Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has signed a measure that allows for a local referendum in Gwinnett County. This referendum will give voters the opportunity to decide whether or not to establish a new city in the county.
Voters will have the opportunity to decide in November on the establishment of a new city called Mulberry. This proposed city would encompass approximately 25.9 square miles in northeastern Gwinnett County and would be home to an estimated 41,000 residents. Senate Bill 333 aims to give residents the chance to determine the future of their community.
House Majority Leader Chuck Efstration, R-Auburn, expressed his excitement over the opportunity for residents in northeast Gwinnett to have local control over planning and zoning decisions without the burden of a city property tax. As a resident of the proposed city, he has been a strong supporter of the cityhood effort and intends to continue expressing his support for Mulberry when it comes up for a vote.
Efstration’s office has enlisted the services of Atlanta-based KB Advisory Group to assess the fiscal viability of the proposed new city. According to the firm’s analysis, the city would be financially sustainable even without the introduction of a property tax.
State Representative Dewey McClain, a Democrat from Lawrenceville, expressed concern over the impact of the Mulberry referendum. He pointed out that out of the 980,000 residents in Gwinnett, only 40,000 would have the opportunity to vote on the issue. This means that the remaining 940,000 residents, who will be affected by the outcome, will not have a say in the matter. McClain also highlighted that the incorporation of Mulberry would result in a loss of $9 million in tax revenues for Gwinnett County.
During the debate on the House floor, McClain emphasized the need for someone to step up and take responsibility for the $9 million. “It’s important to understand that this is not a free lunch, breakfast, dinner, or even a snack,” McClain stated. “So, the question remains: who will bear the burden of this $9 million? It falls on the shoulders of the other 940,000 individuals who did not have a say in how this money is being allocated.”
According to my constituents, this study should have taken a minimum of two years to complete. They are even suggesting that the name of the city should be changed to “the city of the freeloaders.”