SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Sandy Springs residents, who have long complained of paying more for water services than residents of its supplier, the City of Atlanta, have a reason for optimism.
The ongoing fight for equitable water services in Sandy Springs predates the city’s incorporation.
Since it became a city in 2005, Sandy Springs has purchased its water from the Atlanta Department of Watershed Management, using various systems built by different developers over the years, including some installed when the young city was part of unincorporated Fulton County.
Atlanta delivers services to Sandy Springs from its Hemphill Water Treatment Plant on 17th Street.
When the city incorporated, it sought to revise its service delivery agreement and reduce the price of water it buys from Atlanta. A 15-year legal dispute followed with no agreement reached.
Sandy Springs officials have said publicly that Atlanta is delivering services without authority.
Today, residents who get water from Atlanta facilities but live outside the city limits pay a 21 percent surcharge, which Sandy Springs officials say is unjustified.
Atlanta has a one-cent municipal option sales tax that applies to most goods purchased within the city and funds required investments to water and sewer facilities.
Sales tax defrays costs
The MOST revenues “have staved off a 25 percent increase in rates,” according to the Atlanta Watershed Management Department website.
During his biweekly report at the April 2 Sandy Springs City Council meeting, Mayor Rusty Paul said the battle between Fulton County’s two largest cities is set to gain momentum with a new bill from the Georgia General Assembly.
“Sandy Springs has been in business for 18 years,” Paul said. “We’ve never had a service delivery agreement in Fulton County during that whole time.”
While serving on a task…
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