Gov. Nathan Deal has signed nearly a dozen bills aimed at changing the governance of Fulton County.

Among them, one that prevents the county commission from raising property taxes for the next two years and then make it more difficult to do so after that.

After a meeting with Deal last week, Commission Chair John Eaves tells WSB's Sandra Parrish he's disappointed but not surprised.

"The governor did acknowledge he was being pressured by Republicans," he says.

The bill is one reason cited by Fitch Rating Agency for downgrading Fulton's credit rating by a notch.

"It will be more costly for us going forward to borrow money to operate our government," says Eaves.

Among the other bills signed into law include one to redraw commission lines and create another seat representing north Fulton; one to make the Fulton tax commissioner an appointed rather than an elected position; and one to take away the appointment of the elections chairman from the commission and give it to the local legislative delegation with is majority Republican.

Today is the last day for Deal to sign or veto legislation passed during the 2013 legislative session.