The potential incorporation of Dunwoody has proven to be one of the most challenging issues to face DeKalb County in recent memory. In order to determine the overall impact upon DeKalb County, residents, and the business community, the Chamber has sought answers to the difficult questions for 2-3 years. Initially, the Chamber issued a statement of opposition to the legislation as sponsored by Senator Dan Weber, District 40 due to inadequate information regarding estimates and funding mechanisms. However, SB 82 failed to receive a vote during the 2007 Session of the General Assembly.
 

This year, SB 82 passed at the conclusion of the Legislative Session. It was signed into law by Governor Sonny Perdue on March 25, 2008. In an effort to conduct proper due diligence, the DeKalb Chamber Board of Directors elected to delay their decision on re-issuing a follow up statement. Subsequently, the Chamber has participated in one public meeting sponsored by the Dunwoody Homeowners Association. We later served as co-hosts at an event forum specifically focused on the City of Dunwoody with the League of Women Voters (LWV) of DeKalb County at Georgia Perimeter College. The panelists and audience members were able to hear the issues and concerns surrounding city hood.

In addition to public forums, the Chamber researched and conducted a thorough analysis of the numbers/statistics and communicated with nearby business groups, professionals, and business representatives. The Chamber does not agree in totality with all sentiments expressed. However, we do have an understanding of the rationale and perspective of many of the current residents of Dunwoody. Moreover, the Chamber believes that all citizens have the right to self determination and deciding what form of government is best for them. Generally speaking, many businesses in the Dunwoody area have found the County and elected officials responsive and amenable to their specific interests.

Based on the review of the data, the Chamber believes that a City of Dunwoody would have a profoundly negative impact on the business community. A few of the reasons are outlined briefly below.

• There are significant reservations about the projected revenues and expenses that have been presented thus far. It has been reported that the anticipated $1.4 million in Homestead Option Sales Tax (HOST) revenues have been deleted from projected revenues. Yet, the 2008 Carl Vinson Institute fiscal analysis continues to show this figure within the line items under anticipated revenues. The critical issues of public safety expenditures and parks and recreation acquisition costs are major concerns. Not to mention, soaring oil prices will directly impact capital improvements such as road paving.

• Taxation is another major factor. The City charter dictates that the millage rate imposed for ad valorem taxes on real property shall not exceed 3.04 unless a higher limit is recommended by resolution of the City Council and approved by a majority of the qualified voters of the City of Dunwoody voting on the issue. Residents within the proposed city will also benefit from the property tax freeze on assessments. Most importantly, the charter further adds that Council may be able to levy and collect such other taxes and fees as may be allowed now or in the future by law. This leads one to question what those allowable taxes and fees might be and who would be responsible for paying them.

• The City of Dunwoody is solely dependent upon sales tax revenue due to HOST. If projected revenues wane or the economy continues on a recessionary trend, there are concerns about an increase in the cost of doing business in this regional employment center. Not to mention commercial property owners in the area already assess themselves an additional four (4) mills for being located within the Perimeter Community Improvement Districts. The Chamber is concerned that the financial burden/impact will create a negative affect for businesses located within Dunwoody. Any shortfall may come at the expense of business through the paying of higher fees and assessments.

• From a Regional perspective, there exists the question of how the new city will interact with other municipalities in providing solutions to our shared dilemmas. Planning and development professional research indicate that it becomes more difficult to solve regional problems as the number of governmental entities increase. All of us in and outside of the Atlanta metropolitan areas must think regionally in order to solve our transportation, health care, and environmental issues. A failure to cooperate regionally is a failure to grow economically.

Due to the concerns outlined above, the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce must voice opposition to the creation of the City of Dunwoody.