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Q&A: How to Keep Up with City News, More Corners Connector Trail Plans and Annual State of City Address Update

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From the Mayor’s Desk September 2020

In this month’s column, I will provide information on how you can stay informed with what’s going on in your city; more news on the multi-use trail and how it will connect to the new pedestrian bridge; and announce how and when I will deliver my annual state-of-the-city address.

Q: There seems to be a lot of misinformation of late posted on social media concerning several city projects. People are posting incorrect information which gets passed along as facts. Is there a place on the city’s website that provides updates?

A: Yes there is. On the city’s website, peachtreecornersga.gov, you will find the latest updates on all projects. Most can be found in the “News” section which is located on the homepage. You can also use the “Search” feature in the top right side of the page if you’re not sure where to look. And if you have a question, you can simply email or call City Hall. Our staff is happy to answer any of your questions. You can find contact information for staff by clicking on the “Contact Us” link at the top of the homepage.

I would urge you to consult the website rather than relying on social media to ensure you get
the facts. If you prefer to talk by telephone, or meet in person, our city staff will be glad to accommodate you. And remember to reach out to your elected official. All of us welcome
hearing from our citizens. You can find City Council contact information listed under the
“Contact Us” link as well.

Q: Sometimes I miss the city’s latest news when it comes out, and I don’t always remember to
check the city’s website to keep up. Is there a way to get the news delivered to me via email?

A: I’m glad you asked. Yes, the city’s website has a feature called “e-notifications” that allows
you to sign up to receive an email when a new update is posted. On the website, click on the link at the top of the homepage labeled “NotifyMe!” then select e-Notifications. You’ll see a list of options: Select “All News” to receive all news items. You also have the option to receive notices of upcoming City Council meetings, Town Center events and more. The news notices are emailed as soon as they are posted to the website. The calendar notices are sent six days before the event. If you need further information, please send an email to info@peachtreecornersga.gov with your questions.

The second way to keep up with the latest news is to download the city app, Corners Connect.
The app is free and available for both iPhones and Android users. Look for the app in the App
Store (iPhone) and Play Store (Android phones).

Q: Now that the bridge is near completion, what are the plans when pedestrians exit on either
side? Are there plans to connect with the city’s Corners Connector Trail?

A: Yes. On the Town Center side, we are working on a new section of the Corners Connector
Trail which will wind through a stand of trees and along a small creek. This new section begins
behind the Lazy Dog restaurant and will connect to the Town Green. It will include a path down to the stream and a footbridge over the water onto the opposite bank. Construction is expected to begin in the spring of 2021.

On The Forum side: This property belongs to The Forum. The property management company
has confirmed it is working on plans for an ADA accessible concrete pedestrian path which will
connect to the shopping center. More details to follow.

Q: Your annual state-of-the-city address is usually held in July. Do you still plan on providing
residents with an update?

A: Yes, but this year’s address will be quite different than in years past due to the coronavirus
restrictions. This will be my 7th address as your city mayor and unlike years past when we all
met in person, the 2020 address will be presented as a video. It was shot in different locations
throughout the city. In it, I will give a brief look back at the tremendous strides that have been
made in our city’s eight years – and a look toward the future. The video will be released on
Wednesday Sept. 16. Look for an announcement posted on the city’s website in the “News”
section with a link to the video. All who have signed up for e-notification will receive an email
with the video link.

If you’ve not yet signed up for the city’s e-notifications, visit the city’s website, then click on the link at the top of the homepage labeled “Notify Me,” select eNotifications, and select the “All News” option.

Stay Safe,
Mayor Mike Mason

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City Government

Councilmember Eric Christ: 2025 Peachtree Corners Municipal Elections

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A white man with glasses, wearing a dark colored jacket walking in the road alongside a line of vintage cars.

Source: Peachtree Corners Post 2 Councilmember Eric Christ’s recent newsletter.

Peachtree Corners Municipal Elections Tuesday, November 4 in white font on a blue background.

On Tuesday, November 4, we will have municipal elections here in the City of Peachtree Corners for three council seats. [And] for the first time since 2013, there will be a state-wide election on the same day as our city general election. 

The state-wide election is to fill two seats on the Public Service Commission, which regulates Georgia Power and other utilities.

For the PSC election, the Gwinnett County Board of Elections will have all 156 county precincts open on November 4. Historically, Peachtree Corners has had a single voting location for city elections — at City Hall.

If we do the same this year, citizens who want to vote in both the PSC and the City Council elections will need to go to two places to cast their ballots.

A few years ago, I convinced the County Board of Elections to remove their prohibition against the Gwinnett Elections Department managing city elections. (Every county surrounding Gwinnett already offered this service to their cities.)

This means there is the potential of adding our city council elections to the county ballot.

I would like to hear your thoughts on the pros and cons of combining our city council races with the county’s for this year’s elections. 

Please complete my brief survey by clicking here.



To sign up for Councilmember Christ’s newsletter or find him on social media, visit linktr.ee/votechrist.

You can read more from his latest newsletter updates here and here.

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City Government

City of Peachtree Corners Receives Distinguished Budget Presentation Award

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Logo for the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award

For the eighth year in a row, the City of Peachtree Corners has been esteemed with the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award. This award was presented by the Georgia Finance Officers Association (GFOA) for the City’s Fiscal Year 2025 budget submission.

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

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.

“Congratulations to the entire finance team on receiving this award,” said City Manager Brian Johnson

“This recognition is a testament to our team’s hard work, professionalism and commitment to excellence.”

There are over 1,700 participants in the Budget Awards Program. The most recent Budget 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.

About the GFOA

The Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) advances excellence in government finance by providing best practices, professional development, resources and practical research for more than 21,000 members and the communities they serve.

About the City of Peachtree Corners, Georgia

As the heart of what is being called #SiliconOrchard in the metro Atlanta region, Peachtree Corners is a vibrant municipality that’s home to more than 45,000 residents and an innovation hub that houses some of the world’s most disruptive technology companies.

As the United States’ premier smart city powered by real-world connected infrastructure and 5G, Peachtree Corners serves as the model for how government and private industry can better collaborate to create a better future for society and business.

From the world’s first deployment of teleoperated e-scooters to fully autonomous shuttles being utilized by actual residents, and from a solar roadway to the largest electric vehicle charging hub in the region, Peachtree Corners is where the most future-forward Internet of Things (IoT) and sustainable technologies come to life for the benefit of its people and the world.

For more information, visit peachtreecornersga.gov.

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City Government

BRACK: How one city operates without property tax

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Peachtree Corners City Hall in the evening with flag display, signage and lights.

Some people lament paying taxes. They don’t understand that taxes allow us to live in a more civilized manner, helping and protecting us all along.  That’s why I don’t mind paying reasonable taxes for the safety of everyday living.

Many don’t recognize it, but you are often paying a small tax without realizing it as you go about your everyday business….but it’s not called a tax.

White man with white hair and glasses wearing a suit with a red tie, smiling. Beside the image is the name Ellliott Brack in all-caps blue letters on a white background.

It’s called a “fee.” Each time you pay your power or utility bill and cable bill, your insurance premium, when you rent a hotel room or car…and other ways…you are providing a few cents or dollars to help fund mostly local government.

The newly-minted City of Mulberry (and previously Peachtree Corners) will run its government without taxing property owners paying a tax to fund its operations.  How so?  Entirely from fees.  

Let’s visit what the other city without property taxes, Peachtree Corners, is doing. 

White man with short brown hair and facial hair wearing a suit, smiling at the camera with an American flag behind him.
Salley

We talked with Cory Salley, who is the finance director for Peachtree Corners. He sent along a graphic which shows where Peachtree Corners gets its funding, as well as how it is spent.  (See graphic.)

For the most part, Peachtree Corners is funded by fees. The biggest comes from Georgia Power Company, paying $2.8 million in fees for the city for 2025. Other utilities include $450,000 from Atlanta Gas Light Company; $250,000 from Comcast; $70,000 from Direct TV; and $42,000 from AT&T.  (That last figure was interesting, in effect, showing how few people have land-line telephones anymore.) Altogether, utility fees brought in $4.3 million in Peachtree Corners for 2024.

Another bucket of fees include $3.8 million in insurance fees. This comes in one check from the Department of Revenue, which collects insurance fees for all cities.

Each business in Peachtree Corners pays an occupational business license tax. With lots of professional offices in the city, these businesses contribute $4.4 million to the city coffers.

Infographic of the FY2025 Budget at a Glance for Peachtree Corners

Other fee collections for 2024:

  • Alcoholic licenses and sales: $1 million.
  • Zoning and land development permits: $1.4 million.
  • SPLOST funds on sales within Peachtree Corners: $10 million.
  • Automobile and vehicle purchases: $1.7 million.  This is interesting: no matter where you buy an automobile in Georgia, part of the sales tax reverts to the city where you live. 

Then there are other funds coming to the city; stormwater fees, grants, solid waste, etc. Altogether, it added up to approximately a $40 million income to run the city. 

Some specifics and the way they are figured: 

  • Real estate transfer taxes: This tax is imposed at the rate of $1 on the first $1,000 and 10 cents on each additional $10 on any conveyance of real property when the value of the interest transferred exceeds $100.
  • Distilled Spirits—up to 22 cents per liter on package sales and up to 3 percent of the sale price of a drink on sales to the public;
  • Wine—up to 22 cents per liter; and
  • Malt Beverages—up to $6.00 per bulk container (no more than 15.5 gallons) to be paid by the wholesaler and up to 5 cents per 12 ounces when sold in bottles, cans or other containers.
  • A municipality may levy a business license tax on depository financial institutions (such as a bank.) The maximum rate of this tax is 0.25 percent.
  • Hotel-motel tax: a municipality may levy a hotel-motel tax at a rate of 3 percent or less or at a rate of 5, 6, 7, or 8 percent. (Yes, let the out-of-towner pay!)

Perhaps this gives you an idea of how a city, like Mulberry in the future, can operate without property taxes.

Have a comment?  Send to: elliott@elliottbrack

Written by Elliott Brack

This material is presented with permission from Elliott Brack’s GwinnettForum, an online site published Tuesdays and Fridays. To become better informed about Gwinnett, subscribe (at no cost) at GwinnettForum.

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