Commission/City Staff Retreat

Feb 8-9^th

Once a year, as we have for at least the past 18 years, your city commission and the city management team meet outside the city for a few days to review what happened over the last year or so and to discuss what we believe might happen over the next few years and thus establish a few priorities and focus our efforts for the next year.

The conversation this year was dominated by the economy and the impact it will have on our community, and it will be significant. Budget preparations for the 2009-2010 fiscal year have already begun and will be finalized in the next few months. Although the city is in strong financial position today, we will be faced with tough choices within this budget to maintain that position through what is being called “the worst economic times since the depression of the thirties”. We will soon be provided by Dekalb County the official tax digest for this year which directly impacts the cities revenues for the next budget year. But especially now we must also look ahead at the next several years and make our best assumptions about what will happen to property values. If the trend continues down, we must begin now preparing for the necessary changes in future years budgets.

But we will survive. It will be harder for the schools as the state continues to cut their funds. We must not only plan the future but also work for today. In addition to the financial issues, look for your city government to focus on several key issues for the coming year.

A.     Create a task force to study and update our land use and development ordinances especially where commercial is next to residential.

B.      Making our city environmentally friendly.

C.     Seek a fair resolution to our concerns about the Service Delivery Agreement between the Dekalb cities and Dekalb County. We do not wish to be taxed by the county for services they do not provide to us.

D.     Continue toward completion of the work scheduled under our bond referendum. This year two of the big issues will be a decision about the public works building and Glenlake Park improvements including improvements to the cemetery. The value for our construction dollars is probably greater today than anytime in past 20 years. So with funds in hand it is a good time to be building GREEN and we are also providing jobs.

There are obviously others issues not mentioned that the city will be working on, but these will consume a majority of the hours available.

I covet your comments and thank you for your support. We have a great city – the best anywhere.