You won’t believe what financial demands are included in Buckhead cityhood bills

012422 Buckhead: A large sign greets guests at the Buckhead cityhood movement fundraiser on Monday, Jan. 24, 2022, in Buckhead. The Buckhead cityhood organization is starting a political action committee with $1 million in the bank, Buckhead City Committee chief executive Bill White told several hundred donors at Bistro Niko.   “Curtis Compton / Curtis.Compton@ajc.com”`

Credit: Curtis Compton / Curtis.Compton@

Credit: Curtis Compton / Curtis.Compton@

012422 Buckhead: A large sign greets guests at the Buckhead cityhood movement fundraiser on Monday, Jan. 24, 2022, in Buckhead. The Buckhead cityhood organization is starting a political action committee with $1 million in the bank, Buckhead City Committee chief executive Bill White told several hundred donors at Bistro Niko. “Curtis Compton / Curtis.Compton@ajc.com”`

Provisions tucked deep in legislation that would create a new city of Buckhead including the following:

Atlanta would have to sell parkland to the new city:

The city of Atlanta would be forced to sell parkland to Buckhead for $100 per acre. Those sales could include Chastain Park and Memorial Park, where nearby one-acre lots can sell for as much as $1 million per acre.

Fire sale for fire stations:

The new city would have the option of buying fire stations inside of its boundaries for $5,000 each, or leasing them for $10 per year.

Other buildings and water system for sale:

Other Atlanta-owned buildings, such as schools, would sell for $1,000 each. The water system serving the entire proposed city could be purchased for $100,000.

Future of public safety training center uncertain:

All of Atlanta’s assets outside city limits would be divided between the new municipalities or sold, with the proceeds being shared on a pro rata basis. That would presumably apply to the sprawling campus proposed for the city’s new public safety training complex on 85 city-owned acres nestled in unincorporated DeKalb County.

Sky-high salaries:

The mayor of Buckhead would have a first-year salary of $225,000; part-time councilmembers would make $72,000.