Yes, a Cell Tower Will Lower Property Values. And, Yes, Lower Property Values Result in Less Money for the Operating Fund of Our Public Schools

We have been talking about the many, many reasons why there might be some upset people when they wake up in DeKalb County, after an overwhelming majority of voters sent a clear message that we do not want T-mobile towers on our school grounds... only to see a giant cell tower going up right outside their window. 

One good reason they might be concerned is that their property values, already taking a beating, might get even worse.  And, they would probably be justified in thinking that way.

 

Who would want to live right next to one of these things, seriously?

 

The DeKalb County School Board Chairman Dr. Eugene Walker said he would take one in his front yard, but that was before a cell tower in Lilburn caught fire and fell over.  He probably had second thoughts after he saw that happen.

 

And imagine what it’s like for people who purchase or build their dream home or neighborhood, only to later have an unwanted cell tower installed just outside their window? 

This negative effect can also contribute to urban blight, a deterioration of neighborhoods and school districts that can happen when residents move away or pull their children out of school because they do not want to spend so much time near urban health hazards, like cell towers.

People don’t want to live next to one not just because of health concerns, but also due to aesthetics and public safety reasons.  Cell towers become eyesores, obstructing or tarnishing cherished views, and also can attract crime, are potential noise nuisances, and fire and fall hazards.  There is also concern for injuries to people and property on the ground below a cell tower in winter as ice and debris often accumulate up top, then fall to the ground as the weather gets warmer throughout the day. 

 

These points underscore why wireless facilities are commercial / industrial facilities that don't belong in residential areas, parks and schools.  In addition, your county officials have the power to regulate the placement and appearance of cell towers, as long as such discrimination is not unreasonable, and especially if you show them that you already have coverage in your area.


A recent map of the U.S. was released by the FCC to show the areas deficient in 3G wirelss coverage and guess what... DeKalb County, GA, was not on it!  So even the FCC has your back on this one, DeKalb... we are NOT considered to be deficient in our current coverage.  These towers are simply not needed.  They are just an attempt to gain closer proximity to our homes and to push their 4G coverage products on us without consumer demand for them.  This mindset is the opposite of safe cell siting procedures.  The FCC clearly defines the "need" for a tower as something that must come before the approval to build.  That's why T-mobile wants to go around the standard process and use our schools as their accomplice.  They don't care about the fact that children will lose playground space or that their health might be at risk.  They care about profit and nothing else.


Putting cell towers near residential properties is just bad business.
*  For residential owners, it means decreased property values.
*  For local businesses (realtors and brokers) representing and listing these properties, it will create decreased income.
*  For county governments, it results in decreased revenue (property taxes).
*  For state and local school boards, it results in abandonment of schools and distrust of elected officials.

 

Read this New York Times news story, "A Pushback Against Cell Towers," published in the paper's Real Estate section, on August 27, 2010:

 

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/29/realestate/29Lizo.html?_r=1&ref=realestate. 

 

A number of organizations and studies have documented the detrimental effects of cell towers on property values.  

 

1.  The Appraisal Institute, the largest global professional membership organization for appraisers with 91 chapters throughout the world, spotlighted the issue of cell towers and the fair market value of a home and educated its members that a cell tower should, in fact, cause a decrease in home value. 

The definitive work on this subject was done by Dr. Sandy Bond, who concluded that "media attention to the potential health hazards of [cellular phone towers and antennas] has spread concerns among the public, resulting in increased resistance" to sites near those towers.

 

Percentage decreases mentioned in the study range from 2 to 20% with the percentage moving toward the higher range the closer the property.

 

These are a few of her studies:

 

• a. "The effect of distance to cell phone towers on house prices" by Sandy Bond, Appraisal Journal, Fall 2007, see attached. Source, Appraisal Journal, found on the Entrepreneur website,  http://www.prres.net/papers/Bond_Squires_Using_GIS_to_Measure.pdf
• Sandy Bond, Ph.D., Ko-Kang Wang, “The Impact of Cell Phone Towers on House Prices in Residential Neighborhoods,” The Appraisal Journal, Summer 2005; see attached. Source: Goliath business content website, http://goliath.ecnext.com/coms2/gi_0199-5011857/The-impact-of-cell-phone.html
• Sandy Bond also co-authored, "Cellular Phone Towers: Perceived impact on residents and property values" University of Auckland, paper presented at the Ninth Pacific-Rim Real Estate Society Conference, Brisbane, Australia, January 19-22, 2003; see attached. Source: Pacific Rim Real Estate Society website, http://www.prres.net/Papers/Bond_The_Impact_Of_Cellular_Phone_Base_Station_Towers_On_Property_Values.pdf

2. Industry Canada (Canadian government department promoting Canadian economy), “Report On the National Antenna Tower Policy Review, Section D — The Six Policy Questions, Question 6. What evidence exists that property values are impacted by the placement of antenna towers?”; see attached. Source: Industry Canada http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/smt-gst.nsf/eng/sf08353.html website,

 

3. New Zealand Ministry for the Environment, “Appendix 5: The Impact of Cellphone Towers on Property Values”; see attached. Source: New Zealand Ministry for the Environment website, http://www.mfe.govt.nz/publications/rma/nes-telecommunications-section32-aug08/html/page12.html

 

 

On a local level, taxpayers have informed local school board, county government and administrative offices and state legislative officials.

 

1.  Santa Cruz, CA: Also attached is a story about how a preschool closed up because of a cell tower installed on its grounds; “Santa Cruz Preschool Closes Citing Cell Tower Radiation,” Santa Cruz Sentinel, May 17, 2006; Source, EMFacts website: http://www.emfacts.com/weblog/?p=466.

 

2.  Merrick, NY:  For a graphic illustration of what we don't want happening here in DeKalb County, just look at Merrick, NY, where NextG wireless facilities are being installed, resulting in declining home real estate values.  Look at this Best Buyers Brokers Realty website ad from this area,  “Residents of Merrick, Seaford and Wantaugh Complain Over Perceived Declining Property Values: http://www.bestbuyerbroker.com/blog/?p=86.

 

3.  Burbank, CA: As for Burbank,  at a City Council public hearing on December 8, 2009, hillside resident and a California licensed real estate professional Alex Safarian informed city officials that local real estate professionals he spoke with agree about the adverse effects the proposed cell tower would have on property values:

 

"I’ve done research on the subject and as well as spoken to many real estate professionals in the area, and they all agree that there’s no doubt that cell towers negatively affect real estate values.  Steve Hovakimian, a resident near Brace park, and a California real estate broker, and the publisher of “Home by Design” monthly real estate magazine, stated that he has seen properties near cell towers lose up to 10% of their value due to proximity of the cell tower...So even if they try to disguise them as tacky fake metal pine trees, as a real estate professional you’re required by the California Association of Realtors: that sellers and licensees must disclose material facts that affect the value or desirability of a property including conditions that are known outside and surrounding areas."

 

(See City of Burbank Website, Video, Alex Safarian comments @ 6:24:28, http://burbank.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=6&clip_id=848)

 

Indeed, 27 Burbank real estate professionals in December 2009, signed a petition/statement offering their professional opinion that the proposed T-Mobile cell tower at Brace Canyon Park would negatively impact the surrounding homes, stating:

 

"It is our professional opinion that cell towers decrease the value of homes in the area tremendously.  Peer reviewed research also concurs that cell sites do indeed cause a decrease in home value.  We encourage you to respect the wishes of the residents and deny the proposed T-Mobile lease at this location.  We also request that you strengthen your zoning ordinance regarding wireless facilities like the neighboring city of Glendale has done, to create preferred and non preferred zones that will protect the welfare of our residents and their properties as well as Burbank's real estate business professionals and the City of Burbank.  Higher property values mean more tax revenue for the city, which helps improve our city."

 

(Submitted to City Council,  Planning Board, City Manager, City Clerk and other city officials via e-mail on June 18, 2010.  To see a copy of this, scroll down to bottom of page and click "Subpages" or go here: http://sites.google.com/site/nocelltowerinourneighborhood/home/decreased-real-estate-value/burbank-real-estate-professionals-statement )

4.  And, of course, you can look at our website, www.GETtheCELLoutATL.org for  the long history we have had of fighting for the rights of our schools, children and neighborhoods here in DeKalb County, GA, a suburb area near Atlanta.

 

Here is a list of additional articles on how cell towers negatively affect the property values of homes near them:

 

 •The Observer (U.K.), "Phone masts blight house sales: Health fears are alarming buyers as masts spread across Britain to meet rising demand for mobiles," Sunday May 25, 2003 or go here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2003/may/25/houseprices.uknews

 

• “Cell Towers Are Sprouting in Unlikely Places,” The New York Times, January 9, 2000 (fears that property values could drop between 5 and 40 percent because of neighboring cell towers)

 

•“Quarrel over Phone Tower Now Court’s Call,” Chicago Tribune, January 18, 2000 (fear of lowered property values due to cell tower)

 

•“The Future is Here, and It’s Ugly: a Spreading of Techno-blight of Wires, Cables and Towers Sparks a Revolt,” New York Times, September 7, 2000

 

•“Tower Opponents Ring Up a Victory," by Phil Brozynski, in the Barrington [Illinois] Courier-Review, February 15, 1999, 5,  reporting how the Cuba Township assessor reduced the value of twelve homes following the construction of a cell tower in Lake County, IL.  See attached story: http://spot.colorado.edu/~maziara/appeal&attachments/Newton-43-LoweredPropertyValuation/

 

•In another case, a Houston jury awarded 1.2 million to a couple because a 100-foot-tall cell tower was determined to have lessened the value of their property and caused them mental anguish: Nissimov, R., "GTE Wireless Loses Lawsuit over Cell-Phone Tower," Houston Chronicle, February 23, 1999, Section A, page 11.  (Property values depreciate by about 10 percent because of the tower.)

 

 

Read about other "Tools" that may help you and your fellow residents oppose a cell tower in your neighborhood:

 

•Reasonable Discrimination Allowed
 •We Already Have Good Coverage: Significant Gap and 911
•Alternative Locations and Supplemental Application forms
•Aesthetics and Safety
•Noise and Nuisance and notes about Clearwire
•Health Effects: Science & Research

 

Also print out this helpful article on court decisions from the communications law firm of Miller & Van Eaton (with offices in D.C. and San Francisco) that you can pull and read to realize what rights you may or may not have in opposing a wireless facility in your neighborhood: http://www.millervaneaton.com/content.agent?page_name=HT%3A++IMLA+Article+Tower+Siting+Nov+2008 (click the link once you get to this page). 

  

TALK TO LOCAL REALTORS
 When opposing the zoning or construction of a cell tower, it's important to alk to your local real estate professionals as early in the process as possible.  Inform and educate them about the negative effects on local property values that cell towers have. 

 

After all, they are required by law to disclose any known environmental hazards in the area of a home they are selling, either current or future, so they are well aware that the disclosures they make directly affect the price a homebuyer is willing to pay. 

 

Ask for letters of support to be sent from the Realtor directly to the county Planning and Development officials and cc'ed to you and your local media so that you are educating and informing as many people as possible on this issue as early in the process as possible.  

 

It's very important to have your local real estate professionals back up what the experts report in their studies to make your arguments relative to your specific community. 

And, don't forget the importance of your neighborhood school on influencing your property value.  Here's one local Realtor's take on it:  http://tucker.patch.com/blog_posts/whats-a-huge-factor-in-calculating-your-property-value


HOMEOWNERS' ASSOCIATIONS
 You can also educate your local homeowners' associations and neighborhood councils about the negative property value effects and have them submit letters. 

 

They may also become great advocates for your cause, helping to spread word of mouth about the pitfalls of cell towers among the community and showing up in force whenever your group is called upon to present its side of the issue at a zoning hearing or in front of a committee that must decide about an application for special use of the land in an ordinarily residential-only zone.


DON'T GIVE UP THE FIGHT

This area of the law is still very new and it is expected that many of the cell tower battles will be over unchartered territory.  You are expected to have to go to the judiciary system in some cases as there is no precedent to lead in either direction.  So, do what you can to stand up for your rights!  If you are fighting within the FCC "shot clock" window, you will likely have attorneys' fees refunded as well.  You are not just fighting for yourself, but for all those who will travel the same path after you.

Don't give up.  Be respectful, but take nothing at face value.  Use the media to tell your story if you can get them on your side.  But, focus on your issue, your case and get your neighbors to unite as it will affect everyone in some way.  The more you can help educate others, the better off we will all be in the long run.

If you have any questions, feel free to email us at sayno2celltowers@yahoo.com.  We are not attorneys nor do we offer advice that should substitute for the advice from a qualified attorney in this area, but we have been working on this subject for more than a year and can offer practical input about our own experience that we are willing to share.  Sometimes it helps just to know you are not alone and you have people in your corner.

And, here in DeKalb County, we started with no one in our corner and, as of July 31, 2012, 75,000 voters, a whopping 62%, voted "NO" to cell towers at our schools!  Way to go DeKalb County!

DeKalb school board raises taxes

DeKalb school board raises taxes
By Melissa Weinman on June 28, 2012.
(Reprint from Neighborhood Newspapers)

Taxes will go up for DeKalb County residents this year after the school board voted for a millage increase to help close an $85 million deficit.

At the DeKalb County Board of Education’s June 21 meeting, the board voted 5-4 to approve a 1-mill increase, which will provide DeKalb County schools with an additional $14.8 million. A 1-mill increase means taxes will go up about $80 on a house appraised at $200,000.

The nine-member board also split when it approved the budget for fiscal year 2013, which begins July 1.

This year, the system spent through its reserves, leaving nothing for emergencies. So the $760 million budget includes cuts that will reduce the system’s operating costs and provide roughly $8 million in reserves.

“This budget allows us to rebuild our reserve and get back our financial footing,” said Walter Woods, spokesman for DeKalb schools.

The budget cuts $1.9 million in funding for the Fernbank Science Center and increases all class sizes, including special education, by two students. It also eliminates funding for 200 paraprofessionals.

“We are trying to keep our cuts from directly impacting the classroom as much as we can,” Superintendent Cheryl Atkinson said.

The board also approved two additional furlough days for teachers, for a total of six next year.

“These will not be instructional days. They will be teacher work days and things like that,” Woods said.

Because of the increased class sizes, Woods said DeKalb will hire fewer teachers this year. No teachers will be laid off, but about 200 positions have been eliminated from the central office, he said.

Nancy Jester, who represents north DeKalb on the Board of Education, voted against the budget and the millage increase.

Jester said she believes the county could have done more to control spending before asking taxpayers for more money.

She voted against the budget, she said, because she would have rather seen different cuts.

“I stand for always putting the teacher and classroom ahead of everything else as far as cuts go and I do not believe that was the case with all the cuts in our budget.”

TUCKER PATCH: Federal Decision Gives Hope to DeKalb Cell Tower Opponents

Local Voices

Cheryl Miller

Get the Cell Out - ATL

Federal Decision Gives Hope to DeKalb Cell Tower Opponents

Posted on May 4, 2012 at 9:02 am



CreditCheryl Miller, When one tower goes up, there is usually another that will
follow. Verizon and T-mobile/ATT compete for your business while
expecting to radiate our children against their will.

Through our informal countywide group (Get the Cell Out - Atlanta) against the placement of cell phone towers (aka telecommunications towers) on school grounds, we have continued to ask questions and seek answers from our leaders. When we spoke with people outside of Georgia, we received a lot of support and encouragement to continue our mission to learn the truth.

One particularly kind attorney who was waging her own war on the cell towers in Maryland reviewed our situation and spoke with another advocate for safe tower siting. This friend happened to also be a former member of a zoning review board, so she knew what our zoning folks would likely be looking for when and if the applications for towers were ever presented to them.



Dr. Ricky Welikis was among three
parents who filed suit against the
Cobb County School Board and
obtained a restraining order
on the cell tower planned
for Eastvalley Elementary
last year. He went on to
 run for a seat, and win,
on the school board.

She helped us locate an important case that went to the Supreme Court of Georgia, titled "MACON-BIBB COUNTY PLANNING and; ZONING COMMISSION et al. v. BIBB COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT." It shows that the property of a state governmental unit is exempt from local zoning when a governmental function is being performed but not when a proprietary function is being performed.
This information was key because it helped the county commissioners come together in DeKalb and write a letter to the CEO Burrell Ellis asking him to deny any tower applications from T-mobile or the school board that would seek to go around the authority and regulations of the county. We have ordinances already on the books to protect us from industrial hazards by keeping these type of structures out of residentially zoned areas.
If T-mobile applies for the proper permits, many of the school locations would not be allowed and their zoning and building permit requests would be denied. But, the commissioners did mention one thing in their letter that concerned us and that was something about "unless it is proven otherwise in a court of law," then they must uphold the ordinances of the county.


A great documentary about the cell tower
issues and what your government is
NOT telling you about the dangers
of RF radiation.

We didn't have to look far to find the backup documentation they would need to answer their question. In fact, it has been decided in a court of law, a federal court. In our neighboring Cobb County, the court sided in favor of the county to uphold its zoning ordinances and deny a cell tower to T-mobile. So, we have again written to CEO Burrell Ellis. Here is an excerpt from that letter...

"... The federal case we would like you to reference is titled, "T-MOBILE LLC vs. COBB COUNTY, GEORGIA."
In this case, the County’s Planning and Zoning Staff reviewed the Application for compliance with the County’s local zoning ordinance. The Ordinance provides several design, location, and safety requirements for the construction of towers over 35 feet. Official Code of Cobb County, Georgia § 134-273. Based on the Ordinance, the county denied the application for a tower permit and T-Mobile sued.

The court found in favor of the county and proved that the county has every right to uphold its own zoning ordinances and was justified in denying the application based on the fact that the tower proposed would be an intrusion into a residential area.

We hope you and your staff will review the documents and take these court proceedings into consideration when making the final determination. We have received an outpouring of support for this mission to keep our school yards safe and free from the intrusion of cell phone towers on their grounds.

We have united our county on this issue, and groups that might normally be divided on other matters when it comes to schools and education, were able to come together, work together and seek help from their elected officials from the north to the south.

Now, we turn this final decision over to you, Mr. Ellis, and pray that you will do the right thing for the children of our county." To read our full letter, please visit our blog/website at http://www.getthecelloutatl.com/2012/04/dear-mr-burrell-ellis-ceo-we-are.html."

Remember to VOTE on July 31 for school board members in several districts. All incumbents must go. Nancy Jester and Donna Edler are the only ones who voted no to the cell towers in July 2011.

And URGENT: Look out for the Telecommunications Tower Referendum Question on the ballot. VOTE NO! If you do not want to put our schools and neighborhoods at risk AND you are tired of helping fund the corruption, please spread the word - VOTE NO!

"Telecommunications Towers" is the name they are giving to cell towers in an attempt to mislead you. Spread the word in your neighborhood about this question so your area does not accidentally approve a tower near you! This question does not belong on the ballot and was NOT supported by any of the groups who met with the state delegation in hopes of passing legislation this year.

In fact, it was actually suggested by the same person who blocked our bill t ban the towers from going forward. It is asking you to approve something that is currently against our county's ordinances that were drafted by our county commissioners to protect your health and property!  To view the full details about this ballot question, go here.

Grand Jury Calls For Investigation of DeKalb School Board

Updated: Thursday, 03 May 2012, 10:22 PM EDTPublished : Thursday, 03 May 2012, 10:13 PM EDT
(reprinted with permission)
by: Kaitlyn Prat

Grand Jury Calls For Investigation of DeKalb School Board: MyFoxATLANTA.com

DeKalb DA Robert James announced he would not convene a special grand jury LAST TIME it was recommended.  

School Board Chairman Dr. Eugene Walker looked over his shoulder ominously.   Skeptics say that THIS time the

DA is going along with the investigation, but not truly leading it.  What is it that these board members do to

seemingly nice, intelligent, otherwise perfectly normal people who work alongside them? 

Maybe we should fear the school board and elect the cell towers? 

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. - A DeKalb County grand jury is calling for a special investigation of the county school board. It's the second time the recommendation had been made in recent months and this time the district attorney is pursuing it.

The grand jury report focuses on how the school board managed money. It questioned why tax payers are paying more than $100,000 in legal fees for former DeKalb Schools Superintendent Crawford Lewis, who was indicted on racketeering charges.

The report also points to an expensive civil suit against a former construction company, Heery/Mitchell.

“The ongoing fiscal irresponsibility of the DeKalb County School Board has caused tens of millions of dollars to be wasted,” the grand jury indictment states.

DeKalb County Schools spokesman Walter Woods said the board would welcome the investigation.

“Everything we’ve done is legal. We observe the law. If we’ve violated the law then let them bring that to our attention,” said DeKalb Schools Chairman Dr. Gene Walker, who said he had not seen the grand jury report.

Ten Superior Court judges will decide on the investigation.

Call or Email Your State Representative to Support House Bill 1128 "Prudent Avoidance of Cell Towers Legislation"

Action Needed This Week!

(click headline for full text of this article)

The House Bill 1128, written by Rep. Karla Drenner and co-sponsored by fellow represenatives, will drop at Noon on Monday for possible entry onto the full delegation agenda this week!

It amends the current law regarding leasing of school property to prohit the leasing for the purpose of installing or maintaining telecommunicatinons towers.

HouseBillPrudentAvoidance.dekalb.county

It is urgent that this bill is approved for the agenda this week.  If it does not make it to the agenda, it will not be voted upon for a full year.  Our schools and neighborhoods need your help!

CALL TO ACTION:  If you live in DeKalb County, GA, and/or pay residential property taxes in DeKalb County, you will be personally affected by the outcome of this legislation!  

GTCO-ATL recommends that you call or email your state representative to let him/her know that you support House Bill 1128 (Prudent Avoidance) and would like for it to be a priority on the agenda THIS WEEK. Find your represenative by entering your zip code below:   

 

If you are not sure if you support this bill, consider the followinig:

* Your property taxes (currently among the highest in the United States) are intended to pay for county services provided to all residents.

* Currently, more than 60% of this money is directed solely for public education purposes.

* This revenue is provided to the DeKalb County Board of Education IN ADDITION to the SPLOST IV sales tax which provides $475 million over the next 5 years.

* The Board of Education voted in July 2011 to lease ACTIVE school property at 9 schools to T-Mobile for the construction of massive cellphone tower sites, larger than any we have currently seen in our county (60' x 60' base and 150'+ tall).

* These towers pose dangers to school children and violate the local zoning codes of our county that are intended to protect the property rights of taxpayers and preserve home values for future generations.   In addition, the zoning laws ensure the safety of all our residents.

* The Board of Education, acting with only an Interim Superintendent and without the attendance of the Board Chairman, voted to approve the 30-year contracts without thoroughly reading them and without proper public notification or input from the communities directly affected by the decision.

* T-Mobile is currently in the process of applying for permits that will be "rubber-stamped" as our county officials claim they do not have jurisdiction over the Board of Education as it is a function of the state.

* If the House Bill 1128 (text above) does not make it to the agenda and then pass the delegation vote, the 9 schools will have little recourse to stop the cell towers from being placed on school grounds. 

* Cell towers have no benefit to the children at the schools and the money is NOT contracted to be used at the schools receiving the towers. It is NOT earmarked for the PTAs, despire press leaks that have indicated otherwise.

* T-mobile will benefit in many ways, including using our public schools as a handy tax shelter.  That's money that they would normally contribute to our economy and should have to pay! 

* They will also benefit from sub-leasing their tower space and further increasing the radiation levels you are exposed to.

* They will be able to expand their 4G network by building sub-standard towers that do not meet current industry-standards.  They will be allowed into areas that would not normally be deemed appropriate or safe for humans to reside near or children to be exposed to, both for the RF radiation they emit and for the "fall zone" including homes and schools instead of the standard buffer zones required.

* There are other ways to get the technology to the people - it just costs the telecommunications industry or T-mobile more money. They are opting for the cheapest, easiest way to accomplish their corporate expanstion goals without regard to the risk posed to human life or the safety of school children.

* Once a single tower goes up at any public school, all our schools are at risk of being used by the Board of Education for this "easy profit" scheme. The FCC Telecommunications Act of 1996, which is outdated, would obligate our local officials to permit other providers to equal access as they would not be allowed to discriminate between providers.

* Cell towers at schools will further harm our housing market and potential homebuyers with families will likely wish to move to areas of Atlanta that do NOT have cell towers on school grounds.

* Passing this bill will make DeKalb County a desirable location for families relocating to Atlanta.

* Passing this bill will prevent families from abandoning the school system in search of other places to live or choosing the private schools as alternatives to public education.

* Passing this bill will ensure that property values are not sent into further decline and industrial structures and for-profit commercial businesses are not allowed a loop-hole into our neighborhoods.

* Passing this bill will ensure that the health and safety of our children comes first and we do not allow dangerous structures to take up valuable space that was intended to be used solely for educational purposes.

CALL TO ACTION: If you live in DeKalb County, GA, and/or pay residential property taxes, you will be personally affected by the outcome of this legislation!

GTCO-ATL recommends that you call or email your state representative to let him/her know that you support House Bill 1128 and would like for it to be a priority on the agenda THIS WEEK.

To find your elected official, visit this website and enter your zip code.

LETTER: Our Letter to Our School Board Rep. Paul Womack - This Issue is Not About One School, it is About All Schools

Sent: Tuesday, May 24, 2011 1:49 PM
Subject: Cell Tower proposal by T-Mobile
(click headline for the full story)
Mr. Womack,

We would like to protest the proposal that was made by T-Mobile to our community at a meeting held at Brockett Elementary School on May 4, 2011. We have copied Thomas Bowen on this email as he is the chairperson. We are also sending a similar letter to Lyndia Maugborne, our school principal. We wish to urge both of you to fairly represent us and vote against the cell tower construction. The focus of our concern involves four areas:

1.) First, T-Mobile has not followed proper procedures of notification to the residents in the affected area or a public forum for discussion by both sides. The parents and guardians of children at the school are not the only ones with a vested interest in the impact the proposed tower would have on the community. Therefore, we object to the improper notification. Even the notice that was given to parents of Brockett Elementary school students was vague and did not convey the true purpose of the meeting.

2.) Second, we object to the cell tower proposal based on issues related to the health and welfare of the residents in the surrounding community including the children who attend Brockett Elementary and other schools as outlined by the cell company proposal.

There has been much research done that indicates prolonged exposure to even at low levels of this radiation causes damage to cell tissue and DNA, and it has been linked to brain tumors, cancer, suppressed immune function, depression, miscarriage, Alzheimer's disease, and numerous other serious illnesses. [1]

Children are at the greatest risk, due to their thinner skulls, and rapid rate of growth. Also at greater risk are the elderly, the frail, and pregnant women. Doctors from the United Kingdom have issued warnings urging children under 16 not to use cell phones, to reduce their exposure to radio frequency (RF) radiation. [2]

At the very least, we urge the school board to delay decision until the results of the study by MOBI-KIDS is completed in 2013. This international study will provide insight as to the effects of cellular use on children. http://www.mbkds.com/

We have read your open letter regarding the need for ethics at this school board and we sincerely hope that you will stand by your words and look at this decision from an ethical perspective, not simply a financial one. Allowing something of this magnitude to fly "under the radar" with parents so that it might be passeed into the hands of a system without a superintendent and a history of mismanaging funds would be a highly distrubing decision. And, to ignore the studies that have been done is irresponsible. The board must consider all available information and put that together with the fact that the simple fear alone that this proposal has generated among those in the community who are aware of it, should be a sign that it is not in the best interest of the school or the children.

Caption for photo at left:
WARNING: Would this be enough warning to keep your 2nd grader from hopping a fence? A T-mobile site we located in Tucker, GA, was found with a warning sign knocked on its side and overgrown shurbs blocking the view. Are these conditions what we can expect once the cell towers go up at our 9 DeKalb Schools? And how many schools will be on the next list? They didn't warn us? What makes you think they might warn you?


3.) Third, we wish to protest the cell tower construction based on the rights of property owners in the surrounding community. The Federal Communications Act of 1996 states that property values and aesthetics are valid reasons for a municipality to deny zoning for a cell tower or antenna. It is our belief that the towers would create an eyesore in the community even if an attempt is made to disguise the tower as a tree. The unsightly tower along with fear of living near one would result in lower property values which, in turn, would lower the amount of property tax collected. A cost / benefit analysis has not been conducted that would take this fact into account.

4.) And, finally, we protest based on the fact that there is not a need for better cellular coverage in our area. T-mobile lists its current strength for both voice and data at or near the strongest levels possible. The coverage can be verified for both voice and data by entering the 30084 zip code on this page:

http://www.t-mobile.com/coverage/pcc.aspx. In addition, a pending merger with AT&T would significantly change the needs of T-mobile and could render all agreements to be null & void. I don't know any fair-minded individual who would enter into a contract of this proportion with a company that has publically stated it is in the process of being bought out by another entity and will therefore cease to exist. That's simply bad business.

Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter. We will follow this issue closely and urge our friends and neighbors to do the same. We proudly join the growing community of citizens across the country who are standing up to these assaults and helping deciding bodies such as yours to do the right thing for the students and community that lives near and supports the school.

We expect you will take the community and parent protests seriously and consider our messages carefully before rendering the best decision for the future of DeKalb and our children. Brockett Elementary has been a part of our community for 50 years. We hope it will continue to be a source of pride for us, not a reason for us to be forced to abandon our school and possibly even our homes. Please vote 'NO' against any proposal to locate a cell tower at our school, or others in our county. Please make us proud that Paul Womack truly is willing to stand up to any opposition and represent fairly the opinions of the members in his district, with an ethical code that is in tact even where others may fall short.

1 Microwave and Radio Frequency Radiation Exposure, San Francisco Medicine , Vol. 74, No 3, March 2001
2 Mobiles Risk to children, Daily Mail (U.K.), May 11, 2000

Clarkston's Mayor Ransom Pledges Support

Parents and homeowners who live near Jolly Elementary in Clarkston, Narvie J. Harris Elementary in Decatur and Briarlake Elementary in Decatur have agreed to work together with a united front to stop the construction of cell towers at their local schools.

Mayor Emanuel Ransom of the City of Clarkston gave the welcome at the Informational Town Hall meeting held Sept. 24. To the applause of the attendees, Mayor Ransom stated, “You have my full support."

He discussed his personal viewpoint regarding the safety of cell towers and his concerns about siting them too close to schools and homes. He also questioned why the school board had changed its viewpoint regarding cell towers as they had voted to take the item off the agenda in 2006 when it was proposed by supporters at Lakeside High School as a revenue-generating idea. He educated everyone on the fact that the DeKalb County Board of Education had also denied the approval of a cell tower at the Clarkston Community Center years earlier since they were the property owners even though the members of the center had wanted the tower.

Don Broussard, a former member of the DeKalb County Planning Commission, told parents and concerned residents at a Sept. 24 town hall meeting in Clarkston that the county can approve the cell towers through a Special Land Use Permit or a Special Administrative Permit.

“Whenever I see the words ‘special administrative permit,’ my lights go off,” Broussard said.

“That’s a nice way for saying, ‘We can do a deal in the back room.’ No public review, there is no public notice, apparently there are some standards you meet for the permit.”

The representatives from the schools present asked questions of the panel, which included the Mayor along with representatives from the DeKalb County Planning Commission, the non-profit organization Unhappy Taxpayer and Voter and Get the Cell Out - Atlanta Chapter, a grassroots organization formed to help citizens wishing to oppose the towers.

The attendees gathered after the meeting to discuss ideas and exchange contact information so that they can form an action plan to educate more parents and homeowners about how cell towers in residential communities will decrease DeKalb’s quality of life, increase health risks, and decrease property values.

If you want to oppose the construction of cell towers at your local school, or speak out against cell towers on school grounds in DeKalb in general, please contact Viola Davis at 770-256-0034 or email voterwhocares@gmail.com and/or Cheryl Miller at sayno2celltowers@yahoo.com.

The countywide petition can be signed at: www.getthecelloutatl.org or at www.thepetitionsite.com/1/GTCO-ATL. Your name can be annoymous online and email addresses or other contact details are never disclosed. Please mention any of the schools by name in the comments section if you have specific concerns.

Schools on the list to receive towers include: Jolly Elementary (Clarkston), Narvie J. Harris Elementary (Decatur), Briarlake Elementary (Decatur), Margart Harris Comprehensive School (Atlanta), M.L. King, Jr. High School (Lithonia), Princeton Elementary (Lithonia), Flat Rock Elementary (Lithonia), Lakeside High School (Atlanta) and Smoke Rise Elementary School (Stone Mountain).

TUCKER PATCH ARTICLE: Civic Duty: Appealing Your Property Tax Assessment

Originally Posted on June 28, 2011 at 8:41am
Author:  Cheryl Miller

**  As recommended by Representative Scott Holcomb  ***

Appealing Your Property Taxes: The Cell Tower Factor

Like most people, our property tax assessment recently arrived in the mail. As usual, it includes the most recent computer-generated estimated value of our home in Tucker, Ga. Tucker is divided between Gwinnett County and the portion where my husband and I live, which is in unincorporated DeKalb County.

We usually look it over and then file it away without any emotional response. This year, however, we were both in shock. Somehow, after 11 years of remaining either stable or increasing in value, the past 12 months resulted in a huge decline.

We soon learned we were not alone. Everyone we spoke to in our neighborhood received similar news. Many of our homes are now valued at less than half the amount they were a year ago.

“How is this possible?" one neighbor asked me while out walking her dog. The answer... it cannot be possible. Someone made a huge mistake because these numbers are just plain wrong! Sure, there have been a few foreclosures here, but not enough to make an impact this big.

My assessment - WRONG! My neighbor’s assessment - WRONG! Yours? Probably WRONG? Everyone else’s in the entire county? Probably WRONG!
So, what is the RIGHT thing to do?

I don’t really need to say this, but I will in case you are still in shock. You did not just hit the lottery. You do not have the right to keep this small “windfall” of money by way of lowered taxes. The government will not find the mistake and correct it. The only RIGHT thing to do is file an appeal.
It is easy to do. It can be done for FREE. You will feel much better about yourself when you have finished because you did not sit back and accept phony numbers, even if you thought they might help you.

Have we learned anything from the CRCT scandal where otherwise good people felt compelled to cheat? Didn’t we admonish the actions of former Superintendent Crawford Lewis and Pat Pope for cheating the school system for their own personal gain? Isn’t this sort of the same thing? Is this what we have become? Really? All of us?

I think we are better than that. I hope you will help in proving me right. We cannot be part of the problem. We should not proliferate another scandal. We are not numb to these actions where bad data is substituted for good data. In fact, we are hypersensitive to it now.

That’s why we all knew in our guts when we looked at our tax statements - something is wrong here. And when dishonesty is brought to our attention, I hope and pray we all do the right thing. We must appeal our taxes.

Let's show our leaders that we are paying attention. We will refuse to let them drag us into another scandal. We will do what is in our power to make sure our hands are clean.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor
You may have heard that Avondale Estates Mayor Ed Rieker has stated that DeKalb County's tax data for the city is flawed. I would like to thank him for speaking out and having the good sense to realize that something is definitely wrong here.

“There's no way these props can be down," Rieker said during a meeting called especially for this issue Tuesday, June 7. "This doesn’t make sense to me or anyone else."

He presented his findings in a meeting a couple weeks ago and the county’s only reported explanation was to blame it on the new state law. Really guys? A new law might cause you to calculate your numbers differently, but it can’t corrupt the results all by itself. You need human input for that.
At least they were quick to admit their mistakes… to Avondale’s Mayor. But what about the rest of us? Can we borrow your Mayor for a day so he can come over to Tucker and help us out, too?

"[DeKalb] is absolutely on board. These numbers are in error," Rieker said. "They committed that Avondale would have new numbers by [June 15], close of business."

Garbage In, Garbage Out
Just in case you are curious, here is a short list of errors I found with my assessment. I hope this inspires you to take a closer look at yours, too:

• Incorrect number of bedrooms
• Incorrect number of floors
• Incorrect number of parking spaces (my single-family dwelling was reported to have 400 parking spaces making it appear as if I live in a condominium or apartment)
• Incorrect square footage
• And, when we pulled the sales data for our area, my husband noticed something very odd: several of the forclosure sales were listed multiple times contributing to a lower overall result. And, even some of the non-foreclosure, mid-range sales were listed two or three times. Eureka! We've found some faulty data here. Not sure why there wasn't someone in charge of reviewing these figures before they were mailed to the public. Maybe quality control isn't a top priority these days.

The form listed below will ask for the reason you would like to appeal. I think "incorrect data listed for my home" would work if you see some of the same issues that I did.
Or, you could simply say, “because the county has admitted faulty data as leading to incorrect values in other areas of the county. Therefore, I believe the data used in my assessment may be faulty as well.”

Appeal Today! It’s Easy! It’s Fun! It’s FREE!
Here are a few helpful links and tips:
A summary of the process: http://web.co.dekalb.ga.us/PropertyAppraisal/realSearch.asp

A form to simply fill out and mail back: http://web.co.dekalb.ga.us/PropertyAppraisal/forms/2011/REAppealForm.xls

They will also accept a basic letter as long as it includes a few key items. That is also explained on the first link above.

Note: You will be asked for your own estimate. Since we are not qualified tax experts, I doubt they will actually use our numbers, so don’t waste too much time on this one. This is not a good reason to delay your appeal. Here are some ideas for coming up with an answer for the “taxpayer’s estimate” question:

1. Use Last Year’s Property Value: After all, this was the last professional appraisal that is available.

2. Recalculate the Average: Look at the data that they provide on their website at: http://web.co.dekalb.ga.us/PropertyAppraisal/realSearch.asp. Highlight the errors such as any duplicate or triplicate entries or properties that should not be considered “similar” to yours (like condos being included in single-family home averages). Recalculate the average and submit that as your best estimate.

3. Contact your Realtor: Get a “market snapshot” or ask for an estimated selling price for your home.

4. Use a Reputable Real Estate Calculator: A well-known one can be found at http://www.zillow.com. Just note that Zillow does not include foreclosures in their home estimates, but they do show them to you. You can easily create a new estimate that combines both if you want to try to follow the logic the state law is using. Since you will not be using duplicated values, your estimate will likely be more accurate than the one provided to you by the county.

What’s in it for me?
Okay, I know what you might be thinking. If you are not planning to sell your home any time soon and you don’t really care if county services must be cut back or discontinued, why should you appeal?

First, we must all work together to ensure that our government remains fair and is not permitted to use faulty data as a measure for calculating taxes. Just because it appears the mistake is in your favor this time, does not mean it will be the next time. We cannot sit back and allow mistakes of this magnitude to happen by giving our silent consent.

Second, the trickle down effect of these mistakes is monumental. The county has already announced that there will have to be major cutbacks this year due to the lower amount of taxes that will be collected. That means job cuts and reduced quality in vital services. And, public education will again be faced with funding issues. That gives the green light for the school board's millage rate increase and let's them suggest "alternative" funding ideas. My largest concern is the one they will likely be voting on July 11 - placing dangerous cell towers on school grounds. They want our kids to play at recess right next to hazardous materials while unknown workers drive on and off the grounds all day, just like what has happened at a school in Maryland. Check this out: http://parentscoalitionmc.blogspot.com/2010/01/weasts-cell-tower-jungle-gym-for-kids.html.

Third, we can end all this talk about a TAX HIKE as a means for recouping some of this artificially (or accidentally) created loss of revenue. Here is an excerpt from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution:

The DeKalb County Commission on Tuesday announced a 4.5-mil tax hike , and then pledged to find ways to cut the increase before a final vote in July.

The commission must adopt its final tax rate by July 12 in order to get tax bills out by mid-August. The first payment would be due by Sept. 30 and the second and final installment by Nov. 15.

"We can't just hold our breath and hope to weather this for a year," Commissioner Jeff Rader said. "We have to structurally change our government for years to come. This is just the starting point."

No residents spoke out about the tax rate during Tuesday's public comment session. However, the county must hold at least three public hearings on the issue before its July vote. The first meeting is set for 10 a.m. July 5 at the Maloof Auditorium in Decatur.

So, if taxes go up and later your property value returns to normal, you will soon be paying a higher tax rate than ever before on the correct value of your home. The value that you knew all along was right. Keeping quiet will only hurt you in the end. It will hurt all of us.

I am not claiming to be an expert in this area. I am just a homeowner and taxpayer, same as you. Please join me in doing the right thing and filing your appeal today. And, I hope you will attend the tax hike public meeting noted in the excerpt above to explain why a tax hike is not needed this year. We all know deep down, wrongs do not make rights. Only people can make a difference.

TUCKER PATCH ARTICLE: Appealing Your Property Appraisal: The Cell Tower Factor

Appealing Your Property Appraisal: The Cell Tower Factor

Posted on June 24, 2011 at 5:55am
Author:  Cheryl Miller

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If you're debating whether you should appeal your property taxes and you live near one of the 12 schools set to receive a DeKalb County Board of Education pine scented cell tower this holiday season, you might want to consider how one might affect the other:

What happens if I appeal?

• The amount of your tax will return to the level you are accustomed to paying.
• The services you enjoy will not have to suffer the consequences of under-funding.
• The tax hike that is being considered will not be justified and most likely will not pass.

The cell tower factor: In addition, if you have been following school board news, you may have heard something mentioned about the plans to install cell towers at 12 schools in our county. If your home value is stable now, but declines after a tower goes up near your home, you will have evidence that supports the fact that the tower has contributed to your loss of equity or inability to sell for a reasonable price.

You can object to the cell tower proposal by writing to the school board or speaking at the July 11 meeting when it is likely to appear on the agenda. But, if you do not do that and the towers go up, at least you will still have the ability to monitor the value of your home and determine if the experts are correct in their predictions that your value will decline. Without accurate data, you will not really know the true impact of the cell tower decision.

What happens if I remain silent?

• Your home will be grossly UNDER-VALUED.
• YOU LOSE equity or even end up upside-down in your loan.
• You will have trouble selling at the price you deserve.
• You may have the false hope that you will have to pay less in taxes.
• The tax rate increase will pass and you will be paying close to what you always have.
• Your home value will slowly improve as the bad data falls off the calculation list, but the higher tax will remain.

The cell tower factor: If the school board successfully installs a cell tower at your local public school, like the 12 that they may vote on at the July 11 meeting, you may have extinguished your own chances to have the tower removed if at any time over the next 15 years you decide that it is hurting your property value or creating health problems for you. Why? Because the only permissible reasons to protest a cell tower are related to property value and aesthetics.

If your value is falsely reported at its all-time low right now, you will not have proof down the road that a cell tower contributed to your property’s decline in value. Some people might even try to tell you that the 150’ monstrosity might have caused your property values to go up, when it will really be due to the fact that the faulty numbers will work themselves out of the system over time.

In Tucker, to sign the Brockett Elementary petition to stop the cell tower, go to: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/Stop-Brockett-Cell-Towers/.

For more information about the potential cell tower vote July 11, visit “Get the Cell Out of Here - Atlanta Chapter” on Facebook, or send an email sayno2celltowers@yahoo.com to sign up for E-blast alerts and updates.