Budget Finance Audit Committee 1-2009 4

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DEKALB COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MANUEL J. MALOOF CENTER th1300 Commerce Drive, 6 Floor ▪ Decatur, Georgia 30030 [phone] OFF. CONNIE STOKES [phone] FAX [e-mail] COMMISSIONER, SUPER DISTRICT 7 WWW.CONNIESTOKES.ORG CHAIRWOMAN BUDGET • FINANCE • AUDIT COMMITTEE NEWS RELEASE Contact: Tonza ClarkFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 11, 2009 404-371-2715 Commission Continues Deliberation As the Chairwoman of the DeKalb County Budget, Finance and Audit Committee, Commissioner Connie Stokes is leading the effort to pass a balanced budget. Faced with a $60 million budget shortfall, the committee has increased its number of scheduled meetings to gather additional information to make a sound decision on the 2009 budget. Commissioner Stokes is no newcomer to the budgetary process. She served for many years in the State Senate as the Chair of the Appropriations Committee and on the Senate Affairs Committee. “We will take all the time needed and we will be thoughtful,” says Commissioner Stokes. “We will work together to pass a balanced budget to move DeKalb forward.” “This budget will reflect our priorities,” Stokes goes on to say. “Although we will have to make necessary cuts, we will maintain essential services, increase public safety, make sure county services are efficient, secure jobs, ensure long-term stability, and preserve our AAA credit rating.” Charged with giving a full and complete review ...

Informations

• Publié par: Ornui
• Nombre de lectures: 18
• Langue: English

Extrait

D

E

K

ALB

C

OUNTY

B

OARD OF

C

OMMISSIONERS

M

ANUEL

J. M

ALOOF

C

ENTER

1300 Commerce Drive, 6

th

Floor

▪

Decatur, Georgia 30030

Commission Continues Deliberation

As the Chairwoman of the DeKalb County Budget, Finance and Audit Committee, Commissioner Connie

Stokes is leading the effort to pass a balanced budget. Faced with a $60 million budget shortfall, the

committee has increased its number of scheduled meetings to gather additional information to make a

sound decision on the 2009 budget.

Commissioner Stokes is no newcomer to the budgetary process.

She served for many years in the State

Senate as the Chair of the Appropriations Committee and on the Senate Affairs Committee. “We will take

all the time needed and we will be thoughtful,” says Commissioner Stokes.

“We will work together to

pass a balanced budget to move DeKalb forward.”

“This budget will reflect our priorities,” Stokes goes on to say.

“Although we will have to make

necessary cuts, we will maintain essential services, increase public safety, make sure county services are

efficient, secure jobs, ensure long-term stability, and preserve our AAA credit rating.”

Charged with giving a full and complete review of the 2009 budget, the Budget, Finance and Audit

Committee will conclude its budget hearings and present a recommendation to the Board of

Commissioners on Thursday, February 19.

The Commission is expected to vote on the budget on

Tuesday, February 24 during the Board of Commissioners Meeting.

The committee is faced with several challenges.

This year’s budget shortfall comes as a result of a

decline in sales tax revenue resulting from a national economic recession, the incorporation of the City of

Dunwoody, property tax freeze, and the State of Georgia’s withholding of $15.8 million from the

Homestead Tax Relief Credit (HTRC).

These factors will have a direct financial impact on DeKalb’s

taxpayers.

CONNIE STOKES

C

OMMISSIONER

,

S

UPER

D

ISTRICT

7

C

HAIRWOMAN

B

UDGET

•

F

INANCE

•

A

UDIT

C

OMMITTEE

(404)

371-3053

O

FF

.

(404)

687-3425

F

AX

CONNIESTOKES

@

CO

.

DEKALB

.

GA

.

US

WWW

.

CONNIESTOKES

.

ORG

NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Tonza Clark

February 11, 2009

404-371-2715

The incorporation of the City of Dunwoody has resulted in an increase of taxes to unincorporated DeKalb

County.

The decline in sales tax revenue and the property tax freeze translated to less revenue for the

County.

Furthermore, if the State does not relinquish the HTRC payment, DeKalb’s homeowners can

expect to see a property tax increase of about $314 on an average home.

“As chair of the Budget, Finance and Audit Committee, I want the citizens of DeKalb County to be fully

informed of the budgetary alternatives we face,” said Commissioner Stokes. “With their full participation

and involvement, they will have a better idea of why we’ve made some of the tough choices that confront

us.”

Commissioner Connie Stokes vows to make the budget process as transparent as possible and to ensure

that the residents of DeKalb County have a voice in what is expected to be a year of tough budgetary

decisions.

Citizens are invited to attend regularly scheduled budget meetings, which are held at 3 p.m. on the 1st and

3rd Tuesday on the 5

th

Floor of the Maloof Building located at 1300 Commerce Drive in Decatur.

A

public hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Tuesday, February 24 in the Maloof Auditorium also located at

1300 Commerce Drive in Decatur.

The Budget, Finance and Audit Committee which also includes District 1 Commissioner, Elaine Boyer

and District 4 Commissioner, Sharon Barnes-Sutton, also urges the community to participate in

community meetings hosted by the CEO and other Commissioners.

All meeting times are 7 p.m. unless

otherwise noted.

•

St. Timothy United Methodist Church

5365 Memorial Dr.

Stone Mountain, GA 30083

Tuesday, February 17

•

Victory Church

1170 N. Hairston Road

Stone Mountain, GA 30083

Wednesday, February 18 at 7:30 p.m.

•

Berean Community Center

2440 Young Rd.

Stone Mountain, GA 30088

Thursday, February 19

•

Churchill Downs Civic Association

3677 Citation Drive (Clubhouse)

Decatur, GA

30034

Monday, February 23, 2009 6:30 p.m.

•

Antioch AME Church

765 South Hairston Road

Stone Mountain, GA 300083

Monday, February 23

“I have every confidence in Chairwoman Connie Stokes and the Budget, Finance and Audit Committee to

present to the commission a document that addresses our budgetary shortfalls while preserving vital

services for our residents,” said Commissioner Larry Johnson, who also serves as the Presiding Officer

for the Board of Commissioners.

“As a former member of the Georgia State Senate Appropriations

Committee, Commissioner Stokes brings a wealth of experience and good judgment to this important

task.”

If you are unable to attend the meetings and would like to view the on-line budget presentation, visit

www.conniestokes.org

.

For more information on the DeKalb County 2009 recommended budget or the

budgeting process, call 404-371-3053.

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