Annexation Fact Sheet

There are currently up to 40 types of different annexation campaigns in Fulton County.  Some will succeed and some will not.  We anticipate fewer residents to be in unincorporated FC, and tax increases will be needed to support a new city. Sandtown's annexation effort is about choice and the community having input on their own destiny.  If the annexation campaign fails, our future is tied in with the remaining portions of unincorporated, and we lose the ability to choose later. For 2006, Fulton County will have the lowest millage rate but that corresponds with minimal service levels, which is less than what residents have received in the past. There is a staffing shortage in Fulton County, due to the flight to work for the new cities, bonuses are being discussed to keep personnel and that is greater use of tax dollars. Newly hired staff personnel have a learning curve and will take time to get up to speed in conducting County business efficiently.  Our tax dollars will not be optimized, meaning we will be getting far less than in the past. The Fulton County School Board has not responded to the overcrowding, ingress/egress issues. Other communities that send their children to Sandtown schools passing others in route will have to attend other Fulton County schools, if Sandtown becomes part of the Atlanta School System. While student enrollment is on the rise in Fulton County, it is decreasing in the city of Atlanta.  The student-teacher ratio is 1 and 16 versus Sandtown schools, which is 1 and 29. Atlanta Public School teacher salaries are higher than Fulton County Atlanta Public School test scores are inching up, whereas Fulton County remains stagnant. For the last 11 years, the 4 high schools in South Fulton have performed below the county, state and national averages.  Fulton County has not developed a strategy to help the South Fulton Schools Water surcharge on your bill disappears, if part of the city of Atlanta city water bill is 20-30% lower than a similar bill for an unincorporated resident of Fulton County In Fulton County, would have to pay to get bulk trash pick up reinstated Fulton county's tax on cable does not apply in city of Atlanta With decreased service levels, longer police and ambulance waits, lead to higher insurance costs on property and automobile coverage Park recreation programs are staffed by parents in Fulton County due to budget cuts.  Higher county taxes will cover this staffing issue. $300K that Sandtown was to receive to buy new park space, has disappeared Commitments to provide economic development to attract commercial Other services that are impacted and not fully supported by our current tax dollars include: municipal court and the county jail (overcrowding and failure to move on  arrest warrants) police: transfer of criminal evidence and case files) fire protection 911 service ambulance emergency services animal control water distribution sewage collection sewage treatment street maintenance/construction storm water management (runoff and flooding) erosion and sediment control code enforcement school roads                                                                                 Sandtown Annexation by Atlanta   back to top