Following cityhood defeat, funding proposed for Georgia State Patrol post in Buckhead

By Amy Wenk  –  Staff Reporter, Atlanta Business Chronicle

Mar 8, 2023

Less than a week after Georgia senators voted against a bill that could have paved the way for the proposed Buckhead City, state leaders say they want to open a Georgia State Patrol satellite post in Buckhead to house up to 20 troopers.

Speaker of the House Jon Burns announced Tuesday that the House version of the Fiscal Year 2024 budget will earmark $1.25 million for the facility.

“This new state patrol office will improve the ability of our state troopers to respond to incidents along and inside the northern perimeter,” Burns said in a press release. He hopes it “will allow for better coordination and cooperation between local and state law enforcement.”

The funding marks continued efforts to address crime in Buckhead, a key issue for cityhood proponents, who want to break off from Atlanta and establish their own police force and other municipal services. Last year, the Atlanta Police Department opened a mini precinct in the Buckhead Village in space donated from Atlanta’s largest office landlord, Cousins Properties.

Public safety has been a top concern of Atlanta’s business leadership. A survey last year by the Atlanta Regional Commission showed for the first time that crime was viewed as the biggest threat to growth. Atlanta CEOs also spoke out last fall about how important safe streets are to economic development.

But Bill White, leader of the Buckhead City Committee, said the proposed funding for a new State Patrol office is “a knee jerk reaction” from state leaders after the Senate vote last week that blocked the cityhood effort.

“We have heard the governor and the 10 Republican senators who voted no have had their phones broken by angry Buckhead mothers and businesswomen,” White said in a statement to Atlanta Business Chronicle. “That won’t stop. This is a Band-Aid on something that clearly needs surgery. Instead of dragging more state police into Buckhead from other areas around our state that desperately need more state police, the Georgia House should simply pass Buckhead City and let us vote.”

The Buckhead Coalition, a group of influential Atlanta business leaders that has opposed cityhood, applauded additional police resources in the neighborhood.

“This is the type of cooperation and partnership that will keep our residents, businesses and visitors safer and more secure,” said Eric Tanenblatt, chair of the Buckhead Coalition. “We look forward to working with Mayor [Andre] Dickens, state leaders and the community to bring these types of solutions that address the challenges we face as a city.”

Gov. Brian Kemp and Lt. Governor Burt Jones also declared support for the funding, which would allow the Department of Public Safety to acquire space and equip the satellite post. It will house up to 20 existing troopers from the motor unit and the Nighthawks DUI Task Force, according to the state.

The budget, which will fund state government from July 1 to June 30, 2024, still must be approved by both the House and Senate before it goes to the governor’s desk.

For original release, CLICK HERE.