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DeKalb County, Georgia

Grade2.pngC-
Budget Y
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Meetings Y
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Elected Officials Y
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Administrative Officials P
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Permits, zoning Y
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Audits P
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Contracts N
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Lobbying N
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Public records N
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Local taxes Y
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County websites
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Transparency grading process

DeKalb County is one of 159 counties in Georgia. Its county seat is Decatur.

[edit] Evaluation of website

Main article: Evaluation of Georgia county websites

[edit] The good

  • Budget information is posted[1].
  • Meeting information is available[2].
  • Information on the County Commissioners is posted[3].
  • Some of the Administrators are listed[4].
  • Building and zoning information is provided[5].
  • The Comprehensive Annual Financial Report contains an auditor's report. [6]
  • Property taxes can be searched and paid online[7].

[edit] The bad

[edit] Budget

According to a budget presentation for 2011 provided on the DeKalb County website, recommended increases in the budget focused on the sheriff's department and court system, the parks and recreation department, and the county library system. Transportation and road works would take a significant hit in those budget recommendations. Total, spending would decrease by 0.8% for 2011.[9]

On May 18, 2011, WSB-TV in Atlanta reported that DeKalb County could slash as much as an additional $20 million to $25 million from the 2011 budget because of falling property values and a depressed tax base. County Commissioner Lee May told WSB-TV that taxpayers could anticipate a possible tax rate hike as a result. The county commissioners court has 60 days to approve changes to the budget and tax rate, and three public hearings must be held in that time period.[10]

[edit] Stimulus

DeKalb County received and distributed $240,770,553 in federal stimulus dollars through the Federal Reinvestment and Recovery Act in 2009. Information on distribution of these funds was published in a county newsletter from County Commissioner Lee May in October 2009.[11]

In June 2010, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that DeKalb County commissioners approved the use of $36 million in federal stimulus bonds to aid the transformation of a former General Motors plant into a mixed-use urban center.[12].

[edit] Public Employees

[edit] Elected Officials

DeKalb County is administered by a full-time Chief Executive Officer. Additionally, legislative policy is set by a seven member Board of Commissioners. The Chief Executive Officer is elected county-wide and the Commissioners are each elected by district. The Chief Executive and the Commissioners serve four-year staggered terms. The Chief Executive Officer has the exclusive power to supervise, direct, and control the administration of County Government. The Board of Commissioners' primary responsibilities are to adopt an annual budget and to levy a tax rate and service charge structure sufficient to balance the budget; to rule on requests to rezone property; and to adopt and amend the County Code.[13]

In January 2010, DeKalb County Commissioner Sharon Barnes Sutton came under scrutiny when it was discovered that several warrants had been issued for her arrest, following a series of bad checks.[14] Commissioner Sutton is serving a four-year term, having first been elected in 2008.

Title Name Salary Time with County Party Affiliation Other
Chief Executive OfficerBurrell EllisunknownFirst elected 2008Democrathttp://www.burrellellis.com/
District 1Elaine BoyerunknownFirst elected 1996Republicanhttp://commissionerelaineboyer.com/
District 2Jeff RaderunknownFirst elected 2006Democrathttp://www.commissionerrader.com/
District 3Larry JohnsonunknownFirst elected 2002Democrathttp://web.co.dekalb.ga.us/boc/ljhonson/index.html
District 4Sharon Barnes SuttonunknownFirst elected 2008Democrathttp://web.co.dekalb.ga.us/barnes_sutton/index.asp
District 5Lee MayunknownFirst elected 2008Democrathttp://web.co.dekalb.ga.us/lmay/index.asp
Super District 6Kathie GannonunknownFirst elected 2004Democrathttp://www.kathiegannon.com/
Super District 7Stan WatsonunknownFirst elected 2010Democrathttp://web.co.dekalb.ga.us/boc/district7.html

[edit] Administrative Officials

Title Name Salary
BOC Chief of StaffMorris Williamsunknown
Clerk to the CEO & BOCBarbara Sandersunknown
BOC Office CoordinatorTerry Sandersunknown
BOC ReceptionistMelanie Gresham-Smithunknown
Administrative Assistant to the Chief of StaffVacantunknown
Director of Policy ResearchJay Vinickiunknown
Policy AnalystT.J. Siglerunknown
Policy AnalystVacantunknown


[edit] Salaries

Main article: Georgia government salaries

DeKalb County officials came under fire in 2010 for administrative staff pay raises, specifically in the CEO Office.[15] The highest reported salary hike was for CEO Burrell Ellis' receptionist, who received a 34% pay raise.

[edit] Pensions

Main article: Georgia public pensions

The DeKalb County Finance Department administers the pension plan for all county employees. All permanent officers, employees and deputies who perform any service for the benefit of DeKalb County for which they are paid a salary, including part-time employees and elected officials are required to participate in the DeKalb County Pension Plan.[16] Pension Board members include current employees, commissioners and pensioners. The board is comprised of nine members, arranged thus:

Voting Members: Chief Executive Officer of DeKalb County, two members elected by the Board of Commissioners, two members elected to a four-year term by the active participants in the plan, one member elected to a four-year term by the retired participants of the plan, and one member, appointed by the above six members

Non-Voting Members: Director of Finance, DeKalb County and Director of Merit System, DeKalb County

DeKalb County Pension Plan online

In 2010, several employees aged 50 and older were offered retirement buyouts, funded by the pension fund. 844 employees reportedly took the buyout. [17]

[edit] Emergency personnel

The DeKalb County Police Department was enacted by the General Assembly on August 17, 1914. Since the department's inception, there have been a total of 19 Police Chiefs that have paved the way for its success. The DeKalb County Police Department currently operates out of five area precincts. Within those six precincts are approximately 1,112 sworn police officers and 498 support staff employees.

Department Name Salary
Chief of PoliceChief W. O'Brienunknown
Support Services BureauAssistant Chief D. Holmesunknown
Field Operations BureauAssistant Chief M. Yarbroughunknown
Special Operations DivisionAssistant Chief L. Gassnerunknown
Criminal Investigations DivisionAssistant Chief A. Lane-Woodardunknown

[edit] Lobbying

Main article: Georgia taxpayer-funded lobbying

DeKalb County participates in the Association County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG). The ACCG engages in lobbying the Georgia state legislature.[18]. The ACCG is a member of the National Association of Counties, a national taxpayer-funded lobbying organization.

According to OpenSecrets.org, DeKalb County spent $20,000 on a lobbying contract with mCapitol Management in 2011. OpenSecrets.org reports that DeKalb County lobbied the federal government on the following issues in 2011: federal appropriations, grants and municipality projects.[19]

[edit] Transparency & public records

DeKalb County does not provide information about public records requests on their website. Sunshine Review rates DeKalb County's website at "C-" for transparency.

[edit] Taxes

The millage (property tax) rate is established by the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners in June. Tax rate information is available through the DeKalb County Tax Commissioner.

Total millage rates for 2010 by city in DeKalb County:

Entity General Opns Hospitals County Bonds Fire Special Svcs Unic Bonds County Total School Opns State City Millage CID Millage TOTAL
Unicorp8.000.960.572.463.501.3716.8622.980.250.00n/a40.09
Avondale8.000.960.572.462.120.0014.1122.980.2511.00n/a48.34
Chamblee8.000.960.572.460.860.0012.8522.980.257.95n/a44.03
Clarkston8.000.960.572.461.790.0013.7822.980.2511.313n/a48.323
Doraville8.000.960.572.461.200.0013.1922.980.258.00n/a44.42
Dunwoody8.000.960.572.460.001.3713.3622.980.252.74n/a39.33
Lithonia8.000.960.572.461.860.0013.8522.980.2513.178n/a50.258
Atlanta8.000.960.570.000.000.009.530.000.2534.634n/a44.414
Pine Lake8.000.960.572.462.120.0014.1122.980.2517.10n/a54.44
Stone Mountain8.000.960.572.461.590.0013.5822.980.2510.00n/a46.81
Decatur8.000.960.570.001.130.0010.660.000.2532.935n/a43.845
Lenox PK8.000.960.572.463.501.3716.8622.980.250.000.0040.09
Perim CID S2 Dunwoody8.000.960.572.460.001.3713.3622.980.252.744.0043.33
Perim CID S3 UNINC8.000.960.572.463.501.3716.8622.980.250.004.0044.09

[edit] External links

[edit] References

http://sunshinestandard.org
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  1. ↑ Budgets
  2. ↑ Meetings
  3. ↑ Commissioners
  4. ↑ Administration
  5. ↑ Planning/Development
  6. ↑ Comprehensive Annual Financial Report
  7. ↑ Property taxes
  8. ↑ Bids
  9. ↑ Executive Budget Presentation 2011
  10. ↑ WSB-TV, May 18, 2011 - DeKalb May Cut Another $25 Million From Budget
  11. ↑ Commissioner May Newsletter, Oct. 2009
  12. ↑ AJC, June 22, 2010 - DeKalb County approves stimulus money to remake GM plant
  13. ↑ Governmental Structure
  14. ↑ AJC, Jan 23, 2010 - Bad checks, foreclosure, unpaid bills plague commissioner
  15. ↑ CBS Atlanta, July 30, 2010 - Tough Questions About DeKalb County Salaries, Raises
  16. ↑ Finance
  17. ↑ DeKalb Loses Hundreds of Experienced Employees
  18. ↑ ACCG Legislative Advocacy Information
  19. ↑ OpenSecrets.org
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