Tuesday, May 21, 2013 | 1:33 a.m.
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Stories by David Wickert
Fulton redistricting battle headed to Justice Department
After failing to convince state lawmakers that a redistricting plan for the Fulton County Commission is flawed, county officials are taking their fight to the federal government. The next stop is the U.S. Department of Justice, which the federal Voting Rights Act — at least for now — has charged ...
Commissioners admit open meeting violation
Fulton County Commissioners Wednesday admitted they violated the state Open Meetings Act when a majority of commissioners attended a town hall meeting without proper public notice in February. By a 4-1 vote, commissioners approved a memorandum of understanding with the state Attorney General’s Office admitting the violation. They agreed to ...
Edwards hosts community meeting
Fulton County Commissioner Bill Edwards will host a community meeting at 7 p.m. May 23 at the South Fulton Government Service Center, 5600 Stonewall Tell Road, College Park. Edwards represents commission District 7, which includes south Fulton County. The meeting is a chance for the public to express opinions about ...
Fulton tax chief’s car cost taxpayers $39,000
Fulton County Tax Commissioner Arthur Ferdinand dipped into his own department funds last year to buy a full-size SUV for his own use, costing taxpayers $39,000, documents obtained by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reveal. Because Ferdinand’s vehicle, a 2013 Ford Explorer Limited, is part of the county’s fleet, it means residents ...
While Fulton gets a makeover, some ask why Gwinnett gets a pass
One county has endured botched elections, questionable tax lien sales and jail conditions so poor they require federal oversight. The other has seen two commissioners charged with bribery, a third accused of the same in a civil lawsuit and a chairman who resigned to avoid a perjury charge. But while ...
Deal signs bills to shake up Fulton government
Gov. Nathan Deal has signed a flurry of bills that could spark dramatic changes in Fulton County government, affecting everything from property taxes and elections to the size of the county workforce. The bills will cap property tax rates, expand north Fulton representation on the County Commission and make it ...
Deal signs Fulton property tax cap bill
Gov. Nathan Deal signed a hotly contested bill Monday that will prohibit Fulton County from raising property tax rates for the next two years — if a court doesn’t overturn it. House Bill 604 also will require approval by a supermajority of county commissioners for tax increases after ...
Fulton bills spark fear of ‘meddling’ elsewhere
In the next two days, Gov. Nathan Deal will decide the fate of a flurry of bills that would reshape Fulton County government in what could be a watershed moment in Georgia politics.Among other things, the bills would reshuffle the County Commission, make it easier to fire county employees and ...
Commissioners stay in power despite Fulton’s perceived troubles
For decades, critics have complained that Fulton County government spends too much and listens too little. Botched elections, jail overcrowding and other controversies have fueled the perception that Fulton is dysfunctional. Despite the county’s problems, county commissioners seldom pay a price at the polls. An Atlanta Journal-Constitution analysis of nearly ...
Fulton commissioners narrow manager search
The Fulton County Board of Commissioners will choose the county’s manager from a pool of local applicants. Commissioners Wednesday narrowed their search for a new manager to three candidates: Cobb County manager David Hankerson, former MARTA deputy general manager Dwight Ferrell and Fulton County finance director Patrick O’Connor. Commission chairman ...
Seniors can learn to spot scams
Fulton County will host a session on how seniors can protect themselves against scams at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Camp Truitt Senior Center, 4320 Hershel Road, College Park. The county will provide information on how seniors can identify, prevent and report fraudulent and deceptive schemes. For more information call 404-613-7944.
Local commissioners: Veto Fulton tax bill
A group of Democratic and Republican county officials from across metro Atlanta has asked Gov. Nathan Deal to veto a proposal that would prevent Fulton County from raising property taxes, saying the bill is “bad for the county and bad for the state.” On Tuesday, Fulton County Commission Chairman John ...
Political battle hits Fulton’s credit rating
The political battle over Fulton County’s governance could have an unintended consequence: higher borrowing costs in the future due to a downgrade of the county’s credit rating. Fitch Ratings cut Fulton’s credit rating in part because of concern about House Bill 604 – awaiting Gov. Nathan Deal’s signature – which ...
Fulton seeks youth commissioners
Fulton County is seeking youth commissioners to help the county develop policies and legislation to address the concerns of young people. For consideration, a student must be a Fulton resident, attend a school within the county, be in 9th through 11th grade during the 2013-14 school year and submit a ...
Fulton board rejects radio bid
The Fulton County Board of Commissioners Wednesday rejected the lone bid for a $21 million radio system upgrade amid complaints the proposal was drafted so only one firm could win. Commissioners voted unanimously to reject the bid submitted by Motorola Solutions of Lawrenceville and seek new proposals, which are due ...
Jones on Fulton bills: 'Everybody wins'
As Republicans pushed a series of bills affecting Fulton County operations through the General Assembly last month, no one came under greater fire than House Speaker Pro Tem Jan Jones, R-Milton. Jones sponsored or co-sponsored all of the 10 bills that cleared the Legislature and are now awaiting Gov. Nathan ...
Fulton GOP to host Benjamin Carson
Dr. Benjamin Carson, a pediatric neurosurgeon and author who gained national at last month’s Conservative Political Action Committee Conference, will speak to the Fulton County Republican Party April 25.Tickets cost $150 per person and include dinner. For more information, visit www.fultongop.org.
Feeling less stress about finances, Fulton commissioners vote on expenditures
With the threat of a state-mandated property tax cut off the table for now, the Fulton County Board of Commissioners on Wednesday elected to spend more than $12 million on library books, squad cars and office furniture. Commissioners unanimously approved the biggest expenditure — $11.1 million for books to stock ...
Battle for Fulton just beginning
North Fulton County’s GOP lawmakers emerged from the legislative session with a slew of victories in their battle to overhaul a county government they say is bloated and inefficient. Hostilities between the county’s urban Democrats and suburban Republicans have been brewing for decades, but measures passed by the House and ...
GOP lands most of Fulton package, but big one gets away
Republicans will finish the legislative session with a series of victories in their effort to remake Fulton County government, including new limits on property tax hikes and proposals that will make it easier to fire county employees. But their biggest goal — a tax cut for Fulton homeowners — eluded ...
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