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Fulton County, Georgia

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Budget Y
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Meetings Y
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Elected Officials Y
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Administrative Officials Y
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Permits, zoning Y
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Audits Y
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Contracts Y
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Lobbying Y
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Public records Y
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Local taxes Y
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County websites
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Transparency grading process

Fulton County is one of 159 counties in Georgia. The county seat is Atlanta. Fulton County was formed from DeKalb County in 1853. In 2011, U.S. Census data revealed that Fulton remained Georgia's largest county, rising to 920,581 (12.8% increase) since 2000.[1].

[edit] Evaluation of website

Main article: Evaluation of Georgia county websites

This website was most recently reviewed Jan. 26, 2012.

[edit] The good

  • Budget information is available dating back to 2007.[2]
  • Meeting agendas and minutes are provided.[3]
  • Contact information for the County Commissioners is provided.[4]
  • Most other elected officials and administrators are listed.[5]
  • Zoning and some building permit information is provided.[6]
  • Audit and report information is available.[7]
  • Contract information is available, including some current contracts.[8]
  • Tax information is online, including an online payment system and a search function for tax bills.[9]. A property records search is also available.[10]
  • Fulton County does disclose membership in the Association of County Commissioners Georgia and the National Association of Counties.[11]
  • There is information about requesting public records.[12]

[edit] Budget

[edit] Stimulus

Fulton County has received $711,167 in Community Development Block Grant funds under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act stimulus package. The application the county submitted for the funds is available on the website.

[edit] Public Employees

[edit] Elected Officials

Fulton County is governed by a seven-member Board of Commissioners. Five commissioners are elected by geographic district and two are elected countywide, including the chair. Members are part-time and serve concurrent four-year terms; a person is required to be at least 25 years old and a resident of Fulton County in order to serve on the board. The current chairman of the board, John H. Eaves, has served on the board since 2007. Chairman Eaves maintains a separate website with information for constituents about the county and government services.[13]

Responsibilities of the Board of Commissioners include: establishing policies for the health and welfare of county residents; adopting an annual budget for county government operations; authorizing bond referenda; enacting plans for county growth and development.[14]

Title Name Salary First elected Party
Commissioner Dist. 1, ChairmanJohn H. Eaves, Ph.D.unknown2006, chairman since 2007Democratic
Commissioner Dist. 3Liz Hausmannunknown2010Republican
Commissioner Dist. 4Tom Loweunknown1974Republican
Commissioner Dist. 5Emma I. Darnellunknown1992Democratic
Commissioner Dist. 6Joan P. Garnerunknown2010Democratic
Commissioner Dist. 7William "Bill" Edwards]unknown2000Democratic

[edit] Administrative Officials

Title Name Salary Time with County
County ManagerZachary Williams $200,000 in 2010Appointed in 2008
Clerk to the CommissionMark Masseyunknownunknown
Chief Tax AppraiserBurt Manningunknownunknown
Tax CommissionerArthur E. Ferdinand, Ph.D.$342,000 in 2010[15]Appointed in 1997
County AttorneyR. David Ware unknownAppointed in 2008

[edit] Salaries

Main article: Georgia state government salary

In January 2011, the board of commissioners approved a 2% raise for all county employees making less than $40,000/year, to take effect in June 2011.[16] This raise affects approximately 1/3 of county employees.

The 2011 Budget set the county commissioner board's total appropriation at $3,229,806. It is not clear from the information provided on the website what the salaries are for the individual commissioners.

On May 2, 2011, CBS Atlanta reported that Fulton County Tax Commissioner Arthur Ferdinand has come under fire for earning more than $342,000 in 2010. Ferdinand is paid a base salary from the county of $134,000. The other $208,000 comes from personal service contracts he has with the cities of Atlanta, Johns Creek and Sandy Springs.[17]

[edit] Pensions

Main article: Georgia public pensions

The Fulton County Employees Retirement System was created in 1991, and all county employees are eligible to participate in the program.[18] The program is governed by an appointed board of 12 members. The Fulton County ERS is a defined-benefit pension plan, and the county also has a defined-contribution plan (401(a)) available to employees.

[edit] Lobbying

Main article: Georgia taxpayer-funded lobbying

Fulton County participates in the Association County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG). The ACCG engages in lobbying the Georgia state legislature.[19]. The ACCG is a member of the National Association of Counties, a national taxpayer-funded lobbying organization.

According to OpenSecrets.org, Fulton County spent $40,000 on a lobbying contract with Alcade & Fay in 2011.[20] OpenSecrets.org reports that Fulton County lobbied the federal government on the following issues in 2011: Seeking federal support for the following: Ryan White HIV/AIDS; CDBG; HOME; WIA; FEMA; FMAP: PILT; Medicare; Medicaid; FAA reauthorization; SAFETEA-LU reauthorization; WRDA reauthorization; TANF; Build America Bonds; Repeal of Section 511 of the Tax Increase Prevention and Reconciliation Act; Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships; African-American and Minority Procurement; and Department of Justice Initiatives; Monitoring federal grant opportunities and the impact of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care & Education Reconciliation Act on indigent care.

[edit] Transparency & public records

The Fulton County website is graded an "A+" by Sunshine Review for transparency.

[edit] Fulton County Justice System

In March 2011, at the recommendation of a blue ribbon study committee, Fulton County officials began an effort to computerize tracking of court cases. The county signed the county a $10.8 million contract with Texas-based Tyler Technologies, Inc., to install a Web-based jail and court case management system called Odyssey. Fulton County IT director Ryan Fernandes told the Atlanta Journal Constitution that the new system would serve as a single data-entry portal for the sheriff's office, Superior Court, State Court, the District Attorney's office, the Solicitor's office, the Clerk's office, the Public Defender's office, Probate Court and Magistrate Court. The new system is designed to help speed up the work flow and make the overall system more efficient. Fernandes called this a "cost-savings" for the county. [21]

[edit] Taxes

Fulton County collects property taxes and motor vehicle taxes. The property tax bill is calculated based on the calendar year and issued to the owner of record as of January 1. Bills are sent in July, and Fulton County property taxes are normally due no later than October 15 each year.

For property taxes, homestead exemptions are available. To qualify, Fulton County homeowners must own and occupy the property as their legal residence as of January 1 of the current tax year. To receive the exemption for the current year, applications must be filed by April 1 of the current year.

The Motor Vehicle Division collects applicable ad valorem taxes, issues metal plates/decals, and registrations to automobiles, trucks, motorcycles, tractor trailers, motor homes, boat trailers, and mobile homes.

[edit] External links

[edit] References

http://sunshinestandard.org
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  1. ↑ Census Shows Atlanta's Main Counties Grew, March 17, 2011
  2. ↑ Budgets
  3. ↑ Meetings
  4. ↑ Commissioners
  5. ↑ Transparency, Elected Officials/Administrators
  6. ↑ Zoning, Building permit
  7. ↑ Audits, Reports
  8. ↑ Contracts
  9. ↑ Property Taxes
  10. ↑ Property Records
  11. ↑ Lobbying/Advocacy
  12. ↑ Access to Government Records and Public Documents
  13. ↑ Chairman Eaves' Website
  14. ↑ Fulton County Government Structure
  15. ↑ Fulton Tax Commissioner Accepts Over $200k In Personal Payments
  16. ↑ Board OKs pay raise for some county employees
  17. ↑ CBS Atlanta, Fulton Tax Commissioner Accepts Over $200k In Personal Payments
  18. ↑ Retirement Board
  19. ↑ ACCG Legislative Advocacy Information
  20. ↑ 2011 Fulton County Lobbying
  21. ↑ AJC - For $10.8 million, Fulton adopts a cost-cutting measure
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