County leaders talk property assessments
► PAGE 3
Beloved turtles recall city drive for its own voice
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — The Sandy Springs Society and Art Sandy Springs are teaming up with the city to display the 20th Anniversary Turtle Walk at City Springs through September.
Sandy Springs, the state’s seventh most-populous city, is approaching its 20th anniversary and planning a host of events to celebrate the community and its history.
Painted turtles, like Leonardo Terrapini and Memutic the Chieftain, became Sandy Springs staples during its campaign to break away from Fulton County and become its own city. In all, there were 75 turtles, each about 4 feet high, used in fundraising efforts to incorporate. They are now proudly displayed at various
See TURTLE, Page 11
County residents unite to oppose property tax hike
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
ATLANTA — Residents from all corners of Fulton County cheered one another during a 10 a.m. public hearing July 9, urging the Board of Commissioners to keep the property tax rate flat.
At the first of three public hearings to set the millage rate on property this year, county
leaders heard from more than 50 residents, all opposed to an increase.
While the rate won’t be adopted until the final public hearing Aug. 6, the Board of Commissioners voted 4-3 June 18 to allow for a 1 mill increase in the levy. If adopted, the 1- mill increase would raise an additional $79 million in property tax revenue and represent more than a 12 percent tax increase over
the current mill rate of 8.87 mills.
One mill represents a tax liability of $1 per $1,000 of assessed value on property.
Speaking at the July 9 public hearing, Johns Creek Mayor John Bradberry said it’s time for Fulton County to “tighten up” and asked the board to not raise the millage rate.
See HIKE, Page 10
Sandy Springs plans multitude of events celebrating 20 years
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Sandy Springs will celebrate its 20th anniversary of cityhood Dec. 1, marking a milestone for a community that fought nearly 40 years to break away from Fulton County.
Following a resounding 94 percent vote in favor of incorporation on June 21, 2005, Sandy Springs became the first new city in Georgia in almost 50 years, paving the way for dozens more to follow a quest for self-government.
The city says the same tenacity and resident pride that enabled Sandy Springs’ pioneering system of government still exists today through volunteer organizations and citizen engagement.
To mark the anniversary, the city and various community groups have partnered to produce events to celebrate together with residents.
Turtle Walk on City Green, now through September:
Creatively painted turtles are a staple of Sandy Springs, serving as a means of fundraising in early efforts to incorporate and now proudly displayed around the city.
In celebration of the 20th anniversary, Art Sandy Springs and the Sandy Springs Society are partnering to bring several town turtles to the City Green through September.
In addition to the sculptures outside, a collection of children’s artwork will be displayed inside City Hall, depicting their vision of what Sandy Springs will look like in 2045. A delightful exhibit bridging the past, present and future, the exhibitions will be highlighted during a gallery reception open to the public on Thursday, July 10 from 6-8 p.m.
See PLANS, Page 10
RACHEL PROVOW Your Trusted Real Estate Expert
HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA
One of the 20th anniversary Town Turtles, Sandy and the Children, sits in its new permanent home next to the City Green Splash Pad. Bob Brown, former owner of Red Baron Antiques, donated the bronze statue to the Sandy Springs Society for the Turtle Walk’s July 10 gallery reception at City Hall.
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City used cameras to assist ICE, data shows
By CARL APPEN carl@appenmedia.com
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Sandy Springs Police have used the city’s contracts with a data collection firm to assist the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) immigration investigations, according to public records and interviews with agency officials.
The practice of local agencies using Flock on behalf of federal partners in this fashion was first reported by 404 Media in May.
Data obtained through public records requests, “shows more than 4,000 nation and statewide lookups by local and state police done either at the behest of the federal government or as an ‘informal’ favor to federal law enforcement, or with a potential immigration focus,” the outlet reported. Included in that group of assisting agencies was the Sandy Springs Police Department, according to a review of the data by Appen Media.
As with most neighboring cities, Sandy Springs uses products from Flock Safety, an automated licenseplate reader (ALPR) and security software company based in Atlanta. Police departments use ALPRs to identify and log vehicles moving through town, framing the tools as a way to investigate criminal activity.
For example, agencies can maintain a “hotlist” of reportedly stolen vehicles and receive alerts if cameras spot them.
Law enforcement can also perform searches of identifying information – such as license plate numbers or descriptions – to help locate vehicles they suspect are connected to criminal activity. When departments make these queries, they can search certain databases of other agencies as well, tapping into a nationwide network of sources.
The Flock system, “is trusted
by more than 5,000 communities across the country,” according to the company. That number includes all 10 of the cities and counties Appen Media covers in north Metro Atlanta.
The surveillance technology is big business.
The City of Sandy Springs alone spent more than $400,000 with Flock in 2024, according to public records obtained by Appen Media.
According to 404 Media, DHS Immigration and Customs Enforcement does not have its own contract with Flock. If ICE wants to investigate something using the national network of data, they must get another agency that pays for the service to do it on their behalf.
Data at the source of the reporting came from a police department in Danville, Illinois.
The agency had given researchers a copy of their Flock “Network Audit,” which is a record of each time another department searched Danville’s data.
When law enforcement performs searches in Flock they must record a reason for the query.
Appen Media identified 10 searches Sandy Springs police made of Danville’s network for “ero,” or ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations, in March.
When asked about the queries, Sandy Springs officials told Appen Media they were not aware of any recent assistance the department had given for ERO efforts.
Police representatives said the officer recorded as making the searches is a detective assigned to the department’s FBI task force. They added that Flock inquiries, “are conducted within policy during various criminal investigations, drug investigations and locating wanted individuals.”
As with other local departments, Sandy Springs assigns officers to
standing groups that partner with federal law enforcement agencies. SSPD says they have personnel on task forces with the FBI, DHS’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
Appen Media asked why it would be the FBI attachment, and not the HSI detective, assisting with removal operations considering ICE falls under Homeland Security.
Police representatives said they were unsure but suggested it could be part of a joint operation.
FBI officials told Appen Media that the Atlanta office has been working with DHS on immigration operations since the end of January, “which includes assigning a number of our special agents to work with them daily.”
“That assistance requires providing investigative and technical support to HSI with the resources that we and our partners have access to,” they said.
FBI officials said they could not speak to the specifics of the Sandy Springs officer’s use of Flock other than the general nature of collaborative work.
“We approach public safety as a collaborative effort, using all available law enforcement tools and resources to achieve the common goal of removing violent offenders from our streets,” they offered.
Following 404 Media’s reporting, Flock began to dampen the system’s data-sharing functions. The company stopped agencies from searching the camera networks of departments inside Illinois, California and Virginia.
In a June statement CEO Garret Langley wrote that the burden is on law enforcement to use the software responsibly: “The point is: it is a local decision. Not my decision, and not Flock’s decision.”
Commissioner Thorne holds town hall on taxes
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
NORTH FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — Fulton County Commissioner Bridget Thorne hosted a two-hour virtual town hall July 8 discussing property assessments and the 45-day appeal window ending Aug. 1.
County staff read off some comments from town hall attendees, while others had an opportunity to ask an appraisal manager a question.
One resident said that one to make to the process easier would be to eliminate property taxes, especially if a home is paid off.
“That would great,” Thorne said, after county staff passed on addressing the comment. “I’m not sure if it’s possible, but that would be great.”
Because the Georgia General Assembly needs to adopt laws to create property tax exemptions, including school-based ones for seniors found in surrounding counties, the Fulton County government is unable to make immediate changes.
James Whitman, deputy chief appraiser with the Fulton County Tax Assessor’s Office, said there is an important difference between a property’s assessed value, which is 40 percent of its fair market value, and a property’s taxable value.
Key dates in Fulton County’s property assessment and appeals process:
• Jan. 1: Deadline for property valuations
• April 1: First deadline to apply for a homestead exemption
• June 17: Annual assessments are mailed, starting a 45-day appeal window
• July 1: Deadline for mailing annual assessment notices
• Aug. 1: Deadline for 2025 property value appeals (and homestead exemption applications)
• Sept. 1: Deadline to submit annual digest
“Sometimes there’s a little bit of confusion because people hear that their value can increase more than 3 percent year after year,” Whiteman said. “Regardless of how high the fair market value increases and subsequently the 40 percent [assessed] value … the actual value that you used to calculate your tax bill is capped to that 3 percent and that's the mechanism whereby taxpayers are protected from spikes in the fair market value of their property.”
The state’s new floating homestead exemption caps the year-over-year increase in the taxable value at the annual rate of inflation, typically tied to the Consumer
Price Index. It means homeowners with a homestead exemption will pay taxes on the original base year value of their property, the year before they qualified, plus the capped annual inflationary increase.
Homeowners and commercial property owners can appeal if they think their valuation is inaccurate, tax-exempt or if they missed exemptions.
Fulton County has a homestead freeze for seniors over the age of 65 with a household income below $39,000, which applies to county operations and bond debt.
One town hall attendee was thrilled to learn that she and her husband qualify, even though one is below the age of 65.
There is another full-value exemption for seniors over the age of 70 with income below what they receive from Social Security.
Regarding a potential millage rate increase the county is considering, Thorne said she thinks it will create a compounding effect on residents’ pocketbooks, whether they own property or not.
Thorne has come out against raising the county’s property tax rate. She said she is excited about senior tax exemptions for Fulton County Schools on ballots this November.
If passed by voters, seniors aged 65-69 will qualify for a 25 percent exemption from school-based property taxes, while residents ages 70 and older will qualify for a 50 percent exemption.
Most of the questions during the town hall related to specific valuations of homes in North Fulton cities.
Some homeowners said recent sales in their neighborhoods have been “flips,” which involves buying a property, renovating it and then selling it for a profit. Because homes in their neighborhood sell for higher prices, the valuation of their property has jumped.
See THORNE, Page 13
Spruill Gallery launches nationwide mural contest with $10k prize
DUNWOODY, Ga. — The Spruill Center for the Arts’ Gallery is accepting nationwide submissions for its annual AMPLIFY mural competition through July 28.
Spruill Gallery staff say the winning artist will receive a $10,000 prize, and their mural will be installed on the side of the Smoke House outside the gallery off Ashford Dunwoody Road next year.
This year marks Spruill’s sixth annual AMPLIFY contest, which seeks out a new project each year. Submissions in any medium from individual artists or teams will be considered. Applicants must be over the age of 18 and reside within the United States.
This year’s $10,000 prize is a significant increase from what has previously been awarded.
“This is a difficult time to find funding as an artist,” Spruill Gallery Director Shannon Morris said. “We wanted this year’s AMPLIFY award to help ease some of that burden and reflect the extent to which we value and appreciate the artists who beautify our communities.”
All applicants, regardless of whether their work is chosen, are eligible for inclusion in a city database of artists and art projects to be considered in the future.
A selection committee, consisting of members of the Spruill and local arts community, will choose a winning artist by Sept. 3. The new mural is set to be unveiled to the public at the Oct. 25 Spirits for Spruill celebration.
“Rest and Rise” by artist Manty Dey currently decorates the Smoke House off Ashford Dunwoody Road as the winner of the Spruill Gallery’s 2024 AMPLIFY mural competition. This year’s contest is accepting submission through July 28, and features a larger $10,000 cash prize.
The current mural on-site, “Rest and Rise,” was painted by last year’s AMPLIFY winner Manty Dey, whose work has been displayed at galleries and museums across the state – including the Georgia Museum of Art
and the Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia. Previous winners also include Charity Hamidullah (2023), Alice Stone-Collins (2022), Alea Hurst (2021) and Christopher Michaels (2020).
For more information about the Spruill Gallery at 4681 Ashford Dunwoody Road, visit www.spruillarts. org/gallery.
— Hayden Sumlin
Environmental nonprofit names executive director
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — The Keep North Fulton Beautiful Board of Directors announced the appointment of Colleen Sanjurjo June 30 as the nonprofit’s new executive director.
The Sandy Springs-based nonprofit is an affiliate of Keep America Beautiful, committing to keeping North Fulton clean and beautiful.
The nonprofit is located at 470 Morgan Falls Road in Sandy Springs, where it operates a site formerly known as the Sandy Springs Recycling Center.
It also provides educational programs to local schools, youth field trips to the recycling center, hazardous material recycling events,
various clean-ups including around the Chattahoochee River, an adopt-ahighway program and many other activities throughout the year.
The nonprofit says Sanjurjo takes the place of outgoing Executive Director Ryder Leary, who is leaving for a position as director of annual giving at the National Wild Turkey Federation, which he says is a “personal and professional dream opportunity.”
Board Chair Mark Thomas said the organization received more than 50 applications for the position and
interviewed five candidates.
“[Leary] personally recommended Colleen. [He] got a fairly disorganized recycling center back into pre-COVID shape and grew it in the wider Sandy Springs community to help position us for growth, grants and donations,” Thomas said. “I’m thrilled to share that the organization is in excellent hands with our incoming director, Colleen Sanjurjo, whose leadership and passion will continue to move KNFB forward.”
Sanjurjo is no stranger to the Keep North Fulton Beautiful recycling center in Sandy Springs.
“I’ve been going to the center forever and know the huge difference Ryder has made,” she said. “I don’t want to break things. I want to
expand them slowly — with more education, fundraising and community engagement.”
Sanjurjo, a graduate of the University of Georgia, has held previous positions, including an office manager and paralegal at the Mulholland Law Firm and an assistant to the owner of a local marketing firm.
“One of my top three issues is the environment,” she said. “I want to leave my boys the world better than I found it. I can’t change the world, but I can change my neighborhood, my community and my kids.”
For more information about Keep North Fulton Beautiful, visit keepnorthfultonbeautiful.org.
— Hayden
Sumlin
SANJURJO
SPRUILL CENTER FOR THE ARTS/PROVIDED
ASK APPEN
Residential project to occupy location on Upper Hembree
You may have noticed a certain tab on Appen Media’s website titled “Ask a Question.” At Appen, community engagement is essential, and we want to answer your questions. Here are a few recent inquiries we can answer for you.
What is the location of the proposed Johns Creek Performing Arts Center?
The City of Johns Creek plans to build the Performing Arts Center in the Town Center area at 11315 Lakefield Drive.
The almost 6-acre property lies between City Hall and a multistory office. The center would be a part of the Town Center area, which is envisioned as a walkable area that will include The Boardwalk community area and Medley mixed-use project.
City officials have described the center as a recreational and cultural game changer. It is intended to serve as a home for the arts and a destination for residents.
Community engagement is an essential part of Appen Media’s newsroom strategy. That’s why reporters for the Herald and Crier newspapers seek out all sorts of reader questions. Want to learn more about something in the area? Send questions to newsroom@appenmedia.com or go to appenmedia.com/ask.
The property was used as a corporate office and distribution center for Whole Foods.
It once featured a 145,000-squarefoot building and 588-stall parking lot.
Until 2014, it was a Harry’s Farmers Market.
Offices and neighborhoods now surround the site.
Are there any plans to widen Kelly Mill Road in 2025?
Forsyth County engineers are looking into traffic along Kelly Mill Road, but officials have no plans yet to improve the roadway.
Kelly Mill Road stretches more than 4 miles just outside Cumming.
The road runs past an elementary school, which can contribute to traffic, Commissioner Todd Levent said.
The City Council approved a resolution calling for a November referendum asking voters to consider a $40 million bond to help fund the center’s creation.
What will replace the old Whole Foods on Upper Hembree Road in Alpharetta?
A 149-home subdivision is planned at the site that once hosted a Whole Foods office.
Empire Communities is developing the project on 19.32 acres at 1180 Upper Hembree Road near Harris Road. Plans call for multilevel homes and recreational amenities.
A widening project is underway at nearby Post Road, with construction expected to begin in 2026.
The project will add two lanes through about 3.6 miles and build sidewalks, a multiuse trail and median.
— Jon Wilcox
MID-SUMMER SALE
ILLUSTRATION BY: DIONNA WILLIAMS/APPEN MEDIA
PAST TENSE
Setting the record straight, Sandy Springs Shopping Center
VALERIE BIGGERSTAFF
Columnist
A few weeks ago, I wrote about Sandy Springs Shopping Center, the first shopping center in the community. The location I described for the shopping center was incorrect. Thanks to Linda Oglesby, who has lived in Sandy Springs all her life, I can now describe the correct location of the shopping center. It was on the east side of Roswell Road, between Hammond Drive and Hilderbrand Drive, according to Linda.
She remembers when the shopping center first opened and recalls the early stores.
“I visited Sandy Springs Pharmacy often where I met both Bob Ney and his wife Hilda,” Linda said. Bob and Hilda Ney were owners of the early pharmacy.
Forrest Five and Ten was where Linda had her first job. The dime store did not have a lunch counter or soda shop as other similar stores had. Around Easter, the store sold baby chicks dyed in a variety of colors. She shopped at other stores in Sandy Springs Shopping Center
regularly, including Swofford Shoes and Tappan’s Record Shop. Tappan’s was one of the locations where concert tickets could be purchased in the 1960s. When the Beach Boys were coming to Atlanta for a concert in 1965, Tappan’s sold tickets to the Municipal Auditorium concert. Another ticket location was
April 4, 1965)
She remembers the Big Apple grocery store and a hardware store at Sandy Springs Shopping Center. Linda also recalls that the post office was located there. Today, there are apartment buildings at the former
location of Sandy Springs Shopping Center.
Sandy Springs Plaza, where Trader Joe’s, Roasters, Henri’s and other businesses are today, was built later by Maurice Womack. Womack owned an electrical contracting company called Bales and Womack. One of Linda’s favorite places in Sandy Springs Plaza was Hospitality House, which sold gifts, stationery, greeting cards and invitations with monogramming available.
Swofford Shoes later moved to Sandy Springs Plaza.
Linda Oglesby recalls the shopping center I mistakenly identified as Sandy Springs Shopping Center as Cromwell Square. It was on the west side of Roswell Road between Sandy Springs Circle and Cromwell Road. Oglesby also recalls Hancock Fabrics and a much-loved home décor store called Larry Lucas. Thank you to Linda for providing history and the accurate location of Sandy Springs Shopping Center.
Award-winning author Valerie Biggerstaff is a longtime columnist for Appen Media and the Dunwoody Crier. She lives in Atlanta. You can email Valerie at pasttensega@gmail.com or visit her website at pasttensega.com.
Focusing on local solutions for affordable housing
By KATHY SWAHN, NANCY DIAMOND, JACK MURPHY North Fulton Improvement Network Executive Team
Lately, there’s been a lot of national attention on the role of institutional investors in the housing market. Stories of large companies purchasing homes and pricing out local families are understandably concerning, and Georgia’s elected officials have taken notice. But when it comes to the challenges we’re facing in North Fulton, the picture is more nuanced.
A recent article by the Georgia Public Policy Foundation, “Wall Street Remains Easy Target, but Tackling Housing Affordability Begins in Georgia,” reminds us that while institutional investors may play a role in some markets, they account for a relatively small share of the housing stock statewide. In North Fulton, where data shows only a modest presence of such investors, the more pressing issues lie closer to home.
Our community is experiencing the
strain of limited housing options — especially for middle-income workers, young families and retirees looking to downsize. Yet the barriers to meeting this demand are largely local. Zoning rules that limit housing types, minimum lot sizes that restrict density and lengthy approval processes all contribute to the high cost of developing new homes.
Studies show that up to 27% of the cost of a new home in Georgia can be tied to regulatory and permitting expenses. For builders and developers, navigating these rules takes time and adds uncertainty, especially when projects require rezoning or special approvals. The result is fewer housing starts, slower construction and higher costs passed on to homebuyers and renters.
The North Fulton Improvement Network (NFIN) believes that meeting the housing needs of this region starts with intentional planning. That includes a willingness to rethink our land-use policies, modernize zoning and welcome a wider range of housing types — like duplexes, triplexes,
Affordable housing continues to be a serious issue across North Metro Atlanta. Groups like the North Fulton Improvement Network are trying to help, and Appen Media is dedicated to covering the process. Send ideas, questions and feedback to newsroom@appenmedia.com.
For more information on ADU’s, check out improvenorthfulton.org
quads, cottage courts and accessory dwelling units (ADUs). These “missing middle” options are essential for the teachers, healthcare workers, hospitality staff and public safety professionals who keep our communities running.
We also need more predictable timelines and streamlined approval processes so that housing projects — especially those designed with affordability in mind — can move forward without years of delay.
As North Fulton continues to grow,
it’s important to focus on practical solutions that reflect both our values and our long-term needs. Ensuring that essential workers and our own adult children can afford to live in the same community they serve is not just a housing issue — it’s a community issue.
By working together to modernize our policies and remove obstacles to thoughtful development, we can ensure that North Fulton remains a place where families of all kinds can thrive.
Share your housing experience in our North Fulton Residential Community Survey:
Kathy Swahn, Nancy Diamond and Jack Murphy are members of North Fulton Improvement Network. Learn more at www. improvenorthfulton.org.
LINDA OGLESBY/PROVIDED
This photo of the early Sandy Springs Shopping Center was in a scrapbook belonging to Linda Oglesby.
Jim Salle’s record store in Buckhead, which Linda also remembers. (Atlanta Journal,
Each line in the puzzle below has three clues and three answers. The last letter in the first answer on each line is the first letter of the second answer, and so on. The connecting letter is outlined, giving you the correct number of letters for each answer (the answers in line 1 are 5, 5 and 4 letters). The clues are numbered 1 through 7, with each number containing 3 clues for the 3 answers on the line. But here’s the catch! The clues are not in order - so the first clue in Line 1 may (or may not) actually be for the second or third answer in that line. Got it? Good luck!
GROUPS
1. Royal flush card. Burglar. Group of birds.
2. Group of cattle. Passe. Dining room cabinet.
3. Texas shrine. Work group. Wax-covered cheese.
4. Sporting group. Kick out. Evening wear.
5. Stringed instrument. Education group. Football play.
6. Musical group. Big cat. Break in friendly relations.
7. Gung-ho. Western group. Envelope part.
1 Royal flush card. Burglar. Group of birds
2. Group of cattle. Passe. Dining room cabinet.
How to Solve: Each line in the puzzle above has three clues and three answers. The last letter in the first answer on each line is the first letter of the second answer, and so on. The connecting letter is outlined, giving you the correct number of letters for each answer (the answers in line 1 are 4, 5 and 5 letters). The clues are numbered 1 through 7, which each number containing 3 clues for the 3 answers on the line. But here’s the catch! The clues are not in order - so the first clue in Line 1 may (or may not) actually be for the second or third answer in that line. Got it? Good luck!
3. Texas shrine. Work group. Wax-covered cheese
4. Sporting group. Kick out. Evening wear
5. Stringed instrument. Education group. Football play
6. Musical group. Big cat. Break in friendly relations
7. Gung-ho. Western group. Envelope part.
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Hike:
Continued from Page 1
“You also know … we were elected by the people to be the leaders that they hoped that we would be, to make the tough decisions [and] to set priorities,” Bradberry said. “We can’t fund everything that we would like to … every year, I submit a budget to the council, billed on the rollback rate, and we are able to make great success and gains in quality of life for the people of Johns Creek by doing what we can on less.”
New state laws provide some protection with a floating homestead exemption that limits how much an owner-occupied home can increase in taxable value each year. The increase is generally capped at the Consumer Price Index – or the inflation rate. At the June meeting, Commissioners Khadijah Abdur-Rahman, Marvin Arrington, Jr., Dana Barrett and Mo Ivory voted for the cap rate at 9.87 mills. That’s a full mill higher than the current rate and county staff’s recommendation.
Commissioner Ivory cited the need to fund jail improvements and other potentially shelved programs amid cuts to federal funding.
HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN
Sandy Springs City Councilwoman Jody
Reichel tells the Fulton County Board of Commissioners that she is opposed to a property tax increase of 12.5 percent during a July 9 millage rate hearing. Reichel, who is running for mayor of Sandy Springs, said Fulton County is missing fiscal sustainability and discipline from its leadership.
Fulton County Commission Chairman Robb Pitts and North Fulton commissioners Bob Ellis and Bridget Thorne voted against the 1-mill increase cap, saying staff had already declared the 2025 budget could be funded without raising the property tax rate.
Plans:
Continued from Page 1
20 Years Strong | 20 Ways to Connect, through December:
The Sandy Springs Civic Roundtable is a cohort of Georgia Tech public policy students and a program from Leadership Perimeter. For almost 40 years, it has provided essential resources to the community.
One new initiative, Springboard Sandy Springs, helps connect residents and busi-
Public comments and the millage rate hearing ran nearly three hours at the
nesses to a strong network of nonprofits and civic entities. Now through the end of the year, the group invites the community to participate in volunteer opportunities and programs, and a Family Fun Day Sept. 20.
For more information, visit springboardsandysprings.org.
Special Archive Exhibit, mid-July-December:
The public can discover the story of Sandy Springs’ journey to self-governance at the opening of a special exhibit in City Hall. The display will feature a unique collection of artifacts, documents and memo-
morning meeting with residents expressing frustration with a potential property tax increase. A 75-year-old woman on fixed income told commissioners that the take hike would drive seniors like her out of their homes, which will then be purchased by corporations and private equity.
A senior who recently moved to Fulton County from Massachusetts to be closer to her grandchildren said she fears being driven out of another community because of high taxes. A self-described “Grady baby” in his 50s told commissioners that his community association in west Atlanta is staunchly opposed to the 12.5 percent hike.
Citizens of Fulton County made one thing clear: they do not want to pay a higher tax rate on their residential properties amid large increases in assessed values.
Sandy Springs City Councilwoman Jody Reichel, who is a home and rental property owner, said the proposed tax increase will hit every homeowner, landlord and tenant in the county.
“For many, it’s the difference between stability and displacement … many of my tenants have been with me for over 15 years,” Reichel said. “These are families, seniors and individuals who take pride in their homes. I’ve worked hard to keep rents
rabilia honoring the decades-long effort of residents to gain local control. At the heart of the exhibit is Sandy Springs founding Mayor Eva Galambos, whose leadership ultimately led to the city’s incorporation in 2005.
From grassroots movements to historic milestones, each piece reflects the spirit of activism, determination, resilience and civic pride that built the community.
Celebrate Sandy Springs, 20th Anniversary, Oct. 9, 2025:
The Sandy Springs Foundation, in partnership with the city, will host the inaugural Celebrate Sandy Springs gala. Held at the Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center, the evening will feature gourmet carving stations, appetizers, live entertainment, a silent auction with exclusive trips, VIP experiences, art and dining packages. The foundation invites residents to join friends and neighbors for a night of community and celebration in support of the Sandy Springs Foundation. Sponsorships are available, and tickets will go on sale later this summer.
To learn more, sign up at givebutter. com/c/SS20th.
affordable … but this tax hike that will force landlords like me to raise rents, and tenants like mine will have no choice but to leave.”
While homesteaded property owners have some protection from spikes in assessed value, renters are likely to see the tax hike in the form of increased monthly payments even if the rate stays flat because of increasing property valuations.
At the same time, many citizens voiced frustration about the county’s tax abatements and incentives for corporations like Microsoft and X. They asked why homeowners are being asked to pay more to the county government, which cuts tax liabilities for corporations.
For homeowners north of Atlanta, typically more than half of their property taxes go to Fulton County Schools, around 30 percent goes to the county’s general fund, another 10-15 percent goes to cities and the rest goes to various bonds.
After the county millage rate is adopted Aug. 6, Tax Commissioner Arthur Ferdinand will take the appraised value and the exemption status provided by the Board of Tax Assessors, along with the millage rates set by other governing authorities, to calculate taxes for each property.
CITY OF SANDY SPRINGS/PROVIDED Sandy Springs is releasing a new limitededition logo, commemorating its 20th anniversary of cityhood on Dec. 1.
a story and enjoy. The picnic is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 22, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. with additional details in the coming months.
Celebrate 20 Years of Sandy Springs, Picnic in the Park, Nov. 22, 2025:
The city invites residents to celebrate 20 incredible years of community, connection and civic pride at an afternoon picnic for the community.
There will be a continuous, shared table stretching around the City Green, welcoming everyone to take a seat, share
“Whether you’re bringing lunch from home, picking up a favorite dish from a local restaurant or purchasing a meal prepared by the Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center’s executive chef, there’s a place for you at the table,” the announcement says. “Held right after the Sandy Springs Farmers Market, the event will feature live entertainment, a specially designed cake and more surprises.”
To stay up to date on 20th anniversary celebration events, follow the city on social media and visit sandyspringsga.gov/sandysprings-20th-anniversary.
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locations around the city.
The July 10 gallery reception bridged past, present and future with eight of the original sculptures displayed around the City Green and a collection of children’s artwork inside City Hall, depicting what the city could look like in the next 20 years.
Jan Collins, a cornerstone of the Sandy Springs community and former Society president (1991-92), said her first idea for the fundraiser was to create salamander sculptures to be auctioned off to the community.
Eventually, the Sandy Springs Society settled on the eastern box turtle, indigenous to Sandy Springs. After a 25-year effort to become a city, “slow and steady wins the race” became a rallying cry and the Town Turtles became ambassadors of Sandy Springs.
“The journey has been hilarious and wonderful and exciting, but in 2003 this was no easy project,” Collins said, before awarding Northside Hospital and local business owner Bob Brown with plaques for their contributions. “It took us two years to get together, but we decided we wanted to do turtles.”
In 2003, Collins and Ingrid Blunt conceived of the idea for the turtle exhibit, basing it off similar projects in Chicago and Athens, Georgia. A $75,000 donation from Northside Hospital, early in the fundraising process, gave the effort momentum.
Red Baron Antiques owner Bob Brown
hosted a reception in fall 2004, securing sponsors of 30 turtle sculptures. Brown, who donated his bronze sculpture Sandy and the Children, said he was inspired to commission the piece in honor of the grandchildren of Collins and Blunt.
From November 2004 through March 2005, the turtles were in “hibernation” with their artists as the Sandy Springs Society worked to solicit more sponsors and more funding for the soon-to-incorporate city. By March 17, 2005, 75 turtles were sponsored.
During a September 2005 auction at Red Baron Antiques, the turtles raised $750,000.
Refusing to take any credit for his role in fundraising for Sandy Springs incorpo-
Dina Chumney, executive director of the Abernathy Arts Center and director of Art Sandy Springs, said her team looked for a way to tie children’s artwork into the 20th anniversary celebration.
“We came up with this idea to have a project for the campers at Abernathy Arts Center … they planned it, presented their ideas and got feedback,” Chumney said. “I don’t know if you’ve read some of the descriptions … it’s the funniest thing I’ve seen in a long time.”
Elsie Brewick, a rising sixth grader at Ridgeview Middle School, said she thinks Sandy Springs will be underwater in 20 years. Elsie, who drew the Be the Light sculpture at Veterans Park surrounded by a coral reef, said the good news is that all humans will be able to breathe underwater.
ration, Brown said he’s just happy to share some art with the community.
With the funds raised by the Society’s Town Turtles project, the city was able to purchase parks from Fulton County after incorporation and develop the Entertainment Lawn at Heritage Sandy Springs.
The funds also helped start a foundation, which has donated more than $5 million to the city.
In addition to the sculptures outside, a collection of children’s artwork is displayed inside City Hall at the Gallery at City Springs.
Mayor Rusty Paul, while introducing nonprofit leaders to the crowd, said he’d like to purchase one of the pieces showing him battling an invasion of robots and aliens.
While the city was unable to lobby Fulton County Schools to save Spalding Drive Elementary, fourth-grader Avery Bellamy’s piece has the beloved school back in session with flying cars transporting students.
Paul said the opening night exhibit and ribbon-cutting recognizes two Sandy Springs icons: Northside Hospital and Bob Brown.
To learn more about the Town Turtles, visit sandyspringsga.gov/20th-anniversaryturtle-walk.
PHOTOS BY: HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA
From left, Mayor Rusty Paul smiles as he listens to former Sandy Springs Society president Jan Collins recount the communitywide effort behind the city’s incorporation in 2005 and its Town Turtle fundraiser. Eight of the sculptures are on display around the City Green through September.
Red Baron Antiques owner Bob Brown, sitting center, gathers with his family around the bronze sculpture Sandy and the Children, which he donated to a permanent location next to the Splash Pad at City Springs. Brown received a plaque recognizing his efforts during the pre-incorporation Town Turtle fundraiser.
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Thorne:
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Others told county officials that they take issue with the appraisal methodology and the lack of available information related to appeals. A Johns Creek woman described her crumbling 1950s brick ranch doubling in value year-over-year and said there must have been a mistake.
Fulton County Appraisal Manager Brian Gardner, who has more than three decades of experience in his role, said an appraisal is an opinion of value.
“It is completely fine to have an opinion different from the Board of Assessors,” Gardner said. “That is literally why the appeal process exists.”
When appealing a property assessment, owners should submit all evidence with the initial appeal form, including sales in 2024 of similar homes in the same neighborhood, comparable properties that sold nearby, current property appraisals, documentation of current conditions and a contractor estimate of repairs.
Staff recommends evidence showing a property’s value differing from similar homes in the neighborhood, specific physical conditions and inaccuracies in the recorded property details.
Commissioner Thorne represents most of the east side of Ga. 400 in North Fulton County, and District 2 Commissioner Bob Ellis serves most of the western half north of I-285.
A part of District 1 bleeds over Ga. 400 into parts of Roswell, and District 3 includes all Sandy Springs residents south of I-285 and some just north of it.
Thorne, who owns a home in North Fulton, said its taxable value is not much higher than the year before.
“For most people it’s just shocking to see the value of your home and how it’s gone up and up,” Thorne said after the townhall. “We need to really assure people that even though your home values are going up, your actual taxable value is not going to go up that significantly.”
Thorne has another town hall scheduled for July 29, giving property owners a couple of days to learn more about the property valuation and appeals processes before the Aug. 1 deadline.
County Commissioner
proclamation recognizing Disability Awareness Day at the July 9 Board of Commissioners meeting before the first public hearing for the 2025 property tax rate. Thorne said homeowners should check the “net taxable value” on their assessment, not the 40 percent assessed value.
HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA Fulton
Bridget Thorne reads a
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