Road to Milton County goes through Atlanta
One name you won’t see on the ballot this November is Milton, as in the once and maybe future county that we currently call north Fulton.
A constitutional amendment to allow the re-creation of former counties — Milton, like Campbell to the south, merged with Fulton in the 1930s — didn’t come up for a vote in the Legislature this spring. So, a public referendum must wait.
The bid to split Georgia’s most populous county has some powerful supporters, including the House’s speaker pro tem, Rep. Jan Jones, R-Alpharetta. It isn’t going away.
But neither are misgivings among the Fulton lawmakers and citizens — including yours truly — who’d be left behind after a split. And the legislative math is tricky for any attempt to pass the amendment without support from the rest of the Atlanta and Fulton delegations.
So, the pro-Milton crowd needs to make the case that the rest of Fulton would be better off, too. In an interview in her Capitol office Thursday, that’s just what Jones tried to do.
“The way the legislation’s written,” she said, “Atlanta could say, ‘Enough. We want to consolidate with Fulton County. South Fulton, go have a good day. North Fulton, have a good day.’ They have their own school system; it would be simple. And we have models for that already in the state, with [consolidated city-county governments in] Columbus and Augusta, and Athens.”
Consolidation, she said, would allow Atlanta and all or part of the remainder of Fulton to eliminate duplicate services and staff, and then fund needed changes or cut taxes.
“I lived in Atlanta about as long as I have lived in north Fulton, and enjoyed living in both,” she said. “But I will tell you that the overall sum of the taxes, and some of the intractable problems that I ran into as a resident … told me that Atlanta in particular needs real reform, structurally. There’s only so much people will pay in taxes, or they’ll leave. And I think Atlanta is there …
“I’ve heard the mayor [Kasim Reed] quoted, and he’s got some long-term problems that are facing the city. … He is going to be hampered by the total sum of the taxes that folks there pay now. You can’t just tax your way out of it. They’ve tried.”
A merged Atlanta-Fulton County would still be the state’s fourth-largest local government (Milton County would rank fifth), so she said it would retain the wherewithal to meet its needs: “You’d have Atlanta, really I think, in the driver’s seat, controlling its destiny. … They have a deeper tax base than either … end of the county.”
Too-big government isn’t the only problem. Jones said some governments and school districts in Georgia are too small.
“When you have [some] school systems that are smaller than individual high schools, it doesn’t take a genius to realize, it’s not possible for … some of the very small school systems, no matter how hard they try, or how good a job they do, to offer the broad array of opportunities that students need. …
“The same is true with local governments. In some cases, you can’t get … the economies of scale to serve the public.”
Still, Jones said she doesn’t consider herself “the champion or the catalyst behind changing how local governments work in other parts of the state … I feel very deeply that’s a local issue for them to decide.”
In the case of Fulton and Milton, a commitment from Atlanta officials to seize the opportunities that Jones outlined for the city would go a long way toward persuading local skeptics to decide to get on board.
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123 comments Add your comment
Brad
September 11th, 2010
4:26 pm
I’m sorry, JB, I thought you would have figured out that I was referring to you.
North Fulton Mom
September 11th, 2010
4:49 pm
Milton Man,
Single mom here. My kid is class president and varstiy team captain, so your prejudices are misguided. Your little corner of nuthin was developed and thrives because businesses were attracted to the Atlanta area, and people like us are able to make a decent living as a result. If you think the money flowing into your nook would continue to flow in the vacuum you claim to seek, I want some of what your kids are smoking on their way-too-generous allowance!!
John Doe
September 11th, 2010
5:05 pm
I can’t say I blame North Fulton for wanting to split off into their own county. Forget taxes, it’s like a different world (North Fulton versus South Fulton). North Fulton doesn’t have near the crime and filth of South Fulton.
While it’s true North Fulton residents work intown (that is after all how most major metro areas work, people live in the suburbs, and work in the city), there are plenty of large companies setting up shop outside the perimeter now (and yes outside Fulton too). If anything, the City of Atlanta should clean up the city (literally crime and corruption) to keep companies wanting to be located here. Why has Atlanta lost to Houston and Dallas for number of Fortune 500 companies? Why has Atlanta lost company headquarters to its own suburbs? So yes it’s true the north suburbs depend on the city still for work, the city relies on the workers to commute there or else it would have quite a few empty office towers during the day. We should work this out together for everyone’s best interest.
not a separatist
September 11th, 2010
5:20 pm
Would not a newly separatist county leave the north fulton citizens in the same boat. This is still not a win situation for them. Or am I missing something? What is the real reason here? When are we going to fix problems rather than running away from them? Or is that the only conservative fix?
Common Sense & Sensibility
September 11th, 2010
5:39 pm
God bless you, N Fulton Mom.
fair and imbalanced
September 11th, 2010
7:12 pm
Is Wingfield a German name?
J.B. STONER
September 11th, 2010
8:35 pm
Brad may be too young to remember the old marta saying.
Most 4 year olds never heard of it.
J.B. STONER
September 11th, 2010
8:54 pm
And how can O-Blow-Me tell the world ”we must tolerate the tragic morning of 9-11-01 and move on”.
ARE YOU FRIGGIN KIDDING ME ?
killerj
September 11th, 2010
9:32 pm
Anyone want Henry county? More houses for sale and empty than I ever seen in my life,robbed me of 20,000 dollars(home value) to clear the books and raised my taxes,house insurance went up to cover what their losing,kids dropping out of school left and right,whole families living under one roof and you people are worried over splitting a county? Hell lets take out the pitch forks and shotguns and make it so. Go Tea Parties.
Fire Eater
September 12th, 2010
4:20 am
Milton county needs to be re-created so that the productive people of “North Fulton” will no longer be the cash cow for various ghetto boondoggles such as the Grady Crime Factory (maternity ward for fat welfare queens and anchorbabymamas), It would allow Atlanta and the rest of Fulton to fully realize it’s inner Zimbabwe as has Clayton and DeKalb.
Not DIRECTLY related to this issue but any comment about the recent murder of a Forsyth county security guard by “underprivileged victims of racism and poverty?” Thugs were all living in half-million dollar houses in south Forsyth…JBS was right when he said you can take them out of the ghetto but you can’t take the ghetto out of them.
DEWSTARPATH
September 12th, 2010
5:05 am
J.B. STONER – September 11th, 2010
8:54 pm
And how can O-Blow-Me tell the world ”we must tolerate the tragic morning of 9-11-01 and move on”.
ARE YOU FRIGGIN KIDDING ME ?
J.B. STONER – Uses a racist for a handle, calls other posters
4-year olds – and uses words like “FRIGGIN” and calls the President
“O-blow-me”.
STONER = Hypocrite.
DEWSTARPATH
September 12th, 2010
5:05 am
- Ditto for Fire Eater.
DEWSTARPATH
September 12th, 2010
5:10 am
killerj – September 11th, 2010
9:32 pm
“Hell lets take out the pitch forks and shotguns and make it so. Go Tea Parties.”
– Sheesh. No downward-spiraling pathology here. “Go Tea Parties” sentiment
makes perfect sense.
TICK… TICK…… TICK………
Tom2
September 12th, 2010
5:22 am
Just a few questions.
If Atlanta is to consolidate with the ‘remainder’ of Fulton, and is not contiguous with unincorporated S. Fulton, how can that constitutionally happen without dissolving several intermediate towns? What if they don’t go along with that idea?
How much will the ’split’ cost Atlanta in administrative/legal/technical costs – who will pay for that? Atlanta isn’t the one pushing a split, it shouldn’t have to pay for the cost of it happening.
Why not keep ‘Milton’ to it’s original boundaries? Why do the new boundaries gobble up some of what has originally been Fulton all along? Do you think it’s all about the money?
So you really think you’d get out of funding Grady and MARTA with a split? Really??? Whatcha smokin’ ?
Instead of creating such an mess – why not just get the folks in N. Fulton off their duffs and out to the polls to vote in some decent people on the county commission? Wouldn’t that be a whole lot less expensive?
If you think Atlanta is such a bad, evil place… why don’t you just move to – say – Kansas? If that’s far enough. Maybe you need to visit the city – you might find it’s not so bad. Ever wonder why so many people have moved back in town – and love it??? (OK… except for the taxes ….) On second thought … if you think the city is so bad – stay away. We don’t want you.
Willie
September 12th, 2010
7:23 am
The idea that people live in the suburbs and work in the city is long outdated. if you look where the jobs are, they are on the northside AND the trend is accelerating. Drive 400 sometime. It’s packed to Perimeter and not too crowded to Buckhead.
November
September 12th, 2010
9:07 am
Milton County should be allowed to split from Fulton County and form their own government. They have for too long been forced to subsidize the people of Fulton County South who can’t even, nor will they be able to support themselves after the split. Milton County should not be pulled down by people who don’t want to work to build something good…..plus, they’re not capable. This is akin the the Federal Government suppling welfare, etc. to those who don’t want to and will not work. We have the same situations all over the metro atlanta area and don’t even get me started on the schools.
zeke
September 12th, 2010
9:08 am
Ayn Rant? The only incompetent President is the buffoon currently residing in the White House! Because of ignorant voters such as you, this fool is on a path to complete destruction of our economic system! 2012 cannot come quick enough!!
MiltonMan
September 12th, 2010
10:20 am
North Fulton Mom = toots her horn for her child but labels my children as dope smokers. Here you go ignorant North Fulton Mom:
Son – Freshman in the Naval Academy; full ride scholarship. Eagle Scout
Another son – High School senior with a 4.3; already been accepted to Berry, UGA & soon to be accepted to Duke. Pre-dental; Eagle Scout
Daughter – All A’s; 8th grader; wants to be a lawyer
Please, oh please, tell us which school your son is dominating. We would love to meet the guy,
MiltonMan
September 12th, 2010
10:21 am
Another advantage to Milton County: very few Obama stickers seen in the area except in the school parking areas.
J.B. STONER
September 12th, 2010
10:28 am
Fire Eater ===
I appreciate you supporting my comments, however morons and kool-aid drinkers like ‘Dewstarpath’ (?) and Ayn Rant need to get a grip.
Yes, the ship is sinking, and idiots LIKE THEM are at the helm….. Scarry,isn’t it…..
J.B. STONER
September 12th, 2010
10:30 am
Am seeing LESS AND LESS O-Blo- Me stickers EVERTWHERE………..
Wonder where these twits went?
Real American
September 12th, 2010
11:08 am
JB shouldnt you be preaching a sermon in a church full of your inbred relatives somewhere?
J.B. STONER
September 12th, 2010
11:18 am
Real american…………..
Go to your mosque , take off your tinney-poos,drop to your rug and pray the one you elected stops destroying this country.
Stay thirsty my friend…….
JC
September 12th, 2010
11:53 am
Let Milton County secede. Their tax base isn’t enough to support their services since the highest taxes for local governments comes from commercial and industrial. While North Fulton has commercial, it has NO industrial – all that’s in Atlanta, Fairburn/Union City and Fulton Industrial. So go ahead, seceded and maybe the rest of Fulton County can stop subsidizing your schools, libraries, etc. Just look at what is happening in the City of Milton that can’t even afford to pave its own roads. Just think what happens when you have to build your own court system, jail system, etc.
Scott
September 12th, 2010
11:59 am
Metro Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority …there you have it
J.B. STONER
September 12th, 2010
12:14 pm
Scott ———-
It’s “Moving Africans Rapidly Through Atlanta”………………….
You knew that, don’t act dumb…….
Scott
September 12th, 2010
12:15 pm
I’m not sure what the advantage is for N. Fulton. Most of the area is in the form of cities not unincorporated Fulton. Jan Jones is on a crusade that relies on a belief that she has, which gives no deference to what the facts are (seem familiar). People like Emma Darnell are in my opinion, vile holdovers who believe it is still 1960 in race relations (and seem rather racist themselves…aka…Fulton librarian lawsuit). But she is but one person, and you cant use her as a basis for the county to be split. The problem is Fulton County government itself. It needs to be reformed to reflect #1 the fact that there is very little unincorporated area compared to 20yrs ago. #2 population trends. The way it is now only fosters the us vs them and black vs white (where’s mine) gridlock. Reforming Fulton is something the state legislature will have to do, hopefully soon. That is a much better solution than the enormous costs of a new county (which we all will end up paying for somehow)
DEWSTARPATH
September 12th, 2010
12:20 pm
STONER – Enough already.
DEWSTARPATH
September 12th, 2010
12:21 pm
Here’s a thought – try practicing a thing called
reading comprehension . Pick up a book
instead of a keyboard sometime. Maybe you’ll be
able to participate in an adult conversation –
or at least be able to spell before you post
your ‘opinions’ online.
Scott
September 12th, 2010
12:21 pm
The question JB, was what it stood for…which I answered. I knew that one too, but I obviously have better upbringing than you since I saw it as tasteless, racist and inappropriate…but those three things are what you’re all about…so I guess if the shoe fits… and yes I know you’re trying to push my buttons I hope and you are not such a hateful person in your day to day life. I guess next someones gonna call me a liberal…cause you know
Liberal = what they call you when they run out of facts to support their argument
DEWSTARPATH
September 12th, 2010
12:21 pm
The ‘Kool Aid’ reference that you and other
fringe operatives like to use originated from
the 1978 mass – suicide of Jim Jones and his
religious followers in Guyana (So. America).
The cult members were forced to drink a con –
coction made up of Kool Aid laced with cyanide.
North Fulton Mom
September 12th, 2010
12:22 pm
Milton Man,
Congratulations! I’m thrilled to see the kids doing well!! I recently hugged several off on their journeys to higher learning, including one of my own. It’s a joy, but we will miss them! (*sniffle sob!*)
My apologies on the smoking comment, but I was merely tossing out the same kind of stereotypical prejudice that you toss around with apparently no compunction. Of course I will not name my child, who is well-known in our community, just to prove something on a blog.
My point is that your hubris for your own success, and your disdain for others you do not know, is misguided and does not serve a useful purpose. I stand by that observation unless and until you demonstrate otherwise.
Have a blessed day!!
Real Athens
September 12th, 2010
12:27 pm
Linda @ 9:41 PM
I learned long ago that hitting the sauce, composing something and then hitting the send button is a really, bad idea.
It makes you “venerable” (sic) to all kinds of jokes. Before long people like JB will be calling for your ‘uthinization’ (sic).
The idea of combining city and county services always sounds like a good idea. However, there are some in Athens that believe population centric areas receive an inordinate amount of services – more than their rural counterparts. I tend to agree.
But like another blogger on here, ‘I don’t have a dog in the that hunt’.
I will say this to the North Fulton folks. Be careful what you wish for. Gwinnett County benefitted from a mass exodus of folks (guess their race and ethnicity) from Fulton and Dekalb Counties in the 70’s and 80’s for a number of valid and invalid reasons. Where would you rather own a home today: In the city of Decatur or say, Oakhurst or a subdivision off of Jimmy Carter Blvd.?
DEWSTARPATH
September 12th, 2010
12:28 pm
That analogy is erroneous and shouldn’t be
used to describe current events. Do better.
Maybe one day you can ‘be at the helm’, too.
DEWSTARPATH
September 12th, 2010
12:31 pm
- Class separation has never been a reason
to create a city. There is no civil war – Milton
doesn’t need to secede from anything.
JF McNamara
September 12th, 2010
12:35 pm
MiltonMan,
I’m the moron, but you’re the one anonymously posting stereotypical comments about South Fulton. You have the best schools in the state because high paying companies moved into your area because they wanted to be close to Atlanta. It’s not because the people there were are so smart. Its because of the smart people who work in Atlanta and moved there for various reasons. Without Fulton and Atlanta, North Fulton would be a poor country county with mediocre schools and a small population.
My point is that everything that North Fulton is now became that way because they are part of Fulton county. As hard as it may be to you to acknowledge, the arrangement of being in Fulton has been excellent for you.
Scott
September 12th, 2010
12:41 pm
@DEWSTARPATH
“- Class separation has never been a reason
to create a city. There is no civil war – Milton
doesn’t need to secede from anything.”
Whereas that should be correct, there is real sentiment out there in varying degrees that it isn’t and we have to deal with that by making people have more faith in their local officials. Milton Co. is NOT the answer. Better, more transparent, less corrupt government is whats needed. A system where our money works for something other than cronyism (and thats on both sides people), and the best and brightest get the jobs not the person who contributed to someones campaign or their in-laws cousins aunt. Maybe its wishful thinking…hell I live in Dekalb anyway (unincorporated thank you very much…low taxes)
DEWSTARPATH
September 12th, 2010
12:45 pm
JF McNamara — September 12th, 2010
12:35 pm
“Without Fulton and Atlanta, North Fulton
would be a poor country county with mediocre
schools and a small population.”
– Excellent point, McNamara.
I wonder how many of those ‘mom and pop’
stores could accomodate the office inventory
and equipment necessary to run a Fortune 500
company ?
DEWSTARPATH
September 12th, 2010
12:50 pm
Scott —- September 12th, 2010
12:41 pm
“A system where our money works for something other than cronyism
(and thats on both sides people), and the best and brightest get the jobs
not the person who contributed to someones campaign or
their in-laws cousins aunt.”
No argument from me, Scott. But in a state with 160 counties
(Texas has 254; California 67), what is the chance of this
occuring ?
Real Athens
September 12th, 2010
12:59 pm
Scott:
The thing that is so frustrating is that the utopia you describe is so attainable if we could keep a factual, honest discourse about government (local, state and federal) separate from speech about mosques, Christians, Muslims, Koran burnings, “don’t ask don’t tell”, sexual orientation, the reproductive system of women and it’s functions, etc. ad nauseum.
Scott
September 12th, 2010
1:17 pm
@Real Athens
It starts one person at a time. You cant depend on government reforming itself. It has to come from each individual. The problem these days is that facts/respect for intelligence are demonized these days. In an age were misinformation can spread so quickly (death panels) the task is very hard
J.B. STONER
September 12th, 2010
1:19 pm
dewstarpath(?)…………
You have an opinion (like otherthings) and so do I, son…
You enjoy the ride ,note the scenic view out the window, and a year from now, get back to me on how great things are.
Oh, and by the way, don’t open your pie hole as you circle the drain.
You wanted him , you got him….ENJOY.
DEWSTARPATH
September 12th, 2010
2:15 pm
- Son ? You magically know everyone’s age now ?
I don’t recall giving mine out anywhere online.
And you don’t have to worry about my handle, either.
That’s for ME to understand – not YOU.
As far as a year from now – I presume from your post
you’re talking about the POTUS – don’t drink that Kool Aid
you mentioned. Your life shouldn’t ONLY be determined by
what politician is elected or who is President. You have to
be ‘the master of your fate and the captain of your soul’ –
– William Ernest Henley.
Willie
September 12th, 2010
2:25 pm
As long as Emma Darnell and Bill Edwards are being elected by the voters of Fulton County, there will be a growing demand for Milton County. No one wants to be governed by racists.
Hosea Williams
September 12th, 2010
4:53 pm
I remember jb back when the klu kluck tried to stop me from going into Forsyth and we made it anyhow. I had enough marchers and was determined to make it an we did.
Transportation Now...
September 12th, 2010
4:55 pm
Willie…Emma and Bill both represent South Fulton. You need to focus on your commissioners for north fulton and those from the county at large…I’m not for a new milton especially if it means land that was not part of the original milton. So should south fulton re-create Campbell county. I remind everyone that south fulton doesn’t go to Grady. We(union city, fairburn, palmetto) go to Fayetteville because its closer. We don’t have a marta station south of the Airport and thereby nothing outside of the perimeter unlike North Fulton…hmmm…Yeah lets talk about inequity…Remember all the Airport Industries are here so you know there is a significant tax base.
@@
September 12th, 2010
5:28 pm
Since I have no idea where Milton is, I have no comment to offer. There does seem to be an exorbitant number of counties in Georgia.
If there’s one with a total population of say….1,500, that’s where I wanna be.
Hillbilly Deluxe
September 12th, 2010
6:22 pm
@@
Milton was formed in 1857 from parts of Forsyth, Cherokee, and Cobb Counties. It , as well as Campbell, folded into Fulton during the Depression, for economic reasons. I don’t live there, so the people who do live there can sort it out. They don’t need me to tell them what to do.
http://georgiainfo.galileo.usg.edu/histcountymaps/miltonhistmaps.htm
On the larger question of the number of counties in Georgia, I have no problem with things being the way they are. Coming from a rural perspective, I probably see things a bit different than someone with an urban or suburban perspective. I like the fact that if I go to the courthouse, I actually know the people there. I’m not walking in and dealing with a bunch of strangers. I get treated a little more as an actual person, rather than a number.
As for economy, if the Clerk of the Courts office in county A employees 5 people and in county B they employee 5 people, merging the counties would still probably result in an office of 11 people. I don’t see where it would save a whole lot of money, and I like having representative government close to home (9 miles). If my county got folded into another, I’d probably have a 25-30 mile drive to the courthouse.
SouthernLiving
September 12th, 2010
8:09 pm
North Fulton area being attached to Atlanta makes no sense people. Just look at the map of Fulton County…restore Milton county.
Lil' Barry Bailout
September 12th, 2010
8:20 pm
Milton should absolutely be made a separate county, so that the folks paying the bills can enjoy the benefits their tax dollars are funding.