State of Georgia vs. DeKalb County: Representation Neutered and Tax Equity Denied

How can the taxpayers and voters of DeKalb County with close to 700,000 people secure the support of over 70 percent of its local delegation for local legislation (HB1197) to restrict cell towers on its school grounds; however, a representative from South Georgia with a population under 52,000 first stalled the local legislation before completely making the legislation dead on arrival thus denying DeKalb County local control?  Could it be through the use of a federal law called the Telecommunication Act of 1996?   

We have learned the hard way the power of federal and state law over local control.  As parents and homeowners, we simply wanted to have a law (HB1197) that restricted cell towers from our school grounds to protect the health of our children, prevent the decrease of our property value, and maintain a high quality of life for our citizens. 

We managed to secure the signatures of 16 out of 18 representatives in our DeKalb Delegation on our local legislation. The end result was that a federal and state law dealing with telecommunication prevented us from protecting our children’s health and our property value. Putting it simply, our representation was neutered and our tax equality was denied. 

This action elevated our fight to a new level. Local control starts and ends with our local elected officials that are hired with our vote and paid with our tax dollars. When school board member , we knew that our fight would be uphill. When school board member Paul Womack told the Briarlake community that the cell tower lease was a “done deal”, we knew that the decision to approve the T-Mobile leases were already made before the parents and homeowners were given public notice. These statements demonstrate a total disregard for homeowners, property value and children’s health.  How can parents and homeowners demand safety for the children and protection of property right when the politicians make statements that reinforces the power corporations have over local control?  

What actions can we take now? 

First, we demand tax equity for our school system. In 2006, the state of Georgia removed over $101 million dollars from DeKalb County School System to use in other school system throughout the state. The redistribution increased to $129 million dollars in 2011.  We ask parents and homeowners to multiply $100 million dollars per year for 25-30 years vs. $3 million dollars over 25-30 years (profit for 30 year lease to T-Mobile). Which will deliver the most money for our children?  Which action will not increase health risk, decrease property value, and decrease our overall quality of life?

Year               Local 5-Mill Share               State Revenue Received   

2011                          129.0                                     323.3

2010                          117.4                                     352.7

2009                          120.1                                     357.0

2008                          112.4                                     387.9

2007                          107.4                                     383.8

2006                          101.9                                     326.6 

Second, we demand local control through electing competent public servant.  As parents and homeowners who care about our children and property value, we must stop electing the same politicians and expecting a different result. We must hold our local school board accountable for the many negative problems taxpayers and voters were forced to correct through protest, financing legal fee, multiple criminal investigations, poor oversight of SPLOST funds, budget shortfalls, etc. This starts with mobilizing the parents and homeowners who want increase transparency, ethics, and accountability.

Third, we need to locate school policies that limit the actions and use of public property enacted by the Board of Education and convince our Board of Commissioner to pass a law/ordinance that match the policy of the school board to limit placement of the cell towers on school grounds. 

Fourth, we need to contact CEO Burrell Ellis and demand a hold on the administrative permits until a law that secures our local zoning ordinance is formulated and passed through the Board of Commissioners.

Last but not least, we need to remember that the telecommunication corporations do not have absolute power. We the People have been given three powers by god. We have power as taxpayers, voters, and consumers. The day we exercise all three powers, we will no longer have to fight people elected with our vote nor people paid with our tax money.  DeKalb County parents and homeowners will have a high quality education system for its children and a high quality of life for its citizens.