State Rep. Tom Rice Responds to 'Open Letter'

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Dear Mrs. Putnam.  Thank you for giving me the privilege of addressing the comments in the "Open Letter" which I saw for the first time via your email this Sunday afternoon. 

I am in agreement with Senator Shafer's comments in his post as to how and why we developed the legislation to change the border with Berkeley Lake.  In my estimation, understanding that the choices to resolve the issue came down to:

1) Do nothing and thereby allow additional commercial property owners to choose between Berkeley Lake and Peachtree Corners or

2) Take action to resolve the border via legislation and provide certainty to the property owners.  We chose what we believed to be the best option for all parties. 

It is my hope that the citizens of Peachtree Corners will consider some key facts that we confronted.  

First the entire tax revenue reduction to Peachtree Corners at the highest rate of one mil (capped in the charter) of the entire annexation in the bill is $40,000 per year.  That is far less than potential legal costs of opposing the Berkeley Lake annexation in court.  It is also less than $20,000 more than Berkeley Lake had already annexed and ($20,000 is less than 1% of the estimated tax revenue for Peachtree Corners).  

Second, If a plaintiff came forward (none did) to contest the annexations by Berkeley Lake on behalf of Peachtree Corners there was no guarantee that they would have prevailed in uncharted legal waters.  

Third, there was no one from Peachtree Corners who had any legal standing to contest the issue since there was no council or mayor.  

Fourth, to wait until July of 2012, when Peachtree Corners begins operations as a city to resolve the issue, could only lead to higher uncertainty for the businesses in the area that is adjacent to the already annexed area and open to further annexation.

The voters of Peachtree Corners, Berkeley Lake and parts of John's Creek have put their trust in both the integrity and wisdom of my legislative decision for many years.  I know that trust is very fragile in today's political environment.  I hope that as Senator Shafer and I continue to refine a solution to this issue that we can reach an agreement that is fair, equitable and trust worthy to all parties.
Representative Tom Rice