Raise Taxes? Reduce Expenses? Draw Down Reserves?

DeKalb County officials paint a dismal financial picture in the event Brookhaven becomes a city.

In the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Richard Stogner, the county chief operating officer, said the county's only options to recoup the estimated $27 million it predicts it would lose in tax revenue from Brookhaven residents are to "raise revenues, reduce expenses or draw down on reserves" - noting that the county was far from ready for the impact of a .

State Rep. Mike Jacobs and other proponents of cityhood have pointed out in hearings however that while DeKalb County will see a loss in some revenue, the services the county now provides to the area will be eliminated, thus eliminating an expense to the county. Similarly, Rep. Tom Taylor said that because Brookhaven residents will remain part of DeKalb County and using its fire department and schools, more than 70 percent of residents' tax dollars would still go to DeKalb County. 

Stogner said in the report that no possible solution is off the table, including job cuts and higher taxes.

What do you think? Will cityhood be financially damaging to DeKalb County? If Brookhaven becomes a city, how do you think DeKalb County should recoup financial resources based on Stogner's assessment?  Tell us in comments and start or join the conversation on Facebook.