Henry County approved an agreement earlier this month with Nickel Works Consulting, LLC to complete a state route 138 CID feasibility study. Nickel Works Consulting is an industry leader in CID planning within metro Atlanta.
Community improvement districts, more commonly referred to by their initials CIDs, are spread throughout the Atlanta area. They are a proven tool to implement local projects, but past attempts to start a district in Henry County haven’t come to fruition.
State Route 138 CID
Nickel Works Consulting will complete a CID feasibility study looking at the state route 138 corridor in Stockbridge. The study cost equates to $11,855. Nickel Works estimates the final report will be deliverable by August 2022.
Community improvement districts consist of business and industrial property owners. They agree to levy a higher property tax on themselves. The funds from this district can then pay for local projects. Examples include landscaping, road improvements or public safety staffing. Each CID appoints a board from its property ownership that governs how to allocate the funds.
Residential property is exempt from a CID. Homeowners would not incur higher property taxes as a result of the district’s creation.
Past CID attempts in Henry County
Henry County has tried on several occasions to start a CID. Starting one requires the consent of business owners in the area. Following its creation, the business owners become a self-governing entity.
Most recently in summer 2019, the board of commissioners tabled the final approval to form a CID. The proposed district consisted of properties within the McDonough industrial area. Several commissioners had questions whether the proposed district was large enough to generate sufficient funds. For this reason and questions about the proposal itself, the board tabled the agenda item.
Henry County Development Authority began pursuing the industrial CID in 2016. County officials viewed the CID as one option to jump start road improvements in the area. Other CIDs, such as Cumberland, have been successful at leveraging state and federal funds for road projects.
Henry County also looked at starting a state route 138 CID. A Henry Herald article from 2015 recaps a meeting between Henry County, Clayton County and Stockbridge officials to discuss the district. Nickel Works Consulting worked with Henry County on both attempts to form a CID.
Featured image shows the possible community improvement district along state route 138. Photo credit Henry County.
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