Latest news with #SenateBill138
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
On the hook for new city‘s bills, Gwinnett takes legal action
Gwinnett County filed a new legal challenge Friday over a state law it says unfairly forces its taxpayers to cover services for the newly formed city of Mulberry. Channel 2's Matt Johnson reports that Senate Bill 138 is at the center of the fight. The bill requires Gwinnett County to continue providing services like road maintenance, stormwater management and police protection inside Mulberry city limits without reimbursement from the city's residents. County officials argue the law is unconstitutional and would place an unfair financial burden on the rest of Gwinnett's 1 million residents. 'There is a mandate for the county to provide those services at the expense of all county residents who do not live in the city,' said Gwinnett County Chairwoman Nicole Love Hendrickson. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] County officials say the law has four big problems for Gwinnett taxpayers: it takes away county legal protections, makes the county pay for Mulberry's stormwater upkeep, leaves them covering some police costs, and leaves them the bill for Mulberry's elections. Hendrickson said the county attempted to negotiate an intergovernmental agreement with Mulberry earlier this year but received no response. Mulberry Mayor Michael Coker pushed back on that claim. He said the city is trying to follow the law and wants the county to work with them, not against them. TRENDING STORIES: Body found in search for missing kayaker at Lake Lanier BioLab to close Rockdale County facility at center of chemical fire Fake Douglas Co. deputy claimed woman owed thousands in fines in theft plot, real deputies say 'We are a city, we are here to stay. Let's start working together,' Coker said. 'Despite repeat attempts by me to sit down to speak with the chairwoman, to speak with the commissioners, they've refused.' Coker said the county sent a draft agreement just before a key Senate hearing but included language questioning whether Mulberry was a legitimate city. The law provides a transition period for Mulberry to become fully operational. Mulberry, a city of about 42,000 residents, was approved by voters in 2024. This new lawsuit follows a separate challenge earlier this year, when a judge dismissed Gwinnett's attempt to block Mulberry from forming. This case targets the financial aspects, not the city's existence. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Gwinnett Co. announces legal action to block new law for Mulberry to take over public services
Gwinnett County vowed on Thursday to take legal action after it said a new state law unfairly shifts costs to taxpayers. Senate Bill 138 outlines how services are to be transferred to the new City of Mulberry. County leaders, though, say that SB 138 strips away legal protections and forces Gwinnett County to cover some stormwater repairs, police costs and even some of the city's election expenses. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] In a statement issued by the county, officials said they oppose the bill, which became state law on Thursday. 'I am committed to building a stronger, more prosperous future for all residents of Gwinnett County,' said Gwinnett County Chairwoman Nicole Love Hendrickson. 'This commitment includes a responsibility to ensure that all of Gwinnett County's residents and taxpayers, including those who live in Mulberry, are not unfairly burdened with costly, unworkable mandates." TRENDING STORIES: Gwinnett County's newest mayor describes cityhood transition as 'mafia movie' Local elections for new City of Mulberry to move forward after latest legal challenge Voters approved the future City of Mulberry. What's next? Additionally, the county said SB 138 removes the county's sovereign immunity benefits from all of their taxpayers and sets 'a dangerous precedent for other counties across the state of Georgia.' As far as the actual issues with the legislation, Gwinnett County officials said they had four major concerns, which are: Loss of sovereign immunity Unfunded stormwater mandates Unequal police funding obligations Elimination of election cost reimbursement After urging Gov. Brian Kemp to veto SB 138, which he did not do, commissioners said the county will pursue legal action to challenge what it calls the legislation's unconstitutional elements. The Association County Commissioners of Georgia also pushed back on SB 138. In a letter from the organization to Kemp, ACCG said despite its specificity to Gwinnett County, the bill "is nevertheless a general bill and could apply in the future to any county meeting its criteria, and to other counties if certain provisions of the bill are subsequently changed." The group said they were particularly concerned by the policy implications of SB 138's provision about a county that fails to meet obligations to a new municipality, saying that "if a new municipality obtains a court ruling that the county has violated any obligation under these new requirements, 'the sovereign immunity of such county and the governmental immunity of all local officials of such local governing body is waived in all matters arising during a period of one year from the date of such judicial finding.'" Put more plainly, ACCG said the sovereign immunity portion of SB 138 could make it so counties would be exposed to legal threats and liability for issues unrelated to disputes between governments, due to claims of violated agreements, for up to a year from a judicial finding saying as much. Gwinnett County says, should this policy proceed, it could end up with "much higher costs to provide county services and higher taxes for all Gwinnett taxpayers." [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Gwinnett County's newest mayor describes cityhood transition as ‘mafia movie'
The mayor of Gwinnett County's newest city compared his dealings with Gwinnett County to 'a mafia movie' during a legislative hearing Tuesday, where lawmakers advanced a bill that would force the county to work with the city. 'I feel like I'm in a mafia movie,' Mulberry Mayor Michael Coker told the House Intragovernmental Coordination Committee, describing what he called a systematic effort by county officials to undermine the city's existence. 'As the Mayor of the City of Mulberry, my number one priority is the safety and the well-being of my citizens.' Senate Bill 138, which passed with just one dissenting vote on Tuesday, would compel Gwinnett County to recognize Mulberry and maintain services during a two-year transition period. The bill now heads to the full House for consideration. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] 'They would like to see the city go bankrupt and be starved out. Lack of a better word, that is simply what they are trying to do,' said State Sen. Clint Dixon, the bill's sponsor. According to testimony, Gwinnett County has filed multiple lawsuits against Mulberry, banned county employees from communicating with city officials, and canceled hundreds of building permits without refunding fees after the city's incorporation. House Majority Leader Chuck Efstration, who represents Mulberry residents, condemned what he called 'underhanded tactics used by Gwinnett County to really thwart the will of the voters.' He added, 'We need good partnership between our city and county government to facilitate the transition period.' TRENDING STORIES: Police say Atlanta rapper's 'cowardly' actions led to innocent teens' birthday party murders Former customs agent convicted of smuggling 16 kilos of cocaine to Atlanta airport Suspect steals over $1,400 worth of items at Duluth Walmart Gwinnett County Attorney Michael Ludwiczak defended the county's position, asking lawmakers to allow the parties to resolve the dispute themselves rather than through legislation. 'I propose that the issues should be addressed not by the imposition of a legislative solution, but by an agreement prepared and approved by the parties themselves,' Ludwiczak said. The county attorney testified that Gwinnett had sent a proposed intergovernmental agreement to Mulberry's attorneys the day before the hearing. 'So, really, the very first indication, the very first detailed proposal that we received from Mulberry, indicative of what Mulberry was seeking from Gwinnett County, was in SB 138,' said Ludwiczak. 'That was the first time we received anything detailed from them in writing.' Mulberry, approved by voters in a referendum last year by a 14-point margin, is Gwinnett's newest city. The city was formed after residents complained they were not being adequately represented by county commissioners. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Despite the contentious relationship, Mayor Coker expressed hope for reconciliation. 'I have lived my entire life in Gwinnett County. I want both Mulberry and Gwinnett to succeed. This bill allows us to do that,' he said. If the bill passes the House, it will head to Governor Brian Kemp's desk for signature.
