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 Deal’s signature. Among other things, those bills would redraw County Commission districts in a way favorable to Republicans, make it harder for commissioners to raise property taxes and make it easier for the county to fire employees.
Democrats decried the bills as a partisan attack on Fulton County and singled out Jones for some of their harshest criticism. They called her mean-spirited and — quoting her own words — accused Jones of deliberately undermining Fulton County government to make it easier to form the breakaway Milton County in the future. On the last day of the session, Jones sat down with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution to explain her actions and respond to her critics. Below is an edited version of that conversation.
What prompted this series of bills?
House members had been meeting since last summer to ask, how could we, in a tangible way, make changes that can only be done by the Legislature, not changes that could be implemented locally? We’ve had commissions and blue-ribbon committees (recommending changes to county government), and nothing’s changed. We thought, it’s time to try it.
Democrats say they weren’t given a chance to offer any input.
We’re happy to listen to suggestions. What we’re not happy to do is just sit still. I gave them copies of the bills and asked if they wanted to sign them. What we didn’t do was business as usual. We decided we’d meet less, talk less and do more. We did have two public hearings.
Fulton officials say that by making it harder to raise the property tax rate you’re trying to solve a problem that doesn’t exist because they haven’t raised the tax rate since 1991.
Fulton County spends more per capita than Cobb or Gwinnett counties.* It creates an overall tax burden that is higher than is needed. It’s because of waste at every level, including the county commissioners’ office. They’re spending too much money.
Your effort to double Fulton’s property tax homestead exemption failed. County officials said it would have cost the county $48 million in revenue and jeopardized funding for Grady Memorial Hospital and other programs.
We have an obligation to make sure Grady is adequately funded. It disturbs me that county commissioners would pick this one (program). It’s the oldest trick in the book: find a popular small program as opposed to cutting where it’s justified. The case is clear, they need to cut waste and leave Grady alone.
Do you think the Senate will approve the homestead bill next year?
I’m pleased we got it through the House. We’re halfway there. It took some education. The Senate didn’t have that much time. On Day 31 (of the 40-day session) they started looking at House bills. They need more time to look at it.
You’ve been quoted as saying you want to “cut Fulton County down to size until we get Milton County.” Others have said the bills you sponsored might lessen the need for Milton County. Have the bills you were able to pass this session lessened the need for Milton County?
We’ve finally begun to make this county’s services more efficient. Whether it results in a Milton County or a more responsible Fulton County, everybody wins.
*A 2009 study by the University of Georgia and Georgia State University found that Fulton County spends $468.10 per resident, while Cobb County spends $301.96, DeKalb County spends $412.47 and Gwinnett County spends $300.00. The study indicated the differences could be attributed to such factors as differences in demographics and voter preference.
About the Author
