Supporters and opponents of Dunwoody's July 15 incorporation referendum clashed over the financial forecast for the city-in-waiting at a public forum Thursday night.

Those who want the referendum defeated said an estimated municipal budget for the north DeKalb County community underestimates expenses, overstates revenues and would likely lead to higher taxes or lower-quality services.

But those backing the initiative contended the $18 million budget is actually fiscally conservative, and that residents should disregard much of the naysaying as uninformed.

The forum, co-sponsored by the League of Women Voters of DeKalb County and the DeKalb County Chamber of Commerce, was the second community-wide public event to host a discussion of whether Dunwoody should incorporate.

Unlike a previous forum sponsored by the Dunwoody Homeowners Association, the latest forum took the form of a debate, with each side — pro and con — getting a chance to make its case and to rebut the other's argument.

Each side offered three speakers.

The pro-cityhood panel consisted of Oliver Porter, Rob Augustine and Tom Taylor. Porter has been labeled the citymaker because of his role in bringing about incorporation for Sandy Springs and his work for other local communities en route to cityhood.

He dismissed opponents' budget concerns, citing the experience of other local communities that incorporated and their greater governmental efficiencies, and predicting Dunwoody's revenues would be higher than projected.

Supporters of the referendum's passage have argued that incorporation would give residents of Dunwoody greater control of their community, and that more of their tax money would stay home. Taylor said, "Who's a better steward of your tax dollars?"

The panelists opposed to incorporation were state Rep. Jill Chambers (R-Atlanta), Brian Pierce and Lani Wong. Chambers' district includes part of Dunwoody. Pierce is a Dunwoody resident and marketing executive. Wong is chairwoman of the National Association of Chinese Americans.

Addressing the revenue issue, Pierce and Chambers questioned whether Dunwoody would receive the budgeted $1.4 million from the Homestead Option Sales Tax and noted the potential for a related lawsuit.

Wong may have drawn the most applause, however, when she said that while her neighbors are satisfied with the services DeKalb County provides Dunwoody, "They do have issues with (DeKalb CEO) Vernon Jones." But, she added, Jones — whose term is ending — will be "gone very soon."