Higher taxes or no higher taxes doesn’t matter. This is just a blinding flash of the obvious. How difficult to figure out that this is not what is needed? Duh….

FreedomWorks voices strong opposition of proposed 2 mill tax increase at this time as we don’t feel like the Board of Commissions has justified a need for an increase.

FreedomWorks and Gwinnett Citizens for Responsible Government will host another Town Hall meeting on October 29th at 7 PM at the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center auditorium.

Among the topics sure to be discussed is the latest comment by Commissioner Kevin Kenerly who stated the county will need a tax increase of 2 mills in order to meet the budget needs and reduce cut-backs.

FreedomWorks grassroots coordinator Debbie Dooley stated, “after all the spending cuts, Commissioner Kenerly, who is not seeking re-election, requests a 59 million dollar or 2 mills increase. The Board of Commissioners needs to clearly and in detail define exactly what programs that will fund. We also request a detailed accounting of what programs have been cut and the amount of the cut. Public Safety programs are essential to the safety of our citizens. There are other areas that are luxuries and not essential during this time of economic hardship.”

We do not believe all the budget cuts have been responsible nor do we believe that all options have been fully exhausted before requesting a tax increase. We urge the public to send their suggestions for cost savings and ways to generate revenue to gwinnettbudgetcuts@gmail.com These suggestions will be discussed at the Town Hall on October 29.

Gwinnett property owners already saw a $200 – 300 increase in their property tax bill because of last fall’s unfunded State homeowner’s property relief grant. Gwinnett homeowners can not afford an additional $168 increase in this economic down turn. The Board of Commissioners, to their credit, has demonstrated that they will listen when the tax payers speak loudly and enmasse. We urge them to listen to alternative suggestions from the Gwinnett County tax payers before raising taxes by 2 mills.

The fact is we have every right to ask these questions. Every member of the BOC ran their elections based on lower taxes and responsible spending. The seats belong to the tax payers. We are their employers and they are accountable to us.”

For more information contact Debbie Dooley at 404-404-625-4986 or debbie0040@yahoo.com

Despite an outcry from residents, consultants recommend county officials make trash pick-up mandatory for residents of the unincorporated area.

The study, which commenced after a judge threw out a solid waste management plan last year, also produced a recommendation that the county be divided into districts and the number of trash haulers be limited.

But Abby Goldsmith of R.W. Beck told commissioners Tuesday that they could choose more than one hauler per district, addressing the concerns of people who wanted the freedom to choose their garbage hauler while cutting down garbage trucks on the road and carts in the streets.

So what is the end message here? When you only talk to hand full of people you don’t really care what they think. Is the message delivered to the County a message that is tailored to the people paying the bills? How can the County not have any opinion at this point? After the Blue Ribbon Committee, after the consultants, after all the noise from the citizens then what are they listening to and hearing? Come on BOC you were elected to make decisions and lately you are awful at that. Please try to get something correct here and do what is best for the citizens of Gwinnett.

wanted it to remain the same. I still have a problem with the county placing this on a water or tax bill if it is a independent company performing the services, law states a government may not collect a debt for a private company, the only way this can appear on a county bill is if they create an authority or trash department.

I encourage everyone to visit www.whatawastegwinnett.com and get involved. These folks have a petition going as well.

We are still posting info at GwinnettViews on happenings in Gwinnett County, please join us there.

I encourage all to write to their respective BOC member and let them know what you desire..

Thanks,
Don

Gwinnett County officials received their first look a the Trash study done by RW Beck today.

The study results showed there was enough support to recommend required garbage collection at all residences. It did allow for exemptions, however, such as business owners with their own Dumpsters.

But there was a wide range of differences about other issues, such as establishing exclusive franchise districts and billing on property tax statements. Much of the polling data differed between those who attended the public forums and those who were randomly selected by computer.

More to come once the full study is released.

A property tax increase is back on the table for county residents, as a commissioner said service cuts to balance the budget have been too severe.

During Tuesday’s board meeting, Commissioner Kevin Kenerly called for county staff to devise a plan that would cost taxpayers an average of $14 more a month – or about two additional mills.

So Gwinnett here we go again. Commissioner Kenerly wants all of us to step up and sacrifice in the name of safety?  Where is the money going to go? What will it be spent on? Safety in law enforcement where its needed or more library hours? Give us the details so the citizens can understand and have the knowledge that’s needed to know what’s going on.

“Bold action is needed to keep Gwinnett County a preferred place to live, work and raise a family. I would ask the Gwinnett families to sacrifice with me.”

Now is the time AGAIN to make sure your voices are heard. Demand to know the details of Mr. Kenerly’s proposal.

Gwinnett County Board of Commissioner’s Contact Info

Gwinnett County Public Schools is releasing today the proposed attendance zones for five elementary schools and one middle school opening in August.

The redistricting will affect the boundary lines for 29 existing schools and four clusters, said Greg Stanfield, the district’s planning director.

Maps of the proposed boundaries will be available today at affected schools and on the school district’s Web site, www.gwinnett.k12.ga.us.

“We want to balance enrollment to have the best distribution of students,” spokeswoman Sloan Roach said. “In this case, we are opening six new schools, and the redistricting process will allow us to create the student population for those schools.

The public is invited to provide input on the proposed boundaries. Input forms, available at schools and online, are due by Nov. 4.

Also a great follow up article on this by Bob Griggs at TalkGwinnett.com:
First of Many Bad Land Deals Finally Exposed.

The next time you hear Chairman Bannister try to blame anyone but himself for the mess Gwinnett is in then please read this article. It highlights the true cause of the mess. Is this the only mess? I wish but deals and work like this highlight how bad it has gotten. From Land Deals, to Trash Plans to an unnecessary Stadiums its a wonder we have a county anymore.

Also after reading this article I have to ask those in District 1 what the heck were you thinking when you voted.

From the AJC article:

The purchase, made as the county faced a huge budget shortfall, is another in a string of land deals that have raised questions about the board’s financial stewardship and cozy relationships between some commissioners and developers.

In August, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution published stories detailing similar and questionable purchases the county has made, or attempted to make, since 2007.

After reviewing the AJC’s reports, District Attorney Danny Porter last week asked for a special grand jury to investigate those land deals and others by the Gwinnett Board of Commissioners. After hearing from the AJC about this purchase, Porter said he would review it for possible grand jury consideration.

Though Lasseter said she made the best decision she could, she acknowledges now that it might not have been the best use of taxpayer money.

“I’m not perfect. Maybe I made a bad decision,” she said. “Maybe we should have had Lorraine Green vote on it.”

You think?

Engage Gwinnett Citizens Committee Members
Stakeholder Group, Representative

District 1, Kelly Kelkenberg

District 2, Kevin Kovalchik

District 3, Bob Griggs

District 4, Jeff Mahaffey

HOA, Paula Hastings

Citizens for Responsible Government, Lan Nguyen

FreedomWorks, Julianne Thompson

Environmentalist, Carol Hassell

Not-for-profits, Demetrius Jordan

Unity Gwinnett, Herman Pennamon

Asian Community, Cookie Lee

Hispanic Community, Jose Perez

Faith-Based, Norwood Davis

Young Professionals, Asif Jessani

Seniors, Bill Atkinson

Rotary, Scott LeCraw

Gwinnett Municipal Association, Randy Meacham

BOE, Rick Cost

Post Secondary, Julie Post

Community Improvement Districts, Chuck Warbington

Hospital System, David McClesky

Partnership Gwinnett, Mark Tibbetts

Council for Quality Growth, Michael Sullivan

State Delegation, Charles Swain

Constitutional Officers, Jim Pack

Courts, George Hutchinson

DA and Solicitor, Charlotte Nash

Athletic Association, Chris Whitlock

Small Business, Dave McMullen

Large Employer, Renee Byrd-Lewis

Publicly Self-Selected Citizen Representative, Millicent Crawford, Duluth

Publicly Self-Selected Citizen Representative, Dick Goodman, Suwanee

Publicly Self-Selected Citizen Representative, Dan King, Duluth

Publicly Self-Selected Citizen Representative, Paula Krone, Norcross

Publicly Self-Selected Citizen Representative, Laurie McClain, Suwanee

Publicly Self-Selected Citizen Representative, Jack Mason, Buford

Publicly Self-Selected Citizen Representative, Keith Roche, Lawrenceville

Publicly Self-Selected Citizen Representative, Keith Shewbert, Norcross

Publicly Self-Selected Citizen Representative, Kip Stokes, Auburn

Publicly Self-Selected Citizen Representative, Glen Williams, Snellville

Too True