DeKalb Fighting Decatur Annexation

Decatur's facing an uphill fight to annex Suburban Plaza and the Publix-anchored Emory Commons Shopping Plaza.

The DeKalb County Board of Commissioners has approved a resolution opposing the annexation plan, saying it “would increase the tax burden to both property owners targeted for annexation and taxpayers throughout unincorporated DeKalb County.”

In the Crossroads News, BOC legislative consultant Phyllis Mitchell was quoted as saying,

“We believe that the county needs the opportunity with the creation of Brookhaven and the creation of Dunwoody to assess what is the immediate financial impact on the county. And we need a chance to look at the ongoing effects on unincorporated DeKalb County.”

The city first talked about annexing six areas outside the city, which would have brought in about 2,000 new residents. The county didn't like losing property-tax-producing land and the city school system worried about an influx of new students.

In December, the city pared down the proposal. The city commission voted to only annex the two shopping centers and surrounding neighborhoods. That would include about 500 residents, with about 45 age 16 and under.

Decatur Mayor Jim Baskett

We don’t have somebody in the legislature to champion it, to carry the bill for us. I’ve talked to some legislators about it and haven’t had any expression of enthusiasm from them. I’ve spoken to Burrell Ellis and of course there’s not going to be any enthusiasm for it from the county.

It appears the annexation could be approved by special legislation in the General Assembly rather than referendum because so few residences are affected.

Here are some previous Patch stories about annexation.

• Decatur taxes bashed at annexation hearing.

• Report says annexation would swell school system attendance.

• Decatur school system starts annexation blog.
• Decatur planning to annex.

• Mayor says the city should annex Suburban Plaza.

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• Annexation foes create a website.

• Could a 'City of DeKalb' affect annexation timetable?