Georgia Senate panel OKs Buckhead cityhood bills
Bills face uncertain future
A Georgia Senate committee has advanced two bills that would allow the north Atlanta neighborhood of Buckhead to break away and form their own city.
In a 4-3 party line vote, the Senate State and Local Government Operations Committee’s Republican majority passed Senate Bills 113 and 114, sending them to the Senate floor for further debate. Critics have pointed out that none of the four Republicans who voted to approve the bill are from the Atlanta area.
If approved by the legislature, voters in Buckhead would be allowed to vote on the issue of cityhood in the November 2024 general election. Some residents of the upscale neighborhood have grown frustrated with what they believe has been a lack of action from Atlanta leaders on issues like crime and city services.
Buckhead cityhood was debated in previous legislative sessions, but supporters believe that the movement could gain steam this year following the election of Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, who supported the movement as a State Senator. But he appears to have softened his stance since the start of the new session.
The bills still face an uncertain future. Gov. Brian Kemp has forged a great working relationship with Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens and has assured city leaders that he will not take up the issue this session. House Speaker Jon Burns has said that he would like to give city and state officials more time to try and reduce crime before he allows lawmakers to intervene.