Gwinnett To Appeal Service Delivery Court Ruling

Gwinnett County reportedly will appeal a judge's ruling that favored Gwinnett Municipal Association cities in the long-running Service Delivery Strategy (SDS) legal battle.

Gwinnett BOC Chairwoman Charlotte Nash told the Gwinnett Daily Post that the county "has no choice" but to file an appeal. County officials are working on service districts for residents that were ordered by Judge David Barrett's ruling in September. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that the county has filed a motion to suspend the ruling pending an apppeal.

The judge ruled that the county can't tax residents whose cities decide not to accept and jointly fund an SDS service, such as police.

"The County is without authority to levy taxes, assessments or fees on municipal residents, individuals, or property owners whose municipality decides not to accept and jointly-fund a SDS Service," Barrett's order read.

Gwinnett County is preparing its annual budget, and the judge's order also mandated that the county include the new tax structure in its next fiscal year.