Whether intended or not when the General Assembly earlier this year paved the way for the creation of the cities of Chattahoochee Hills and South Fulton, the cities of Union City, Fairburn and Palmetto have annexed 13,283 acres of land referenced in the Senate bills describing the boundaries of the new cities.

Existing cities largely held to an interpretation of the Senate Bills 552 and 553 that allowed annexation efforts through Oct. 30. By that date, Union City had increased it size by 97 percent, Fairburn by 88 percent and Palmetto by 110 percent.

Union City added 5,330 acres to its existing 5,497 acres, bringing the size of the city to 10,827 acres.

Fairburn added 4,113 acres to its existing 4,672 acres, increasing the size of the city to 8,785 acres.

Palmetto added 3,840 acres to the existing 3,520, bringing the city to 7,360 acres. Palmetto also has plans to annex further into Coweta County to I-85.

Much of the annexed property included existing commercial and industrial development or property slated for such development. As such, those properties would factor in to the future tax base of any city. A general rule of thumb is that commercial and industrial developments use $1 in city services for every $3 paid in property taxes. The reverse is true of residential development, where $3 in city services are used for every $1 paid in property tax.

The large majority of annexed land is situated in the prescribed boundaries of the city of South Fulton. South Fulton Concerned Citizens, the group spearheading the formation of that city, have filed suit in Fulton County Superior Court to block the annexation moves within what organizers say is South Fulton’s city limits. The annexation moves by the cities has eroded large portions of the new city’s tax base, especially the existing development along Oakley Industrial Boulevard and upcoming development along South Fulton Parkway.

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