Atlanta could lose "millions" in airport revenue to College Park

Atlanta has been collecting the occupational taxes for businesses at the airport that actually are in the city limits of College Park based on terms of a 1969 contract. In 2007, College Park said it was going to start collecting the taxes.

The issue went to the courts, and on Thursday the Georgia Court of Appeals agreed with College Park: The small city is entitled to repayment of taxes collected.  Atlanta also has to pay its own occupational tax -- or business licensing fee -- to College Park, based on income from airport leases, according to the ruling.

But it wasn’t immediately clear how much money that could amount to.

“That could be a big number,” said Michael Bell, former chief financial officer at Atlanta and DeKalb County. “It could well be millions of dollars. It is an issue that will have long-term implications.”

Atlanta spokesman John Kennedy said he was unable to determine how much city tax income would have to go to College Park or even how much occupational tax Atlanta collects from the airport each year.

Kennedy said the city would not comment on the lawsuit or its related issues.

Back in 2007, Atlanta sued College Park to stop it from collecting the taxes. College Park contended their original 1969 contract was invalid.

The city, Kennedy said, is “disappointed” with the decision and is currently evaluating its next steps.

In this tight budgetary year, the court’s ruling could mean Atlanta would have to make cuts elsewhere. Steve Fincher, city attorney for College Park, said Atlanta would have to make payments from 2005.

College Park has not calculated the projected annual revenue. Fincher said it would be at least in the "significant six figures" and easily more because the prime revenue generators, including rental car companies, are in College Park.

The court’s ruling covers any property at the airport within College Park’s boundaries: That would include the main terminal, Concourse A and part of Concourse B.

Bell, now a professor at Georgia State University whose dissertation dealt with the airport and its jurisdictional issues, said that could account for approximately a million square feet of space leased from Atlanta.

“Atlanta is the functional equivalent of the operator of Lenox Square,” Fincher said.  “They are going to have to buy a business license from us which is based on their gross receipts from those [rental] operations.

Breed Specific Legislation in College Park, GA! « UGA Law Student ...

FROM: The Department of Public Works

SUBJECT: Certificate of Registration for Potentially Dangerous DogBeginning July 1, 2011 the City of College Park will commence enforcing its Potentially Dangerous Dog Ordinance. Owners of potentially dangerous dogs must register their dogs with the City Clerk’s Office. City Ordinance Section 4-25(a) states as follows: The owner of a dangerous dog or a potentially dangerous dog must secure a certificate of registration in accordance with the provisions of O.C.G.A. j 4-8-25, and obtain from the City, and place upon the dog a special identification tag.

Residents can obtain a registration form from the City Clerk’s Office located at City Hall, 3667 Main Street, or download the form at the City’s website, . Registration forms can be submitted in person or by mail to the City Clerk’s Office. A processing fee of $25.00 (cash or check) and a photo(s) of your dog must accompany the registration form upon submittal.

Once registration forms have been processed a certificate of registration and identification tag will be mailed to you. The identification tag must be worn by your dog at all times.

Listed below are the breeds of dogs required to be registered:

Pit Bull German Shepherd

For additional information please contact the City Clerks Office at (404) 669-3754, or the Department of Public Works (404) 669-3778.

Also, a Special Called Meeting of the Mayor and City Council of the City of College Park will be held on Thursday, June 2, 2011 at 6:30 p.m . at College Park City Hall in the City Council Chambers located at 3667 Main Street in College Park, Georgia for the following purposes:

1. To discuss FY 2011-2012 Budget and Adoption of Budget

2. Other Issues

Not sure if those “other issues” mean they will discuss this ordinance, but it wouldn’t hurt for well mannered and well spoken pit bull, rottweiler, doberman and German Shepard owners to show up and express their opinions on this ordinance. I’ll be there, because this is too close to home for my comfort.

If you cannot attend the meeting please write your POLITE letters to the following email addresses:

Mayor: Jack P. Longino jlongino@collegeparkga.

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The city of College Park, Georgia, a summary of the comprehensive plan

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