The debate over whether to form the new City of South Fulton or remain unincorporated continued Thursday at Emmaus Road Missionary Baptist Church on Flat Shoals Road. Members of a half-dozen homeowners associations listened as Fulton County Commissioner Bill Edwards and South Fulton Concerned Citizens representative Benny Crane presented opposing views to the issue facing voters in June.

“This is one of the most critical decisions you will have to make about your future,” said Rep. Virgil Fludd, who gave a brief history of the political conditions that made the vote possible and challenged residents to make their decision from an informed point of view. “Your perspective is important. Do the research. Read and make your decision based on your best interest.”

Much of the two-hour discussion involved fiscal and budgetary concerns. A well-known proponent of south Fulton remaining unincorporated, Edwards touted the county’s well-positioned financial status and increased ability to provide services such as fire and police protection.

“Why do you want to buy a police department or a fire department when you already own it?” Edwards asked, noting the increased tax rates recently applied to many south Fulton cities. “The city (of South Fulton) must raise taxes. You can either raise taxes, cut services or give up your charter.”

Crane countered, making the point that Special Service District (SSD) taxes, those paid only by unincorporated residents in addition to county taxes they already pay to the General Fund, will not remain at their present rate. The current SSD millage rate of 5.73 mills that generates $38 million would no longer apply if the area incorporates since those SSD taxes would no longer be assessed to residents. That same tax rate could be applied to the new city, he said. Also financially relevant would be the benefit of an additional $12 million in local option sales tax revenues that would be available only if the area incorporates. All totaled, those funds would create a balance in the funds received and those needed to run the new city.

“We just had a budget transfer to cover the $9 million deficit in the SSD. We can’t count on budget transfers to balance our budget. So to balance it we will have to reduce services, increase taxes or create a new city,” Crane said.

Inherent to the debate was the matter of control and whether that control would come by way of the county or from a locally controlled new city. Much of the time spent answering resident’s questions involved the request for clarification of the financial matters relating to the area, whether it remained unincorporated or joined Milton and John’s Creek to become a new city.

Few questions related to quality of life issues such as zoning and future development, traffic congestion and future annexations by existing south Fulton cities. Those significant concerns could be best addressed if the area remained unincorporated, Edwards said. Crane disagreed, saying quality of life is one of the main reasons why local control is important and why the new city is needed.

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