The next metro Atlanta community to become a city could be Stonecrest in DeKalb County, a proposal that is advancing through the Georgia General Assembly.
The Stonecrest cityhood bill unanimously passed the House Governmental Affairs Committee on Wednesday and could soon receive a vote in the full House of Representatives. The legislation, Senate Bill 208, already passed the Senate last year.
Stonecrest would include about 50,000 residents along Interstate 20 and near Stonecrest Mall, covering the southeast corner of DeKalb and bordering the city of Lithonia.
Stonecrest supporters said they want the same local control of their government that has been granted to three other young cities in DeKalb: Brookhaven, Dunwoody and Tucker.
“People want to be empowered, and we can focus on our economic development in that corridor,” said Jason Lary, president of the Stonecrest City Alliance. “That’s something that has been lacking in our area, and that’s our path to prosperity.
Rep. Tom Taylor, R-Dunwoody, raised questions about the Stonecrest proposal but ultimately voted for it.
He said he was concerned that Stonecrest plans to only offer basic services while continuing to rely on DeKalb police, and he questioned why the legislation calls for the city’s mayor to be paid a $75,000 salary when other cities pay their mayors less than $20,000.
“I generally understand when people want to separate themselves as much as they can from DeKalb County government right now, but you’ve got to go forward with your eyes open, and I don’t think this has been vetted enough,” Taylor said.
Stonecrest would start with three services: parks and recreation, code enforcement and planning and zoning, according to SB208.
The Stonecrest legislation will next be considered by the House Rules Committee before it can be voted on by the House.
If approved, voters within the Stonecrest area will decide whether to incorporate during a referendum on May 24 or Nov. 8. The referendum date depends on how quickly the bill passes the Legislature and is signed by Gov. Nathan Deal.
House Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Rynders said Stonecrest fulfilled the standards required of communities seeking to incorporate. A University of Georgia feasibility study estimated that Stonecrest would have annual revenue of about $10 million and expenses of $8 million.
“Our job is to make sure you meet the minimum requirements so the people can determine how they want to be governed,” said Rynders, R-Albany.
The metro Atlanta area has added eight new cities over the last decade. Voters in November approved the city of Tucker but rejected the proposed city of LaVista Hills.
“Citizens want to have self-determination in south DeKalb,” said Rep. Dee Dawkins-Haigler, D-Lithonia. “Stonecrest would be a great place to do that. We have the mall there, we have ample hotels and restaurants, and if we just have some attention focused right on that area, we’ll be able to do more for citizens.”
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