None of the new cities proposed in central DeKalb County will make it through the Legislature this year.
In a meeting of the House Governmental Affairs Committee March 17, legislators said part of a last-minute agreement struck between Lakeside and Tucker advocates was that the two cityhood efforts would move forward together – something that won’t be possible this year.
“I’m very proud of the Tucker and Lakeside proponents who sat down and hammered out this deal,” Rep. Mike Jacobs, (R-Brookhaven) said. “I’m asking the committee today not to move forward with any of these bills so that we can come back and do this the right way in 2015.”
Jacobs, who participated in the negotiations between the two groups, said a significant change to the legislative process would have been required in order to approve both cityhood efforts this year. Just two legislative days are left before the end of the 40-day session, which is scheduled for March 20.
“I fully support this compromise between Tucker and Lakeside and I hope that it will continue forward in the future,” Jacobs said.
Sen. Fran Millar, (R-Dunwoody), was the sponsor of the bill to incorporate a city of Lakeside. He withdrew the bill after committee members said they agreed that it should be postponed.
“What you’re basically telling 70,000 people is they don’t have the opportunity to vote this year,” Millar said.
Millar said he would not be bringing the bill back before the Legislature next year.
“These people were not treated fairly,” Millar said. “When Republicans don’t let people vote for self determination … then shame on us.”
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