Mayor, City Officials Host Budget Briefing
Yesterday at City Hall, Mayor Shirley Franklin continued to update Atlanta stakeholders and the community on the City’s current financial position.
Mayor Franklin was joined by Greg Giornelli, City Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Ray Zies, Department of Finance, Office of the Controller. They answered questions and addressed the City’s FY ’08 General Fund budget shortfall and next steps. The meeting was televised by ATL 26 (Comcast 26) and is available for viewing as a Video on Demand Feature at www.atlantaga.gov.
“We do in fact have a shortfall,” said Giornelli. “This shortfall is caused primarily by higher pension costs. These costs are permanent, so the City will have to learn to live within these means. Because costs are higher – and revenues are not keeping pace – the City will focus on providing core services more efficiently. When this administration leaves office in 21 months, we are committed to leaving Atlanta government in sound financial condition with a budget surplus.”
Atlanta, like the rest of the nation, is in the midst of a soft economy. The ecomony is likely to result in flat or lower revenues in FY'09. For FY’09 – which begins July 1 – expected City revenues can only support $492 million in spending. In FY’08, the City projects to spend $611 million. This means the City will have to cut $119 million in spending.
The General Fund shortfall represents half of the City’s finances. Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport (HJAIA) and the Department of Watershed Management (DWM) have funding sources unrelated to the General Fund which are in excellent shape.
The shortfall will not impact the City’s current bond rating. As the City moves toward financial health, a financially integrated management system will allow departments to address financial challenges in real time.
“This will not be the last time that we host an open session like this. We’ve done it before on affordable housing, the BeltLine and Ethics. Our intention is not to just be open, but to reach a level of excellence that will allow the City to prosper,” said Mayor Franklin.
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Atlanta Gets a Boost from Branding, Ranked Among Best Convention Cities
Thanks to an investment in brand marketing, the City of Atlanta has risen in rank on the Metropoll List of Best Convention Cities to No. 12 – up from No. 18 in 2005.
The Atlanta Development Authority (ADA) is the City agency charged with stimulating economic development and business investment in Atlanta and the surrounding metro area.
With support from City departments, ADA has strategically focused on increased investment in the tourism and hospitality industries.
“Since 2005, the City has invested in Brand Atlanta to market Atlanta to meeting planners and leisure visitors,” said Peggy McCormick, president, ADA. “The survey results demonstrate the importance of our economic development focus on hospitality and tourism.”
Brand Atlanta reports $11.4 billion in total direct spending from leisure and business visitors in 2006. This is a 12 percent increase over 2005. The strongest growth was measured from overnight leisure visitors – approximately 13 million more people came to Atlanta in 2006 than in 2005, accounting for 54.5 percent of total direct visitor spending.
Atlanta hotels have undergone a makeover over the past several years, with millions of dollars in renovations and the emergence of new boutique hotels. Innovative partnerships in the arts (High-Louvre Partnership), a thriving higher learning base (19 metro colleges and universities), and investments in public safety (a 20 percent decrease in violent crime) are also attractive incentives for students, business and leisure travelers, and established and emerging businesses to come to Atlanta.
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City Launches Atlanta Triathlon Club
To encourage residents along the path of ultimate health and wellness, the City has launched the Atlanta Triathlon Club, an initiative of the Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs (DPRCA).
DPRCA announced the initiative yesterday at the first-ever Atlanta Triathlon Expo. From 6-9 pm, athletes, spectators and multisport enthusiasts gathered at the Adamsville Athletic Complex to participate in triathlon training events and get information on exercise, health and nutrition. Scott Rigsby, the world’s first double amputee Ironman winner, was on-hand to offer advice on overcoming the trials of competing in a triathlon.
During the Expo, attendees were able to register for the Atlanta Triathlon Club. The Club is designed for athletes of all levels and abilities who want to train for triathlons in a group setting.
“We hope to encourage residents to develop a health and physical fitness plan, and take advantage of our first-class recreational facilities throughout the City,” said Mayor Shirley Franklin.
For more information, please visit www.atlantatriclub.com.
Mayor Shirley Franklin joins Scott Rigsby, the world’s first double amputee Ironman winner, and Charlene Braud, director, Office of Recreation, at the first Atlanta Triathlon Expo. |
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What You Need to Know: Downtown Connector Resurfacing Project
As the Georgia Department of Transportation (DOT) works over the next several months to resurface the I-75/I-85 Downtown Connector corridor, there are a few facts that travelers should be aware of.
- The resurfacing project is between University Avenue and 10th Street and includes both northbound and southbound lanes of the Connector. The total length to be resurfaced is 4.79 miles. A concurrent project to erect a new 14th Street Bridge also will include resurfacing the Connector between the northern terminus of this project and the Brookwood Interchange.
- During construction, lane closures will mostly be limited to weekends, starting at 9 p.m. on Fridays and continuing until 5 a.m. on Mondays. Most of the work will be completed during these weekend closures; any Monday through Thursday closures will be limited to shoulder or single lanes and will occur during overnight hours.
- On weekdays, all travel lanes will reopen by 5 a.m.
- The speed limit will be reduced to 45 mph in the work zone area while work is in progress. Fines are doubled in a work zone.
- A towing company will be on-call to respond within 45 minutes to any accident in which a vehicle cannot be moved under its own power. The response time will likely be much sooner as the company headquarters is located in close proximity to the project.
- The Downtown Connector was last resurfaced in 1995, just prior to the 1996 Olympics. Asphalt concrete has a lifespan of 10-12 years. Resurfacing began March 28, 2008 and is scheduled to be completed November 2008.
Traffic delays will occur. Please choose alternate modes of transportation, car or van-pool, or choose alternate routes and allow additional travel time during this construction project. There will be no construction during major holidays. For weekly lane closures, and more information, visit www.dot.state.ga.us.
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Mayor Shirley Franklin and Atlanta Chief Operating Officer Greg Giornelli hosted a specially called meeting to update the media and stakeholders on the City’s current budget standing. Watch the Video on Demand for an in-depth description of the City’s current financial position and steps the City is taking to produce a balanced 2009 budget.
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Rave Reviews!
- Georgia Power customers in Atlanta decreased their electricity usage by nearly 4 percent during international Earth Hour. For one hour on Saturday March 29, Atlantans were encouraged to turn off all non-essential lights from 8-9 pm to make a grand statement in support for global action on climate change. The average reduction during the hour was 7.05 megawatt-hours, or enough electricity to serve 1,750 homes. The downtown Atlanta grid saw the 4 percent reduction at the midpoint of the 8-9 p.m. ET hour, when the majority of interior and external building lights were off. Results were based on usage data from previous similar timeframes.
Mayor Shirley Franklin is joined by Carter S. Roberts, president and CEO of the World Wildlife Fund, for Earth Hour Atlanta. |
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Upcoming Events & Volunteer Opportunities
- Once every three months, the BeltLine Team hosts a citywide meeting to provide an overview and update of BeltLine activities. The next briefing will be on Thursday April 17 from 6-8 pm at the Atlanta Public Schools (APS) Auditorium, 130 Trinity Avenue, Atlanta, 30303. If you have any questions, please contact ryoung@atlbeltline.org or readdy@atlbeltline.org or visit www.beltline.org.
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Job Announcements
With the City of Atlanta’s online application system, you are able to create an account and select a Username and Password and then log in to your account.
After your account has been established, you can create an application by clicking on the “Build Job Application” link. Once your application is completed, it will be stored in the system and can be used to apply for future job openings. To get started by viewing current open positions, click here.
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Weekly Features
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