(The Center Square) — Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signed a measure authorizing a local referendum to let voters decide whether to create a new city in Gwinnett County.
Under Senate Bill 333 , voters will decide in November whether to establish a new city of Mulberry, which would cover roughly 25.9 square miles in northeastern Gwinnett County and have about 41,000 residents.
“This is an exciting opportunity for residents in northeast Gwinnett to gain local control over planning and zoning decisions without imposing a city property tax,” House Majority Leader Chuck Efstration, R-Auburn, said in a statement. “As a resident of this proposed city, I have been an enthusiastic supporter of the cityhood effort and plan to remain involved in expressing support for Mulberry when it appears on the ballot.”
Efstration’s office retained Atlanta-based KB Advisory Group to analyze the potential fiscal feasibility of the new city. The firm found that the city would be “financially feasible” without implementing a city property tax.