South Fulton officials pitch $96M bond for new police, fire headquarters and ask to lift millage cap amid resident concerns

South Fulton officials on Wednesday presented detailed plans and financing terms for two new public-safety facilities—a proposed 75,000-square-foot police headquarters and a 50,000-square-foot fire headquarters and training campus—and told residents the city intends to issue $96 million in bonds to pay for construction.

City Manager Sharon Soubaden said the city will commit $20,000,000 of its fund balance to the projects and seek a 20-year bond; she said the city is not proposing an immediate tax increase. “The city of South Fulton is not raising the millage rate,” Soubaden said during the town-hall.

The presentations, from Major Jubal Rogers of the South Fulton Police Department and Fire Chief Chad Jones, described shortcomings in current facilities—officers using roll-call rooms for inmate interviews, limited training space, and rental of headquarters outside the city—and argued the new buildings would include indoor training ranges, interview and investigative areas, a burn building, driving course and a 911 center to improve response and training.

Why it matters: The city is asking council to remove or raise a charter millage-rate cap so lenders will consider offering more favorable financing and to enable the full proposed borrowing. Financial adviser Ed Wall told residents that with the existing cap the city’s borrowing capacity would be smaller and lenders may not offer the most competitive rates; Wall said the best bank bid…