COOK-ING WITH GAS, 1B
GGC on a roll with addition of Buford grad at leadoff
Gwinnett Daily Post
APRIL 1 | 7:05PM
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SUNDAY, MARCH 26, 2017
Vol. 47, No. 108
GCPS lays out plans for $2B budget BY KEITH FARNER
keith.farner @gwinnettdailypost.com
SUWANEE — Enrollment growth is expected to continue in the next year as Gwinnett County Public Schools and its finances make more progress from recession-era cutbacks. Economic indicators, such as the property tax
digest, for example, have recovered from the 27 percent drop during the Great Recession. The value of a mill shrunk from about $31 million to $23 million and has rebounded to $26.3 million in the current year. It’s expected to be $28.4 million for next year. The local property tax digest is expected to grow by nearly 5 percent, or
$23.7 million, in local property tax revenue. GCPS Chief Financial Officer Joe Heffron made his first public budget presentation Saturday morning at the district office before the Gwinnett School Board and senior school district staff. The district expects to add about 1,972 students in the coming year for the $2.092 billion bud-
get, which is an increase of about $37 million, or 1.8 percent, from last year. CEO/Superintendent J. Alvin Wilbanks said the budget is an investment portfolio for the students. “Those things tell us that we’re coming back, but the underlying message there is we aren’t back,” Wilbanks said. “There’s no need sitting around and
twiddling our thumbs and griping about that. It is as it is, and we’re trying to make sure that we’re providing the resources wherever they’re needed.” Employer benefit costs are projected to add $32 million in expenses for this budget. The Gwinnett Retirement System, the district’s alternative to Social Secu-
rity, will increase by $5.5 million, and state health insurance premiums for noncertificated employees, about 6,100, will cost GCPS $7.1 million annually. Those employees are typically cafeteria workers, bus drivers and central office personnel. Those increases have
See BUDGET, Page 7A
Civil rights officials speak on expansion of commission Groups say extra seats may not boost diversity BY CURT YEOMANS curt.yeomans@gwinnettdailypost.com
A bill that would add seats to the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners is facing opposition from the leaders of two civil rights groups who feel it won’t create the opportunities for minority candidates promised by the bill’s author. Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials Executive Director Jerry Gonzalez and Georgia NAACP President FranJerry Gonzalez cys Johnson said they are opposed to state Rep. Pedro Marin’s House Bill 565, which would expand the commission to six districts and a countywide elected commissioner, in at least its current form. While Marin has Francys Johnson said his bill would help address minority representation on the commission, Gonzalez and Johnson said data analyzed by their organizations says otherwise. “Every one of the districts is potentially a white-majority district,” Gonzalez said. “Certainly, that doesn’t pass muster See DIVERSITY, Page 7A
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Reason to race
Runners and their dogs take part in Saturday’s Georgia SPCA seventh annual Run for the Rescues at the Suwanee Town Center in Suwanee. (Photos: Karl L. Moore)
Georgia SPCA’s seventh annual Run for the Rescues a hit BY MICHAEL ALLEN Staff Correspondent
With his tail wagging and tongue hanging, Boomer, a 3-year old, silky brown terrier and pit bull mix, was a fan favorite Saturday MORE ONLINE during the Georgia Visit gwinnettdailypost.com for more photos. Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals’ Run for the Rescues 5K event at Suwanee Town Center. It was a drastic turnaround for Boomer. Two years ago, as one of the infamous Griffin Mud Dogs, he was malnourished and feared any contact with other dogs and people. Boomer and 36 other dogs were rescued from feces- and mud-filled cages in the backyard of a woman’s home in Griffin. “He was terrified of everybody and Lori Cronin, left, with Boomer, and Susan Tinkle, with Giddy, a pair of the Griffin Mud everything,” said Lori Cronin, Boomer’s Dogs, share a moment during Saturday’s Georgia SPCA seventh annual Run for the Rescues at the Suwanee Town Center in Suwanee.
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See SPCA, Page 7A
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