Smart Spending and Property Taxes
Vote for Keith Shewbert
Norcross City Council
November 7th, 2006
“Thoughtful Progress Together”
v Smart Spending
v Secure Neighborhoods
v Community Involvement
Smart Spending and Property Taxes
Over the last four years the city of Norcross has raised property taxes twice despite an increase in revenue from new construction and ever increasing property valuations. In 2005 despite an anticipated 12% revenue increase from increased property valuations, the city still found it necessary to increase the millage rate two points, an increase of 42 %.
At that time in 2005 time several council members entertained even greater increases and practically guaranteed increases in 2006. Poor planning forced the city to sell property under duress to balance the budget. Fortunately new revenues from annexation of property along Jimmy Carter Boulevard allowed the present council to roll back millage rates slightly. No business can properly operate or create meaningful budgets without quality revenue forecasting. We need to do a better job of anticipating city revenues and living within our means. I believe with proper planning and investments in tools to boost productivity we can rollback millage rates.
Hiring a city administrator is a good first step towards smarter spending. A full time professional manager should pay for themselves many times over. As a much smaller city part time council members could provide oversight and management. Growth has dictated that we transition to a professional management structure and return the council to its intended purpose of providing strategic guidance. All of you know that in our economy you have to produce more with fewer resources every year if you hope to compete. This same attention to continuous improvement of city processes and increased productivity across the board will help Norcross deliver better services to more residents while keeping taxes low.
As your representative I will remember that the money we spend is your money not the City’s money. We need to be more productive, plan better, and spend your money more efficiently.
Let me know what you think. What is your vision for Norcross? What things need to be addressed by the city council? How can all of the citizens of Norcross work together to achieve our shared goals?
Please feel free to contact me by email at
keithshewbert@gmail.com or by phone at (678) 429-6039.
Regards,
Keith Shewbert
Inspiring Futures - Atlanta Living Economy Network
Inspiring Futures - Atlanta Living Economy NetworkCame upon the BALLE concept while reading "The Small Mart Revolution". Although this sounds like a fringe movement some of the ideas make great sense for Norcross. We can certainly help our community by shopping locally. Spending more of our entertainmnet dollars intown and supporting local businesses and service providers.
News Forum Home Page
News Forum Home PageA great article on what one person with a big idea and perseverance can attain.
Gwinnett Forum.com -- Gwinnett County's community forum and idea exchange
Gwinnett Forum.com -- Gwinnett County's community forum and idea exchangeStay up to date on local politics by registering for Norcross resident Elliott Brack's newsletter.
Vote Keith Shewbert
You can save this site to your favorites as www.Norcross2020.com , check back regularly for updates and news.
How can the Norcross community improve local schools?
Vote for Keith Shewbert
Norcross City Council
November 7th, 2006
“Thoughtful Progress Together”
v Smart Spending
v Secure Neighborhoods
v Community Involvement
How can the Norcross community improve local schools?
Over the last year the PDC has made one of its four primary objectives supporting Summerour Middle School. We believe that there is no single improvement that can have a greater impact on quality of life in Norcross then upgrading out schools After meeting with Dr. Dana Pugh, the Summerour principle, and touring the facility with the council and Mayor we have come to believe that the community can have a significant impact on the schools performance.
Meetings with teachers, administrators, and school board member Mary Kay Murphy have resulted in a clearer understanding of how the Norcross government and community can aid the school. First the community must get out the word that our local schools are offering quality programs, that the vast majority of students are succeeding, and that the challenges of educating in a diverse environment are being addressed. Of over twenty categories Summerour is tested on it exceeded state requirements in all but two (mathematics for limited English proficiency and learning disabled students). Dr Pugh and our friend Carol Polak are helping to address the mathematics issue by creating an after school mentoring program. It will be up and running in October and I invite you to join me in volunteering for this important program. One hour a week can change a kid and maybe change you. Many other programs can use our communities support. Summerour has an award winning band program and debate team. These and many other programs need your support. By embracing our schools the community not only maximizes our impact at the grass roots, we also send a message to county and state representatives that we expect results.
A major factor in our schools test performance is student mobility. The county is just beginning to capture statistics and measure the impact of student mobility (attending several schools in the same year). When our teachers have the opportunuity to teach a student for several consecutive years their results are outstanding. Students who come and go demand more resources and tend to have lower test scores. High percentages of rental property are a direct cause of student mobility The census tract that surrounds Summerour has less then 35% home ownership. The national average of home ownership is 66%. I am working with the Gwinnett Village Community Alliance, Impact Resources, and the Latin American Association to change the residential dynamic in the area east of Buford highway. The city can have a huge impact by joining us in this enterprise.
Since our tour the Norcross Women’s and Garden Clubs have taken initiatives to improve the school and its appearance. Please follow their example by helping in any way you can. Let’s start a conversation in this community on how to bring about positive changes in local education. No one person has all the answers, but by engaging the issue we create the environment for success.
Let me know what you think. What is your vision for Norcross? What things need to be addressed by the city council? How can all of the citizens of Norcross work together to achieve our shared goals?
Please feel free to contact me by email at
keithshewbert@gmail.com or by phone at (678) 429-6039.
Regards,
Keith Shewbert
Candidacy Announcement
Vote for Keith Shewbert
Norcross City Council
November 7th, 2006
“Thoughtful Progress Together”
v Smart Spending
v Secure Neighborhoods
v Community Involvement
I am an active member of the Norcross PDC (Progressive Development Committee), a member of the Norcross Downtown Development Authority (DDA) and serve as Norcross’s representative on the Gwinnett Village CID board of directors. In addition I am working with many other Norcross residents to build the Gwinnett Village Community Alliance, a non profit sister organization to the CID that will focus on the people issues in the Village like education, housing, and community involvement. I also teach mathematics and computer classes at Gwinnett Tech.
My wife Jeanette and I have lived in Norcross for seven years. Jeanette works at Rock-Tenn as a manager in the IT department. She also works in the community, volunteering her time at the Garden Club, Woman’s Club, Norcross Elementary School, and through her church with the Norcross Cooperative Ministry. Through her involvement with Norcross Elementary School I volunteered with the Junior Achievement program and help with reading mentoring. When people ask where we plan to retire, we say that we’ve found our little corner of paradise in Norcross.
Let me know what you think. What is your vision for Norcross? What things need to be addressed by the city council? How can all of the citizens of Norcross work together to achieve our shared goals?
Over the coming weeks I will contact as many of you as possible to hear your ideas and get your input. Most mornings I am at the Northern Star Coffeehouse in downtown, stop by, share a cup of coffee with me, and let’s work together to build an even greater Norcross.
Please feel free to contact me by email at
keithshewbert@gmail.com or by phone at (678) 429-6039.
Regards,
Keith Shewbert
