The City of Decatur, GA is proposing an Annexation to increase their tax base. The City of Decatur is just over 4.2 square miles. The City of Decatur wants to extend it to be just over 5 square miles to include parts of unicorporated Decatur. This would add about 500 children to the City of Decatur's school system. I have heard from City of Decatur residents that this will be a major burden for the schools. I attended a meeting early in the year regarding this. There were lots of angry neighbors letting it be known that nearly doubling the taxes for these homeowners would have a negative impact on them. When the Mayor, Bill Floyd was asked the reason for the Annexation, he said the city needed the money. Well, that didn't sit quite right with the people that he wanted to take it from.
Here is the annexation report.
Do you want to see where the proposed Annexation is? Here's the Annexation Map.
Do you support increasing the city limits through annexation? State your opinion on the City of Decatur's site and please feel free to voice your opinion here.
The City Commission meets in open session on the first and third Mondays of each month at City Hall, 509 North McDonough Street, at 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 17, 2008 (city commission room) 6:30 p.m.: Joint work session with the City Schools of Decatur Board of Directors. ( I have been told from the City Manager's office that this meeting will not allow comments from the Public, but we are invited to attend.) Contrary to that, this is what I found on the City's website:
"Time for comments or questions is included in each meeting agenda. Any issue relating to City government may be raised for discussion with the City Commission."
Dec. 1, 2008 (city commission room) 7:30 p.m.: Public hearing on annexation options on the regular agenda of the Decatur City Commission.
Dec. 15, 2008 (city commission room) 7:30 p.m.: Consideration of annexation options will be an action item on the City Commission agenda. Action by the City Commission will be to move forward with one of the proposed options and will not result in actual annexation as a result of the vote.
I also asked the City Manager, Peggy Merriss' office what was being done to inform the people affected by the Annexation. Office staff told me that it's on their website. So, as of now, notices will not go out to inform the homeowners that could be annexed in. If you want up to date news as it happens, let me know. I am trying to keep our residents informed. I'll see you at the meeting.
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Jen Bowman lives, works and plays in Decatur. She is a Realtor with Success Realty serving the real estate needs of Decatur and Atlanta GA. 404-456-5024 View Intown Living Blog.
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