Mableton council gives staff consensus to reestablish 6 Flags special services district; county collection status unclear

City of Mableton officials asked the council on May 12 whether to reestablish a Special Services District covering the Six Flags area, keep the current 3.5‑mill assessment and pursue collection options. Director Artie Jones and City Attorney Amelia Walker presented the proposal and sought council consensus rather than an immediate vote.

Jones told the council the district was originally created by Cobb County in 2016 and levied an ad valorem assessment of 3.5 mills on commercial properties. He said the county’s version of the district is set to “sunset” and that staff wants to reestablish the district under city authority to fund infrastructure, public safety, nuisance abatement and redevelopment projects within the defined district. “Do you guys wanna move forward with Special Services District? Second question is, do you want the boundaries to stay the same? And the third is…do you want us to move forward with doing what we need to do to be able to collect those taxes?” Jones asked the council.

Why it matters: Under the SSD model the tax proceeds must be spent inside the district; if the city does not reestablish it, those services would have to be funded from the general fund. The district is concentrated largely south of I‑20 and is taxed only on nonresidential parcels, Jones said.

Key details and staff direction - The administration recommended keeping the millage at 3.5 mills initially and retaining the existing geographic boundaries. Jones said the 3.5‑mill rate is familiar to property owners and that staff would revisit the rate only if a new financial analysis showed a need. - Jones reported staff engagement with Cobb County tax offices and asked the county to update parcel listings and provide a map limited to properties inside the city of Mableton. He said county staff and the tax commissioner had been cooperative and that the city’s GIS staff can produce maps if needed. - On tax collection, Jones said Cobb County previously collected the assessment but that, because the county’s assessment is ending, the city would likely have to collect the tax going forward unless the county agrees to continue invoicing and remitting receipts to Mableton. Jones said the city’s finance director and in‑house staff could handle collection if the county declines or charges a rate the city finds unfavorable.

Council reaction and next steps - Council members and the mayor expressed support for reestablishing the SSD, leaving the boundaries intact and initially retaining the 3.5‑mill rate. Councilman TJ Ferguson asked what would happen if the transition timeline and county decisions did not align with tax‑billing cycles; staff said there is time to resolve collection logistics before tax notices typically go out in August. - Council did not take a formal vote; multiple members indicated they were “aligned” with staff recommendations and gave direction for staff and the city attorney to return with draft ordinance language, updated parcel and map data and a recommendation on whether to use the county or an in‑house collection mechanism. Jones said staff would seek a county response on collection and expected follow‑up information within about 10 days.

Financial and legal context discussed in the meeting - Jones and Walker said the county originally created the district in 2016 and that the district funds are restricted to district projects (nuisance abatement, streetscape, property acquisition, blight remediation, parks, traffic devices, pedestrian improvements and similar uses listed in the district plan). - During the discussion participants cited differing figures for county holdings and bond debt: speakers referenced project funds of about $765,858, an approximate revenue bond debt figure of $6.3 million, and other earlier estimates that ranged between $720,000 and $6 million. Staff emphasized the county controls the disposition of funds it currently holds for the county‑administered SSD and that any county‑held funds remaining in the county program would be spent at the county’s discretion for district projects unless otherwise negotiated.

What staff will deliver next - City attorney Amelia Walker and Director Jones said they will prepare an ordinance for council consideration, request an updated parcel listing and map restricted to Mableton properties from the Cobb County Tax Assessor and Tax Commissioner, and produce cost estimates for in‑house collection (including software/module procurement) if the county will not continue to collect for a reasonable fee. Staff indicated they expect a status update from the tax assessor’s office within about 10 days.

Public record and procedural notes - Jones emphasized that the council’s direction was a consensus request, not an adoption of the ordinance. If the council later adopts the ordinance, a public‑notification and millage‑setting process (including any required hearings) will follow, Walker said.

Ending - Staff will return at a future council meeting with an updated resolution/ordinance, parcel map and a recommendation on the collection mechanism and estimated costs for implementation. Council members said they wanted the transition handled to minimize billing disruption for property owners.