Milton County Update

Here's the first in a series of updates providing background on the real possibility of re-creating a separate county for north Fulton. The time could be ripe to take the "Fulton" out of north Fulton County - and re-create Milton County! Won't you join with me in making it happen? Who wants to re-create Milton County? Many north Fulton residents prefer to split off from Atlanta and south Fulton. Voters spoke with a unified voice in three incorporation referendums over the last 14 months. Overwhelmingly, voters said they do not want Fulton making decisions about their taxes or services. The Sandy Springs referendum passed by 95 percent in a special election July 2005; Johns Creek and Milton passed July 2006 during the Primary election by 85 percent. Voter turnout in Johns Creek and Milton exceeded Fulton County turnout by 50 percent. These three new cities represent 60 percent of north Fulton's population. Now that's a mandate for change! Additionally, in an independent poll conducted October 2005 by Insider Advantage in Johns Creek and Milton, voters preferred a separate county 4-1 over remaining tied to Fulton County. Why do so many favor re-creating Milton County? High taxes and low return on service delivery - pure and simple. In background research last year, I found Fulton County taxes and spends 100 percent more per resident than Cobb County in the General county budget. It taxes and spends 63 percent more per resident than Gwinnett County. No plausible or justifiable reason exists for such a contrast. The General budget funds only countywide services such as libraries, sheriff, tax assessor, Grady, jail, health department, vital records and such. Grady accounts for 10 percent of the $800 million General budget. These figures do not include Marta, which is subsidized separately through a dedicated one-cent sales tax levy that generates an additional $200 million. As an example of the county's misguided priorities, Fulton spends 20 times more on Marta than it does on roads (Fulton spends $10 million yearly on road improvements). Another way to put it is Fulton chooses to spend $200 yearly per resident for Marta ($800 for a family of four) compared to $9 per resident for road improvements. Think about that the next time you sit idling in traffic. No matter which service you examine, Fulton County provides a low level of service relative to its high level of taxation. For example, Fulton taxes and spends double the state average on libraries, but reports below-state average library materials usage. Fulton has a long history of significant problems with service delivery. More recently, Fulton has had its: tax assessors' credibility destroyed; sheriff removed from office by the Governor without subsequent improvement; courtroom as the site of tragic shootings and escapes; jail sanctioned by the courts; library board required to pay millions from a successful lawsuit for reverse discrimination. Many ask, what does the county do well? In Closing North Fulton residents are unified in their longheld desire to re-create Milton County. The challenges are legislative and statewide, not particularly local. A new county requires a state constitutional amendment, which involves a higher threshold of consensus than cityhood. Sure, it would be a challenge, but what worthwhile goal isn't? First drafted last year, I am continuing to work on the Milton County bill for introduction in January. I will co-sponsor the bill with Pro Tem Mark Burkhalter; and the north Fulton delegation will work together towards independence. Next update, I'll explain the history of Milton's merge with Fulton and put the Milton County area and population into context with the entire state. Later, I'll explain the likely process for a constitutional amendment and countyhood. Best- Jan Jones State Representative - District 46 (Serving northwest Fulton, including Milton, Roswell and Alpharetta)