What a coincidence that Cobb County and the city of Smyrna are expected to become the new home of the Atlanta Braves in 2017. Cobb also happens to be the home turf of an all-star roster of affluent, experienced and motivated Not-In-My-Backyard activists. When they realize how and how much the county’s expected $300 million contribution to the stadium’s construction is going to fall on the backs of Cobb taxpayers, these NIMBYs may be ready to make a call to the bullpen for relief, in the form of new elected representatives. Is this whole affair a political suicide squeeze? There’s no way to know for sure right now. It’s still the top of the first. Drifting
Atlanta, Fulton Co. square off in tax fight
The City of Atlanta has long used tax allocation districts (TADs) as an economic development tool, leveraging property tax increases to pay for local infrastructure projects. But the Fulton County Commission has slammed on the brakes, voting 4-1 to reject a proposed 30-year extension of Atlanta’s TADs. That sets up a major budgetary clash, as the Fulton TADs would be expected to generate over a billion dollars over that period. Now the county will vote on TADs on a case by case basis, with stricter oversight and enforcement, leaving Atlanta’s money faucet DRIFTING…
