Senate committee approves south Fulton bill

A Senate committee Wednesday approved a bill that would allow south Fulton residents to vote on whether to form a city.

The State and Local Government Operations Committee amended House Bill 704 to move the referendum from the May 20 primary to the November general election. If voters approve the new city of South Fulton, they would elect a new mayor and City Council to lead it next March.

The committee also set a deadline of Aug. 1 for annexations of parts of unincorporated south Fulton by other cities. Some residents have said they would rather be annexed by Atlanta or other cities than form a new city.