Atlanta "blight tax" comes up for City Council vote

The owners of Atlanta's most busted-up and blighted homes could see new penalties.

The latest: The Atlanta City Council will vote Monday to create a so-called "blight tax" that would increase the fines negligent owners must pay for sitting on blighted eyesores.

Why it matters: Vacant and dilapidated homes are magnets for crime, are dangerous to children and reduce residents' quality of life.

Zoom in: Under the measure introduced by Council member Byron Amos and supported by Mayor Andre Dickens, Atlanta municipal court judges could increase "specific blighted properties' tax bills" up to 25 times the current city tax rate.

• Property owners who fix up their blighted properties could be eligible for a discounted tax rate.

Large property owners must sign on to a "redevelopment plan that addresses neighborhood objectives around connectivity, transportation and public amenities that benefit the entire community," the mayor's office said in a statement.

Caveat: Occupied properties would be exempt from the tax to prevent displacement.

In the weeds: The item is on the Council's consent agenda, a package of legislation that received unanimous support during the committee process and is approved with a single vote.

• Items can be removed from the agenda for individual consideration.