East Cobb Cityhood bill referendum date Archives

*State Rep. Matt Dollar, East Cobb cityhood bill chief sponsor*

The East Cobb Cityhood bill that was favorably reported out of a State House Committee earlier this month would move up a referendum for voters in the proposed city limits from November to May.

If approved by the Georgia General Assembly during the current session, the bill would call for a May 24 referendum for eligible voters in the proposed city limits.

That’s the date of the 2022 general primary in Georgia.

Those voters would determine whether a City of East Cobb with a population of around 60,000, would be created out of a 25-square-mile area of unincorporated Cobb along the Johnson Ferry Road corridor.

Another significant change presented by chief sponsor State Rep. Matt Dollar on Monday to the House Governmental Affairs Committee would change the council-mayor form of government—you can watch a replay of the meeting here.

The original HB 841 called for a “weak mayor” form of government with six city council members. They would choose among themselves a mayor to serve a two-year term—with a two-term limit.

In Dollar’s change announced Monday, a mayor would be elected citywide, and six city council members also would be elected citywide. But two members would have to reside in each of three council districts.

Dollar said in a brief committee meeting Monday that the changes were being made due to feedback from the public and by committee lawmakers.

The revised bill HB 841 (you can read it here) was offered as a substitute just as the committee and one of its subcommittees met two weeks ago to consider it.

Supporters and opponents of the bill, including lawmakers and citizens, spoke at both meetings.

*Referendum language in the original version of HB 841.*

But what wasn’t discussed was the new referendum date. Neither Dollar nor Ed Setzler, a new co-sponsor who is a Republican from North Cobb, mentioned it during those public meetings two weeks ago.

The substitute bill was not posted online for the general public until after the full committee issued a “do pass” recommendation.

The original legislation submitted in 2021 by Dollar and State Rep. Sharon Cooper, both East Cobb Republicans, called for a referendum to be included on Nov. 6 general election ballot.

*The May referendum language in the substitute HB 841 reported out a House committee.*

Lawmakers returned to regular business on Monday after spending last week in budget meetings.

East Cobb News left a message with Dollar on Sunday seeking comment about the proposed change in the referendum date.

At Monday’s committee meeting, he said the reason for changing it was to have a mayor and city council elected in November to avoid a special election in early 2023.

He said the mayor and council members would be elected to four-year terms, and would be limited to serving three terms.

But committee member Mary Margaret Oliver was skeptical that there would be sufficient time for a Cityhood bill that passed early in the legislative session and signed into law to be put on the May primary ballot.

She called the process “maximum chaos.”

East Cobb News also contacted the Committee for East Cobb Cityhood on Sunday.

In an e-mailed response Sunday evening, spokeswoman Cindy Cooperman said the group “has evaluated and is supportive of holding a referendum vote in the May primary. If the majority of residents in East Cobb vote yes to Cityhood, it opens the door for a council to be elected in November thereby avoiding the need for a special election. In addition to being more cost effective, this timing is ideal to get an elected council in place for 2023.”

On Monday, the Governmental Affairs Committee voted to favorably report the bill.

The next step will be for HB 841 to go to the House Rules Committee, which would schedule the bill for a debate and vote by the full House.