This country should have never begun taxing businesses because entities don't pay taxes -- people do. At the end of the day it is consumers who are paying the so-called "business taxes" in the form of higher cost of goods and services.

It is just like the lame argument of the "self-taxing" businesses in the CIDs. It is a mask for a loss of representation. Businessmen have more influence over the pols than do the people. The Founders didn't design it this way.

On the second clip, I've had college math and even listening to Kunz a few times, can't figure out the logic in his numbers on maximizing tax revenues on commercial property. Currently the tax rates for residential and commercial properties are the same. Is he suggesting that Milton change the millage rates to maximize the return on commercial? The comment that anyone should be able to figure it out was condescending. He threw out too many innuendos to be clear.
Also according to Matt Kunz, Milton should be planning for the day Alpharetta decides to make Hwy. 9 "rural" rendering Milton's commercial section along Hwy. 9, isolated "as all that traffic goes over to Westside Hwy." Does anyone have any idea what he's talking about here? Is this something he conjured up as a fear tactic or is there actually something out there in 2030 planning for the area.

Cholecake,
There is talk about narrowing Hwy 9 to two lanes through downtown Alpharetta to make it more walkable. At the same time, Haynes Bridge is being narrowed to two lanes. They would like to migrate traffic over to Westside Parkway. Westside will offload some traffic but I don't see it being the magic bullet that many of our elected officials seem to think it will be. More likely it will lead to longer, more frustrating commutes through Alpharetta. There are too many people traveling west to Roswell/Woodstock, northwest to Milton equestrian area, and north the Cherokee that Westside just won't help.

People will use every route possible to get home. If parts of Hwy 9 are thought to have no traffic, believe me, people will figure it out and soon there will be just as much traffic as always. I don't think you have to worry about any part of Hwy 9 in North Fulton becoming isolated.

I agree with your conclusions on the logic and tone, btw.

Noname is right. Alpharetta's ultimate goal is to have the GA DOT reroute GA highway 9 to follow Westside Parkway. The city of Alpharetta would take over maintenance of the current Main Street, with the goal of making it slower and more pedestrian friendly. The jury is still out on how this will change traffic flow. Your guess is as good as anyone's.

And for what it is worth, there was talk a while ago about slowing down traffic along Milton's portion of Highway 9. I don't know what ever became of that.

Shape The Future Of Development Along State Route 9:

Highway 9 Planning Meeting October 27

Livable Centers Initiative Kickoff October 27 at 6:00 PM

City of Milton City Hall (13000 Deerfield Parkway, Suite 107)

Citizens of Alpharetta and Milton have an opportunity to shape the future of the Highway 9 Corridor this Thursday, October 27th during a public input meeting being held at Milton City Hall. The meeting begins at 6:00 PM.

In February, the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) awarded Milton in partnership with Alpharetta a $100,000 Livable Centers Initiative grant for a planning study of the Ga. 9 area from Mayfield Road to Bethany Bend and the areas east of Ga. 9 to Ga. 400, which includes Deerfield Parkway.

The LCI grant program provides funds for small area studies to determine strategies that link transportation improvements with land-use development. Ultimately, these studies aim to help improve the livability and sustainability of the area.

After the completion and adoption of the plan, the areas become eligible for additional money to implement the transportation projects identified in the study.

For more information on this meeting, please contact McIntosh-Ross at 678-242-2538 or michele.mcintosh-ross@cityofmiltonga.us.