One year later...
a special report
City of Stonecrest moving forward after year one
By Adrion Bell
revenue of $355,000. Business licenses topped the list for revenue generators bringing in more than $1.2 million, followed by franchise fees that generated $900,000. The city finished its first fiscal year with a balanced budget of $2,674,000 and a net position of $271,964. “Sound fiscal responsibility by the staff and city management is responsible for our net position being in excess instead of a deficiency,” Mayor Jason Lary said. City Manager Michael Harris secured the initial city hall space for 10 months, rent-free. Office furniture, valued at more than $40,000, was purchased from the state and other municipalities for less than $10,000 by Assistant City Manager Plez Joyner and Councilwoman Jazzmin Cobble. The city formed a partnership with CH2M, now Jacobs Engineering Group, in May 2017. Jacobs agreed to staff the city with qualified employees, pay their salaries and purchase the city’s first vehicles. In return, the city pays Jacobs a contracted amount annually.
July marks the first anniversary for city hall staffers in Stonecrest. Twelve months ago, a staff of four – the city manager, city clerk, communications director and community development director – began working out of borrowed space in Tucker City Hall. The small team was tasked with becoming familiar with the Stonecrest Charter and beginning the administrative work of Stonecrest while the newly elected mayor and council hammered away at legislation that set the city’s legal parameters. The staff quickly grew with the addition of a finance manager, assistant city manager, and code enforcement officers. Today, the staff numbers more than 30 and the internal accomplishments needed to set a strong foundation have been abundant. Maintaining a promise of economic development with no tax increases was one of the goals of the new administration. The city received revenues from issuing more than 300 building permits yielding a
Stonecrest by the numbers
4
Number of years to form the City of Stonecrest
$55,250 Revenues from business licenses
114
New business licenses issued
53,394 Number of residents in the city of Stonecrest
965
Building and land development inspections performed
This SPECIAL section sponsored by the city of stonecrest
47
Millions of dollars in SPLOST revenues coming to Stonecrest over 6 years