Friday, May 28, 2004

Consolidation the right choice for Fulton and its cities By Fulton County Commissioner Robb Pitts District 2, At-Large News reports tell us daily that local governments are struggling financially to pay for the same services. In an effort to reduce the thick layers of expensive government supported by taxpayers, I met with State Representative Kathy Ashe, Councilmembers Clair Muller and Howard Shook last year to discuss the possibility of consolidating the governments of Fulton County and its ten cities. We are seeking a solution based on the concept of municipalization. Rather than eleven competing governments providing the same services, we envision reducing the duplication of municipal services such as police, fire, code enforcement, 911, parks, recreation and cultural affairs, by municipalization. This consolidation would both improve service delivery and save taxpayers dollars. Currently, Fulton County’s ten cities are governed by ten different mayors and a total of 59 city council members. An additional seven Fulton County commissioners oversee municipal services to Sandy Springs and other unincorporated parts of Fulton County, thus providing an extra layer of government for the County’s nearly 850,000 residents. In all, this adds up to a total of 76 elected officials. Why does it take a small army to oversee basic services for our residents? The bottom line is taxpayer relief and better service delivery. Taking into consideration economic downturns and astronomical costs for infrastructure, roads, and basic services, elected officials must come together to find creative solutions and reduce taxpayer burdens. Without a meaningful, collective solution, local governments may find themselves facing taxpayer revolt. There are already several success stories of consolidated government in Georgia, including Richmond/Augusta, Muscogee/Columbus and Clarke/Athens. Would not one mayor, one council president and 18 councilmembers (12 from equally populated districts and six elected countywide) serve Fulton County better?