South Fulton's 2022 City Budget
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The primary responsibility of government, at every level — from Congress to your local City Council — is passing a Budget. The City Budget determines how tax dollars collected by the city are spent. The Calendar by which governments (and businesses) spend money is known as the Budget Year or Fiscal Year (FY).
Police are South Fulton's largest expense, making up 25 percent of the budget their restricted funds are included. The City spends 1 percent of its budget on Economic Development.
 Click to View South Fulton's Final FY2021 Budget
City of South Fulton's Fiscal Year begins each October 1 (just like a school calendar, where the 2021 School Year begins in Fall 2020).
The Federal Government's Fiscal Year also beings October 1. The Fiscal Year for Fulton County begins January 1. The Fiscal Year for Fulton County Schools begins July 1. The Fiscal Year for the State of Georgia begins July 1. Section 3.25 of South Fulton's City Charter (lines 745-46) charges City Manager Tammi Saddler-Jones to present a Budget to City Council each year for them review and approve. Click the image to review the City Manager's Proposed FY2021 Budget. |
Millage Rate & Property Taxes ExplainedThe rate at which real estate property is taxed is known as the Millage Rate. Only property owners pay these taxes — not renters (although increases in these taxes may be passed on to renters in the form of increased rents.
This video explains how millage rates are calculated and what property taxes are shared by the city, county and school system; as well as how to calculate what the property taxes on your home will be. SOUTH FULTON CITIZENS:
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Councilman khalid Defeats 2020 Pandemic Tax Hike
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During last year's Budget Hearings, then-City Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Frank Milazi & City Manager Odie Donald proposed raising South Fulton's property tax rate from 11.579 to 13.399 — an increase of over $1,000 per year on a house valued at $200,000.
In a passionate dissent during South Fulton's final Property Tax Increase Hearing September 3, Councilman khalid outlined $6 million worth currently unfunded priorities across several city departments. He then challenged his colleagues on City Council to commit to only spending the proceeds of a proposed tax hike on services to residents, blighted property and road improvements — not rented buildings and new city administrative departments. "If we're paving streets, repairing bridges or picking up trash, I can get with that. But I am not raising taxes so we can rent more government buildings or pay for Roger Bruce's legal department." The video of that September 3 meeting has been removed from the City's YouTube page. |
City of South Fulton Residents pay some of the lowest legal fees, per resident, in Georgia.
South Fulton was set to spend up to $5 million to renovate 30,000 square feet of space in the old Ingles at 7490 Old National Highway, which is managed by a major contributor to Bill Edwards. The developers then planned to rent the city-developed space back to South Fulton for $18,886 per month. In the light of media attention brought to the issue back Councilman khalid, that plan failed.
Some of the proposed tax hike might pay for more police, but Councilman khalid is skeptical of this use. "We cannot police our way to prosperity," he says, pointing to Atlanta's recent loss of a $4 million grant to train youth and low-skilled workers. In 2020, State Representative Roger Bruce authored legislation ordering the city to create an in-house legal department, an expense estimated to cost over $1 million. Currently, South Fulton contracts for legal services with the law firm Fincher-Denmark. South Fulton residents are currently paying some of Georgia's lowest legal costs, per resident.
Though Councilman khalid successfully rallied the public to cut the Property Tax increase in half (from 13.399 to 12.899), members of City Council voted to create Bruce's legal department. Then-City Manager Odie Donald assured something could be created for the same price as the city currently pays to outsource for legal services. However, when Councilman khalid asked for details on such a department, it was suggested such details be discussed in Executive Session, out of the public view. In 2021, South Fulton's legal expenses have ballooned from $672,000 to over $2 million. |
Memo from City Manager's Office reveals buildout costs for Public Safety center could be $5 million.
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South Fulton is considering spending $5 million to renovate an old nightclub it will then rent back from the shopping center owner for over $18,886 per month.
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Some of the proposed million-dollar tax hike could go to the maintenance of Wolf Creek Amphitheater. The City plans to purchase the amphitheater from Fulton County for $1.2 million in December 2020. An independent inspection of the facility has not yet been conducted. Bathrooms at Wolf Creek flooded regularly during concerts in 2019. In 2017, Wolf Creek Managers Lisa Rushin and Sandy Poag were fired by Fulton County Manager Dick Anderson for "poor management" of the facility The County drained an Enterprise Fund established to pay for the maintenance of Wolf Creek as it fought lawsuits by the former employees.
The transfer of the property never took place. |
Councilman khalid Proposes Revitalizing Old National Over Raising Property TaxesNearly 70 percent of South Fulton's revenue is derived from property and sale taxes paid by residents. Currently, 84 percent of the land in the City of South Fulton is zoned residential or agricultural. Old National has the citiy's highest density of commercially-zoned land. It also has the highest density of residents and mass transit and is one exit from the world's busiest airport. Though left under-developed for decades by College Park and Fulton County, it is primed to become South Fulton's central business district.
Councilman khalid at the South Perimeter Group are currently working with a developer on a multimillion-dollar, mixed use development whose first phase will be Senior Housing. These will be the first new apartments built on Old National in 40 years. Watch this presentation here to learn more. |
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