December, 2009

A Note from Mike

Hello, Everyone:

The holiday season is in full swing, and I wanted to take a few minutes and wish everyone a merry Christmas and a happy Hanukkah. Whether you'll be traveling to visit friends or relatives, or staying here in Gwinnett, have a safe and happy holiday.

2009 has been a difficult year for many of the district residents I have talked to. The economic downturn has meant no raises for many, furlough days for some and, unfortunately, lost jobs. The economy also forced the county to make some significant changes in the way it operates.

After commissioners unanimously voted down a property tax rate increase in June, every county department had to reduce expenses by at least eight percent. Some departments, especially those "back office" departments that don't directly deal with citizens, had to cut back more. We were unable to open several fire stations because we couldn't hire the personnel needed to run them, and plans for opening new parks were delayed for the same reason.

In October, Commissioner Kenerly proposed a slightly more modest tax increase than the one defeated in June, which would restore some of the cuts the county was forced to make in June and July. This property tax increase was passed by a vote of 4-1 earlier this month. I was the only commissioner who voted against raising your taxes.

Following this note is an article I wrote for the Loganville Tribune explaining my vote. As I indicate in the article, I indend to spend the first part of 2010 continuing to work with the Georgia legislature and my fellow commissioners to seek ways to find alternatives to the property tax to fund the county's operations.

I am always interested in the opinions of District 3 residents. If you have any concerns you think I should know about, come by one of my "Meetings with Mike," (see the schedule below), contact me by email at mike.beaudreau@gwinnettcounty.com, or call my office at 770-822-7003. I hope to hear from you soon.

Mike

Thoughts on the Recent Property Tax Increase

On December 1st, Gwinnett County Commissioners voted to raise property taxes by 2.28 mills, allowing the Board to propose a 2010 budget that restores many county services to 2008 levels.  I voted against the property tax increase, and I want to share with you some thoughts I have on the increase and the budget.

In my five years as commissioner, I have consistently looked for ways for the county to reduce expenses and save taxpayer money.  After making many changes to the way programs are funded and funds are spent, I believe we’ve gotten to the point where there isn’t much left to cut.  We’ve reduced the number of county employees, and those that remain are paying a larger share of their benefits cost than in previous years.  We’ve added user fees to help offset the cost of recreation programs. And the SVR initiative we completed this summer helped identify cost-saving procedures large and small.

The final 2009 budget the board passed in July was lean and responsible. However, the millage rate increase allows spending in the county’s 2010 budget to rise to an inappropriate level, given the financial situation of homeowners and businesses. For that reason, and because the county must find additional revenue sources besides property taxes, I could not support the increase in the millage rate.
 
I intend to work with the Gwinnett delegation at the state legislature during the upcoming session to allow a vote in November, 2010 on a 1/2 or one percent sales tax to fund county operations. A sales tax would provide revenue from county visitors and those that don’t own property. A portion of the revenue it generates could be used to reduce property taxes.

I heard several ideas for increasing user fees for county services at the public hearings, and I will consider them next year. I also want to see if we can reduce expenses or raise income by privatizing some of the services we provide.  The Commission is exploring privatizing the county airport, for example.  We are working on a public-private partnership to extend Ronald Reagan Parkway to I-85.  I want to consider several other privatization possibilities over the next year.

Many of the speakers at the public hearings spoke about the difficulty of paying higher property taxes when on a fixed income, or after being laid off.  The other commission members and I are very aware of these concerns, and do not take a tax increase lightly. By privatizing some county services to save money, charging fees so county services are paid for by those who use them rather than all taxpayers and moving towards consumption taxes instead of property taxes, we can grow out of our current financial situation, and keep Gwinnett a preferred place for its residents to live, work and play.

Meetings with Mike Schedule

Do you have a question or comment that you think Mike should hear? You have the opportunity to meet one-on-one with Mike each month. If you have a have a question about or an issue with the county or its government, you are welcome to share it with Mike.

Mike will meet with residents on January 9th, 2010 at Mountain Park Depot, 5050 Five Forks Trickum Road in Lilburn. Meetings don't require appointments, and are first-come first served.

Note: Dates for Meetings with Mike may change. Check www.MikeBeaudreau.com for late revisions.

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