City governments and their leaders are grabbing land through annexation.....

Forced annexation or a referendum?

http://www.gmanet.com/Advice-Knowledge/GMA-Publications/Growing-Cities,-Growing-Georgia-A-Guide-to-Georgia.aspx *Annexation by the General Assembly through local legislation: If more than 50 percent of the area proposed to be annexed is used for residential purposes, and the area is comprised of at least 500 people or contains more than 3 percent of the population of the affected municipality, a referendum approving the annexation has been held in the area to be annexed. O.C.G.A. § 36-36-16. http://law.justia.com/codes/georgia/2010/title-36/provisions/chapter-36/article-1a/36-36-16

Referendum: a general vote by the electorate on a single political question that has been referred to them for a direct decision.

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HB 587 Atlanta, City of; change corporate limits

Line 71 The ballot shall have written or printed thereon the words: "( ) YES Shall the Act which annexes certain land into the City of Atlanta be approved? ( ) NO " All persons desiring to vote for approval of the annexation shall vote "Yes," and all persons desiring to vote for rejection of the annexation shall vote "No." If more than one-half of the votes cast on such question are for approval of the annexation, then this Act shall become effective on January 1, 2016. If more than one-half of the votes cast on such question are for rejection of the annexation, this Act shall not become effective and shall be automatically repealed on the first day of January immediately following such election date.

http://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/en-US/Display/20152016/HB/587

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HB 514 South Fulton, City of; Fulton County; incorporate

Line 1389 The ballot shall have written or printed thereon the words: "( ) YES Shall the Act incorporating the City of South Fulton in Fulton County and granting the homestead exemptions described therein be approved? ( ) NO " All persons desiring to vote for approval of the Act shall vote "Yes," and those persons desiring to vote for rejection of the Act shall vote "No." If more than one-half of the votes cast on such question are for approval of the Act, it shall become of full force and effect; otherwise, it shall thereafter be void and of no force and effect.

http://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/en-US/Display/20152016/HB/514

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FACT:

Both Rep. Bruce's bill to create the City of South Fulton and Rep. Gardner's bill to expand Atlanta's city limits are referendums. The voters decide. Not the mayor of Atlanta or the State Legislature. The Voters!