Good Government Requires Bold Change

Occasionally, I am taken aback as I pass the sign announcing Sandy Springs along GA 400. Or drive by a City of Milton police car. Or read about a Johns Creek City Council meeting.

Who would have believed these residents would already have A Government of Their Own replete with numerous citizens' boards on which to participate and tax dollars budgeted with their interests in mind?

Less than three years ago, few thought cityhood for Sandy Springs was little more than a lovely dream, and Milton and Johns Creek were not yet a dream.

Even more impressive, the new cities were birthed as adolescents, each ranking in population in the top 25 out of 550 Georgia cities and totaling 175,000 residents.

Rarely does something so significant occur in such a short time.

The stunning, swift changes in north Fulton bear a message for all Georgians. It says that thoughtful, but bold change and a strong stomach can fix vexing problems in our communities and schools.

It strengthens my conviction that we can make things better. We can increase the statewide graduation rate, restrain and re-train government to do only what it does best, and, yes, re-create Milton County.

Just like the first governing leaders after the American Revolution, the new city councils are finding their bearings. Too, they are learning to govern, mostly congenially and occasionally not.

Most importantly - and easily obscured - new city residents are reaping the rewards of Government by the People. They have enjoyed practical and significant benefits since Day One of the cities' independence, a noticeable departure from America's early hard years.

The cities took over from Fulton County with hardly a hiccup in service delivery.

In fact, when compared to Fulton County's dismal level of service and value, I cannot think of even one service taken over by the cities that is not already better managed and at a lower cost per capita. Not one.

All 300,000 north Fulton residents benefit from tens of millions of tax dollars redirected back home to make sorely needed road, recreation and public safety improvements.

Pot holes are being repaired faster, someone actually answers the phone at a nearby city hall, and ordinances are being reworked with grassroots citizen input.

Drilling down individually, Milton launched and enhanced police and fire services in record time. Sandy Springs is tackling re-development of blighted, high crime neighborhoods long ignored by the county. And Johns Creek launched a legal fight against a precedent-setting adult sex-shop near neighborhoods and schools.

For context, the fledgling cities are making improvements in conjunction with a legislatively-imposed cap on property tax rates. They are the only cities in Georgia to offer such a protection and at a rate lower than all other 10 Fulton cities.

Less than a year old, Johns Creek already voted for a property tax rate roll-back to partially offset re-assessment increases. Good government does not have to mean expensive government.

Additionally, all three cities made the sound decision to "do" government differently and in a manner that reflects the competitive, quick-changing 21st century. They hired a private government-services delivery company, CH2M-Hill, to fulfill service needs other than public safety.

This model assures constant competitive pressure and greater flexibility, and will guard these cities from becoming the patronage engines that Fulton County and the City of Atlanta are now.

Already, the new cities are working with one another and Alpharetta and Roswell to share some facilities and training with the prospect of additional sharing in the future.

When you think about it, why would any government, including the state, counties, school boards and cities operate differently?

Challenges ahead? Sure, but accomplishing anything of significance requires overcoming challenges.

Perfect? Certainly not, but what is? Finally, though, residents' voices count in deciding what happens in their communities and how their hard-earned tax dollars are spent.

The new cities' successes offer lessons in how Georgia government at every level can be re-invented to actually, tangibly make things better for citizens by not settling for what is not working today.

Our country has a history of moving forward, never accepting status quo. It worked in America 200 years ago.

It is working today in Sandy Springs, Johns Creek and Milton. And it will work when we re-create Milton County in the not-so-distant future.