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Box 8, Folder 25, Document 7
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A RESOLUTION
ATLANTA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Atlanta Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors has long been vitally
concerned with the orderly and intelligent growth of the City of Atlanta, recognizing
full well the city's role and responsibilities as the heart of a great and growing metro-
politan area. The Board recognizes further that the growth and progress of the entire
five-county area have been, and will be in the future, directly related to the well-
being and continued healthy growth of the city itself.
The needs of the city and of the surrounding metropolitan area -- economic,
educational, cultural, recreational and others -- have been given attentive study by
the Atlanta Chamber, and its utmost efforts have been devoted to insuring that those
needs are met to the benefit and best possible advantage of all citizens.
As with other needs and problems, the Atlanta Chamber has studied and weighed
carefully the benefits inherent in the orderly extension of the city's boundaries to
include as part of the city certain areas adjacent to the present boundaries, and where
a substantial number of citizens already have expressed a desire for the opportunity
to become part of the city.
More specifically, the Atlanta Chamber has studied the feasibility of extending
the city's boundaries, provided there is a favorable expression on the part of the
residents involved, to include some portion or all of the unincorporated area of
North Fulton County known as Sandy Springs.
The findings of the Board of Directors on this matter are as follows:
1. Sandy Springs is an area of some forty square miles and is primarily of
residential development, where some 24, 000 citizens reside. A large portion of these
citizens earn their livelihood at jobs within the city of Atlanta, depend on the city for
many of their urban services, and avail themselves of city facilities and other ad-
vantages offered by their proximity to a metropolitan center.
2. In spite of their contributions in other ways to the progress of the city and
their dependence on the city for many things, the residents of Sandy Springs are
unable to participate in the affairs of the city by helping to select city officials or
by voting on programs undertaken by the city, around which most of their activities
and interests are centered.
38. The urban services provided to the residents of Sandy Springs, rendered for
the most part by the City of Atlanta on a contract basis, are not of the same high
level as similar services rendered to residents of the corporate city. Even so, some
of these services of necessity cost more for the Sandy Springs resident than a resident
of the City of Atlanta. The City of Atlanta receives no ad valorem taxes from Sandy
Springs residents, or from any other residents outside present city boundaries.
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4. Inclusion of any portion, or the entire area of Sandy Springs as part of
the city would result in considerable initial expense to the city because of the necessity
of improving the existing level of services to the area, particularly in the extension of
sewer service to some areas and in the upgrading of fire protection and sanitation
service. A substantial loss of revenue would be incurred by the city because of a
subsequent reduction in water rates to these residents. The city's collections of ad
valorem taxes within the area would not be nearly adequate to offset the increased
costs of providing improved urban services.
5. In addition to improved urban services, Sandy Springs residents would realize
other benefits, such as the addition of kindergartens to their schools, parks and re-
creational facilities, and others.
6. The actual increase in cost to Sandy Springs residents for these improved
services would be moderate. A higher rate of ad valorem taxes would be partly offset
by reduced service charges, and further offset by a reduction in fire insurance rates,
once the fire protection facilities of the area had been upgraded to the standards of the
City of Atlanta.
(EXAMPLE: Based on the latest information available to us today, a typical
Sandy Springs single-family frame residence, with a market value of $20, 000 and
located on a 100-foot lot, would cost its owner only about $38.00 more annually, or
about $3.00 per month, if located inside the City of Atlanta. Total taxes and service
charges on this home would be $64.00 higher but fire insurance rates about $26. 00
lower. )
7. The primary benefit to the city from addition of the area would be realized
not in tax dollars, but in the contributions of the Sandy Springs citizens to the growth
and progress of the city by their active participation in city affairs.
It is apparent to this Board that the inclusion of Sandy Springs as a part of the
City of Atlanta would be of mutual benefit to the residents of Sandy Springs and the city.
Although the change would be of significant cost to the city through the necessity of
improved services to the area, the Board feels that this is a responsibility which the
city should be willing to undertake.
Therefore, the Board of Directors recommends that the residents of Sandy
Springs be given the opportunity, in a referendum during 1966, to express their
preference on whether their area should become a part of the City of Atlanta. This
referendum should be duly called by legislation introduced by the Fulton County
delegation to the Georgia General Assembly.
The Board further strongly recommends that residents of Sandy Springs give
this matter attentive thought, considering all aspects of the question, including those
set out above, and that they accept the opportunity to join the City of Atlanta. This
Board is firmly of the opinion that undue delay in giving this matter thorough and
complete consideration would be detrimental to the best interest of both the Sandy
Springs area and the City of Atlanta.
December 31, 1965
ATLANTA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Atlanta Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors has long been vitally
concerned with the orderly and intelligent growth of the City of Atlanta, recognizing
full well the city's role and responsibilities as the heart of a great and growing metro-
politan area. The Board recognizes further that the growth and progress of the entire
five-county area have been, and will be in the future, directly related to the well-
being and continued healthy growth of the city itself.
The needs of the city and of the surrounding metropolitan area -- economic,
educational, cultural, recreational and others -- have been given attentive study by
the Atlanta Chamber, and its utmost efforts have been devoted to insuring that those
needs are met to the benefit and best possible advantage of all citizens.
As with other needs and problems, the Atlanta Chamber has studied and weighed
carefully the benefits inherent in the orderly extension of the city's boundaries to
include as part of the city certain areas adjacent to the present boundaries, and where
a substantial number of citizens already have expressed a desire for the opportunity
to become part of the city.
More specifically, the Atlanta Chamber has studied the feasibility of extending
the city's boundaries, provided there is a favorable expression on the part of the
residents involved, to include some portion or all of the unincorporated area of
North Fulton County known as Sandy Springs.
The findings of the Board of Directors on this matter are as follows:
1. Sandy Springs is an area of some forty square miles and is primarily of
residential development, where some 24, 000 citizens reside. A large portion of these
citizens earn their livelihood at jobs within the city of Atlanta, depend on the city for
many of their urban services, and avail themselves of city facilities and other ad-
vantages offered by their proximity to a metropolitan center.
2. In spite of their contributions in other ways to the progress of the city and
their dependence on the city for many things, the residents of Sandy Springs are
unable to participate in the affairs of the city by helping to select city officials or
by voting on programs undertaken by the city, around which most of their activities
and interests are centered.
38. The urban services provided to the residents of Sandy Springs, rendered for
the most part by the City of Atlanta on a contract basis, are not of the same high
level as similar services rendered to residents of the corporate city. Even so, some
of these services of necessity cost more for the Sandy Springs resident than a resident
of the City of Atlanta. The City of Atlanta receives no ad valorem taxes from Sandy
Springs residents, or from any other residents outside present city boundaries.
aa Oi
4. Inclusion of any portion, or the entire area of Sandy Springs as part of
the city would result in considerable initial expense to the city because of the necessity
of improving the existing level of services to the area, particularly in the extension of
sewer service to some areas and in the upgrading of fire protection and sanitation
service. A substantial loss of revenue would be incurred by the city because of a
subsequent reduction in water rates to these residents. The city's collections of ad
valorem taxes within the area would not be nearly adequate to offset the increased
costs of providing improved urban services.
5. In addition to improved urban services, Sandy Springs residents would realize
other benefits, such as the addition of kindergartens to their schools, parks and re-
creational facilities, and others.
6. The actual increase in cost to Sandy Springs residents for these improved
services would be moderate. A higher rate of ad valorem taxes would be partly offset
by reduced service charges, and further offset by a reduction in fire insurance rates,
once the fire protection facilities of the area had been upgraded to the standards of the
City of Atlanta.
(EXAMPLE: Based on the latest information available to us today, a typical
Sandy Springs single-family frame residence, with a market value of $20, 000 and
located on a 100-foot lot, would cost its owner only about $38.00 more annually, or
about $3.00 per month, if located inside the City of Atlanta. Total taxes and service
charges on this home would be $64.00 higher but fire insurance rates about $26. 00
lower. )
7. The primary benefit to the city from addition of the area would be realized
not in tax dollars, but in the contributions of the Sandy Springs citizens to the growth
and progress of the city by their active participation in city affairs.
It is apparent to this Board that the inclusion of Sandy Springs as a part of the
City of Atlanta would be of mutual benefit to the residents of Sandy Springs and the city.
Although the change would be of significant cost to the city through the necessity of
improved services to the area, the Board feels that this is a responsibility which the
city should be willing to undertake.
Therefore, the Board of Directors recommends that the residents of Sandy
Springs be given the opportunity, in a referendum during 1966, to express their
preference on whether their area should become a part of the City of Atlanta. This
referendum should be duly called by legislation introduced by the Fulton County
delegation to the Georgia General Assembly.
The Board further strongly recommends that residents of Sandy Springs give
this matter attentive thought, considering all aspects of the question, including those
set out above, and that they accept the opportunity to join the City of Atlanta. This
Board is firmly of the opinion that undue delay in giving this matter thorough and
complete consideration would be detrimental to the best interest of both the Sandy
Springs area and the City of Atlanta.
December 31, 1965
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