The proposed City of Peachtree Corners is billed as a “City-lite”. The City will focus on 3 services: planning and zoning, code enforcement and solid waste disposal. This seems pretty limited on the surface, but a quick read of the Charter shows that these services are really a very small part of the story. Section 1.12 of the Charter lists the following “services” or “powers” the new government would provide the citizenry of Peachtree Corners:
1. Animal regulations...
2. Appropriations and expenditures. To make appropriations … to authorize the expenditure of money for any purposes authorized by this charter and for any purpose for which a municipality is authorized by the laws of the State of Georgia…
3. Building regulation. To regulate and to license the erection and construction of buildings and all other structures; to adopt building, housing, plumbing, electrical, gas, and heating and air-conditioning codes; and to regulate all housing and building trades...
4. Contracts. To enter into contracts and agreements with other governmental entities and with private persons, firms, and corporations...
5. Emergencies. To establish procedures for determining and proclaiming that an emergency situation exists within or outside the city and to make and carry out all reasonable provisions deemed necessary…
6. Environmental protection. To protect and preserve the natural resources, environment, and vital areas of the state through the preservation and improvement …
7. Fire regulations. To fix and establish fire limits and from time to time to extend, enlarge, or restrict the same…
8. General health, safety, and welfare. To define, regulate, and prohibit any act, practice, conduct, or use of property which is detrimental…
9. Gifts. To accept or refuse gifts, donations, bequests, or grants from any source for any purpose related to powers and duties of the city…
10. Health and sanitation. To prescribe standards of health and sanitation and to provide for the enforcement of such standards…
11. Jail sentences. To provide that persons given jail sentences in the municipal court may work out such sentences in any public works or on the streets, roads, drains, and other public property in the city; to provide for commitment of such persons to any jail; or to provide for commitment of such persons to any county work camp or county jail by agreement with the appropriate county officials…
12. Municipal agencies and delegation of power. To create, alter, or abolish departments, boards, offices, commissions, and agencies of the city and to confer upon such agencies the necessary and appropriate authority for carrying out all the powers conferred upon or delegated to the same…
13. Municipal debts. To appropriate and borrow money for the payment of debts of the city and to issue bonds for the purpose of raising revenue to carry out any project, program, or venture…
14. Municipal property ownership. To acquire, dispose of, lease, and hold in trust or otherwise any real, personal, or mixed property…
15. Municipal property protection. To provide for the preservation and protection of property and equipment of the city and the administration…
16. Nuisance. To define a nuisance and provide for its abatement whether on public or private property…
17. Penalties. To provide penalties for violation of any ordinances…
18. Planning and zoning. To provide comprehensive city planning for development by zoning; and to provide subdivision regulation and the like as the city council deems necessary…
19. Public hazards removal. To provide for the destruction and removal of any building or other structure…
20. Public improvements. To provide for the acquisition, construction, building, operation, and maintenance of parks and playgrounds, public grounds, recreational facilities, public buildings, and charitable, cultural, educational, recreational, conservation, and sport institutions, agencies, and facilities; and to regulate the use of public improvements…
21. Public utilities and services. To grant franchises or make contracts for or impose taxes on public utilities and public service companies and to prescribe the rates, fares, regulations…
22. Regulation of roadside areas. To prohibit or regulate and control the erection, removal, and maintenance of signs, billboards, trees, shrubs, fences, buildings, and any and all other structures…
23. Retirement. To provide and maintain a retirement plan for officers and employees of the city…
24. Roadways. To grant franchises and rights of way throughout the streets and roads and over the bridges and viaducts…
25. Special areas of public regulation. To regulate or prohibit junk dealers, pawn shops, the manufacture, sale, or transportation of any intoxicating liquors, alcoholic beverages, and the use of firearms; to regulate the transportation, storage, and use of combustible, explosive, and inflammable materials, the use of lighting and heating equipment, and any other business or situation…
26. Special assessments. To levy and provide for the collection of special assessments to cover the costs for any public improvements…
27. Taxes: ad valorem. To levy and provide for the assessment, valuation, revaluation, and collection of taxes on all property…
28. Taxes: other. To levy and collect such other taxes as may be allowed now or in the future by law…
29. Taxicabs. To regulate and license vehicles operated for hire…
All of these "services" and "powers" require employees, offices, computers, networks, switchboards, transportation, maintenance equipment, maintenance employees, code enforcement officers, judges, prosecutors, benefits, human resources, payroll, accounting, collections, contracts managers, etc. etc. etc.
Ask yourself how long one mil will pay the bills on all this? How much debt will the new city incur in start up costs alone? How long will a mayor of the largest city in Gwinnett with all this responsibility work for $9,000 a year?
Posted by: Ali
