The annual award is presented by the Government Finance Officers Association

For the ninth year in a row, the City of Peachtree Corners has earned the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA). This year’s award was in recognition of the city’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget submission.

According to an announcement from the city, this annual award represents “a significant achievement … reflecting the commitment of the governing body and staff to meet the highest principles of governmental budgeting.” To receive the budget award, the city had to satisfy nationally recognized guidelines for effective budget presentation.

These guidelines are designed to assess how well an entity’s budget serves as:

• a policy document
• a financial plan
• an operations guide
• a communications device

Budget documents must be rated “proficient” in all four categories, and in the fourteen mandatory criteria within those categories, to receive the award.

A Certificate of Recognition

When a Distinguished Budget Presentation Award is granted to an entity, a Certificate of Recognition for Budget Presentation is also presented to the individual(s) or department designated as being primarily responsible for having achieved the award.

There are over 1,900 participants in GFOA’s Budget Awards Program. The most recent award recipients, along with their corresponding budget documents, are posted quarterly on GFOA’s website.

Award recipients have pioneered efforts to improve the quality of budgeting and provide an excellent example for other governments throughout North America.

For more information, visit peachtreecornersga.gov.

The Peachtree Corners Business Association hosted a dynamic Business After Hours Speaker Series event on March 26 at Hilton Atlanta Northeast, featuring City Council members Ora Douglass and Alex Wright. In what proved to be far more than a standard municipal presentation, the two council members delivered an engaging, frank discussion about the city’s most pressing issues — from vacant storefronts and infrastructure projects to public safety concerns and economic development opportunities.

Setting the tone for honest dialogue

Wright opened the evening by establishing expectations that set the tone for what would become a refreshingly candid conversation. “You’re not gonna get any kind of propaganda tonight,” he assured the packed room. “You’ll hear what we’re speaking for both of us. I think you can hear what our opinions are.”

Rather than delivering prepared remarks from behind a podium, Wright promised an interactive “fireside chat” format that would keep the audience engaged and entertained.

The councilman brought levity to the proceedings, joking that he might “get up and walk around like a game show host” to maintain audience interest. His approach reflected a broader philosophy about civic engagement: “I think you’ll find it’s going to be very relaxed,” he said. “We want it to be somewhat interactive.”

A partnership built on respect

Wright took a moment to praise his colleague, Councilmember Douglass, whom he described as a trusted partner in city governance.

Having served on the council for 14 years — since the city’s inception — Wright noted that “getting things done is all about the relationships you have with the other council members. Like, can you get along? You play in the sandbox together.” He jokingly referred to Douglass as his “city council spouse,” acknowledging the deep professional respect they’ve developed.

Douglass, the youngest council member and the only female on the council, brought her own perspective to the discussion. A retired registered nurse and Army Nurse Corps veteran, she approaches city issues with both pragmatism and compassion, often challenging her colleagues to consider the human dimensions of policy decisions.

Town Center: a city priority

Both council members acknowledged the elephant in the room: the noticeable vacancies plaguing the Town Center development. While the city doesn’t own the entire complex — it owns the town green, parking deck and portions of the center — Wright emphasized that city leadership takes the situation seriously.

“I can’t go into a lot of details right now, but there are things going on behind the scenes, actions the city is taking that I think will be game changers in the very near future,” he revealed, hinting at exciting developments on the horizon. He noted that while a proposed arts facility conversion was under consideration, legal restrictions prevented him from discussing specifics at this time.

The Forum, another major commercial property, presents different challenges. After changing hands multiple times, with various developers proposing apartments and hotels, those plans have stalled.

Wright acknowledged the competitive landscape: “Cities compete against each other, just like businesses do. When we do things at the Town Center … we want to draw people we’re competing against other cities [for], but we have to constantly up our game.”

An audience member raised an important question about the demographics using these spaces. Having observed visitors from Cobb and Douglas counties enjoying free amenities like the spray park and concerts without contributing to local taxes, she questioned the economic benefit.

Wright acknowledged the concern, noting that his wife had suggested charging for parking for non-residents. However, he expressed hope that visitors would eventually become residents or at least spend money in the community.

Infrastructure and transportation

Wright outlined several significant road projects reshaping the city’s transportation network. One project — the East Jones Bridge and Georgia 141 intersection improvements — represents a major enhancement designed to add capacity in multiple ways. Originally, engineers had proposed a Michigan U-turn configuration, but public feedback led to a different approach featuring new lanes.

The project also addresses a dangerous intersection where The Forum’s exit doesn’t align with the adjacent Ingles shopping center — what Wright colorfully termed “a dumpster fire.”

Additionally, the city is considering a roundabout at the Peachtree Corners Circle and QT intersection, though this would force residents of Peachtree Station to take alternate routes.

Douglass added that beautification efforts would accompany the infrastructure work along the 141 corridor — stretching from Paul Duke Parkway to Johns Creek. “When you come through Johns Creek, it’s very beautiful in the median, and then, by God, you get to Wellington Lake and up there by Ingles, you get to the potholes,” she noted. “So, we’re going to try to do something about that.”

The deer dilemma

One of the evening’s most spirited discussions centered on Peachtree Corners’ exploding deer population. With 193 deer per square mile — compared to the recommended 25 — the city faces an estimated 20,371 deer causing significant property damage.

Douglass explained that the council voted to address the problem through a cooperative services agreement with USDA Wildlife Services, established in November 2025. However, she revealed that she had abstained from the vote, citing her nursing background and inability to support killing young animals. “I just can’t see killing baby deer,” she explained. “But I think that if I lived over by Simpsonwood, I probably would.”

She did offer residents a practical alternative: plants that offer deer resistance through toxic properties, strong scents or textures that deer find unappealing, making them great choices. The wildlife management program would assess homeowner association properties and conduct eradication efforts, though Douglass acknowledged that deer would likely return and require repeated management.

Public safety: A complex challenge

Public safety emerged as perhaps the most nuanced topic of the evening. Douglass emphasized that the council had not made a final decision on whether Peachtree Corners should establish its own police force, contrary to some community speculation.

“We came to the same town hall meetings that you came to,” Douglass stated firmly. “There’s been no vote. There’s been no talk of a vote.” She stressed that the council’s approach reflected “good old fashioned quality management” — identifying problems, determining root causes and developing solutions through respectful dialogue with Gwinnett County.

Douglass identified three specific concerns regarding Gwinnett County’s service to Peachtree Corners:

• The West precinct is located at the intersection of Interstate 85 and Jimmy Carter Boulevard, making response times problematic given traffic congestion.
• The precinct faces significant staffing shortages, with many young officers leaving the profession.
• Communication gaps exist between county police and city marshals, preventing coordinated problem-solving.

“It just doesn’t make sense to me, if you have the marshals in Peachtree Corners and not the police there, not to at least communicate with them so that they can mitigate problems when they occur,” Douglass said.

Wright provided context on the broader staffing crisis. Gwinnett County is budgeted for approximately 950 police officers but currently has only about 750 — a gap that’s been slowly closing over recent years. “Again, it’s not unique to Gwinnett,” he noted.

Economic development: building an ecosystem

Wright highlighted a major economic development victory that many residents may not realize: Intuitive Surgical‘s $550 million investment in the city. The company, which manufactures the Da Vinci surgical robot, is bringing 1,300 jobs with an average salary of $120,000 to Peachtree Corners. Construction is expected to conclude later in 2026, with the company having already added 1,000 employees to its local workforce.

This development represents the most significant economic development win in recent Gwinnett County history, Wright explained, though it received far less public attention than it deserved. He contextualized it within a broader vision of creating a biotech and pharmaceutical corridor similar to North Carolina’s Research Triangle Park.

“You’ve got Intuitive that’s now made a major investment here. You’ve got Rowen (a 2,000-acre research and development hub about 25 miles from Peachtree Corners) going in there,” Wright noted. “You start to create … an ecosystem where other companies want to be near that.”

He referenced The city’s Curiosity Lab as another factor that influenced Intuitive’s decision to choose Peachtree Corners over Research Triangle Park itself.

Funding models and business engagement

When audience members questioned how Peachtree Corners funds city services without property taxes, Wright explained the city’s unique model. With approximately 2,500 businesses generating activity-based revenue through business licenses, alcohol taxes, insurance premiums and other fees, Peachtree Corners maintains a zero millage rate while keeping approximately $50 million in reserves.

“We’re one of the few cities in the whole state … that have a zero millage rate,” Wright explained.

This model depends on continuous economic activity and business growth — which is why city leadership focuses so intently on maintaining vibrant commercial districts like Town Center. With a total annual budget of approximately $20 million, the city operates efficiently while avoiding property taxes that burden residents in most other municipalities.

Connecting community through technology and events

Douglass highlighted the city’s new mobile app, which offers significantly enhanced functionality compared to its predecessor. Features include city news, community event calendars, live meeting streaming, issue reporting tools, points of interest and business directories. She encouraged businesses to promote the app to employees and customers as a way to stay informed about city initiatives and access community events.

She also announced plans for Peachtree Corners’ first Juneteenth celebration, emphasizing that this federal holiday represents emancipation and should engage the entire community, not just specific demographics.

The celebration will include an honors reception recognizing historical figures, including Beauty Baldwin, the first African-American woman to become a school superintendent in Georgia; L.C. Johnson, a prominent businessman; and Perry P. Nesbit, a descendant of enslaved people. A historical marker will be installed at the roundabout near Fort Pain, the outdoor obstacle course at Town Center.

“This is not an African-American event,” Douglass emphasized. “This is a Peachtree Corners event of celebration.”

A call for partnership

As the evening concluded, Douglass offered heartfelt thanks to the business community.

“Businesses, you are so essential to Peachtree Corners,” she stated. “You’re the economic drivers, you’re our community builders, partners in growth and innovation, and you’re our eyes and our ears on the ground. And we need to listen more.”

Her words captured the evening’s central message: that city government and business leaders share mutual responsibility for Peachtree Corners’ future. Through honest dialogue, respectful disagreement and collaborative problem-solving, both sectors can build a thriving community that benefits all residents and visitors.

The Speaker Series event demonstrated that when elected officials approach their work with transparency, humor and genuine respect for community input, civic engagement becomes not just a duty but an engaging, even enjoyable, experience.

Joe Sawyer, Eric Christ and Weare Gratwick will be officially sworn in for new terms at an open-to-the-public event on January 27.

The City of Peachtree Corners will officially swear in Councilmembers Joe Sawyer, Eric Christ and Weare Gratwick during a ceremonial oath of office on Tuesday, January 27, 2026.

The swearing-in ceremony will take place at the beginning of the City’s regularly scheduled City Council meeting at 7 p.m. at Peachtree Corners City Hall, located at 310 Technology Parkway, Peachtree Corners.

Family members, residents and members of the community are invited to attend and witness this important civic milestone as the newly sworn-in councilmembers formally begin their next terms of service. The City Council meeting will follow the ceremony and is open to the public.

Peachtree Corners continues its commitment to encouraging residents to participate in the democratic process and stay informed about city leadership and initiatives.

For more information, visit peachtreecornersga.gov.