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Current Issues in Fulton County District
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5-21-10: Board of Commissioners Re-Affirms
Prohibition of Racial - Profiling - Opposes Arizona “Anti-Immigration” Law
The
Fulton County Board of Commissioners voted to oppose the Arizona
“Anti-Immigration” Law and re-affirm Board policy prohibiting racial
profiling by law enforcement agencies.
Voting
YES: Boxill, Darnell, Eaves, Edwards
Voting
NO: Lowe, Riley
NOT
Voting: Pitts
“The
subject legislation” is not simply “Anti-Immigration, it is also
Anti-American,” Commissioner Darnell stated. “Fulton County is one of
the most diverse communities in the nation. However, the BOC opposes the
Arizona legislation not because of who we are – but rather because of
what we are and what we believe – as citizens of the United States.”
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5-17-10: "Current Issues: Racial Profiling
Quarterly Report: Over 90% Traffic Stops in Fulton County African-American
Drivers
For the period, January 1, 2010 to March 31, 2010, over 90% of “traffic
stops” by Fulton County Law Enforcement agencies involved African-American
drivers according to a (quarterly) report to the Board of Commissioners:
Agency Total Stopped
Black White Hispanic
Police
1,715
1,387
269 36
Sheriff
368
316 37
0
Officials
emphasized that a “number of factors other than bias” can influence
decisions to stop drivers or individuals including “characteristics of the
driver population” and “officer characteristics”. The meaning of these
terms will be clarified in an addendum to the report.
Commissioner Darnell emphasized the need to provide objective data such as
the # of traffic tickets issued to support a disproportionate number of
traffic stops of African-American drivers.
Click here for the full "Racial Profiling Quarterly Report" |
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4-23-10:
"County Participates in Stimulus Program to Revitalize Depressed
Areas"
At the April 21 Meeting of the Board of Commissioners, the Board approved
the use of the “American Recovery and Re-investment Economic Development
Bond Program” to revitalize depressed areas within the Incorporated and
Unincorporated areas of Fulton County. Restricted to capital projects
and county-owned facilities, targeted areas include communities within and
adjacent to Tax Allocation Districts (TADS) approved by the BOC.
A list of
recommended projects developed by the County Manager will be submitted
forapproval at the May 5, 2010 Meeting of the BOC.
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4-22-10:
"Atlanta
Development Authority (ADA) Financial Status Report"
Click here for the "Atlanta Development Authority (ADA) Financial Status
Report" |
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4-22-10:
"Fulton
County Contributes $73 Million Dollars in Tax Increments to Support Cities’
TADS"Based
upon records maintained by the Tax Commissioner, Fulton County collected and
forwarded to Fulton cities - including the City of Atlanta $73 million
dollars in tax "increments" to support the cities' "tax allocation
districts" from 1999 to 2008.
Distributions to the City of Atlanta TADS from Fulton tax revenues
include:
Westside TAD
$19,848,721.43
(1999)
Atlanta
Station $21,250,089.35
(2000)
Eastside TAD
$10,170,084.83
(2004)
Stadium TAD
$90,646.74
(2007)
Campbellton TAD
$282,825.23
(2007)
Metropolitan TAD
$246,347.58
(2007)
Hollowell TAD
$373,365.17
(2007)
Click here for the "Fulton County TAD Revenues Report", April 9,
2010"
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4-1-10:
Commissioner's Corner: "Milton County Legislation; Anti – Fulton
Legislation"
It is not clear why – each yearfor the past eight years, Fulton County
government has spent thousands of hours and taxpayer
dollars
protecting Fulton County taxpayers from (their) Georgia Legislature.
The “New
Milton County” Legislation (H.R. 21) failed
this year.
However, its sponsor, North Fulton Republican Jan Jones has promised she
will introduce the Bill next year. The issue is not
“performance.”
The public
record confirms Fulton County is the Number One County in the Atlanta Region
and in the State: Number 1 in growth, #1 in population and #1 in economic
stability. In 2010, we paid .317% interest on a short – term loan with
Triple (AAA) Bond Rating.
In FY 2010,
this government placed $40 million dollars (7%) in the “Rainy Day Account,”
avoided massive lay – offs and enhanced critical programs for senior adults
and at – risk youth because we had to do it in order to meet our legal and
moral responsibilities to Fulton County residents. We are a diverse
government however; according to independent auditors we are not broke.
Maybe William
Faulkner was right, “the past is not dead,” its not even past.”
However, we move forward with the hope and expectation this government will
be judged by both principle and performance.
The County
Manager indicated the proposed Milton County legislation, HR 21 would have
created an immediate $55.9 million dollar deficit. The following services
would have been cut to eliminate the deficit: Sheriff, $94 million, Grady
Hospital, $55 million, Public Health and Mental Health, $43.1 million,
Library, $30 million.
Other major
impacts included the separation of the South Fulton School System from North
Fulton Schools and the creation of a $39 million dollar deficit (before the
announcement of a need to eliminate 1,000 jobs). |
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4-1-10:
District 5 Second Highest Percent of High School Drop – Outs
In a 2010 study of school suspensions and disciplinary actions
by the
Division of Health and Human Services, District 5
schools ranked
second – after District 7 (which ranked first)
in percent of high school
students suspended.
At the March
17th meeting of the Board of
Commissioners, department officials recommended that a special grant program
designed to reduce and eliminate juvenile crime and delinquency should be
based upon specific behaviors and performance outcomes rather than the
geographical boundaries of districts. The recommendations of the department
were approved.
Click here for more information concerning “Out – of – School Suspensions”
Department of Health and Human Services FY 2010 – 2011 Human Services and
FRESH Grants |
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3-25-10: LEGISLATIVE ALERT: Georgia House May Vote on New Milton County
Legislation (March 26)
Contact Your Fulton County Representative Today:
Vote
“NO” on H.R. 21. Vote Against Cuts in Fulton Services
and
Increases in Taxes.
Click here
for the "Fulton County House Delegation: 2010 Session- Georgia General
Assembly"
Click here for the "LEGISLATIVE ALERT (Printed Alert): Georgia House
May Vote on New Milton County Legislation (March 26) |
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3-19-10:
"Human Services and F.R.E.S.H.
Grant Requirements Approved; Applications Released"
The Board
of Commissioners has approved contract requirements for funds to implement
two (2) “enhanced” programs approved for the FY 2010 Budget as follows:
-
Senior Housing
(Enhanced) Grant $375,000 Program
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Senior
Transportation (Enhanced) Grant $375,000 Program
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Juvenile Delinquency
and Crime Prevention (Enhanced) Program $750,000
Click here the "Human Services Approval of recommendations related to
FY2010-2011 Human Services and F.R.E.S.H. Grants"
Click here for the "Human Services and F.R.E.S.H. Grants application request
and deadline information" |
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3-11-10:
"Milton County (H.R. 21): Most
Frequently – Asked Questions"
A fact sheet on the legislation proposed for the creation of "Milton
County".
Click here
"Milton County (H.R. 21): Most Frequently - Asked Questions" |
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1-29-10: "A Statement from Commissioner Emma I. Darnell"
Grady's Greatest Need: Accountability
I am encouraged by the continuing public support for quality indigent health
care, in Fulton County. For over 10 years, Fulton County taxpayers have
contributed more than $50 million dollars annually to the Grady Hospital
System.
Like many “safety – net” hospitals in the nation, Grady struggles with
increased demands, high health costs and inadequate state and federal
support. However, Grady’s most serious problem is not funding – it is
accountability and transparency. In November 2009 Grady officials said the
Outpatient Dialysis Clinic closed due to “lack of funds.” However,
“operational expenses” did not exceed “operational revenues” in October 2009
according to documents reviewed by the County’s auditors.
Grady needs more financial support from metro Atlanta counties and the State
of Georgia. Grady also needs a real commitment of accountability to the
taxpayers of Fulton County.
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400
Residents Attend “Tentative Budget” Public Hearing
On January 6, the Board of Commissioners received comments from 93 residents
regarding the proposed FY 2010 Tentative Budget. County services and
programs receiving strong support included senior services, pre-trial and
jail diversion programs, neighborhood arts programs, libraries and programs
for at-risk children, youth and their families.
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12-17-09:
"ADA (Atlanta
Development Authority) Monthly Report; Publix at Westside Closes"
The
Publix Store at the “Historic Westside Village,” 825 Martin Luther King Jr.,
Drive will be closed permanently on December 24, 2009. Located near the
Atlanta University Center, the Westside Village is a key component of the
Westside Tax Allocation District (TAD) funded jointly by the City of
Atlanta, Fulton County and the Atlanta Public Schools.
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12-17-09:
DeKalb and Fulton Board of Commissioners Call For Tougher Laws on
Predatory Lending
Upon the
recommendation by the Joint Fulton/DeKalb Committee on Housing, the BOC has
urged the Georgia General Assembly to amend State law to make certain
“Predatory Lending” actions in the sale of residential housing a felony.
Violators of the Georgia Fair Lending Act are only guilty of a misdemeanor
or a fine not to exceed $1,000.00. However, these laws and the Georgia
Residential Mortgage Fraud Act do not provide “Sufficient disincentive for
practitioners of predatory lending…”
DeKalb
County and Fulton County have been among the hardest hit counties in Georgia
in the number of residential foreclosures according to staff reports.
Click here for a Copy of the Resolution Regarding Predatory Lending
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12-1-09: "Resolution Making Predatory Lending Felony in Georgia"
Click Here for the ""Resolution Making Predatory Lending Felony in Georgia" |
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11-5-09: County Manager to Review “Milton County” Study
The
County Manger (Zachary Williams) has been authorized to seek proposals for
an independent review and evaluation of a report developed by the Georgia
Legislature on the “Economic Impact of the Creation of Milton County”.
County
Officials have expressed concern regarding the accuracy of data contained in
the Legislature’s Report.
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