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A controversial proposal is making its way through the Georgia legislature that could lead to the re-creation of Milton County, made up of cities in North Fulton County, and could be voted on by the state House of Representatives in a week. The proposal, known as HR 21, won approval from the State Planning and Community Affairs Committee on Thursday by a 9-7 vote. This now clears the way for consideration by the House Rules Committee and the full House shortly thereafter.
Milton and Campbell counties were merged with Fulton County during the Great Depression as a cost-cutting move. Since then, however, northern Fulton’s population has exploded. Some north Fulton residents contend that the county's Board of Commissioners has become increasingly unresponsive to their needs and an inefficient steward of their tax dollars.Personally, as a resident of North Fulton County, I applaud such a plan. I am aware that the road to the November ballot is a long and arduous one, because proponents need a two-thirds vote in the House, which has been deemed an uphill battle by many, since Republicans would need to pick up at least 15 Democratic votes. My tax dollars aren't being used in my town because they are being used for Fulton County's needs in general. Some say that a re-creation of Milton County would hurt Atlanta and the entire region. Well, sometimes you can't always have it your way. Some have also expressed the notion that race is an underlying motivation for the proposal, with South Fulton being predominantly black and North Fulton, predominantly white. As I said before, my grouse with Fulton County is the ineptitude and waste of our tax dollars. It has nothing to do with race.
Opponents of a re-created Milton County argue that dividing Fulton County would hurt Atlanta and the entire region. Some opponents have alleged that race is an underlying motivation for the proposal -- south Fulton is predominately black, while north Fulton is majority white. Fulton County Commission Chairman John Eaves on Thursday called the 1932 merger of Fulton with Milton and Campbell counties a “marriage” that Milton County proponents are trying to tear apart. Source: AJC
Posted in: Fulton county,Milton County,North Fulton County,predominantly black area,racial undertone
1 comments:
Should South Fulton suffer again for a Milton County?
Most people arguing for and against Milton County don't know the full story beyond the Depression consolidation of Campbell County (South) and Milton County (North) into Fulton County. Several facts are being skated over by lies and deceit.
The first lie and tale of deceit surrounds the notion that Sandy Springs was part of the Old Milton County. Sandy Springs once known as Hammonds has always been in Fulton County. The fact is the Chattahoochee River served as the old county line between what was once Milton and Fulton County. Representative Jan Jones and Representative Willard are trying to pull a fast one by sliding in language that slips Sandy Springs in their definition of reconstituted counties. Stop and think, better still look it up. Sandy Springs is south of the Hooch and has it's origins in Fulton County.
South Fulton has suffered enough for Sandy Springs to allow it to walk away easily. Read closely you are not going to read this information in ANY article written about reconstituting Milton County. Sandy Springs prosperity didn't happen by itself. During the late 1960's through early 1980's Fulton County's jewel was Fulton Industrial Boulevard (FI in South Fulton County. At one time, Fulton Industrial Boulevard was the largest industrial park east of the Mississippi River. With that came untold millions of dollars in property taxes and sales taxes. Where did Fulton County spend those dollars? Sandy Springs... The vast majority of it went into building Sandy Springs infrastructure and aid the white flight north that has made it one of the richest communities in the nation. South Fulton suffered through the 1970's and 1980's while it's northern cousin received favored treatment and money from South Fulton in an effort to keep Atlanta and it's annexation plans at bay.
Very little of the FIB money was spent in South Fulton that is why it remain rather rural to this day. There lies the other lie from those who constantly repeat the mantra that North Fulton is paying for South Fulton.
If it was my choice I'd say allow the state-wide vote for the Old Milton County WITHOUT Sandy Springs because it was never a part of the Old Milton County. Sandy Springs owes a large debt to South Fulton and the resources it imparted upon her.
Tell Representative Jones and Willard to stop telling lies and pull the plug on HR21. The people of South Fulton and Atlanta should let their representative know the truth. South Fulton is responsible for Sandy Springs and subsequently the balance of North Fulton's properity.
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