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SOUTH FULTON'S 2019 BUDGETThe Calendar by which our City budgets & spends money is known as the Fiscal Year (FY). FY2019 will begin October 1, 2018 (much like the 2019 School Year begins in Fall 2018). The federal government's Fiscal Year also beings October 1.
Special Budget Meeting
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SOUTH FULTON 101
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RICE Award
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SOUTH FULTON 101
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Some projects, such widening of Old National's sidewalks, and extending them to Highway 138 at the end of Fulton County, are not on the T-SPLOST project list. There is a second list of additional street projects called Capital Improvement Projects.
These projects were not funded by Sales Taxes; and Fulton County alleges that South Fulton must "chip in" 20 percent of the total costs of such projects for them to be completed. According to Fulton County, South Fulton's 20 percent obligation to fund these projects is over $7 million dollars.
Though the sidewalks on Old National from College Park to Flat Shoals Road are nearly complete, Phase II of the side walks — from Flat Shoals to Highway 138 — has not yet begun. Funding for this phase of sidewalks is over $1 million. However, according to Fulton County Public Works Director David Clark, only about $210,000 is needed in 2018 to purchase right-of-ways from Flat Shoals to Highway 138, with another $138,000 due for other allegedly unfunded projects throughout the city.
View more details on this story in khalid's Budget report, and a complete list of funding requests for such projects below.
These projects were not funded by Sales Taxes; and Fulton County alleges that South Fulton must "chip in" 20 percent of the total costs of such projects for them to be completed. According to Fulton County, South Fulton's 20 percent obligation to fund these projects is over $7 million dollars.
Though the sidewalks on Old National from College Park to Flat Shoals Road are nearly complete, Phase II of the side walks — from Flat Shoals to Highway 138 — has not yet begun. Funding for this phase of sidewalks is over $1 million. However, according to Fulton County Public Works Director David Clark, only about $210,000 is needed in 2018 to purchase right-of-ways from Flat Shoals to Highway 138, with another $138,000 due for other allegedly unfunded projects throughout the city.
View more details on this story in khalid's Budget report, and a complete list of funding requests for such projects below.
FACT CHECK:
Why Not Call a Citywide Vote for New City Name?
Many have asked: Why not just put the name two a citywide vote?
There are three reasons this is probably not possible at this time:
1) Legal Limitations
2) Logistical Considerations
3) Timeline of Cityhood Transition
LEGAL LIMITATIONS
In order to place a referendum (question for voters) on an official ballot, Georgia State Law O.C.G.A. §36-35-3 requires citizens to collect around 17,000 signatures (15 percent of the city’s 119,073 Registered Voters) for each proposed name to be added to the ballot. Additionally, even if either of these solutions was pursued, O.C.G.A. § 21-2-540(c)(2) limits such ballot questions to the following dates in 2018: May 22 and November 6.
Neither of these would give us enough time to transition departments. Remember: we are legally & financially obligated to set up Fire, Police & Sanitation services before November 2018.
What About a Non-Binding Vote?
The suggestion has been made by several others that the city hold a non-legally binding Election where voters could give direct feedback.
A proposal gaining popularity in recent weeks is to open polls at City Hall (5440 Fulton Industrial) and the South Service Center (5600 Stonewall Tell) for citizens to hold a citywide vote on the name. Voters would select between 5 names, with a citywide vote occurring around the MLK Holiday in mid-January.
However, a Non-Legally Binding Election means that even if thousands of people came out to vote for the City Name, our City Council would still be required to hold its own vote. No Councilmember would be obliged to cast a vote for the top choice of citizens.
This is exactly what happened during City Council's November 13 vote for the City Name. Though the name South Fulton lead in many online surveys, its popularity was NOT reflected in the votes of Councilmembers.
There are three reasons this is probably not possible at this time:
1) Legal Limitations
2) Logistical Considerations
3) Timeline of Cityhood Transition
LEGAL LIMITATIONS
In order to place a referendum (question for voters) on an official ballot, Georgia State Law O.C.G.A. §36-35-3 requires citizens to collect around 17,000 signatures (15 percent of the city’s 119,073 Registered Voters) for each proposed name to be added to the ballot. Additionally, even if either of these solutions was pursued, O.C.G.A. § 21-2-540(c)(2) limits such ballot questions to the following dates in 2018: May 22 and November 6.
Neither of these would give us enough time to transition departments. Remember: we are legally & financially obligated to set up Fire, Police & Sanitation services before November 2018.
What About a Non-Binding Vote?
The suggestion has been made by several others that the city hold a non-legally binding Election where voters could give direct feedback.
A proposal gaining popularity in recent weeks is to open polls at City Hall (5440 Fulton Industrial) and the South Service Center (5600 Stonewall Tell) for citizens to hold a citywide vote on the name. Voters would select between 5 names, with a citywide vote occurring around the MLK Holiday in mid-January.
However, a Non-Legally Binding Election means that even if thousands of people came out to vote for the City Name, our City Council would still be required to hold its own vote. No Councilmember would be obliged to cast a vote for the top choice of citizens.
This is exactly what happened during City Council's November 13 vote for the City Name. Though the name South Fulton lead in many online surveys, its popularity was NOT reflected in the votes of Councilmembers.
Sample Notice of Election postcard.
LOGISTICAL CONSIDERATIONS
If the City were to conduct a non-biniding Election, here are some logistical issues to consider:
How Would Residents Be Notified?
One of the biggest complaints of our residents is the lack of communication from the city about the name change. Though much information about the city is available online, and in electronic newsletters like this one, residents have pressed for paper notification of such events.
Indeed, in a legally binding Special Election, a Notice of Election would be sent to every eligible registered voter, with the date(s) of the Election and the location(s) where s/he could go vote. To print & mail such a notice to all eligible voters would cost the city around $50,000.
What City Names Would Go On the Ballot?
Nearly 300 different names were submitted by residents who were aware of our renaming. Countless other names were brought by others as they found out about the renaming.
Many residents were displeased with the process Marketing Firms Vivo 360 & firstClass Inc. used to narrow the list to the 20 most popular names. How many names would be placed on the ballot for a citywide election — 5, 50 or 500 — and what process would be used to select them?
If no name received over 50 percent of the popular vote, would a runoff be held?
These are some of the crucial questions that must be answered, in addition to figuring out who would supervise the voting and counting of the ballots, before any such election could be held.
If the City were to conduct a non-biniding Election, here are some logistical issues to consider:
How Would Residents Be Notified?
One of the biggest complaints of our residents is the lack of communication from the city about the name change. Though much information about the city is available online, and in electronic newsletters like this one, residents have pressed for paper notification of such events.
Indeed, in a legally binding Special Election, a Notice of Election would be sent to every eligible registered voter, with the date(s) of the Election and the location(s) where s/he could go vote. To print & mail such a notice to all eligible voters would cost the city around $50,000.
What City Names Would Go On the Ballot?
Nearly 300 different names were submitted by residents who were aware of our renaming. Countless other names were brought by others as they found out about the renaming.
Many residents were displeased with the process Marketing Firms Vivo 360 & firstClass Inc. used to narrow the list to the 20 most popular names. How many names would be placed on the ballot for a citywide election — 5, 50 or 500 — and what process would be used to select them?
If no name received over 50 percent of the popular vote, would a runoff be held?
These are some of the crucial questions that must be answered, in addition to figuring out who would supervise the voting and counting of the ballots, before any such election could be held.
$5000 was spent to place City Seals on 18 Code Enforcement trucks. Hundreds of Police, Fire, Parks and Public Works vehicles will need similar decals before they can be used by the City.
TRANSITION TIMELINE
Even if these questions could be resolved and Election held by January 15, because such an election would not be legally-binding, City Council would still be reqired to vote on the issue — twice. Our Charter (our city's "Constitution") requires a City Name change be voted on twice, with 3 weeks of public notice between the 2 votes. To change this requirement would require Council to amend the City Charter, which also requires 2 separate votes taken 3 weeks apart.
(Now one can begin to see Councilman khalid's frustration with legal hurdles preventing him from moving his office to Creel Park)
Because of these requirements and their timelines, no new name would be officially cleared for use by the city before mid-February, when the City is slated to set up the Fire Department.
So, any more discussion on our City Name will result in one of two consequences:
Delaying setting up city services is also problematic. Our city is currently paying hundreds of thousands in administrative fees to Fulton County for them to run the Fire, Police, Parks and Public Works departments until they are brought under our City control. Financing two name changes is neither feasible nor wise, given the city's current financial challenges (see next article).
Even if these questions could be resolved and Election held by January 15, because such an election would not be legally-binding, City Council would still be reqired to vote on the issue — twice. Our Charter (our city's "Constitution") requires a City Name change be voted on twice, with 3 weeks of public notice between the 2 votes. To change this requirement would require Council to amend the City Charter, which also requires 2 separate votes taken 3 weeks apart.
(Now one can begin to see Councilman khalid's frustration with legal hurdles preventing him from moving his office to Creel Park)
Because of these requirements and their timelines, no new name would be officially cleared for use by the city before mid-February, when the City is slated to set up the Fire Department.
So, any more discussion on our City Name will result in one of two consequences:
- We delay setting up our city's Fire & Police departments
- -OR- We pay hundreds of thousands for 2 name changes: “Renaissance” or “South Fulton” now; and a second Name Change later.
Delaying setting up city services is also problematic. Our city is currently paying hundreds of thousands in administrative fees to Fulton County for them to run the Fire, Police, Parks and Public Works departments until they are brought under our City control. Financing two name changes is neither feasible nor wise, given the city's current financial challenges (see next article).
Developers have once again set their sights on the land around our airport — the world's busiest. Aerotropolis Atlanta is a mixed-use development, including a 4-star InterContinental hotel, class-A office space, and travel plaza adjacent to the airport’s main domestic terminal and MARTA station, which along with the Porsche headquarters, is part of a larger vision by Invest Atlanta, Delta Airlines, Georgia Power, SunTrust Bank & others to transform the vicinity around the Airport on Atlanta's Southside.
The initiative is broken into two segments — an organization of land owners in airport areas Business Districts, or CIDs in Fulton & Clayton counties, and a larger coalition working on a more comprehensive Economic Development plan.
The initiative is broken into two segments — an organization of land owners in airport areas Business Districts, or CIDs in Fulton & Clayton counties, and a larger coalition working on a more comprehensive Economic Development plan.
South Fulton City Hall
South Fulton's Mayor & Council will be housed at 5440 Fulton Industrial, 30336
Work is underway to reconfigure the Fulton County offices at 5440 Fulton Industrial Boulevard into South Fulton, Georgia's first City Hall.
Fulton County Police, Fire, Planning & Zoning and code enforcement — all of which will be transitioning to city control this year — are already housed in this building. Fulton County has agreed to transfer the building's lease to South Fulton; and to keep us in the building, its owner has agreed to lease & build out an additional 10,000 square feet of space at hugely discounted rates.
All this means huge savings of money and time for the City, which allows us to focus on building other city infrastructure and improving our services. Most new cities wait 7-10 years before building a city hall "from scratch," so they can build their financial reserves. This was the case with John's Creek and Sandy Springs.
Fulton County Police, Fire, Planning & Zoning and code enforcement — all of which will be transitioning to city control this year — are already housed in this building. Fulton County has agreed to transfer the building's lease to South Fulton; and to keep us in the building, its owner has agreed to lease & build out an additional 10,000 square feet of space at hugely discounted rates.
All this means huge savings of money and time for the City, which allows us to focus on building other city infrastructure and improving our services. Most new cities wait 7-10 years before building a city hall "from scratch," so they can build their financial reserves. This was the case with John's Creek and Sandy Springs.
