Fulton Commission Chairman Robb Pitts
Fulton County Commission Chairman Robb Pitts is creating a study commission to review the county’s current service delivery structure and make new recommendations going forward.
“In the business world, people use the word “disruption” to mean a change in the way businesses operate. Amazon is a classic example that transformed the way many of us shop,” said Pitts.
“In the world of local government, Fulton County has been “ground zero” for transforming local government. As much has changed over the last decade, there is much more that can be – and should be – done.”
Since 2005, five new cities have been created in Fulton County – Sandy Springs (2005), Johns Creek (2006), Milton (2006), Chattahoochee Hills (2006), City of South Fulton (2017) – reducing the amount of land governed or serviced by the county down to a fraction of its former size. The only remaining unincorporated part of the county is a seven-mile stretch along Fulton Industrial Boulevard. And even that has caught the eye of both Atlanta and South Fulton for possible annexation.
According to Pitts, the state’s Department of Community Affairs listed the county as responsible for delivery and strategy of more than forty services in 2005. Fourteen years later, and with a fraction of its former purview, most of these services, including fire, police, zoning, planning, parks and recreation are provided almost exclusively by the new city governments.
There are still services that all the new cities still leave up to the county, including driver services. Just this week, Tax Commissioner Arthur Ferdinand – the highest paid employee in the state of Georgia – joined Fulton County District 1 Commissioner Liz Hausmann to help Kroger open a car tag payment kiosk at the Johns Creek Kroger store. The county also recently announced more than $65 million in funding to Grady Hospital for construction of a new surgery center. Fulton is expected to eventually donate nearly $75 million and DeKalb County is expected to donate nearly $37 million.
In light of this reduced role, Pitts is calling for a new look at county government.
“So, as a result of the creation of the new cities, what services should Fulton County provide to its citizens? To answer this question, there are two factors for us to consider: What services does the constitution of the state of Georgia require that Fulton County provide? What services does state legislation require Fulton County to provide?
As we consider the list of remaining services, we should carefully weigh whether Fulton County or its cities are the logical and most efficient provider of those services, remembering that the cost of providing countywide services is borne by all of the taxpayers in Fulton County.”
Pitts suggests a few services that could use another look, including elections – always a hot button as Fulton County is perennially the last results to come in on the big day, animal control, 911 and housing. He also points out the need to consider what the right number of employees may need to be. Before Sandy Springs came along, the county had roughly 6,500 employees. Today it is a bit more than 4,500.
Pitts and the county will be looking for public input from residents and business owners. Keep an eye out as official public input meetings are announced.
