Brookhaven Cityhood: So What Happens Now?

So now what?

Passed in (literally) the final hours of the 2011-12 Georgia General Assembly session, the . 

Deal can either sign the bill, veto it, or simply take no action on it whatsoever. If he signs the bill, the issue of Brookhaven incorporation will be put to voters on July 31.

“The legislative process has run its course," said , R-Atlanta, the bill's primary sponsor. "It has been a tough road, but I am glad that the citizens will have the right to choose their form of local government. That is what HB 636 is all about.”

Ashford Neighbors, a group of Brookhaven and unincorporated DeKalb County residents, in the creation of the proposed city.

Shortly after Thursday night's vote, , D-Atlanta, told Patch, "I look forward to the continuation of the robust community debate on this issue, and it will be very interesting to see how the community decides in July."

"I am worried about the financial injury to DeKalb County if another new large city is created," said , D-Decatur. "But, I also don't know if the voters will approve new taxes for duplicated services."

through which groups of residents would have to follow to gain cityhood. Jacobs argued throughout the session that this measure has followed the same, two-year process that the cities of Sandy Springs and Dunwoody followed, on their way  to incorporation.

For a bill that created so much controversy under the Gold Dome this session, passage in the state House on Thursday night came quietly and without any fireworks. Jacobs took the floor shortly before 10:30 pm to ask for approval for the Senate's amendments to his bill.

The Brookhaven Republican took no questions from the well of the House, and outgoing , D-Atlanta, offered the only comment from the floor, highlighting the DeKalb legislative delegation's overall opposition to the bill.

Earlier in the session, House Majority Leader Ed Lindsey, R-Atlanta, led an effort to The Senate version reverted to the city's original name, and Lindsey - one of House's most influential members - offered no objection to the change from the floor.