DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — Some residents living in the south end of DeKalb County are working to form what would be Georgia's second-largest city.
The area is home to nearly 300,000 residents. Some of them are pushing for a change.
"The most important reason why we're incorporating is for economic development," Kathryn Rice said
Rice, along with Sandy Johnson, is a member of Concerned Citizens for Cityhood of South DeKalb.
Over the last six months, the group has held 140 community meetings to seek support for the formation of the city of Greenhaven.
The cost of the DeKalb County pension plan has turned out to be a hot topic in the discussion.
"We are not by any means, or any way, shape or form, suggesting that the pension plan should not be paid. (We) want to be very clear about that. The folks who have worked for the county and become vested in a pension, deserve those funds," Johnson said.
But Johnson said residents living in unincorporated south DeKalb should not be the only ones funding it. And as more cities have formed in DeKalb, fewer residents are covering the pension plan.
Rice said south DeKalb can prosper on its own.
"There's a big disparity between the northern side of the county and the southern side of the county in terms of commercial development. If you have less, what little you do have becomes even more important to keep," Rice said
If the Legislature gives the nod, a public vote could come this fall.
WSBTV
