Hiram’s leaders woke up the town on Sunday with a warning few saw coming: a routine-looking county legal ad says the city’s charter could be repealed and its entire municipal government dissolved. The mayor and council said the notice landed without any heads-up and cautioned that such a move could push local services and costs out of Hiram’s direct control. City officials are now urging residents to lean on their state delegates as lawmakers in Atlanta sort out what happens next.
What the legal ad says
According to WSB-TV, the advertisement in the Dallas New Era states that a bill will be introduced at the 2026 regular legislative session "to repeal an Act incorporating the City of Hiram." City officials told the station the notice appeared with no advance warning and acknowledged it "will most likely raise understandable concerns among residents and current employees."
Who’s behind the proposal
Sen. Jason Anavitarte, who represents District 31 including Hiram, is the legislator connected to the proposal and holds a leadership role in the Georgia Senate, according to the Georgia State Senate. That position helps explain why the idea surfaced as a local bill for state lawmakers to handle instead of something driven by Paulding County officials.
What the city and senator said
The city’s statement warned residents that shutting down Hiram’s municipal government would not wipe out anyone’s tax bill. Instead, responsibilities would shift to other governments, a change city leaders say would likely bring higher costs along with it. Sen. Anavitarte told WSB-TV that dissolving the city over its debt was one option on the table along with creating a new property tax, and he said the city had "spent down reserves of almost $2M" while he pressed the council to adopt a new spending plan.
Why the ad appeared where it did
Under Georgia law, any local bill that changes a municipal charter has to be preceded by a published "notice of intention." That requirement is laid out in O.C.G.A. §28-1-14, which governs public notice and the delivery of copies to affected governing authorities. Paulding County’s website lists the Dallas New Era as the county’s official legal organ, so that is where the ad had to run rather than in a larger regional or statewide publication.
What’s next
If a bill is actually filed, it would still have to clear a committee and win floor votes in both chambers of the Georgia General Assembly before anything changes on the ground. Those steps will play out in the near future, and city leaders say that window will be crucial. For now, Hiram’s mayor and council are asking residents to track official city updates and contact their state delegates with any concerns about the possible repeal of the city’s charter.
