In the ongoing partnership between the City of Tucker and DeKalb County, city officials are asking voters to decide whether now is the time to transition responsibility for roads and drainage from the County to the City.
Since the incorporation of Tucker in 2016, an intergovernmental agreement between DeKalb County and the City of Tucker has allowed the County to collect taxes for public works in return for providing roads and drainage maintenance as a service to the city.
To end the agreement the mayor and city council are asking residents to make a yes or no decision on the ballot on November 8th. Should a majority of voters agree to the change, the full responsibility for the work, as well as the associated funding, would be in the hands of the City of Tucker. This will include filling potholes, repairing sidewalks, railings, replacing faded street signs, and traffic signal repairs.
The educational materials available from the City of Tucker are largely focused on residential property. What will be the impact on commercial property? The proposed transfer of funding and the millage increase (0.000534) are the same for commercial as residential property. For example, a property with a County appraisal of $1 Million would see a property tax increase of $214.00.
If approved by voters, stormwater funding will also be transferred to the city with an increase from $48 per Equivalent Residential Unit (ERU) to $72 per ERU. This number is more in line with rates in nearby municipalities (I.e., Brookhaven, $94; Chamblee, $60; Decatur, $85 to $300; Dunwoody, $78.50).
Based on information provided by the City of Tucker, in 2022 the average response time from the County for stormwater catch basin repair is 4 months, potholes 3 months, and asphalt repair and patching nearly 7 months. The goal of the city is to increase response times on maintenance by 50% within the first two years. The City would assume responsibility for public works on July 1, 2023 with a projected annual budget of $6.5 Million.
The Tucker-Northlake CID will continue to advocate for improvements along commercial corridors on both sides of the city line within our 4.5-mile service area. For more details from the city visit tuckerga.gov/publicworks.