Politics & Government

Boyer to Hold Two Town Hall Meetings on DeKalb County Budget

Commissioner will be holding meetings at Montgomery Elementary, Tucker Middle School

 

DeKalb County Commissioner Elaine Boyer will host two town hall meetings in the next two weeks to gather citizen input on the proposed 2012 DeKalb County budget. 

The first will be Feb. 7 at 7 p.m. at Montgomery Elementary in Brookhaven. The second town hall will be on Feb. 13 at 7 p.m. at Tucker Middle School in Tucker. The second town hall will be co-hosted by Commissioner Stan Watson. 

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Boyer, a Republican Commissioner who represents District 1 on the DeKalb Board of Commissioners, will discuss with citizens what services they see as essential and what they believe could be pared back if the county faces additional revenue challenges this year, according to a press releas about the event.

DeKalb CEO Burrell Ellis has proposed a $547 million budget for the year that does not include any proposed property tax increases. However, if property values continue to decline there could be another significant decline in revenue by mid-year, according to Boyer's release. That would mean the Commission would have to cut services or consider a tax increase.

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Last year, the DeKalb Commission voted for a 4.35 mill tax increase after property values declined throughout most of the county.

“I have news for everyone,” Boyer said, in a press release. “As far as DeKalb residents are concerned. This recession is not over. That means tax a tax increase cannot and will not be on my radar. That’s why I want us to scope out potential budget cuts now. We must be prepared.”

In 2010, Georgia State University issued a report on DeKalb government that called for elimination of hundreds of positions in county government including mid-level managers, consolidation and retooling of county services including parks, libraries, arts and recreation and senior services to save taxpayers’ money, Boyer's statement said.

Boyer has said that the first priorities of a county government should be funding public safety including police, fire and the courts.

For those who have questions about the upcoming town hall meetings, contact Commissioner Boyer’s officer at 404-371-3052.


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