Representative Mike Jacobs

As I knock on doors and talk with constituents in our community, I am frequently asked to explain the various constitutional amendments and ballot questions on which we’ll be voting this year. Here is some information to help you make informed decisions about this year’s ballot issues:

Amendment 1 (Statewide): “To encourage the preservation of Georgia’s forests through a conservation-use property tax reduction program.”

This will allow owners of at least 200 acres of forested land a property tax reduction if they agree to preserve the forest. If the land owner breaks the agreement within fifteen years, all back taxes and penalties must be paid.

Amendment 2 (Statewide): “To authorize local school districts to use tax funds for community redevelopment purposes.”

Tax Allocation Districts (TADs) are created to finance infrastructure projects in blighted or economically distressed areas by capturing increases in property taxes that result from increased property values.

Local school districts had participated in TADs based on the theory that school systems would benefit as higher property values resulted in increased school tax funding. Earlier this year, the Georgia Supreme Court held school district participation in TADs unconstitutional. This amendment would reverse the Supreme Court’s decision.

The problem is that in recent years, TADs have been used to benefit developers in areas that are not blighted or economically distressed. The recently adopted TAD at North Druid Hills and Briarcliff Roads is an example of this. On the other hand, the redevelopment of Atlantic Station is generally regarded as an appropriate and successful use of a TAD.

Please click here for prior commentary I wrote about this amendment.

Amendment 3 (Statewide): “To authorize the creation of special Infrastructure Development Districts providing infrastructure to underserved areas.”

Infrastructure Development Districts (IDDs) would allow developers to create infrastructure like roads and sewers in new developments and levy taxes on future property owners to pay for the improvements. This would allow counties and cities to finance infrastructure in a defined area without raising taxes on all property owners. However, it also gives private entities the power to float bonds and levy taxes.

DeKalb County Referendum: “Shall the Act be approved which provides for the presiding officer to preside over meetings of the DeKalb County Commission and for the commission to establish its own agenda for such meetings?”

This will rein in the powers of the DeKalb CEO and enable our elected county commissioners to be a more effective “check and balance” against the CEO’s powers. I was proud to co-sponsor and champion this legislation in the House of Representatives. I encourage you to vote YES on this measure.

Please click here for more information about this referendum.

DeKalb County Board of Education Nonbinding Advisory Referendum: “Should the DeKalb County Board of Education require that students in kindergarten through fifth grades wear school uniforms?”

This vote is advisory only and will not force any action by the School Board.

Tuesday, August 5, is Georgia’s primary runoff election. Your polling place will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

This election includes only those party primaries for offices where no candidate received at least 50% of the vote in the July 15 primary election. Since there are no Republican primary races in DeKalb County where a candidate failed to receive 50% of the vote, only the Democrats will have a runoff. Here is the sample ballot (click for link) for the Democratic runoff election.

There are certain rules governing whether you can vote in this particular election, depending upon whether you selected a Republican or Democratic ballot in the July 15 primary election, or did not vote in that election. One of our District 80 neighbors, Jeff Turnage, sent the following helpful summary to his neighborhood e-mail distribution list:

I voted absentee in July. Can I vote in the run-off in person? YES!

I did early voting in July. Can I vote in person on Tuesday? YES!

I consider myself a Republican, but did not vote in July. Can I vote next Tuesday, even though only Democrats are running? YES!!

If I, as a Republican, vote in the Democratic run-off next week, will I still be able to vote a Republican ticket in November’s General (i.e., Presidential) Election? ABSOLUTELY YES!

I voted a Republican ticket in the July Primary. Can I vote in next week’s run-off? NO … I’M SORRY, BUT YOU CANNOT.

I voted a Democratic ticket in the July Primary. Can I vote in next week’s run-off? YES … OF COURSE YOU CAN.

Now for a final bit of my own pre-election editorializing:

The race for DeKalb County CEO will be decided in this runoff election. I highly recommend Burrell Ellis (click for information on Ellis) for this very important office which controls the day-to-day administration of our county. As reported on the popular political blog Peach Pundit, the campaign tactics (click separately on “campaign” and “tactics”) of Ellis’ opponent indicate that his opponent will continue the polarization that has been an unfortunate hallmark of Vernon Jones’ reign as CEO.

Tuesday, July 15, is Georgia’s primary election. Your polling place will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Click on these links to view the Republican and Democrat sample ballots. Also, the League of Women Voters has posted a helpful voter guide (click for link) at AJC.com.

Now for some editorializing:

There is a referendum on the ballot to renew an existing $2,500 homestead exemption on your school property taxes. This proposition enjoys broad bipartisan support and deserves a “yes” vote.

In the Republican primary for DeKalb County Commission District 1, I encourage you to support Commissioner Elaine Boyer over her challenger, Terri Fischer. Fischer is the owner-operator of a local strip club. She was motivated to run for office out of her opposition to last year’s effort to roll back DeKalb’s alcohol pouring hours from 4:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. Commissioner Boyer and her assistant, Nancy McBride, have been very responsive to the constituent concerns I have brought to them. In my humble opinion, the race between Boyer and Fischer presents a clear choice. Crystal clear.

A number of constituents have asked me whom I support for DeKalb CEO. That election will be decided in the Democratic primary and a possible run-off election next month. While I don’t agree with him on some issues, I do think Burrell Ellis would make an outstanding CEO. He is a University of Pennsylvania Wharton School undergraduate and has a law degree from the University of Texas. He is a partner at a major Atlanta law firm. He stands head and shoulders above his competition. He listens to everyone. He won’t engage in the tired old politics of playing one end of the county against the other. It will take someone like Ellis to clean up the fine mess Vernon Jones has gotten us into.