Dunwoody residents to vote on tax increase for parks

By Michelle E. Shaw

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The Dunwoody City Council did not raise the city's millage rate Monday night, but that doesn’t mean city taxes won’t increase in 2012.

The council is preparing two bond referendums to go on the ballot in November that would raise the millage rate by a combined 1.5 mills, if both pass. The money collected from the bond issues, an estimated $66 million, would be used to buy and improve land to be used for parks and green space.

“We’re going to let the people decide if they want these improvements,” said Mayor Ken Wright. “If they don’t vote for it, then it won’t happen.”

Residents at Monday’s council meeting suggested  a city tax increase would be ill-timed given the sluggish economy and a looming county property tax hike.

Wright proposed the two referendums, one $33 million bond for the purchase of the land and the another $33 million bond to make improvements to any land purchased. The second referendum would keep the city from being in a position of buying land and being unable to improve it, he said.

Wright said the bond issues are a good way to remedy the city’s lack of park and recreation space. With the money the city is expected to purchase a plot of land large enough for the three baseball fields they removed from the Brook Run Park master plan.

Dunwoody resident Jim Maloney said his property taxes are virtually unchanged since the economic downturn, which feels like an increase to his wallet.

“If my property taxes aren’t going any lower, I’m certainly not going to get any relief by adding another tax,” he said. “And we’re going to have to pay more on the county side we already know, so why would I vote to pay more on the city side too?”

DeKalb County is expected to raise its millage rate in the coming weeks, as it struggles with revenue shortfalls and budget cuts.

Last week Councilman Denis Shortal said he thought the increases broke an important promise the council made to residents.

“We promised to keep taxes low,” he said. “This doesn’t feel like keeping taxes low.”