East Cobb cityhood bill filed; calls for referendum, initial elections in 2020

Here’s the first look at the East Cobb cityhood bill, HB 718, filed on Friday by State Rep. Matt Dollar.

To read through the 46-page bill, along with the proposed city charter, click here; the legislation, put in the hopper on the next-to-last day of the Georgia General Assembly, has no co-sponsors for now.

The cityhood bill still must be sponsored by a state senator whose district includes part of the proposed city. The only senator who qualifies is Kay Kirkpatrick, who has said she has no position on the issue for now.

If the legislature passes the bill next year, the East Cobb cityhood group wants the referendum scheduled for the 2020 primary election, with a date to be determined and likely in the spring.

Should voters approve that referendum at that time, a special election would be held for mayor and all six city council spots during the general election in November 2020.

The charter information ranges from how the city government would be set up, the services provided, the levying and collection of tax and other revenues, government functions during the transition to a municipality and the makeup of elections and council districts and appointed city boards and commissions.

Among the provisions is an valorem property tax rate that would not exceed 2.96 mills “unless the millage rate is increased, pursuant to general law.”

The cityhood group commissioned a feasibility study last fall that includes the provision of police, fire and community development services, including zoning.

The Committee for Cityhood in East Cobb took its case to the public in an occasionally contentious town hall meeting Thursday, with many residents skeptical of the need for another layer of government and amid claims that property taxes would not be higher than what they currently pay as citizens of unincorporated Cobb County.

Dollar’s bill calls for a council-city manager form of government, with six council members elected by district and a mayor elected across the city. The terms would be for four years each, and elections would be staggered in biennial fashion in odd-numbered years.

The mayor would vote to break a tie, and is limited to serving two terms, although he or she could run for the council after that.

The mayor also would appoint a full-time professional city manager, subject to the confirmation of the city council.

The charter also calls for a city attorney who is not a municipal employee but who is an independent contractor. A law firm also could serve that function. The city attorney is chosen by the mayor.

The mayor also would select a city clerk, and the City of East Cobb would have a municipal court with a chief judge and other judges “as provided by ordinance.” The judges would be appointed by the city council.

Should a City of East Cobb be approved by voters, a transition period would begin on Jan. 1, 2021, with elected officials taking office, the city collecting taxes and beginning to perform other services (except for city courts).

The full transition would last two years.

The city also could exercise planning and zoning powers during the transition, although existing county zoning and land use provisions would remain in effect until they expire.

David Birdwell, one of the new co-leaders of the cityhood group, said another town hall meeting would take place on April 29 at Chestnut Ridge Christian Church.

Related coverage

• East Cobb News Cityhood information page
• Coming Sunday on East Cobb News: Cityhood backers face challenge convincing the public

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