Some fact highlights from last night’s Decatur Annexation Public Meeting presentation (click here to watch the Commission Meeting Video)…

• Decatur’s existing tax base is 86% residential and 14% commercial.  The average of the annexation areas is 77% residential and 22% commercial, so even a full annexation would slightly shift the commercial % up.
• The city staff has a committee looking at additional costs and revenue.  Costs include but are not limited to things like streetlights, staffing, facility upgrades etc.
• Population total of all annexation areas is around 2,000.
• Another hearing December 2nd, resolution can be adopted at City Commission meeting on December 17th.  Referendum vote would probably be November 5, 2013.
• Decatur’s homestead exemptions are different from DeKalb’s homestead exemptions.
• Business owners don’t have a vote unless they live in the area.

And of interest to city residents, here’s the Mayor Bill Floyd’s answer to a question by resident Pat Herold regarding the commission’s view of a school system vote…

• “If the school system [votes] no, I think a lot of it depends on why they say “no”.  I think we need to analyze what they’ve done.  If it’s going to cost us $5 million then it be hard to vote yes for that.  If its a problem that we may be able to work out in a year or two, then maybe it’s different.  I think there are reasons why we have to consider what the school system tells us or asks us or gives us their opinion and then we decide.  I’m not so sure just a “yes” or “no” by the school system is what we’re going to get.  I think we may get a maybe.  How do you look at it then?  So I think there’s a lot of things going on here.  It’s a very important part of any decision this commission will make.”

Most of the comments made during the General Comments portion of the meeting were from residents in the proposed annexation areas for and against the annexation effort.

More reports and more dramatic headlines below…

• Patch – Decatur Taxes Bashed at Annexation Meeting
• WSB – Decatur annexation fight heats up

Update: More local news links (courtesy of Deanne)

• CBS Atlanta – Neighbor vs. Neighbor in Decatur city fight
• Fox5 – Community divided over proposed Decatur annexation