Empty Nest
Sponsored section ►►PAGE 20
Poor puppy
Dog dragged behind truck ►►PAGE 6
Tony Dungy
Coach shares advice with dads ►►PAGE 13
&
Students rally Help ailing teacher ►►PAGE 22
Ga. 400 to close June 28 Annual bike ride in the morning ►►PAGE 6
Alpharetta-Roswell
REVUE NEWS
June 26, 2014 | northfulton.com | 73,500 circulation Revue & News, Johns Creek Herald, Milton Herald & Forsyth Herald combined | 50¢ | Volume 32, No. 26
FULTON COUNTY BUDGET:
Fulton takes step closer to tax hike Commissioners vow to revisit 17 percent increase By HATCHER HURD hatcher@northfulton.com
PHOTOS BY KRISTINA BAK/STAFF
Participants in this year’s race range in age and species.
Hop to it! Running, brews take over Alpharetta By KRISTINA BAK news@northfulton.com ALPHARETTA, Ga. – After exercising strenuously, what better way to cool off than with a cold brew? In Alpharetta, June 21 was the day to do just that, with the Craft Beer Festival and 5K held downtown. The race was the first in the World’s Hoppiest Race
series. The series benefits Canine Assistants, a local program that provides service dogs to those with special needs. The 3.1-mile course was a qualifier for the AJC Peachtree Road Race on July 4 in Atlanta. The race started at the Corner Deli at 8 p.m. in downtown Alpharetta.
See RACE, Page 24
Participants could sample over 100 craft beers from all over the country.
ATLANTA – Fulton County voted at the June 18 commission meeting to advertise a 1.57 mill property tax increase in the general fund. But stung by taxpayers’ sticker shock over the proposed 17 percent increase on their tax bill, Fulton County Commission Chairman John Eaves said the commissioners would respond. He vowed to take a sharper pencil to the 2014-15 budget of $625.4 million. Eaves said he planned to call a special called work session to re-examine the budget. He pointed out that advertising the millage increase did not hold the county to passing that increase. It does cap the millage rate at the 1.57 mill increase, but a lower rate may pass. Fulton Finance Director Patrick O’Connor said the millage rate is necessary for the county to meet its obligations. “Without [the millage increase] we would be in a credit crisis,” O’Connor said.
HAUSMANN
EAVES
The board voted to advertise the new countywide millage rate of 12.051 mills in a 5-2 vote (Commissioners Liz Hausmann and Robb Pitts dissenting). This advertisement means the county may increase the general fund millage rate by no more than the 1.57 mills advertised. The board may reduce the rate increase if it chooses at the July 16 board meeting when the final millage rate is set. However, that would require either serious cuts or finding untapped revenues. The commissioners are faced with a $48 million shortfall in this year’s budget and the proposed 1.57 mill increase would generate an estimated $51.8 million. And that includes a $40 million infusion from the county’s fund balance. The county has regularly tapped into its reserves of $150 million since
See TAXES, Page 4
Location Change for the Roswell Fireworks Extravaganza!!! July 4, 2014 Roswell Fireworks will be at Sweet Apple Elementary School. Fireworks Display at Dark. Call 770-641-3705 for information.