Comments on: Decatur To Give Residents Choice on Sunday Liquor Sales

By: Steve

Steve — Thu, 05 May 2011 15:57:36 +0000

Decatur’s referendum would likely be part of the scheduled City election this November referenced in the original post. To my knowledge, absent a special election, there is no County election scheduled at that time. Unless there is another reason to have a County election or unless the County wants to go to the expense of having an election just for the referendum, the County would wait until at least the June 2012 primary election. Note that in most of Georgia, municipal elections are in odd years and county and state elections are in even years.

By: Jeff

Jeff — Thu, 05 May 2011 15:48:30 +0000

I don’t know if you’re right or wrong, but it seems like it’d be a logistical cluster-f to dis-allow CoD-ers from voting on this since the referendum will most likely be held as part of a county-wide (including CoD) election.

So, it’d be on the ballot, but somehow CoD folks wouldn’t be allowed to make a selection? Or would there be a different ballot for CoD?

By: Steve

Steve — Thu, 05 May 2011 14:59:16 +0000

It’s my assumption based on the items that I cite.

By: smalltowngal

smalltowngal — Thu, 05 May 2011 14:42:30 +0000

It sounds like a logical case could be made either way (which is why I asked the question in the first place). So Steve, are you saying what you know to be a fact, or what you assume to be the case, based on what else you know about how the City of Decatur and Dekalb County fit together?

By: Steve

Steve — Thu, 05 May 2011 14:36:16 +0000

I’m pretty sure we don’t. For instance, Decatur doesn’t vote for DeKalb School Board members because they have nothing to do with CSD schools. Likewise DeKalb voters don’t vote for Decatur School Board members or City Commissioners because they have nothing to do with the County. We all vote for DeKalb Commissioners because there are some things that County Government provides to Decatur, like water/sewer, judicial system, etc. There are numerous examples in Georgia for things like liquor-by-the-drink where city/county boundaries control who votes for what.

By: City Girl

City Girl — Thu, 05 May 2011 14:23:44 +0000

I’m pretty sure city resident WOULD get to vote on DeKalb County’s referendum. We’re still part of DeKalb County – we pay county taxes and elect county commissioners – so we would have a voice in an alcohol referendum. The unincorportated residents don’t pay city taxes or elect our leaders, so no, they don’t get a voice in our issues.

By: Steve

Steve — Thu, 05 May 2011 13:29:32 +0000

I meant the voters in unincorporated DeKalb. City residents would not have a vote on what DeKalb does. Conversely, DeKalb voters would have no say on what happens in the City.

By: Jeff

Jeff — Thu, 05 May 2011 13:08:21 +0000

What do you mean by THOSE people? ;P