The South Fulton Special Services District is healthy and financially strong with a $14 million dollar reserve fund. District 7 Commissioner William “Bill” Edwards made that declaration during a Thursday, August 10, 2006, breakfast meeting at the Georgia International Convention Center.

With many residents thinking about whether to annex their communities to existing cities or to incorporate, Edwards said, “We need to ride the horse that brought us,” in a reference to the safety net that the County can provide for South Fulton.

In addition, Commissioner Edwards provided assurances of the economic vitality of the southern end of the County. He announced plans to locate 125 Fulton County staff including planning, zoning and code enforcement personnel in Union City’s Shannon Mall. Edwards reminded the group that some political observers predicted that South Fulton would lose police, fire stations and park services when Sandy Springs incorporated. However, he pointed to the continuation of those services and the healthy Special Services District reserve fund as evidence of the County’s ability to provide quality services.

As to the issues of annexation and incorporation, Commissioner Edwards predicted that South Fulton residents’ taxes would double if the area annexes to the city of Atlanta and that residents would face uncertainties about services if the community incorporates. Edwards, recently re-elected to his seat with a 72 percent majority, emphasized that a rush to incorporate or annex without proper preparation or adequate information could result in serious consequences for South Fulton residents.

The Commissioner also sought to correct misinformation indicating that the County will fade away if portions of South Fulton are incorporated or annexed. He emphasized that if South Fulton undergoes annexation or incorporation, the County would not die. Fulton Government would still provide services to all of Fulton through Health and Wellness, the Justice System, Human Services, the Library System, the Tax Commissioner, Board of Tax Assessors and the Sheriff’s Department.

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