Fulton County residents press council on proposed data centers; council says formal abatement process, not immediate ban

Several Fulton County residents used public comment on Jan. 21 to press elected officials about rumored data centers, asking the council either to preemptively deny tax abatements and payments-in-lieu-of-taxes or to pledge transparency if a proposal advances.

James Zimmerman, identifying himself as a Fulton County resident, asked the council to "make a motion to deny tax abatements and payment in lieu of taxes for data centers" after a recent public meeting showed strong opposition. "Make a motion to deny tax abatements and payment in lieu of taxes for data centers," Zimmerman said, citing community sentiment.

Council members responded that a preemptive ban could be premature and may raise legal questions. The presiding council member said the county cannot assume a company will seek abatements and noted "they may not even come for tax payment"; another official added that forbidding an entity from asking for an abatement could violate state statute. Speaker 10 clarified the process: if an applicant seeks an abatement, the request is placed on a council agenda and a public hearing is held before council action.

Resident Lindsey Shambaugh said many in the district worry a data center could be "snuck in" without public notice; council members pointed residents to the area plan commission and technical-review steps as the earliest public venues for such proposals. Officials advised residents to monitor area plan commission agendas for filings and technical reviews and noted that property purchase and private negotiations frequently precede formal filings.

No formal action restricting abatements was taken by the council at the Jan. 21 meeting. Officials emphasized that if and when an abatement or PILOT application is filed it will be publicly noticed and heard by the council under the statutory process.