This summer, Mayor Franklin introduced a budget with a $56 million dollar gap that would be filled by a 3 mill property tax increase, costing property owners over $300 a year more in taxes. Most of the media and political community thought the vote was a no-brainer and would be approved with ease. The budget also called for this increase to end furloughs of Police, Fire and City Workers. At a 1 mill increase ($18 million), the furloughs could have been reinstated.
After 56,000 phone calls, hundreds of emails, 3 mobilizations at public hearings and successful coalition work with numerous organizations, the vote was only lost by 1. It was a bittersweet ending to a tough fight. We can only hope that with the removal of the Homeowner Relief Grants, a City-wide millage increase and the threat of Fulton County raising their millage to offset a budget shortfall, folks in the City of Atlanta and Fulton County can continue to call these places home.
Below are the Council votes and reasons for their votes. We find it very disappointing that most of the Council members who voted Yes claimed there were no other solutions. The FCTF has been offering solutions to this administration since its inception, solutions that work in over 70% of cities nation-wide.
How the City Council members voted and why
Carla Smith, District 1, YES
“It was the responsible thing to do. This doesn’t even fix everything. And nobody has a better solution.”
Kwanza Hall, District 2, NO
“The comfort level wasn’t there with my constituents.”
Ivory Lee Young, District 3, YES
“It is the absolute last resort. … If you vote no, you’ve got to provide an explanation to what the alternatives are.”
Cleta Winslow, District 4, NO
“I heard from my constituents. They can’t afford it. … It’s not going to end the [fire department] brownouts. It’s not going to open any new recreation centers.”
Natalyn Archibong, District 5, YES
“We needed to restore our public safety personnel. And we needed to make sure our bond ratings aren’t downgraded. We need to provide basic services, and we are not doing that right now.”
Anne Fauver, District 6, YES
“I’d like to challenge the people who voted no to find the cuts we need.”
Howard Shook, District 7, NO
“My constituents don’t think that a property tax increase is a creative answer to somewhat tired old problems.”
Clair Muller, District 8, NO
“I was worried about a tipping point [of homeowners leaving] some areas of the city. It was hard.”
Felicia Moore, District 9, YES
“I don’t know what else to do. I haven’t heard another solution. I can’t find another way to do it.”
C.T. Martin, District 10, YES
“Hopefully, we will have more creative innovations [in the future]. It’s clear we had no other viable options.”
Jim Maddox, District 11, NO
“I got a lot of calls from my constituents who asked me not to support it. … People are hurting. I think things are going to get better sooner than you think.”
Joyce Sheperd, District 12, YES
“The No. 1 issue for me was police and fire, and making city services better. That’s what my constituents said they wanted.”
Ceasar Mitchell, At-Large, Post 1, YES
“I pay taxes, like everyone else. No one wants a tax increase, but people want services.”
Mary Norwood, At-Large, Post 2, NO
“We don’t have access to all the numbers. I was not willing to support a tax increase.”
Lamar Willis, At-Large, Post 3, NO
“It was extremely difficult for me, as an at-large member, to support. People feel there’s tremendous mismanagement. The city didn’t look at all of its options aggressively.”
