Budget Highlights Investments in Public Safety, Employees and City Services
On June 6, the Atlanta City Council adopted a City of Atlanta 2008 Fiscal Budget of $645.3 million. Highlights of the FY’08 budget are more and better-paid police officers and firefighters, fair compensation for City employees and increased funding for quality-of-life services.
Under Mayor Shirley Franklin, the City’s financial position continues to advance. The projected surplus from 2007 is $64.6 million. Since taking office in 2002, Mayor Franklin has led the City from a deficit to its fifth consecutive fiscal year with a surplus. Taxes for residents have not increased.
Some FY’08 Budget Highlights:
- Creation of 50 new police officer positions and 5 civilian police support positions.
- Returning 34 firefighters to firefighting duties and adding 18 new firefighting positions. There is also increased funding for maintenance and improvements to fire stations.
- Hiring 10 additional full-time and 10 additional seasonal employees in the Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs.
- $2 million technology investment to drive down the time required to review building plans and issue permits. New investments allow the City to issue permits online, and provide inspectors with GPS-enabled devices to integrate with the current permitting system.
- Enhancement of Public Works funding for field technology; maintenance and improvements of sidewalks, streets, signs and signals.
- Creation of Employment and Training Center at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
- Increased salaries for 337 Watershed Management employees at the lowest pay levels. Added approximately 135 new staff positions for water main and valve leak detection and repair; customer service call center; and wastewater treatment plants.
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Atlanta Hosts Global Leaders at First Americas Competitiveness Forum
On Monday, Mayor Shirley Franklin welcomed three vice presidents, over 40 ministers of government and hundreds of top level business, education and civic leaders from 30 nations in the western hemisphere at the first-ever Americas Competitiveness Forum.
In November 2006, the U.S. Department of Commerce selected Atlanta to host the forum based on the city’s successful public-private partnership model to spark creative innovation and development. The forum was a direct result of President Bush’s recommendation in 2005 to meet with all 34 leaders from the Western Hemisphere to discuss improving the region’s competitiveness, which is lagging in comparison to other regions of the world.
Top leaders and decision-makers gathered at the Marriott Marquis to discuss trade and best practices in education, innovation, supply chain strategies, work force development and small business development growth. During her welcoming address, Mayor Franklin shared how Atlanta’s partnerships and open policies have made it a world city.
“Atlanta’s success at engaging the private sector has brought a multitude of benefits including jobs, innovation and workforce development. It has also increased revenue for health, education and infrastructure improvements. Just a few of these include the historic purchase of the Martin Luther King Jr Papers and the city’s $3.9 billion water and sewer infrastructure overhaul.”
Additionally, the existence of CIFAL-Atlanta - the North American affiliate of the U.N. Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) – strengthens Atlanta’s reputation as a “knowledge hub” and trend-setter for public-private partnerships, said Mayor Franklin. CIFAL-Atlanta trains local leaders and organizes numerous programs that benefit Atlanta and other cities in the Western Hemisphere and was a co-sponsor of the forum.
Atlanta currently has 18 sister-cities and 59 consular offices across the world. For more information about the City’s Office of International Relations, please visit www.atlantaga.gov. For more information about CIFAL-Atlanta, please visit www.cifalatlanta.org.
Mayor Franklin delivers welcoming remarks at the inaugural Americas Competitiveness Forum, held June 11 and 12 at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis. |
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Fire Cadet Training Program Opens Doors for High School Students
Last week, 16 Atlanta Public Schools (APS) high school seniors in the Mayor’s Youth Program earned fire cadet certifications through the Atlanta Fire Rescue (AFR) Department after completing five intensive months of fire safety and prevention training.
The Fire Cadet program is a precursor to the training that Atlanta fire recruits receive. Youth are assigned to AFR stations and spend 80 hours per month alongside Atlanta firefighters learning basic fire service skills including fire suppression, emergency medical assistance, fire and life safety education and leadership skills. Students are never placed in actual fire-fighting situations.
Among the recent graduates, two have chosen to remain with the AFR. Maurice Jordan and Sedarius Beck will continue to work with AFR this summer before beginning freshman studies at Georgia State University pursuing Business and Finance, respectively. Said Beck of the training experience: “The Fire Cadet Program has opened up a window for me. It’s shown me that I can set goals and accomplish them.”
The Atlanta Fire Cadet training program provides invaluable mentoring, training, and instruction in marketable fire and rescue skills. The program is one of several training opportunities offered to APS high school students through the Mayor’s Youth Program, which provides students with hands-on assistance in planning for their future after high school.
For more information, visit www.MayorsYouthProgram.org.
Mayor’s Youth Program Fire Cadets Maurice Jordan (far left) and Sedarius Beck (far right) join Atlanta Fire Rescue Interim Chief Harold Miller and AWDA executive director, Deborah Lum at the recent Fire Recruit Graduation Ceremony. |
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Y.E.S. Charity Bike Ride Benefits Mayor’s Youth Program
On Saturday June 16 from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., the Office of the Solicitor will partner with the Atlanta Workforce Development Agency (AWDA) and the ATL Regulators, a motorcycle group, in a benefit ride for students in the Youth Empowerment Services (Y.E.S.) program.
The YES Charity Ride is a free, family event that includes a motorcycle show, live radio remote, vendors and more. The event will be held at the IBEW building at 501 Pulliam Street, Atlanta, 30312. The Charity Ride begins at 11:30 a.m. sharp; registration for the ride will be held from 9 – 11 a.m. Admission for the Charity Ride is $20 as a single rider/$25 with a passenger. Admission for riders includes free lunch.
The entry fee for the motorcycle show is $10 from 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. Winners will be awarded in four categories: cruisers, sports bikes, people’s choice and most represented bike club.
Y.E.S. is a component of the Mayor’s Youth Program. The program is an alternative to school expulsion or possible jail sentencing for at-risk Atlanta Public Schools (APS) youth between the ages of 12-24. Y.E.S. participants engage with an assigned mentor to identify and achieve personal goals. They complete 40 hours of community service, receive job readiness training and counseling services. Program participants have gone on to successfully meet their personal goals, including attending college and turning their lives around.
For more information about the Charity Bike Ride, visit the AWDA website at www.atlantaworkforce.org.
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As drought conditions continue, the Department of Watershed Management (DWM) says residents should continue following "weekend only" watering restrictions. At a recent news conference, DWM commissioner Rob Hunter also explained how the department is working with high volume customers to manage demand for water. Click here to go to Video On Demand webpage to view the news conference.
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Rave Reviews!
- With the summer travel season in full swing, officials at the world’s busiest airport are encouraging travelers to give themselves adequate time to find parking. Over the Memorial Day weekend alone, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (HJAIA) accommodated more than one million passengers. With this type of traffic, officials are encouraging travelers to give themselves an additional 20-30 minutes to secure parking. Also available for up-to-date information is the airport’s website and radio station 830 AM (WQO). The best advice for travelers is to take MARTA to the airport. For more information, visit www.atlanta-airport.com.
- Bass Park and Recreation Center has been named City of Atlanta Park of the Month for May 2007. Bass Park is located at 326 Moreland Avenue in NPU N (District 2). At the request of the Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs (DPRCA), non-profit organization Park Pride initiated the Park of the Month program. From April through October, DPRCA nominates five parks per month to be considered for Park of the Month. Park Pride visits nominated parks and judges them against the City’s park maintenance evaluation policy. Criteria include the condition of the lawn and planting beds, cleanliness, hazards and graffiti. “City parks play an essential role in the quality of life of residents. Bass Park is a stellar example of the efforts put forth by a staff that is trained and dedicated to maintaining and preserving our public greenspaces,” said Dianne Harnell Cohen, DPRCA Commissioner.
May 2007 Park of the Month Bass Recreation Center Park is located at 326 Moreland Avenue. |
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Upcoming Events & Volunteer Opportunities
- On Wednesday, June 27 at 5:30 p.m., the Atlanta Development Authority (ADA) will host its monthly Small Business Loan Informational Session. If you have a small business and need financing or looking to start a new business, these monthly seminars are for you. All seminars will be held at the Atlanta Development Authority, 86 Pryor Street, Suite 300, Atlanta, 30303. For more information call Cathy Brackett at 404.614.8295 or email cbrackett@atlantada.com.
- On June 19, 20 and 21, the City of Atlanta will host three commuter fairs from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. as partners in the Clean Air Campaign’s “Give Your Car the Day Off” Week. “Give Your Car the Day Off” encourages everyone to do their part to reduce emissions and other harmful pollutants in the environment by leaving their car at home at least one day of the week. The City will provide alternate commuter options at the commuter fairs. Fairs will be held: June 19 inside the City Hall Atrium; June 20 inside City Hall East; and June 21 at Hartsfield-Jackson-Atlanta International Airport (HJAIA). For more information, call 404.330.6554.
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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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