2018 Forsyth County Annual Report

Mission Vision As trusted stewards of Forsyth County’s future, the Forsyth County is committed to providing and maintaining the most efficient, customer service-oriented county government possible. elected officials and employees are dedicated to serving The county will be an innovative and strategic leader in providing essential and effective public services in a fiscally prudent and the community and to providing effective, professional professional manner. By preserving and enhancing a high quality of life, Forsyth County will remain a healthy, safe and compelling place public service with integrity and a commitment to in which to live, work, recreate, visit and invest. excellence. About Forsyth Administration Date of Incorporation December 3, 1832 Form of Government Commission-County Manager Total Area in Square Miles 247 2018 Population Estimate 236,612* County Government Employees 1,396 Full-Time, as of December 31, 2018 440 Part-Time/Seasonal *Source: U.S. Census Bureau 2

2019 BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners is made up of five The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners meets in regular members, each living in a specific district and elected by their session twice a month, on the first and third Thursdays. The board district to serve four-year terms. Each January, the five members also holds a work session twice a month, on the second and fourth elect officers for the coming year. Tuesdays. The meetings are held in the County Administration Building. The meetings are open to the public, and they also can be The mission of the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners is viewed on TV Forsyth (Comcast Channel 23 and AT&T Channel 99) to exercise the powers, duties and responsibilities vested in and and online at forsythco.com. imposed upon it as the duly constituted governing authority of Forsyth County. Forsyth County operates under the commission-county manager form of government. In Appreciation Forsyth County would like to thank R.J. (Pete) Amos, who served as the District 1 commissioner from 2011 until December 2018. Photo: Amos recognized for his years of service during his last Board of Commissioners meeting in December. 3

The last sentence in the county’s vision statement says, “By preserving and enhancing a high quality of life, Forsyth County will remain a healthy, safe and compelling place in which to live, work, recreate, visit and invest.” In 2018, our community took concrete steps to help us reach this vision. We started and completed road projects; added and enhanced park amenities and programs; and received a grant to help us open and staff a new fire station. And that is just the beginning. I invite you to read through the pages of this report to learn about other ways your county government is working to enhance our high quality of life in Forsyth County. We realize these achievements together – as Forsyth County residents. Thank you for your approval of the one percent Special Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST), as it will help us accomplish even more. As we move forward, I encourage you to engage with us. From newsletters and websites to social media outlets and in-person meetings, we have numerous ways for you to engage and learn about all the great things that are happening in our community. Thank you for the opportunity to serve you. We look forward to engaging with you. Laura Semanson Sincerely, Chairman Laura Semanson 2019 Chairman and District 5 Commissioner Message from the County Manager Preserving and enhancing a high quality of life. It’s more than just a series of words in the county’s vision, it’s a goal that your government aims to achieve every day. Whether designing plans for a road improvement project to alleviate traffic, responding to a 911 emergency call or maintaining the many parks our children play in everyday – the county government staff realizes that the services they provide impact your life as well as the future of our great community. Rest assured, Forsyth County is committed to providing and maintaining the most efficient, customer service-oriented county government possible. In this annual report, we hope that you will find insight into how your county government operates as well as some of the major accomplishments that we, as a county, were able to achieve in 2018. I thoroughly appreciate the opportunity to serve such a wonderful county, and to call it home. I look forward to what is ahead in 2019 and beyond. Sincerely, Eric Johnson County Manager Eric Johnson County Manager 4

2018 Forsyth County Organizational Chart Photo: Downtown Cumming, Georgia. The county’s Administration building (bottom right) with a view of Sawnee Mountain. 5

2018 Year in Review SPLOST Public Input Meetings Held for Resident Engagement A series of public input meetings was held between January and March so that residents could provide feedback on the types of projects they would like to see funded by the proposed continuation of the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) program. From the input received at the meetings, and through an online survey, a proposed list of potential projects was developed by the Board of Commissioners. Voters approved the continuation of the SPLOST program during the Nov. 7 election. The sales tax has been in place in the county since 1987, when it was first approved by Forsyth County voters. Forsyth County voters have now subse- quently approved seven referen- dums continuing the program. 6

Year in Review The Forsyth County Voter Registration & Elections Office moved into their new facility at 1201 Sawnee Drive in January. The new facility is located near the intersection of Sawnee Drive and Tribble Gap Road, adjacent to the Forsyth County Tax Commissioner’s Office and Magistrate Court. The new facility enabled the department to consolidate their previous two locations for improved efficiency. 1201 Sawnee Drive 7

Parks & Recreation Adds Therapeutic Recreation Program Over the summer, the county launched recreation programming to serve individuals with intellectual and physical disabilities. The program is designed to facilitate the development of leisure and recreation skills, socialization, independence and overall quality of life for residents with disabilities. Jeff Jones was hired in March as the county’s first therapeutic recreation supervisor to coordinate and implement the new programs. Five Join Forsyth County Leadership In March, Garrin Coleman (photo below) filled the newly created In October, Vivian Vakili was appointed to the position of position of assistant county manager to serve as the executive economic development director. In this newly created position, manager for all transportation-related activities and responsi- Vakili works to attract businesses to locate or expand in Forsyth County. Vakili previously served as development services bilities. The position also oversees operations of the manager within the county’s Planning and Community county’s Engineering, Recycling & Solid Waste, Fleet Development Department. Services and Public Facilities departments. In November, Chris Grimes was appointed to the position of In July, Karen Shields was named the director of director of emergency management. Grimes previously served the county’s Department of Communications. as deputy director where he oversaw all daily operations and In the role, Shields oversees county publications, responses of the Emergency Management Agency. media relations, county social media pages and internal communications. In September, Dan Callahan was named the Director of Public Facilities. In the role, Callahan oversees the operation of all public-owned facilities, as well as the management and completion of capital-improvement projects. 8

HEALTHIEST Year in Review GEORGIACOUNTY IN Forsyth Named State’s Healthiest County for Sixth Consecutive Year For the sixth consecutive year, Forsyth County was named the healthiest county in Georgia. The distinction comes as part of the annual County Health Rankings & Roadmaps study initiated by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute. The rankings are based on two types of measures: how long people live and how healthy people feel while alive. Work Underway to Develop New Residential Design Standards The public engagement process for creating new design standards for the single-family Res2, Res3, and Res4 zoning districts got underway in March. Design standards under consideration include elements such as exterior materials, windows, building orientation to street, building scale and disposition on lot, parking configuration, site design, connectivity and walkability, landscaping, open space, lighting as well as common and amenity areas among others. Listening sessions and open houses were held throughout the year on the proposed design standards. 9

Fire Department’s First Career Firefighters Reach 20-Year Anniversary March 23, 2018 marked the 20-year anniversary of the hiring of Forsyth County’s first full-time, career firefighters, a group whose nickname was the “Dirty Thirty.” Prior to 1998, the county had been served by a volunteer fire department. Of the original 30 firefighters hired, half remain with the department. Many have taken on various leadership ranks within the organization and have played a role in the department’s growth. New Trails Open at Three County Parks With the addition of these new trails, the county now has just over 50 total miles of trails. Lanierland Park Matt Park 6115 Jot-Em-Down Road 6555 Wallace Tatum Road The trail at Lanierland Park is an The trail at Matt Community Park at out-and-back route for walking Settingdown Creek features stacked and running. loops designed for walking, running and mountain biking. 2.6 3.06 miles miles 10

Sexton Hall Enrichment Center Judges Year in Unveils Community Garden Appointed to Review Forsyth County Sexton Hall (2115 Chloe Road) opened a new garden space for the public during Juvenile Court a dedication ceremony and tree planting in June. The Live Well Garden is an extension of the Senior Services theme of aging well by living a healthy and active During a ceremony in lifestyle. A garden club is now available at Sexton Hall and persons of all ages are August, Christopher invited to participate in the growth and development of the garden and the com- Willis and J. Russell munity center’s outdoor space. Jackson were sworn in to the position of Juvenile Court Judge. Both judges were appointed by the Bell-Forsyth Judicial Circuit earlier in 2018. Christopher Willis While the Juvenile Court previously held only one full-time judgeship, the Superior Court established a second full-time judgeship to better serve families and children in Forsyth County. J. Russell Jackson Fowler Park 4110 Carolene Way The new braille trail at Fowler Park is fully equipped with guide ropes and features for the visually impaired. 200 yards 11

Animal Shelter Adoption Specials Unite Hundreds of Pets with New Homes The Forsyth County Animal Shelter hosted two successful adoption promotions in 2018 that waived adoption fees on all pets. In May, the shelter’s “Summer of Love” promotion In December, the shelter’s “Home for the resulted in 256 pets being adopted over a Holidays” promotion resulted in 180 pets three-month period. adopted at no cost to residents. Geographical Information System Upgraded It is now easier than ever to find information after an upgrade to the county’s GIS (Geographical Information System). Accessing information on park locations, road construction and even where to vote is now only a few clicks away. In addition to some of the pre-selected mapping features, users now are able to create their own maps, make notes on them, and then share the maps with others. The upgrade enables the county’s GIS to be more user friendly across mobile, tablet or desktop devices. 12

Year in Review Fire Chief Danny Bowman Retires Fire Chief/Director of Emergency Management Department in 2001 as division chief promoted to fire chief/director of Danny Bowman retired in October following and, in 2002, he was given the additional emergency management and held the a 50-year career in the fire service. Bowman assignment of director of emergency position for 15 years. began his service with the Forsyth County Fire management. In 2003, Bowman was Fire Department Receives Homeland Security Grant for Additional Staffing A Department of Homeland Security/FEMA grant was awarded to help fund the staffing of 12 new firefighters that will be stationed at the new Fire Station 11 on Pittman Road, near Bethelview Road, that is scheduled to open in 2020. The Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant was awarded in the amount of $1,652,080, with the county providing a required cash match contribution of $1,026,968. The grant will provide funding for 2019, 2020 and 2021 that was not otherwise fully funded in the fire fund’s operation budget. Forsyth County is one of just 371 fire departments nationwide that have been awarded this grant to date. According to the National Fire Protection Association, there are nearly 30,000 fire departments in the United States. 13

Bike Skills Park Opens at Haw Creek Park A bike skills park, designed specifically for riders between the ages of 3-11, was unveiled at Haw Creek Park (2205 Echols Rd.) in October. The skills park features a pump track, tot track and technical trail features that are found on most mountain biking trails. The bike skills park was funded by SPLOST VII as well as a donation from the Forsyth County Parks Foundation made in honor of late county resident and avid biker Daniel Brunick. Parks & Recreation Receives Agency of the Year Award Forsyth County Parks & Recreation received the Georgia Recreation and Park Association (GRPA) Agency of the Year Award. The award is presented to five population groups within the state, with Forsyth County falling into the largest population category – 150,000 and over. One of the major accomplishments included in the nomination was earning national accreditation status from the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies. The department is one of only 166 agencies nationally to hold the recognition and the second county in Georgia to gain accreditation. 14

County Receives Year in Awards for Your Review Forsyth Video Series and Annual Report The Forsyth County Department of Communications was recognized by the National Association of County Information Officers (NACIO) for two of their publications. The department received the NACIO Meritorious Award for the monthly video series Your Forsyth, as well as the Meritorious Award for the Forsyth County Fire Department’s 2016 Annual Report. Your Forsyth is a monthly video series that highlights the latest news and features from Forsyth County government. Molly Cooper Sworn in as 15 District One Commissioner In a ceremony held December 17 at the Forsyth County Administration Building, newly elected Forsyth County District 1 Commissioner Molly Cooper was sworn in to office, with Probate Judge Woody Jordan officiating. Cooper fills the post held by R.J. (Pete) Amos, who did not run for re-election. Cooper’s term runs through 2022. District 1 covers much of the central and western portions of the county.

How is the government funded? General Fund Taxes 76.9% includes taxes from property, motor vehicles, cable television, alcohol excise, intangible Revenue property, real estate transfer tax, financial institutions and the local option sales tax Four sources Charges for Services 11.8% includes parks and recreational fees, judicial fees, sheriff and correctional fees, and sales of printed materials comprise the majority of the General Fund revenues: Fines and Forfeitures 1.9% related to the courts and restitution taxes, Licenses and Permits 5.1% includes business licenses, a portion of motor vehicle tag charges for services, fees, alcohol licenses and permits throughout unincorporated fines and forfeitures, and licenses and permits. Forsyth County Special Revenue Funds the 911 Center, funded by land and wireless phone charges. Water & Sewer and Recycling & Solid Waste are Enterprise Funds not primarily supported by the General Fund, but rather Funds supported by user fees rather than tax dollars. from their own funding source, include the Fire Department, which is funded by a separate millage rate property tax, and Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) SPLOST is a special one percent voter-approved sales and use programs or named capital projects. First approved by Forsyth tax in Forsyth County for a specified period of time (up to six County voters in 1987, the sales tax has been continuously years), raising an estimated amount of revenue for designated extended through voter approval by referendum six times. Bonds Bond. In 2014, a $200 million Transportation Bond was approved by voters. These bonds fund designated projects Forsyth County voters have approved previous bond and are paid for via property taxes. referendums to fund specific types of projects. In 2008, voters approved a $100 million Parks, Recreation and Green Space Grants In 2018, the county was awarded 16 grants totaling $8,420,795 from federal, state and private foundations. How are county funds expended? The 2018 adopted General Fund expenditure budget was $127,947,122. Parks, Housing and Health Recreation and Expenditures came in under budget at approximately $119.3 million. and Culture Development Welfare 8.17% 6.06% 3.72% 38.05% 21.09% 11.59% 6.25% 5.07% Public Safety General Government Judiciary Library Other (Sheriff, Coroner and Ambulance Services) and Transfers 16

How are property taxes calculated? Millage Rate A millage rate is the amount per $1,000 that is used to calculate taxes on property. The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners sets the millage rates for the county Maintenance & Operations, Fire District and Bonds (the Forsyth County Board of Education sets the millage rate levied to fund schools). The County Maintenance & Operations millage rate funds: • Judicial System • Tax Assessor • Health and Welfare including Senior Services • Tax Commissioner • Sheriff’s Office • Code Enforcement • Parks & Recreation • Board of Commissioners • Planning & Community Development • Libraries • Coroner The Fire District millage rate funds the Fire Department. The Bond millage rate funds payments on General Obligation Bonds. In 2018, the Board of Commissioners maintained two of the county’s three millage rates and reduced the third by 7%. This rate is used to calculate the property taxes that will fund the 2019 budget. • 4.642 mills – Maintenance & Operations • 1.975 mills – Fire District • 1.319 mills – Bond The county’s millage rate continues to be one of the lowest millage rates among metro Atlanta counties. 6.617 8.635 9.44 9.19 10.213 12.733 7.462 11.32 10.29 10.21 10.409 13.051 20.19 20.596 comparable counties other metro area counties Source: Georgia Department of Revenue 17

2018 by the numbers 167 54Engineering roads miles resurfaced totalling Courts Fleet 116 new participants 20,940 in accountability courts Drug Court, DUI Court, Family trips provided by Dial-A-Ride Treatment Court, CARE program 66 graduates 271 362Animal Shelter + 4,120 total visitors dogs adopted cats adopted 18

Fire Department 5:16 average 14,441 18,224 response time calls handled units dispatched 671,146 2,645,758 visits Library items checked out 1.7 214,222million Parks & Recreation estimated recreation center visitors pass visits 890 calls 911 1,134 handled tons of recyclables collected daily at convenience centers Recycling & Solid Waste 19

/ forsythcounty @forsythcountyga @forsythCoGov tvforsyth.com government