Thursday, November 6, 2008
News Referenda roundup
Posted by Scott Henry @ScottTheHenry on Thu, Nov 6, 2008 at 5:51 PM
Somewhat lost amid the shuffle of the presidential race and a handful of legislators losing seats were the various referenda (or referendums, for non-English majors) that appeared on local ballots. Here's a wrap-up:
- Yes to TADS; no to private cities. By a close margin, Georgia voters approved a constitutional amendment to allow school boards to join with local governments in issuing bonds for tax allocation districts. But voters narrowly spiked a crazy proposal to allow private developers to levy taxes on homeowners. Less controversial was an initiative to provide tax incentives to encourage preservation of forest land; it passed handily.
- Fulton County libraries will be getting a facelift. Voters overwhelmingly approved a $275 million bond issue to add eight new branches, spruce up 24 existing branches and spend $85 million toward replacing the downtown central library. Expect a grassroots campaign to emerge against tearing down the old building.
- By a wide margin, DeKalb voters passed a measure to rein in the powers of the county CEO by taking away the authority to preside at commission meetings and set the commission agenda.
- Also, a non-binding poll showed most DeKalbites favor school uniforms for grades K-5.
- Residents in neighborhoods north of Doraville voted to join that city through an annexation that expands its borders to meet the new Dunwoody city limits and the Gwinnett county line. It's the first post-Dunwoody domino to fall in what likely will be a scramble for DeKalb cities to gobble up territory before it can be claimed by someone else.
- Clarkston voters wanted TADs. Now they got 'em.
- Cobb voters approved a $40 bond issue for more county parks.
- Gwinnett voters renewed the county's 1-percent special local-option sales tax or SPLOST, which provides property tax relief.
- Lawrenceville voters wanted TADs. Now they got 'em.
- Finally, all homestead exemptions passed everywhere. They always do.
If we didn't mention your community's local referendum, then it's possible you live too far outside the Perimeter.
Comments (1)
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Off topic from referenda roundup. Response to " Poor Man's Probation". I'm just beginning probation for a dui(1st). Sentinal is the for-profit handling me.I was shocked to see that felonies minimum payments are 23. I'm sure they pay more but I wanted you to know that I'm having to pay $41 per month. I think the minimum is 13. This blows. I hate Fulton county govt and the whole rip off mentality of the nickel and dime-ing.
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