Norcross 2020 - "Thoughtful Progress Together"

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

posted by Norcross2020 @ 7:31 PM