Government reform, cityhood and MARTA expansion in DeKalb County may be considered during next year's state legislative session, said a panel of state lawmakers during a DeKalb Chamber of Commerce breakfast meeting Thursday.
Speaking to more than 100 people, lawmakers said a restructuring of DeKalb's government could include removing the county's powerful CEO position, adding county commission seats and instituting term limits.
“If everything was working swimmingly in DeKalb, we wouldn’t need to have this conversation,” said Rep. Scott Holcomb, D-Atlanta, who plans to introduce a bill to replace the CEO with a county manager.
The eight members of DeKalb’s legislative delegation disagreed on how best to move forward, with some wanting a broad review of DeKalb’s government and others seeking more immediate action at the Capitol next session, which would allow voters to decide in a November referendum.
“This requires a deliberate conversation,” said Rep. Howard Mosby, D-Atlanta, the chairman of DeKalb’s House delegation. “I don’t think we should do this in a piecemeal fashion.”
As for cityhood efforts, Sen. Fran Millar, R-Atlanta, said he believes the proposal to incorporate Stonecrest would get a vote after it passed the state Senate last session. He didn't mention the initiative for a city of Greenhaven in South DeKalb.
Millar said several existing cities will likely attempt to expand through annexations.
“I believe it’s time to take a pause from incorporations and annexations,” said Rep. Michele Henson, D-Stone Mountain.
When asked about whether they would support a half-percent sales tax to support MARTA’s expansion to the east and north, the panel’s Democratic members supported putting the proposal on the ballot.
Millar, the lone Republican on the panel, opposed the idea because he said it would hinder MARTA’s ability to eventually move into Gwinnett and Cobb counties.
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