die on. They are already reeling from the perception that they are trying to violate voters rights, add to that a partisan push to split the capital at its financial height- it may be enough to condemn the party to permanent rural/minority status—out of touch with the metro, and out of touch with business.

[JMatl]

Originally Posted by jeoff

There is a big potential downside to this for the Republicans—if they push a vote, and it goes down in flames (and, it could)—this really could be the hill that they die on. They are already reeling from the perception that they are trying to violate voters rights, add to that a partisan push to split the capital at its financial height- it may be enough to condemn the party to permanent rural/minority status—out of touch with the metro, and out of touch with business.

One can only hope this is the ultimate outcome.

[cwkimbro]

Originally Posted by jeoff

There is a big potential downside to this for the Republicans—if they push a vote, and it goes down in flames (and, it could)—this really could be the hill that they die on. They are already reeling from the perception that they are trying to violate voters rights, add to that a partisan push to split the capital at its financial height- it may be enough to condemn the party to permanent rural/minority status—out of touch with the metro, and out of touch with business.

You're not wrong, but their stubbornness has proven resilient in the past.

I do get a sense of it's a now or never event for them momentum wise. The uptick in the crime is clearly a result from the pandemic and social uprising in 2020 that will likely subside over time, regardless of the outcome and regardless if you feel things were or weren't handled properly.

[jeoff]

Originally Posted by JMatl

One can only hope this is the ultimate outcome.

As a moderate, I would much prefer two sane parties courting my vote. But, I call them as I see them.

[KhaosHillman]

Originally Posted by JMatl

One can only hope this is the ultimate outcome.

I am curious. How come we don't come after the Democrats knowing that their wicked history and present policies have destroyed an entire population that they say they're working for but in reality they're just doing the same work as when they enslaved black americans. Why do republicans receive the most heat for literally things democrats do? I get why people may feel a certain way towards Republicans because of how the media puts the spotlight on them but I don't understand why Democrats are always painted as this savior party when they are totally not what they put out. Buckhead because of the media is turning into a political and racial issue when that is not the case. What was the case for South Fulton or Stonecrest becoming independent entities? They didn't receive nearly the same heat as Buckhead is getting right now. I know plenty of black people who are ProBuckhead being independent and plenty of black people who actually voted democrat but as of now are republicans. I do not feel anyway towards them because I understand why someone would not want to be aligned with a party that has historic ties to slavery,jim crow laws, the breaking of the black family,etc. Everything is politicized and racial now. There is so much going on in the world right now. There are still Americans across the water but we are providing shelter, donations,and transpo for people who weren't even loyal to their nation but we have Americans stranded in these peoples nation and either one of us could have been one of those Americans. As far as I can tell the issue isnt the republicans. Theyre not the party of racism or whatever the media wants to paint on them. They didn't enslave Black Americans or destroy black communities for the last 50+ years. We should not even have a political party in existence that was involved in slavery in my opinion. That is a stain on humanity that none of us should be keeping alive today. Anything that was associated with slavery should be abolished.

[cwkimbro]

And it is out: https://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta-new...H6OFYIU2C5TJY/

It looks like he went to Valdosta State University for the the report. Schools were not mentioned once.

Few Basics:

$100m+ surplus

$203.5m annual operating revenue (*I don't this includes school millage, but could be wrong)
$119m in revenue from property taxes

estimated city expenses $90m with nearly 1/3 going to police.

They estimate a property tax digest of $14billion.

There is no information about the impact to the city of Atlanta. No information about schools.
Until they release the text of the report, we can't see what assumptions they have made on city services. It seems unrealistic to assume they would operate the city on 1/8 of Atlanta's current city budget.

Atlanta current annual budget is $710m.

Because this is splitting from a city and not a newly formed city from unincorporated land, I saw no mention on how current liabilities/debts would be divided.

[Gulch]

Originally Posted by KhaosHillman

. What was the case for South Fulton or Stonecrest becoming independent entities? They didn't receive nearly the same heat as Buckhead is getting right now.

South Fulton, Stonecrest, and every other successful cityhood effort in the past 15 years did not involve splitting an existing city.

[seussie]

Originally Posted by cwkimbro

And it is out: https://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta-new...H6OFYIU2C5TJY/

It looks like he went to Valdosta State University for the the report. Schools were not mentioned once.

Few Basics:

$100m+ surplus

$203.5m annual operating revenue (*I don't this includes school millage, but could be wrong)
$119m in revenue from property taxes

estimated city expenses $90m with nearly 1/3 going to police.

They estimate a property tax digest of $14billion.

There is no information about the impact to the city of Atlanta. No information about schools.
Until they release the text of the report, we can't see what assumptions they have made on city services. It seems unrealistic to assume they would operate the city on 1/8 of Atlanta's current city budget.

Atlanta current annual budget is $710m.

Because this is splitting from a city and not a newly formed city from unincorporated land, I saw no mention on how current liabilities/debts would be divided.

Now that you're sharing these details, Valdosta State makes so much sense. I left before it could be my alma mater but it has definitely been a stoop for Trump and his side of the GOP.

Edit: Also, here's a link for the study, no paywall: https://www.becnow.com/feasibility

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by cwkimbro

Few Basics:

$100m+ surplus

$203.5m annual operating revenue (*I don't this includes school millage, but could be wrong)
$119m in revenue from property taxes

If I'm reading this correctly, those numbers actually look pretty good for the COA.

Say Buckhead departs with its $200 million in revenues, and COA population dips to 400,000.

An extra $500 a head makes up for the loss of revenue. That's not all that much, considering the new wealth that has poured into Atlanta.

Even if Buckhead's departure wound up costing $300 million in lost revenues, the difference should still be manageable.

Plus COA would then have considerably less in expenses.

[aslowdodge]

Originally Posted by arjay57

If I'm reading this correctly, those numbers actually look pretty good for the COA.

Say Buckhead departs with its $200 million in revenues, and COA population dips to 400,000.

An extra $500 a head makes up for the loss of revenue. That's not all that much, considering the new wealth that has poured into Atlanta.

Even if Buckhead's departure wound up costing $300 million in lost revenues, the difference should still be manageable.

Plus COA would then have considerably less in expenses.

Except the poorer people, the $500 is a lot to them. As you say, the little gut can't afford it.