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Community Corner

OUTRAGED SOUTH FULTON RESIDENTS SAY NO TO ANNEXATION OF UNINCORPORATED SOUTH FULTON COUNTY

A group of residents from all areas of unincorporated South Fulton County have come together to stop efforts to annex portions of their community. 

In response to Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed’s recent visits to the area to sway citizens into joining Atlanta, residents want to make sure that their neighbors have the facts before taking him up on his offer.  Residents realize that solid schools, competent public safety, and tax hikes are at stake if anyone decides to annex into the city.

“We have the facts, not rhetoric, to support our opposition to being annexed into Atlanta. Residents must make an informed decision about annexation,” says Kevin Grimes, the Chairman of the newly formed coalition of concerned communities. The group known as GO South Fulton has compiled factual data that shows a 6.05% increase in taxes immediately for residents that change their address from south Fulton to Atlanta. 

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Linda Bryant, Fulton County School Board member confirmed that Westlake High School, Sandtown Middle School and A. Philip Randolph Elementary schools are not part of the deal. “If you go into Atlanta your children will attend Atlanta City Schools” says Bryant.    

Atlanta public schools, already under fire for the highly publicized cheating scandal, is now under fire again, for the non-inclusive, non-transparent method used to replace the embattled former School Superintendent. “We do not need to unnecessarily subject our children to the confusion and controversy plaguing the Atlanta School System,” says organizers of this anti annexation effort.

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Fulton County Schools have a 71.5% graduation rate vs. 54.8% graduation rate in Atlanta Public Schools, the second lowest in the state.

Neighbors believe it was Mayor Reed who prevented their ability to vote yes or no on a referendum to create a city in south Fulton County. “We want the same opportunity to govern ourselves, preserve our lifestyles, educate our children, develop our communities and prepare for our future just like they can” says the GO South Fulton leadership.

The City of Atlanta currently pays $250,000 per year to Fulton County to provide fire services to the most recently annexed area. GO South Fulton members believe it shows that Atlanta is already incapable of handling all of the public safety for the area annexed six years ago. “Annexation is a matter of free choice but residents should make an informed decision and not be misled into Atlanta and left to wander,” Grimes adds.        

If you would like more information contact Go South Fulton at 404-748-9504, or email Kevin Grimes at grimetime2000@gmail.com.

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