Gwinnett proposes increase in property tax levy

It was Kenerly who announced earlier this month that budget cuts implemented over the summer have endangered the safety and quality of life of residents. He asked the finance staff to prepare a report to show the cost of restoring some core operations to minimum levels.

County Commission Chairman Charles Bannister called the plan a "work in progress" and said there may be adjustments made before a final vote is taken in December.

Plans call for three public hearings to be held on the proposal, at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Nov.23, and at 7 p.m. Dec. 1. In addition, Bannister said, county staff will make presentations to community groups and possibly air recordings of those sessions on cable TV Gwinnett. The county posted the 15-page proposal on its Web site Friday evening.

Two groups, Gwinnett Citizens for Responsible Government and Freedomworks, have organized an informational hearing at the Gwinnett Courthouse at 7 p.m. Thursday. Representatives from those groups met with county officials Friday afternoon and were briefed on the plan.

The proposal would add $31 .3 million to the 2009 budget and provide, among other items, funding for the district attorney, courts and constitutional officers, the addition of 58 police officers, the opening and staffing of three new fire stations, and the continued operation of all county libraries, including the new Hamilton Mill branch opening next year.

Through 2009, the county Police Department has cut 44 positions and now stands at 696 sworn officers.

And things look no better for 2010, said Aaron Bovos, the county's finance director. While overall county valuation declined by $1.5 billion in 2009, the value of commercial property in the county is already down 6 percent to 7 percent over the past four months, he said.

Under the proposal released Friday, supplementary tax statements for 2009 would be issued sometime in March. The county was allowed to set a temporary mill levy of 10.97  in August by a court order. Statements were then mailed out with a Nov. 15 payment deadline.

Friday's announcement sets up commissioners for another round of meetings with a public that has raised its voice against tax increases at every turn. When the county proposed a 3-mill increase last spring, close to 1,000 people attended public hearings to demand relief. A tax protest rally in Suwanee in June drew almost 300 people.

As a result, commissioners voted down the tax increase and directed county staff to make the necessary cuts to balance the budget.

But an almost equal amount of protest has surfaced since. A steady flow of residents have appeared at commission meetings appealing for police, fire and libraries, among others.

"A vote for this [proposal] is a vote for protecting the citizens of the county," Kenerly said. "We're going to get yelled at. We're going to get blogged at, [but] we were voted in to lead, not follow which group is the loudest."

Bannister said he thinks "attitudes have mellowed considerably" since the summer public hearings.

Debbie Dooley, grass-roots coordinator for Freedomworks, said she was impressed with the detail offered in Friday's presentation.

"They explained in detail what this mill rate would fund," she said. "It's what we've wanted all along. People just want accountablity from their elected officials."

Dooley said she has issues with some of the restorations in parks and recreation, and while she will not support the budget increase, she will not lead a drive to oppose it. She encouraged county residents to attend the public meeting Thursday to see a presentation on the plan and make up their own minds.

"It will be a casual atmosphere where people can see a presentation on the plan, ask questions and make up their own minds," she said.