NOTES FROM RECENT COMMUNITY MEETING Great turnout from across the entire Tucker community for the Tucker 2015 Community Meeting this week! The goal was to gather input, and as always Tucker residents were eager to respond. Following an update from Michelle Penkava and Frank Auman on the current legislative process, attendees spoke directly with Tucker 2015 volunteers at various information stations. Key topics raised by meeting attendees include: City boundaries - Residents expressed support for the proposed City of Tucker map, and expressed concern over long-standing Tucker neighborhoods being drawn into other cityhood maps. Tucker 2015 volunteers encouraged residents in those areas to engage their neighbors so that informed decisions can be made with all voices represented in the boundary discussions. Schools - Questions indicated confusion continues about the issue of cityhood and schools. Despite misinformation to the contrary, cityhood in no way impacts school attendance lines. The Dekalb County School District along with the DeKalb County School Board makes decisions about school attendance lines. The school system is a wholly distinct entity, separate from Dekalb County government. City services - Tucker 2015 volunteers outlined Tuckers approach to create a fiscally conservative city with room to grow based on community input and support. Standing up the City of Tucker on a solid foundation of three cost-effective services means we will have time to assess the real revenues that will be generated to fund city services, in order for voters in our immediate area to make informed decisions. For example, while the plan is for police services to continue to be provided by DeKalb County, Tuckers charter will allow the City of Tucker with support from its citizens to add police and/or other services based on need and financial ability. That way, instead of immediately going into debt for the investment required in vehicles, facilities, training, manpower, 911 call services, and other essential components of a quality police department, city citizens can decide when and what investment is wisest. Police services can consume more than 60% of a city budget, meaning fewer funds for economic development aimed at attracting quality investments to support a sustainable local tax base. Tucker 2015 believes these complex factors deserve to be considered by all citizens who will bear the cost, not simply a small group of unelected volunteers. What’s next? City of Tucker supporters were asked to: • Host a neighborhood meeting • Place a yard sign • Educate at least 5 people on the facts about the City of Tucker
Posted on: Fri, 19 Sep 2014 15:07:45 +0000
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