Never gonna happen. The state won’t allow it because if Buckhead leaves - taking all of its tax revenue with it - it essentially leaves the city insolvent. Who backstops all those unfunded city pensions? The state.
The northern half of Fulton County tried to escape about a decade ago and the state establishment - legislature & courts - put an end to it for the same unspoken reason. Like everything else, it comes down to money.
Yes, Buckhead has large amounts of $ tied into Atlanta’s survival. Doesn’t seem to matter to the mayor though. She’s making an example of Atlanta for her agenda.
Sandy Springs, once a part of Atlanta, liberated themselves and are a self governing city now. Sandy Springs residents were paying huge taxes to the city of Atlanta and were not getting the services they paid for.