Another north vs. south battle could erupt in Fulton County on Wednesday, this one over $221,000 in two northern cities' property taxes that the county has been sitting on for years.
South Fulton Commissioner William "Bill" Edwards will seek a commission vote to move the funds to his district, even though it's taxes paid by Johns Creek and Milton property owners. The idea chafes north Fulton leaders, who say it's not so much the money at issue as it is the principle.
"This is the very principle on which this city was formed," Johns Creek Mayor Mike Bodker said. "Had the fairness within Fulton County been even close to center, then you wouldn't have had the tea party -- pun intended -- where the citizens revolted and formed their own cities to get out from under an oppressive government."
In Edwards' view, Milton and Johns Creek residents gave up the money when they voted to form cities and walked away from unincorporated Fulton -- a backlash against a perception of poor county services and northside funds being siphoned to the south.
Before they incorporated in 2006, the communities were part of the county's special services district and paid the county an extra property tax rate for city-type services, such as police, fire, parks and planning and zoning. Now, only unincorporated south Fulton remains in the district, which faces a $7.2 million shortfall in 2012.
Johns Creek and Milton face no deficits, and while they essentially pay city taxes at the same rate they once paid into the county, since 2005 south Fulton residents have gone from paying 4.730 mills to 8.969 mills. The south's current rate translates to about $450 on a $200,000 home with a homestead exemption.
Edwards, who did not return calls Tuesday, has said that since the $221,000 sitting in the county's accounts was paid into the special services district, that's where it belongs.
North Fulton Commissioner Liz Hausmann said she doubts Edwards has the needed four votes to move the money, but she wants to spare the county another publicly aired north-south squabble. She asked Edwards in an e-mail to take the request off Wednesday's meeting agenda.
"In my 11 years as a commissioner," Edwards responded, "I have never requested of any commissioner to remove an item from the board’s agenda, nor has any commissioner ever asked the same of me. It has been our policy, if you don’t agree with it, to simply vote it down."
Edwards also has said previously that the county should move the money before Republican lawmakers pass legislation to the contrary. Vague language from a 2008 bill is why the funds remain with the county.
After Johns Creek and Milton formed, state Rep. Jan Jones, R-Milton, pushed legislation that required Fulton to return to the cities what they had contributed to the special services district. Johns Creek got $2.85 million and Milton got about $4.2 million.
The bill, however, did not address what to do with 2006 taxes still trickling in, such as late taxes and taxes paid after assessment appeals were settled.
As of Sept. 30, Johns Creek's account still had $116,005; Milton's account had $104,835.
Michael Fitzgerald, co-founder of the North Fulton and Friends Tea Party and a member of the Milton County Legislative Advisory Committee, said Edwards' request proves there's an agenda to subsidize south Fulton with northside taxes.
"He is clearly trying to steal from north Fulton," Fitzgerald said.
Benny Crane, a south Fulton insurance agent who advocated for southside cityhood four years ago, said he agrees with Edwards that the new cities forfeited their right to the funds. But if the money is moved, and the county loses a legal challenge, it could wind up having to be paid back.
"It's not enough money to squabble over, but it's certainly enough money to be divisive," Crane said. "If we can't agree to move it north or south, then we ought to move it to the general fund, to go to everyone."
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