The Gwinnett Board of Commissioners has scheduled a series of public hearings and information forums on a proposed county property tax increase. The increase will range between 2.87 and 3.31 mills, depending on where in the county a property is located.

Public Hearing schedule
Tuesday, May 26 at 4:30pm and 6:15pm
Tuesday, June 2 at 10:30am

Location: Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center (GJAC) at 75 Langley Drive in Lawrenceville.

One hour prior to each hearing, staff will conduct public information forums about county financing and county services and will be available to answer questions.

The commission’s consideration of the tax increase follows its adoption earlier this year of a $1.7 billion 2009 budget that reflected needed increased staffing in the county’s police, fire and emergency services departments, efficiency in government service and long-term financial stability. Over the past 12 years, the Board of Commissioners has rolled back property taxes by a total of 3.98 mills. The rollback was possible in part because the county’s rapid growth generated sufficient tax revenues to cover the cost of expanding service needs. In recent years, however, the county’s growth rate has begun to slow.

The proposed increase will not only maintain basic services levels, it will provide needed increases in police, fire protection and EMS services, with 372 police officers through 2012 and five new fire stations with 246 emergency services staff through 2013. The increase will also enhance a model economic development program that will help increase local property values and sustain a nationally-recognized parks and recreation system and expand it by nine new parks over the next five years.

They have also initiated a “public information” campaign entitled “Is $2.50 a Day Worth It?” whereby they comparison shop other consumer items that can be purchased for approximately $2.50.
• Click here to view Gwinnett County’s “Is $2.50 a Day Worth It?” flyer… (PDF document)
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