Sep. 3, Henry Commissioners Meeting – As Stockbridge grapples with a reported $33 million financial discrepancy and a history of budgetary mismanagement, concerns are mounting that the city continues to funnel taxpayer money into what critics are calling “free parties” and events, serving more as electioneering for current Mayor Anthony Ford and Council Member LaKeisha Gantt than genuine community benefit. The shadow of the city’s amphitheater, a constant drain on funds, looms large over these decisions, having previously contributed to a controversial annexation and the subsequent imposition of a city property tax on newly integrated residents.
The Amphitheater: A Bottomless Pit Paving the Way for New Taxes The Stockbridge Amphitheater, initially envisioned as a self-sufficient “enterprise” fund, has instead become a significant financial burden. Its expenses reportedly soared from a budgeted $2 million to an staggering $8.1 million for the 2024 concert series, a budget amendment only recognized in June 2025. Disturbingly, there are allegations of a “deliberate concealment of amphitheater expenses,” with costs being charged to unrelated funds without the City Council’s knowledge or approval. This practice has been described as a “let down” to citizens, and council members like Yolanda Barber have repeatedly sought accurate financial reports, often receiving incomplete or incorrect information.
This monumental financial strain appears to have directly influenced significant changes for Stockbridge residents. For decades, the City of Stockbridge did not levy a municipal property tax. However, in May 2023, discussions began on implementing a new city property tax to address a $6.8 million budget shortfall, with staff proposing a millage rate up to six mills. This shift followed the 2022 annexation, initiated by State Senators Emanuel Jones and Brian Strickland through Senate Bill 612. The annexation, approved by voters in November 2022, brought an additional 6,500 to 6,700 residents into the city limits, effective January 1, 2023. This expansion, alongside the establishment of a new city police department, increased the city’s budget.
Newly annexed residents, welcomed by Mayor Anthony S. Ford, found themselves subject to these new financial realities. While in 2021, city residents paid slightly less property taxes than their unincorporated counterparts, the situation quickly changed. By July 2024, Stockbridge was proposing a property tax increase.
To mitigate the impact, voters in November 2024 approved new homestead exemptions, which became effective January 1, 2025. These exemptions, codified in Senate Bill 584, offer a $10,000 reduction in assessed value for all residents and a $15,000 reduction for seniors aged 62 or older, or those with septic systems, from City of Stockbridge ad valorem taxes for municipal purposes. However, these exemptions only serve to highlight the underlying property tax that has been established, a stark contrast to the city’s previous decades-long practice.
“Free Parties” as Questionable Spending and Electioneering Despite the city’s financial woes and the new tax burdens on residents, Stockbridge continues to collaborate on costly “free” events that raise questions about fiscal responsibility and their potential as electioneering tools. The Hispanifest Bridge Fest is a prime example. Henry County was asked to collaborate on this event, which included a concert inside the amphitheater and a smaller concert area and Hispanic festival outside, along with a kid zone. The total cost for Henry County’s involvement in providing security officers, Parks and Recreation staff, inflatables, face painting, and a balloon arch was $44,018.95.
The county’s involvement was not initially budgeted for Henry County, with a staff member noting it was a “separate ask”. A Henry County commissioner voiced strong opposition, calling the funding of city events a “dangerous presence” and questioning the sustainability of such expenditures given that Henry County would bear the entire cost of its services without shared contributions from Stockbridge. The vice chair of the county explicitly stated that she initially only wanted the county to cover the “kids zone” activities, not public safety, as the sheriff’s department typically handles amphitheater security.
Mayor Anthony Ford, who personally welcomed newly annexed residents, highlighted the city’s “variety of events and programs… including live music at the Amphitheater” as a benefit of living in Stockbridge. Council Member LaKeisha Gantt, whose district assignment was contingent on the annexation passing, also continues to serve during a period marked by these financially contentious events.
The deployment of county resources for what are essentially city-led events, especially given the county’s own budget concerns and the City of Stockbridge’s internal financial issues, raises flags about the true purpose of these expenditures.
Accountability Still Missing As a reporter, it is deeply troubling that since May 12, 2025, the City of Stockbridge has yet to provide a thorough explanation for the alleged “misplaced” $33,930,000. Audits for 2021, 2022, and 2023 have consistently flagged the city’s financial reporting for failing to meet required standards. Despite significant discrepancies becoming known as early as September and March of 2024, council members reportedly saw almost no budget amendment requests between 2022 and 2024. The fact that an April 2022 audit was not completed until 2024, and the city was aware of necessary corrective actions for financial control since early 2024, only compounds the issue.
This pattern of alleged financial obfuscation, coupled with the continued allocation of funds to events and services without clear accountability, leaves one to wonder: is Stockbridge simply asking for more money from its now expanded tax base to misuse in the same manner? The citizens deserve immediate and complete transparency, not just more “free parties” to distract from the glaring questions surrounding the city’s financial integrity.
