ATLANTA – State Representative Mike Dudgeon (R-Forsyth County) today introduced House Resolution 1871, legislation that urges the Georgia World Congress Center Authority to use free market principles when allocating land for a new Atlanta Falcons stadium.
“We support the Falcons and the World Congress Center’s initiatives to expand,” said Rep. Dudgeon. “However, we do not think these projects should be funded by any taxpayers’ dollars.”
HR 1871 addresses the $15 million bond designated in the House Fiscal Year 2013 state budget plan for property expansion of the World Congress Center. The resolution asks the center to avoid selling or leasing that land below fair market value for purposes of a new Atlanta Falcons stadium.
“I would hate to see the World Congress Center designate that land towards a new Atlanta Falcons stadium at a price below the fair market value,” said Rep. Dudgeon. “This would mean that taxpayers subsidized construction of the new stadium, and I believe that is the wrong use of scarce taxpayer resources.”
A first term legislator from Forsyth County, Rep. Dudgeon is one of 21 representatives who support HR 1871. Other sponsors of the resolution include Representatives Charlice Byrd (R-Woodstock) and Jason Spencer (R-Woodbine).
“We must ask ourselves if this is really the right time for the state to bond money to build a modern coliseum,” said Rep. Byrd.
“We are making our position known as legislators who believe that subsidizing construction of a new Atlanta Falcons stadium is not only untimely, but would also be an affront to the spending priorities of the state,” said Rep. Spencer.
For more information on HR 1871, please click here.
Representative Mike Dudgeon represents the citizens of District 24, which includes portions of Forsyth County. He was elected into the House of Representatives in 2010, and currently serves on the Education, Energy, Utilities, & Telecommunications, and Science & Technology committees.
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