Proposed police cuts anger Gwinnett residents

By Patrick Fox

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Another wave of citizen protest is rising over Gwinnett County’s budget but those interested in speaking out at Tuesday’s county commission meeting won’t be heard until after leaders vote.

The commission is scheduled to vote on $225 million in proposed cuts to the operating budget through 2014. It recommends eliminating up to 250 jobs this year, including 53 police positions, and decreasing benefits to remaining employees.

The agenda calls for public comment at the end of the 2 p.m. business session, well after the item has been considered. Nevertheless, the proposal has generated more than 260 e-mails and phone calls to county officials. At least three groups have mounted organized drives to delay action on the cuts.

“People are mad,” said Susan Abrams of Lilburn. “You go to the grocery store and it’s all people are talking about.”

Abrams, citizen liason for the Beaver Hills Subdivision COPS program, has been drumming up support to delay the vote since hearing the county’s Quality of Life code enforcement unit could be eliminated.

This round of suggested cuts follows outcry against a proposed 28 percent property tax increase last month. County commissioners killed that measure and directed departments to cut their budgets.

A coalition of about 30 business owners, professionals and homemakers announced last week a drive to delay a vote on the cuts until residents can have a say on preserving police and fire services. Hi Hope Service Center sent out a similar request asking supporters to contact the commission to delay the vote. The agency, which provides support for children, elderly and the handicapped, will lose its entire county subsidy of $123,466 if the proposal passes.