City Council to Consider $2.7 Million Budget
Another packed agenda awaits the Peachtree Corners council Tuesday night as it readies the City to "stand up" July 1. On the agenda is approving the city's proposed budget.
In just 12 days, on July 1, 2012, the City of Peachtree Corners will officially become Gwinnett County's 16th city. The City Council has scheduled another agenda-packed meeting for Tuesday, June 19 at 7:30 p.m. at Fowler YMCA.
On the agenda of the Special Called Meeting the City Council will:
- Discuss and approve a temporary procedure for conducting public hearings.
- Consider an ordinance to adopt the current proposed $2.7 million budget as presented during the June 14th City Council meeting.
- Consider approving a franchise agreement between Georgia Power Company and the City.
The City Council will also consider a short-term agreement for IT services that was presented at the June 14 meeting.
Public comments will be permitted during the meeting.
Attached to this article is a copy (in PDF format) of the current budget that City Council will consider. To view, click on the PDF. You may also print the 11-page document by using the print option after opening the document.
If you have questions or are unable to access the budget document, send an email to judy.putnam and request the file be emailed to you.
Ed Stiles
10:56 am on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
First note, this budget uses the maximum 1 mil property tax as its basis.
Looking at the budget, as stated during the 6/14 meeting, John McDonough indicated that Gwinnett County estimated an average reduction of of 8% on Property Tax revenues. This reduction was not included in the budget, and would amount to approximately $138,000 less revenue than indicated.
I also notice that the estimated Legal fees have been reduced from what was stated on 6/14th, by $25,000 in the litigation section.
One place we could save money is finding a right sized City Hall facility. I went to look at the 147 Technology Pkwy location, it needs some work... an abandoned car, weeds in the parking lot, etc. Our Council and Mayor want to spend $250,000 on this location when we really don't need 8000 square feet of space for the daily activities of three permanent employees and a few contractors, the only time that space would be needed for the Council meeting.
Why not rent the auditorium of Norcross HS or Pinkneyville MS for those occasions??? They are available at a reasonable cost and would save at least $100,000 or more off this budget full of unknowns. Given that the City Attorney has indicated that any lease the city signs is year to year, this would give some financial flexibility in this first year of unknowns.
A final comment, during the 6/14th meeting, I sat next to a Technology Parkway property manager. Their comment was "Why aren't they aren't getting a month or two free?"
UHaveGotToBeKidding
11:44 am on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Ed very good points.
Remember the mil rate can go above the 1 mil you are speaking about if needed.
It is sort of like the budget of 800k and now it is 2.7million.
Mary
12:32 pm on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Thanks for you comments Ed. I think using available local facilities for community meetings is absolutely the right think to do, as opposed to owning and / or leasing a community meeting room. The facilities at Christ the King served the community well during the election process, accomodating large crowds. I have attended meetings at the YMCA, and with proper set up/preparation, would have been just fine. There is something appropriately charming and necessarily economical about having our community meetings in this type of setting. I would like to express my concerns to the "at large" council members... If you are out there... please post your contact information. I DO NOT WANT to do that through a CALL CENTER! OUTRAGEOUS!
Jim Nelems
11:59 am on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
We are already beginning to see a dynasty at peachtree corners with tremendous unnecessary overspending. How can 3 employees need 8000 square feet of office space, $50 k for desks and already a $35k 401 k contribution for a city manager? And$50k for signs. This is sheer madness and I urge council members to reject the budget in total.
Duluth2
3:14 pm on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Notice also that all the salaries/benefits are prorated for 9 months, so they will increase in 2014. Would like to have a better sense of how much of the budget is truly a cost of starting up the city; therefore, how much of a reduction we can expect to see on the 2014 budget in that area.
Tom H
5:05 pm on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Do they by law need this budget in place July 1, 2012?
If so it is a 2012-2013 budget (July 1 to June 30).
They should have waited until they heir the city manager, with all the experience.
Then our council and new city manager should make up the budget.
We don’t need an emergency phone system. We are 9:00 am to 5:00pm, for service.
Think about it.
karen h
12:24 pm on Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Surely we are not reading the 401k match proposed in the budget correctly- you intend to match up to 17%?!?! That is ludicrous and far too generous. Not even strong public companies are that generous. Please confirm or correct this calculation.
My worst fears for budgets gone wild are coming true and we have yet to "stand up" as a city.....did you not see the election results and the lack of an overwhelming mandate for anything but a city light approach???