Erasing land-bank charges wouldn’t erase the city’s tab

Metro Atlanta Land Bank could get relief from city charges on its properties, but forgiving those bills would not make the cost vanish. A proposed Atlanta ordinance would require reimbursement of the affected city funds—with solid-waste write-offs paid from the General Fund.⁠[1]

Ordinance 26-O-1618 is listed under first-reading ordinances in the Finance/Executive Committee’s Oct. 28 draft minutes. The exemption and write-off rules remain proposals in the reviewed records, which do not establish final passage.⁠[1][2]

The measure would exempt property owned by the land bank, or a qualifying successor authority, from taxes, assessments, fees and charges billed by Fulton or DeKalb County on Atlanta’s behalf. It would also authorize cancellation of city charges. This is targeted relief for land-bank property—not a general bill-forgiveness program for private owners or a waiver of every county charge.⁠[1]

The proposal describes the land bank’s purpose as addressing dilapidated, abandoned and tax-delinquent property. Its preamble argues that clearing charges such as solid waste and E911 supports that work under the Georgia Land Bank Act.⁠[1]

Cancellation would have a gatekeeper. Atlanta’s chief financial officer or a designee would have to receive notice and approve it beforehand, although approval could not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed. Finance officials would also have to be notified afterward. The appropriate city or county revenue official could release related liens.⁠[1]

The financial catch is the replacement payment: the CFO would have to pay the amount canceled into the fund losing those charges, using an appropriate funding source. For solid waste, the ordinance specifically names the General Fund. It also says sanitary-service expenses for exempt property would be funded there. The reimbursement clause specifies no dollar amount, leaving the size of that obligation unquantified.⁠[1]