Buckhead Secession Bid On Hold ‘For Now’ After Georgia Senate Rejects Atlanta Secession

The Georgia State Senate blocked an attempt by residents of Atlanta’s wealthy enclave of Buckhead to form their own city, forcing supporters to withdraw their bid for secession “for now.”

The Buckhead City bill fell through in the Georgia Senate Thursday, 33-23, making 2023 the second year in a row that the movement’s goal of bringing secession from Atlanta to a November vote was defeated in the state legislature.

In short, Governor [Brian] Kemp and his team coordinated behind closed doors to strike down Buckhead City’s bills before they even had a chance for a fair vote in the Senate,” the Buckhead city committee said in a statement late Sunday, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. .

“Unfortunately,” the statement said, “now that Governor Kemp has demonstrated that he does not support our right to vote, there is no way for a city referendum to be held while he remains governor until the end of his term in 2026.”

City law bill supporters argue that the largely white Buckhead would be better able to fight crime and provide services by separating itself from the rest of Atlanta.

All of Atlanta’s elected officials, as well as a number of other local leaders who argue that it would weaken the Peach State capital, opposed Buckhead’s promotion to city status.

Opponents of the split worried about the possibility of a widespread default on municipal bonds and downgrading of Atlanta and Buckhead’s bonds in the event of a divorce.

Other critics argued that Atlanta would be forced to sell public facilities such as schools and other infrastructure to the new city for less than market value.

“If we rip the heart out of the city of Atlanta, which is Buckhead, I know our capital city will die,” said Republican Senator Frank Ginn, who opposed the split.

Ten Republican senators joined Democrats in voting against the measure on Thursday.

The uptown residential and commercial area is one of Atlanta’s wealthiest suburbs.

The median income for a household in this area is $109,774 compared to $68,806 for the rest of Atlanta.

The area is known for high-end shops and several high-profile residents, including music legend Elton John and singer Mariah Carey, who listed their $6.5 million Buckhead home for sale last year after a break-in.

“Buckhead is a target,” Buckhead City supporter Kelly Rodts complained to city committee last month, according to WRDW. “We are a target for criminals in the city and Atlanta has failed to protect us.”

“These people are being ignored,” Republican Senator Randy Robertson, who sponsored the separation bill, told the WSB ahead of the vote. “And I think the reaction we saw was ‘enough’ and then they hope it goes away.”