Forward Focus: Mayor Anthony S. Ford on the Future of Stockbridge — and the $32 Million Question

Game Changers
Sep 30
5 min read

Written By Kaylon Truitt

“Stockbridge is where community connects.” Mayor Anthony S. Ford returns to that mantra often—part credo, part operating system—as the city sprints through a period of rapid growth: a paid-off amphitheater, new neighborhoods and restaurants, a police substation coming to Bridges at Jodeco, and a seat at the table for an I-75 high-speed rail corridor that could redraw South Metro mobility.

But in a season of ribbon cuttings and regional vision, one headline has shadowed the momentum: claims of $32 million in city mismanagement. In an extended conversation with Game Changers, Ford laid out what happened, what changed, and what’s next.

Taxes, Relief, and the FLOST Referendum

Stockbridge set its millage rate at 3.77 for the third straight year, a point Ford highlights as evidence of fiscal steadiness amid rising property values. “Keeping 3.77 means not increasing the city side of your tax bill,” he says. The city has also leaned into homestead exemptions—including added relief for seniors and septic-system homeowners—with the next application window set for January 1–March 31.

On the November ballot: FLOST (Floating Local Option Sales Tax)—enabled by HB 581—which Ford describes as a countywide agreement among the four cities and Henry County to deliver additional property-tax relief by drawing from sales activity across the area. “It’s like SPLOST’s cousin,” he explains. “Visitors who shop here help shoulder the load.”

VyStar Amphitheater: Paid Off, Reset, and Repositioned

Four seasons in, the VyStar Amphitheater has become Stockbridge’s calling card—a midsized, intimate venue that keeps South Metro entertainment dollars closer to home. In August, the city paid off the $22.5 million construction cost, Ford notes, using a mix of SPLOST funds, a 1.3% bond, and about $5 million from fund balance. A four-year naming sponsorship with VyStar Credit Union contributes over $1 million to operations across the term.

Ford is sober about the economics: amphitheaters rarely mint profits, but they do fuel downtown restaurants, hotels, and small businesses. “Break-even is a win when you count the spillover,” he says. The city is transitioning management—running the remainder of this season with internal staff while preparing an RFP for future seasons—and continuing three free city concerts each year (Juneteenth, July 4th, and a fall show), alongside ticketed performances.

What Happened to the “$32 Million”?

Ford’s plain-language account: to cover amphitheater operating costs across multiple years, money was transferred between accounts without the required, public budget amendments and council approval. That failure of process—not theft, he stresses—created the “$32 million” talking point.

“It wasn’t someone pocketing money. It was money moved from one pot to another without the formal votes. That’s not okay—and it won’t happen again.”

According to Ford, the city has:

Reconciled and corrected the budget with the guidance of a new finance director;
Tightened controls so any cross-account movement requires public presentation and council action;
Changed personnel: the amphitheater’s manager was released in June as issues surfaced; the previous city manager departed earlier for a role in Atlanta.

Ford acknowledges the original amphitheater operating budget was set too low for the true cost of national-caliber shows—production “backline,” ushers, artist transport, catering, and tech. “We understand the cost profile now,” he says, “and we’ve built a process that forces transparency before any dollars move.”

Open Records, Public Comment, and Council Dynamics

A viral video featured a young resident citing a $13,000 open records estimate. Ford doesn’t set those prices, but explains large, complex requests can trigger staff time and reproduction costs under state law. “The Clerk’s office must provide records; extensive requests come with a cost factor,” he says.

On public comment: the city’s standard is three minutes, with additional time granted by a simple-majority vote of council. “Sometimes speakers get six minutes. I always ask my colleagues.”

Rumors about censures and ethics? Ford clarifies that any censure requires three votes. Ethics complaints, including those lodged against him, have been heard and dismissed by the board. “My approach is to talk things out. I haven’t filed ethics actions against colleagues.”

Safety First: A Young City’s Police & Fire Posture

Stockbridge’s Police Department just marked three years. Ford frames “having our own” as faster response and deeper engagement—youth programs, advisory committees, neighborhood presence. After a recent high-school football melee outside city limits, Stockbridge PD responded to mutual aid requests alongside Henry County and Clayton County. “Protect and serve—that’s the oath,” Ford says.

On fire services, the city partners with Henry County Fire, recently celebrating a new ladder truck at Station 9 on Rock Quarry Road—regional assets that “save lives and protect property values.”

Next up: a police substation at Bridges at Jodeco, paired with license-plate reader coverage, “because growth requires visible safety.”

Bridges at Jodeco, Downtown, and the Western Parallel

If the amphitheater is Phase 1 of the City Center plan, Phase 2 builds west of the tracks into a walkable entertainment district, while PATH-style trails will link neighborhoods to downtown parks.

At Bridges at Jodeco, Stockbridge is curating a true mixed-use: Sprouts, Costco (the southernmost in the metro), First Watch (coming), bank branches, clinics, a future hotel with meeting space, senior living, condos, townhomes—and that police substation. “You know something’s real when the trees come down and graders roll,” Ford quips.

Downtown, the city worked with Norfolk Southern for a Quiet Zone—trains glide through without horns, making patios and street-level conversations viable. A facade-grant program, an active Downtown Development Authority, and Main Street programming support small businesses like Crown Pizza, Downtown Social, and more. Parking upgrades are on deck.

Meanwhile, the Western Parallel—a long-planned relief route—will connect Hudson Bridge Road to Jonesboro Road along I-75’s west side, opening development pads and taking pressure off the interstate. Completion is targeted around 2027.

Rail to the Coast, Soccer to the Suburbs

Ford is a convener in the I-75 Corridor Coalition, aligning seven cities and counties from the airport to Macon and on to Savannah. Goal: high-speed rail that shifts trips off I-75 and catalyzes station-area growth. “It’s the future—and we’re doing the homework now with GDOT and the Federal Railroad Administration.”

Closer to home, the city is finalizing new soccer fields near Eagles Landing—envisioned as community fields that can also host training sessions ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup matches in Atlanta. “Bring teams south; they’ll stay in our hotels and eat in our restaurants,” Ford says.

Housing, Millennials, and a Youth Pipeline

To keep young adults and new families, the city has approved a range of housing types—single-family, townhomes, condos, workforce options—and is steering more residential into and around downtown to create the feet-on-the-street that small businesses need. A Youth Council gives students a real voice (and an oath of office from the mayor), while Ford’s monthly “Meet the Mayor” offers 15-minute, face-to-face slots for anyone with an idea, complaint, or partnership pitch. “We may not always agree, but you’ll be heard,” he says.

The Case for Four More Years

Ford is running for another four-year term. His ask to voters is straightforward: steady taxes, tighter financial controls, finished projects, and a regional vision that keeps Stockbridge competitive without losing its center.

On the $32 million controversy, he’s unequivocal: “The process failed; we fixed it. The amphitheater’s paid off, the books are corrected, and any future transfers must be approved in public. That’s transparency you can verify.”

On the city’s identity, he keeps it simple: “This isn’t about me—it’s about a community that shows up, invests, and builds together. That’s how you keep Stockbridge a place where community connects.”

Bridges At Jodeco and VyStar Amphitheater Bring Bright Future To City of Stockbridge