The final vote changing Peachtree City municipal elections to even-numbered years will have to wait a bit longer to be decided. The City Council on May 7 voted 4-1 to have staff prepare a legislative document expected in the coming months.
The idea of having city election changed to even-numbered years was initiated by Councilman Mike King earlier this year.
The discussion Thursday night had all favoring the switch to even-numbered years, though Councilman Eric Imker supported the second of two examples rather than the first example that appeared to be favored by others in the council. The eventual vote was 4-1 on having staff prepare the legislative document.
City attorney Ted Meeker said the eventual document that would be passed to a member of the Fayette County delegation for approval next year by the General Assembly requires a unanimous vote by the council.
The first example would have the terms of Post 1 and 2 councilmen, Imker and King, shortened to three years beginning in 2016 while the remaining council terms shortened to three years beginning in 2018.
Under the first example, which had the largest council support, the election for the seats held by Imker and King would be held, as prescribed, in November, and the winner of those seats would take office in January.
Assuming the issue is adopted by the General Assembly in the 2016 term, the issue would be the subject of a referendum later in 2016. If successful, the terms of the two elected to the council for Post 1 and 2 would be shortened from four years to three year and would expire in 2018.
The second example would have all council seats shortened to three years beginning in 2018 and 2020 and would require no public vote.
There would be a significant savings involved in changing city elections to even-numbered years, as King suggested, though City Clerk Betsy Tyler said the total amount of those savings is not currently known.
King in February said he surfaced the idea during his election campaign, adding that moving city elections to even-numbered years would enhance voter turnout since a higher percentage of voters go to the polls for state and national elections.
King in a previous meeting said voter turnout on even-numbered years ran 60-80 percent while turnout in municipal elections held during odd-numbered years ran approximately 19-22 percent.
