LULA — Hall County wants the public to vote on whether the county should pursue an outside study into options available for a governmental merger, but Lula's mayor says he's not in favor.
Further, Mayor Milton Turner said state law currently makes it impossible for four of Hall County's municipalities to enter into consolidation with the county. That's because those cities are located in more than one county.
"Legislation that's out there now, currently, says any multi-jurisdictions cannot be considered for consolidation," Turner said. "State law — which means Buford, Lula, Gillsville and Braselton could not be considered in the consolidation of government. I am not in favor of consolidation of any type."
Turner recalled a previous consolidation study, saying money was wasted for a study that wasn't taken any further. He believes any new study, independent or not, would end up being fruitless.
"The county is just going to spend a lot of taxpayers' dollars to do another one of those studies and shelve it," Turner said.
Hall County Commission Vice Chairman Scott Gibbs proposed the Nov. 8 referendum on consolidation last week. District 2 Commissioner Billy Powell and District 4 Commissioner Jeff Stowe voted against the study in what ended as a 3-2 vote.
