This November 6, there will be something on the ballot besides the choice for president. It is a proposed amendment to the Georgia Constitution that would set up an additional charter school authorization board at the state level. On the ballot, the question will appear like this:
“Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended to allow state or local approval of public charter schools upon the request of local communities?” Continue reading “The Georgia Charter School Amendment”
With three homicides and several armed robberies occurring in the past three months, East Atlanta residents are on edge. They voiced their concerns in a public meeting in Grant Park, where passions flared. Continue reading “East Atlanta Crime Wave”
The Atlanta Braves are building a new stadium to be used starting with the 2017 season. The new field will be on 60 acres, 15 of which will be used for the stadium itself. It will have a capacity of about 42,000 people, compared with 50,000 currently at Turner Field. The cost of the new stadium is estimated at $672 million. Continue reading “Braves New Stadium”
There is currently a bill before the Georgia State Senate that would expand rights related to guns. The bill (HB 875) has gained a lot of attention, particularly for the expansion of rights for property owners of churches and bars to determine whether patrons can carry weapons. The law is much more expansive and detailed, however. In fact, there are at least 16 different substantive expansions of gun rights within the current legislation. This has some people calling this legislation “the most dangerous gun bill in the United States.” Continue reading “Expansion of Gun Rights in Georgia”
The debate over the legalization of marijuana, or cannabis, is raging throughout America. Polling shows that opinions on marijuana have shifted. For the first time, more than half of Americans (58%) now support legalization. Continue reading “Legalization of Marijuana in Georgia”
Religious values are perhaps the thing people hold closest to their hearts and they are generally unwavering. Many people also believe that our religious beliefs and exercise of those beliefs are under attack. Continue reading “Religious Freedom in Georgia”
The Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL) has recently been publicizing a law which would allow unemployment insurance to be revoked for those who fail or refuse to take a drug test while looking for work. The GDOL is asking employers to anonymously report such instances. Before benefits are revoked, however, the GDOL is required to conduct an investigation of the failed drug test. Continue reading “Get a Job, Hippie”
The Atlanta City Council is currently considering a ban on cigarette smoking in all public parks within the city. The Council heard public comments on the matter today. Continue reading “Atlanta Considers Cigarette Ban in All Public Parks”
The Fulton County Board of Commissioners rejected raising the county property tax millage from 10.281 to 10.791 (a .51 increase or 5%) on Wednesday and instead opted keep millage constant. The decision came despite declining tax digest values, caused by increased homestead exemptions and declining property values. The change could have raised $17 million for the County General Fund, according to the Fulton County Government. Property tax revenues account for around 80% of General Fund Revenue in Fulton. Continue reading “What Are My Property Taxes Paying For?”
Just about everyone is taking a piece of your property in the form of taxes. Even the Board of Education gets its own slice. So it is important to understand the various ways in which your house is taxed. Armed with this knowledge, you can fight tax increases or support them based on where the money will be going. Continue reading “How Property Taxes Are Calculated in Georgia”
Ronin Pen 