S. Fulton Clergy Hold Town Hall Meeting to Know What's Really Going On Under the Gold Dome

On Tuesday, March 5, at 7 p.m., various South Fulton clergy will invite Fulton County Commissioner William “Bill” Edwards to join them and the community from throughout South Fulton to hold a Town Hall meeting to discuss several bills that are under consideration by the General Assembly.

According to the Office of Communications, the meeting will be hosted by Jackson Memorial Baptist Church located at 534 Fairburn Road, NW, Atlanta, GA 30331.

Participating clergy will include Reverend Gregory Sutton, Reverend Andrew Stephens, Reverend Warren Henry, Reverend Walter Kimbrough, Reverend Gregory Pollard, Pastor Gary Taylor, Bishop Alonzo Terry, and others.

Discussion will focus on House Bills 170, 171 and 172 and the impact they will have on citizens of South Fulton County, along with other legislation introduced during the 2013 session of the Georgia General Assembly. Here is a video of Commissioner Darnell showing her opposition to the bills.

House Bill 170 would have significant economic impact on Fulton County by doubling the current homestead exemption and freezing Fulton County’s millage rate for a period of two years.  It is estimated that the bill could result in revenue loss of approximately $48 million per year when fully implemented.  Revenue loss would affect the Fulton County General Fund, which funds services including libraries, senior centers, homeless programs, Grady Hospital and health centers.    

House Bill 171 was approved by the Georgia House of Representatives by a vote of 99 to 54 on Friday, March 1, 2013.  The Bill will now move to the State Senate for consideration. The bill calls for significant redistricting throughout Fulton County including the addition of one additional district Commissioner and the elimination of one at-large position. HB 171 places Commissioner William “Bill” Edwards and Vice Chair Emma I. Darnell in the same geographic district.

House Bill 172 would affect civil service protections for Fulton County employees. Any new employees, or any current employees who change jobs, would be placed in unclassified status.

See Also...