Letter worries parks group

From the Marietta Daily Journal on Monday, September 22, 2008 by Marcus E. Howard, MDJ staff writer

MARIETTA — Members of the grassroots Cobb Parks Coalition, which is pushing for passage of a second $40 million parks bond referendum on the ballot in November, met on Sunday and expressed concerns that potential opposition by three Cobb mayors may derail their efforts.

Paul Paulson, leader of the coalition, said he doesn’t believe most residents in Cobb are as concerned about a tax increase that Marietta, Smyrna and Austell residents would have if voters approve the parks bond.

“I don’t think this is an issue of the people,” Paulson said. “I think this is a political issue among the mayors and (Cobb Commission Chairman) Sam Olens.”

From his experience at the North Georgia State Fair, where the coalition has a booth promoting the parks bond, Paulson said residents of the three cities whom he has talked to about the tax increase, tell him that they’re not worried about it.

“They say, ‘How much?’” recalled Paulson. “And I say, ‘$4 a year for a $100,000 house, and they say, ‘Are you kidding, that’s nothing, I don’t care.’”

About 50 coalition members met last night at the Georgia Dance Conservatory on the Marietta Square to discuss ways to get residents to vote for the parks bond. But, the topic that seemed to have aroused the most interest was the three cities controversy.

Marietta Mayor Bill Dunaway, Smyrna Mayor Max Bacon and Austell Mayor Joe Jerkins sent a letter to Olens on Sept. 3, which expressed their concerns that their residents would “unfairly” get a tax increase if the parks bond is approved.

The Cobb Commission unanimously approved the measure in July and those in favor of it, including Olens, have said that the tax increase was an unintended consequence of rushing to place it before voters on Election Day.

To finance the 15-year, $40 million bond, the county plans to divert revenue raised by .1 mills of county property taxes from the county’s fire fund to the debt fund. For taxpayers in unincorporated Cobb and the cities of Acworth, Kennesaw and Powder Springs, the net effect on property taxes is zero because the increase to the debt fund is offset by the decrease in the fire fund.

But for residents in Austell, Marietta and Smyrna — who do not pay any taxes toward the fire fund because all three cities have their own fire department — the .1 mills increase in the debt fund is not offset by anything, leading to a slight property tax increase.

For a person with a $200,000 home in those three cities, it equates to about $8 more per year in property taxes.

“As a taxpayer, I can’t imagine that $8 a year — if I don’t get a park in my city — is going to make me change my vote,” said coalition member Denis Krusac of Acworth. “I mean, as a taxpayer, I would want you to be the most cost effective with the dollars.”

Roger Buerki of east Cobb sat on the citizen’s advisory committee for the first $40 parks bond that was passed by voters in 2006. The Commission-appointed members of the committee look at nominated parkland, and then make a recommendation to the county about which land it should purchase.

“When we set up the first citizen’s advisory committee, one of the thoughts behind it was that politics and real estate sometimes get mixed up,” Buerki said. “The idea of having this citizen’s committee back there is kind of a presence and it keeps things on the up and up and keeps them balanced.”

Members at the meeting agreed that they cannot simply ignore the potential damage the tax increase matter could create. In effect, they decided that getting residents of the three cities to contact their city council members and advocate for the parks bond would offer the best solution.
“If you know anyone in the cities, suggest that to these people,” Paulson advised members. “When they think of the rewards, the penalty to me is so minuscule that it’s almost laughable.”
The county has purchased more than 309 acres using $37.67 million of the first parks bond and still has more than $2 million left that they could use to purchase land.

mhoward@mdjonline.com

3 Cobb mayors put up fight against parks bond

From the Atlanta Journal Constitution on Thursday, September 17, 2008 by Dan Chapman, AJC writer

Flush with $40 million in taxpayer-approved bonds, Cobb County officials set about two years ago buying up large tracts of land for much-needed parks. Green-space gems, like the Hyde and Bullard farms on each side of the county, were acquired to much public acclaim.

Cobb County commissioners figured that another $40 million bond, on the ballot Nov. 4, would be similarly welcomed.

But that was before it became clear this week that taxpayers in Marietta, Smyrna and Austell will see their taxes rise, albeit by a small amount, to finance the latest parks’ package. Those towns’ mayors have said they won’t endorse the financing formula unless they are guaranteed parks in or near their communities. Other county residents won’t pay more due to the bond’s unique financing method.

“I’m not opposed to the parks bond; I just want Marietta property owners to be treated fairly like the rest of the county,” said Mayor Bill Dunaway, adding that the upcoming bond could cost Marietta homeowners an additional $5 million in taxes over 15 years.

Sam Olens, who chairs the Cobb County Commission and strongly supports the bonds, said no deals will be made with Marietta, Smyrna and Austell.

Few Cobb residents dispute the need for more parks. Already, 90 percent of the county’s 220,000 acres are developed.

In 2006, more than 70 percent of voters approved the parks’ bond, which didn’t require any tax increase. A lengthy, and public, winnowing process reduced the number of properties for purchase to 18.

The county focused on plots that were large and/or historic. Eventually, five of the top six sites recommended by a citizens’ advisory committee were bought, including Hyde farm (135 acres along the Chattahoochee River in East Cobb) and Bullard farm (112 acres off Dallas Highway in West Cobb). In all, more than 300 acres have been placed into green perpetuity by the county.

“If you’re not thrilled by the last bond you’re an incorrigible cynic,” said Paul Paulson, who heads up a grass-roots organization that promotes the parks bonds. “Whether I live in Marietta or Austell, I’d be equally thrilled that the county bought property below Mableton.”

Only $3.5 million of the original $40 million remains uncommitted. It’s time, Paulson and Olens say, for another referendum.

A dozen of the initial 18 recommended sites remain high on the county’s wish list, including the 53-acre Tritt property on Roswell Road in Marietta. Bob Ash, director of the county’s Public Services Agency, said the souring economy should give the county more bang for its bond buck. The county owns or leases 5,439 acres of parkland.

Cobb’s recreational needs are shifting, Ash noted, with rugby, lacrosse, swimming and even water-polo aficionados looking for places to play. While big-acre plots remain a priority, park advocates and commissioners will also seek smaller, in-town properties if the November referendum passes.

Ash said so-called “pocket parks” – the county owns two of the traditional, city-styled parks with playgrounds and picnic tables – will likely be included. Oakdale Park, on Atlanta Road in Smyrna, fits the bill.

Koya Simpson, who played with daughter Sky at Oakdale earlier this week, said she’ll readily support another $40 million bond referendum.

“We need a place for kids to be happy and safe,” Simpson said. “And, it’s free.”

Maybe not. Simpson and fellow Mariettans, along with residents of Smyrna and Austell, would pay more. The owner of a $200,000 home would pay an additional $8 per year in taxes due to the complicated financing formula, which would transfer one-tenth of one mill from the county’s fire district tax to the county-wide debt service fund.

With fire departments of their own to support, the three towns don’t pay into the county’s fire service district.

On Sept. 3, the cities’ mayors wrote Olens to complain that the financing package would “unfairly impact” their taxpayers.

“I have asked Sam to either commit to buying some property within Marietta or give the Marietta parks department money for us to buy land,” Dunaway said via telephone Tuesday from Athens, Greece where he was vacationing. Olens said he wished Marietta, Smyrna and Austell wouldn’t have to pay additional taxes, but that it’s too late to rework the referendum in time for the Nov. 4 vote. He offered, instead, to appoint more Marietta-friendly members to the parks advisory committee.

“I made a good-faith attempt to assure (Dunaway) that we will look at the interests of the cities,” Olens said.

Parks bond concerns mayors

From the Marietta Daily Journal on Friday, September 18, 2008 by Ashley Hungerford, MDJ staff writer

MARIETTA - Three of Cobb's mayors have some concerns with the county's effort to pass a second $40 million parks bond because they said their residents would "unfairly" get a tax increase.

Marietta Mayor Bill Dunaway, Smyrna Mayor Max Bacon and Austell Mayor Joe Jerkins sent a letter to Cobb Chairman Sam Olens on Sept. 3 expressing their concerns.

"It's a question of fairness," Dunaway said. "There is no reason why city residents should pay more."

Smyrna Mayor Max Bacon said he's not opposed another parks bond, but said he would like a better understanding of how the county plans to finance the bond and how it affects his residents.

"We've got a couple of issues and concerns about how they're financing it," Bacon said. "But I'm confident that we'll work out whatever disagreements."

Austell Mayor Joe Jerkins said he feels everyone should be treated fairly.

"I don't see how they can penalize our citizens because we have a fire department," he said.

The tax increase for property owners in the three cities is due to the complicated financing of the bond.

To finance the 15-year, $40 million bond, the county plans to divert revenue raised by .1 mills of county property taxes from the fire fund to the debt fund.

For taxpayers in unincorporated Cobb, Acworth, Kennesaw and Powder Springs, the net effect on property taxes is zero because the increase to the debt fund is offset by the decrease in the fire fund.

But for residents in Austell, Marietta and Smyrna, the .1 mills increase is the debt fund is not offset by anything, leading to a slight property tax increase.

All three of the cities have their own fire departments and do not pay any taxes toward the county's fire fund.

For a person with a $200,000 home in those three cities, it equates to about $8 more per year in property taxes.

Cobb Chairman Sam Olens said the property tax increase for the three cities was an "unintended consequence," due to the rush to get the resolution approved by the Cobb Commission in time to get the measure on the November ballot.

The grassroots effort, led by the Cobb Parks Coalition, began pushing for a second parks bond early in the summer. The Commission unanimously approved the measure in July.

"When (Dunaway) pointed that out to me, he was 100 percent correct," Olens said. "We just didn't think about it."

Although he agrees the parks bond would lead to a property tax increase for residents in the three cities, Olens does not agree that it means those taxpayers would be paying to fund the bonds.

"Everyone will be paying .22 mills for the parks bond," he said. "I'm sorry with the way it came out. We didn't catch it."

Paul Paulson, leader of the Cobb Parks Coalition, said the move to get another parks bond passed was not meant to hurt any particular jurisdiction.

"It's unfortunate the way this worked out," he said. "But I believe that they will see that the small amount of money won't discourage them from voting to approve the bond ... I've talked to many people who've said without equivocation it's still worth it."

The coalition has a booth at the North Georgia Fair to help draw support for the bond measure.

But Dunaway said he still has trouble supporting something that would unfairly affect his residents.

"I'm not opposed to the parks bond, but I cannot endorse something that is unfair to Marietta tax payers," he said. "Sam (Olens), quite frankly, has showed no interest in addressing the fairness. He calls it whining."

Dunaway said he would like for the county to either guarantee that the bond would be used to purchase parkland within the city of Marietta, or give money to Marietta's parks department to purchase parkland itself.

"The city of Marietta residents are county residents too," he said.

That point Olens and Dunaway agree on.

But Olens does not agree that the county should write a check to Marietta for them to purchase parks.

"Parks should not be viewed as a city and unincorporated fight," he said. "They should be enjoyed by all."

He also said such a move would be inconsistent with the resolution approved by the Commissioners to put the measure on the ballot.

As far as guaranteeing that parkland would be purchased in Marietta, Olens said that's the purpose the citizen's oversight committee.

The advisory committee, appointed by the Cobb Commissioners, looks at all the nominated parkland, and then makes a recommendation of which land the county should purchased.

"I encourage all the mayors and cities to nominate good property for the parks bond," he said.

With the first $40 million parks bond, Cobb secured five of the six top properties proposed by the advisory committee.

Olens said he would agree to have one of his nominations onto the advisory committee be a city resident.

Larry Ceminsky, a member of the first advisory committee, agrees the financing was just an "unintended consequence," but said it won't stop him from supporting the bond.

"I would hope people realized we don't just live and stay in Marietta," Ceminsky, a Marietta resident, said. "I would hope we would go to parks throughout the county ... I think it's just a small price to pay for the value and benefit preserving parkland brings. I'm excited about the opportunity to acquire more parks space."

The county has purchased more than 309 acres using $37.67 million of the $40 million parks bond approved by voters in 2006. The county still has more than $2 million left that they could still use to purchase land.

The purchases include the 137.45-acre Stana property on Brownsville Road in southwest Cobb, $5.76 million; 112 acres of the Bullard-Stockton tract along Dallas Highway in west Cobb, $18.6 million; 26.5 acres of the Mabry Centennial Farm at the corner of Wesley Chapel and Sandy Plains Roads, $4.2 million; 16 acres near Henderson Road off Veteran's Memorial Highway near the Chattahoochee River, $2.4 million; and 17.7 acres of the Price property at Stilesboro Road near Acworth-Due West Road, $1.4 million.

The county will also use $5 million of the parks bond money to help purchase the 95-acre Hyde Farm in east Cobb.

ahungerford@mdjonline.com