Recent local government stories

For the past 15 years north Fulton County residents have talked about breaking off and reforming Milton County from Fulton's northern suburbs.

This year, legislators hope the idea finally moves. They have reason to be optimistic.

State Rep. Mark Burkhalter has made a career out of criticizing Fulton County and pushing for splitting the county in two. Now, he's speaker pro-tem, and his party, the Republicans, are in charge of the General Assembly. They have already succeeded in getting three new northside cities formed -- Sandy Springs, Johns Creek and Milton -- a task once considered politically impossible.

The debate over government representation has spread to nearby DeKalb County where Tucker and Dunwoody are both considering forming cities and CEO Vernon Jones has even floated the idea of incorporating the county as a city. In nearby Cobb County, residents of Vinings are toying with incorporation. In south Fulton, a June referendum is already set for two new southside cities.

Rep. Jan Jones (R-Alpharetta) plans to file legislation that would allow all of Fulton County north of Atlanta to break off and form the new county of Milton. Georgia is at its constitutionally-mandated limit of 159 counties, but Jones' bill is expected to create an exemption that allows for the re-creation of a county that previously was merged into another county.

That exception would apply only to Milton in north Fulton and Campbell in south Fulton. Both of those counties were merged into Fulton during the Depression because they didn't have enough money to fund their operations.

Jones hopes to get the measure approved in the 2008 General Assembly and on the ballot as a statewide referendum in November 2008. Before that happens, Jones, Burkhalter and others will have to address major concerns such as funding for Grady Hospital and MARTA. Complicated legal and financial transactions from Fulton County would have to be resolved. Bonds already issued pledge the tax revenue from the entire county to repay them. The court system would have to be addressed. And, the financial impact to not only Fulton County but Atlanta would also have to be considered.

-- David Bennett and Paul Kaplan