Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Exercise your Voting Right
Today is the day you decide who will lead Dacula for the next, critically-important four years. Let's exercise our right to vote. The polls are open at City Hall from 7AM to 7PM.
Monday, November 2, 2009
The Choice is Yours
This Tuesday, November 3rd, you have the opportunity to choose who will lead Dacula for the next four years.
You may choose to re-elect Jimmy Wilbanks, the candidate who has served as your mayor for the last 8 years. During this time I have consistently provided the leadership to keep our city tax rates low. I've helped save the Dacula Library Branch as a full-service library. I have expended the political capital to keep the library and fought for equitable county tax rates, and I'll be the one to face the political heat for those actions. I have encouraged private property rights. I started the Dacula Business Association, and I've made your City a more convenient, safe and family-friendly place to live by reconstructing some of our streets, improving our city park, and extending sidewalks and street lighting. You can look at my voting record.
Or, you may choose an inexperienced candidate who has no voting record.
When you elected me, I promised to do my best to make Dacula a better and more convenient City. I believe I have done that.
With your help, we can make Dacula the "best" for you and your family. The choice is yours. I am asking for your vote and support tomorrow at the Dacula City Hall.
Jimmy Wilbanks, Mayor of Dacula
You may choose to re-elect Jimmy Wilbanks, the candidate who has served as your mayor for the last 8 years. During this time I have consistently provided the leadership to keep our city tax rates low. I've helped save the Dacula Library Branch as a full-service library. I have expended the political capital to keep the library and fought for equitable county tax rates, and I'll be the one to face the political heat for those actions. I have encouraged private property rights. I started the Dacula Business Association, and I've made your City a more convenient, safe and family-friendly place to live by reconstructing some of our streets, improving our city park, and extending sidewalks and street lighting. You can look at my voting record.
Or, you may choose an inexperienced candidate who has no voting record.
When you elected me, I promised to do my best to make Dacula a better and more convenient City. I believe I have done that.
With your help, we can make Dacula the "best" for you and your family. The choice is yours. I am asking for your vote and support tomorrow at the Dacula City Hall.
Jimmy Wilbanks, Mayor of Dacula
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Leadership
The Mayor's job is to lead. It is your job to determine who Dacula's leader will be for the next four critical years. In order to lead, my job is to ask you to vote for me.
I have led Dacula for the past 8 years, and I have proven that I have the ability, the vision, the passion and the time to be Mayor. My opponent has not.
Leadership has been defined as a process by which one person enlists the help of others in accomplishing tasks. My opponent sees the task of Mayor as leading the City Council and finding harmonious relationships. It is much more than that. The Mayor has to be a leader in all aspects of the community. To be successful, the Mayor has to reach out to seek the help of City employees, churches and other religious organizations, civic organizations, businesses, non-profits and others. He must seek the help and advice of the county, school board, state representatives and even our national elected officials. I have done this and we as a community are the better off for it.
I have mentored students, business, civic organizations. I have served as a member of your volunteer fire department back when we didn't have any county fire services. I served as the President of the Gwinnett Municipal Association. I served on your Planning and Zoning Board. I served as your Mayor when one of the only paved streets in Dacula was U.S. 29 (Winder Highway). I brought you the Dacula Business Association. I've run a small business in Dacula and know you can't spend out more than you bring in. I have worked with and served state and national officials. I have served all Georgia in emergency management--in the trenches--helping you and Georgians recover from disaster. I started the Dacula Business Association as an outreach to people who are willing to invest in our community to make it a better and more convenient place. I brought you the Dacula Centennial Commission and helped facilitate our historic "Down Yonder in Dacula" DVD and History of Dacula. I serve you through my church. I coordinated with several service clubs such as Kiwanis and the Lions Clubs to bring those organizations to the Dacula area. My door is always open to members of the community.
The best measure of success for a leader is the success of the organization he leads. I leave that judgment to you. Our City is a safer, more convenient, family-friendly small town that really works because of the effort I and others have made for Dacula over the last 8 years. It is a great place to raise a family, and I want to continue to lead it into a place where there will be more work places, affordable places to live, and places to play and enjoy.
Being Mayor of Dacula is a "part-time" job that I spend an average 30-40 hours per week performing. It is a job that requires late night and early morning meetings and sometimes long discussions over what might at first appear to be trivial matters--but which are really important to the success we are achieving here in Dacula. It is not a job for the faint of heart nor of simply presiding over 12 Council Meeting per year--though that is a part of it. You need a person as Mayor who has demonstrated experience and success in leading an $347,000,000 dollar business. That's what Dacula is. That's how much your assets are valued at for tax purposes. When I helped Southwest Georgia recover from a $3 billion disaster, I saved Georgians $450,000,000 by asking for and providing information to reduce the portion of disaster funds provided by Georgia citizens from 25% to 10%. So I know how to deal with big dollar items. You need a Mayor who is a fiscal conservative to manage your assets and to protect those assets.
I have a passion for Dacula. It's my home. I am native born, and I pledge to continue to do my best as your Mayor. Dare I say I love my home town.
Please vote for and support Jimmy Wilbanks as Mayor. The election is at the Dacula City Hall during the rest of this week and on Election Day, November 3, 2009.
I have led Dacula for the past 8 years, and I have proven that I have the ability, the vision, the passion and the time to be Mayor. My opponent has not.
Leadership has been defined as a process by which one person enlists the help of others in accomplishing tasks. My opponent sees the task of Mayor as leading the City Council and finding harmonious relationships. It is much more than that. The Mayor has to be a leader in all aspects of the community. To be successful, the Mayor has to reach out to seek the help of City employees, churches and other religious organizations, civic organizations, businesses, non-profits and others. He must seek the help and advice of the county, school board, state representatives and even our national elected officials. I have done this and we as a community are the better off for it.
I have mentored students, business, civic organizations. I have served as a member of your volunteer fire department back when we didn't have any county fire services. I served as the President of the Gwinnett Municipal Association. I served on your Planning and Zoning Board. I served as your Mayor when one of the only paved streets in Dacula was U.S. 29 (Winder Highway). I brought you the Dacula Business Association. I've run a small business in Dacula and know you can't spend out more than you bring in. I have worked with and served state and national officials. I have served all Georgia in emergency management--in the trenches--helping you and Georgians recover from disaster. I started the Dacula Business Association as an outreach to people who are willing to invest in our community to make it a better and more convenient place. I brought you the Dacula Centennial Commission and helped facilitate our historic "Down Yonder in Dacula" DVD and History of Dacula. I serve you through my church. I coordinated with several service clubs such as Kiwanis and the Lions Clubs to bring those organizations to the Dacula area. My door is always open to members of the community.
The best measure of success for a leader is the success of the organization he leads. I leave that judgment to you. Our City is a safer, more convenient, family-friendly small town that really works because of the effort I and others have made for Dacula over the last 8 years. It is a great place to raise a family, and I want to continue to lead it into a place where there will be more work places, affordable places to live, and places to play and enjoy.
Being Mayor of Dacula is a "part-time" job that I spend an average 30-40 hours per week performing. It is a job that requires late night and early morning meetings and sometimes long discussions over what might at first appear to be trivial matters--but which are really important to the success we are achieving here in Dacula. It is not a job for the faint of heart nor of simply presiding over 12 Council Meeting per year--though that is a part of it. You need a person as Mayor who has demonstrated experience and success in leading an $347,000,000 dollar business. That's what Dacula is. That's how much your assets are valued at for tax purposes. When I helped Southwest Georgia recover from a $3 billion disaster, I saved Georgians $450,000,000 by asking for and providing information to reduce the portion of disaster funds provided by Georgia citizens from 25% to 10%. So I know how to deal with big dollar items. You need a Mayor who is a fiscal conservative to manage your assets and to protect those assets.
I have a passion for Dacula. It's my home. I am native born, and I pledge to continue to do my best as your Mayor. Dare I say I love my home town.
Please vote for and support Jimmy Wilbanks as Mayor. The election is at the Dacula City Hall during the rest of this week and on Election Day, November 3, 2009.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Election Thoughts
Early voting starts this week. Please vote for and support Jimmy Wilbanks for Mayor at the Dacula City Hall this week and on Election Day, November 3, 2009.
Mend Fences, at What Cost?
My opponent has suggested that the City needs to mend fences with groups that don't want or have a reason to enter into a harmonious relationship with the City. Every month Gwinnett County can keep from reaching a new Service Delivery Strategy Agreement is free money--your money--in the pocket of the County. Right now, if you agree with my opponent's advice, the County will continue to take $85,000 per year from your pockets without providing any services. Now with the proposed tax millage rate proposal it will take an additional 21 % more (about $102,000 per year from you). This is not the City's doing. All the cities of Gwinnett County are in a similar position, and cities have proposed seven different methods to rectify this situation. The County has not considered even one of these proposals, but the County has filed suit against each City to try to force a continuation of this unfair practice on you and me.
I think it only fair to tell you that the City and County agree on most items, but I believe we must have a fair SDS Agreement. We also need to agree on a comprehensive land-use plan that respects Dacula's concerns about property rights and economic viability of unincorporated District 3 infrastructure that effects each and every resident in Dacula and District 3.
I say, Don't Pay for what We Don't Get.
Beautify the Town.
My opponent wants to beautify downtown. Well it's easy to say such a thing when the City already has a grant approved to do just that. True it has been delayed by the budget crunch at the state level, but final approval to go out to bids is expected in about two months. The $300,000+ grant is designed to repair sidewalks along Winder Highway, to improve the pedestrian crossing at Broad/McMillan/CSX railroad, and to provide beautification downtown.
I say, It's easy to promise something you know is going to happen soon. We worked hard to get this grant and we plan to use it for the beginning of the beautification of the historic downtown area.
Business Association.
My opponent want to start a Dacula Business Association. We currently have a Dacula Business Association which I started in 2003 to more fully involve people who have chosen to invest in the City and surrounding areas. The DBA is open to every business person (home-based, commercial or web-based) located in the Dacula area.
I appreciate people who choose to invest in our City. Involving business people in concerns which effect all of us is of greatl benefit to the City. As my opponent knows, the DBA was very effective in helping keep our library branch open. Their red "Save Dacula Library" shirts were very evident at meetings and rallies. I appreciate what the DBA continues to do for the City of Dacula.
I say, Join the Dacula Business Association. It meets at City Hall every 3rd Tuesday of the month.
I am asking for your vote during this early voting time and on election day, November 3, 2009. Even my opponent recently noted, "I think he has done a good job up until now..." I'm asking you to let me keep up the good work. Elect Jimmy Wilbanks Mayor November 3, 2009 at Dacula City Hall.
Mend Fences, at What Cost?
My opponent has suggested that the City needs to mend fences with groups that don't want or have a reason to enter into a harmonious relationship with the City. Every month Gwinnett County can keep from reaching a new Service Delivery Strategy Agreement is free money--your money--in the pocket of the County. Right now, if you agree with my opponent's advice, the County will continue to take $85,000 per year from your pockets without providing any services. Now with the proposed tax millage rate proposal it will take an additional 21 % more (about $102,000 per year from you). This is not the City's doing. All the cities of Gwinnett County are in a similar position, and cities have proposed seven different methods to rectify this situation. The County has not considered even one of these proposals, but the County has filed suit against each City to try to force a continuation of this unfair practice on you and me.
I think it only fair to tell you that the City and County agree on most items, but I believe we must have a fair SDS Agreement. We also need to agree on a comprehensive land-use plan that respects Dacula's concerns about property rights and economic viability of unincorporated District 3 infrastructure that effects each and every resident in Dacula and District 3.
I say, Don't Pay for what We Don't Get.
Beautify the Town.
My opponent wants to beautify downtown. Well it's easy to say such a thing when the City already has a grant approved to do just that. True it has been delayed by the budget crunch at the state level, but final approval to go out to bids is expected in about two months. The $300,000+ grant is designed to repair sidewalks along Winder Highway, to improve the pedestrian crossing at Broad/McMillan/CSX railroad, and to provide beautification downtown.
I say, It's easy to promise something you know is going to happen soon. We worked hard to get this grant and we plan to use it for the beginning of the beautification of the historic downtown area.
Business Association.
My opponent want to start a Dacula Business Association. We currently have a Dacula Business Association which I started in 2003 to more fully involve people who have chosen to invest in the City and surrounding areas. The DBA is open to every business person (home-based, commercial or web-based) located in the Dacula area.
I appreciate people who choose to invest in our City. Involving business people in concerns which effect all of us is of greatl benefit to the City. As my opponent knows, the DBA was very effective in helping keep our library branch open. Their red "Save Dacula Library" shirts were very evident at meetings and rallies. I appreciate what the DBA continues to do for the City of Dacula.
I say, Join the Dacula Business Association. It meets at City Hall every 3rd Tuesday of the month.
I am asking for your vote during this early voting time and on election day, November 3, 2009. Even my opponent recently noted, "I think he has done a good job up until now..." I'm asking you to let me keep up the good work. Elect Jimmy Wilbanks Mayor November 3, 2009 at Dacula City Hall.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Library Board Selects The Best Option
The Gwinnett County Board of Library Trustees voted last night to back away from a regional library concept and to keep the award-winning community-based system currently in place. The Board chose to keep all 14 currently-operating branches and to bring the nearly completed Hamilton Mill Branch online at about 35 hours per week. The Board will ask the public to help set the scheduled times and days of the week so that some library branches will be open each day of the week. I believe this is the best option available in our current economic situation.
I want to personally thank the Dacula Business Association, Chad Parson, President, and Colin Daymude (Save Dacula Library Facebook group) for their assistance in convincing the Library Board to hear this solution. I appreciate each man, woman, boy and girl who sent messages to the Library Board, the Board of Commissioners, to newspapers and the media asking for full-service libraries complete with books as well as the electronic technology currently available at our library branches. Just because Dacula was the first cut, we shouldn't forget the people in Snellville and Lilburn who joined with us. Kudos also go out to Commissioners Nasuti, Kenerly and Beaudreau for their help. Equally as important is the concern of Representative Donna Sheldon and Senator Renee Unterman in helping come up with this solution.
I would be remiss in not recognizing the service of the Library Board and its professional staff. Sometimes rhetoric fails to express an admiration for the individuals providing public service. This economic downturn has put us all in an uncomfortable position, no less the Library Board. I'm sure that we all depend on professional staff. That's our comfort position. However, the Board has the final responsibility and say. I appreciate the Board's stepping out of its comfort zone to chose the most equitable option.
We shouldn't be finished here. Some of us made commitments to the library system. Some plan to volunteer, some to make donations to the Library Foundation. Some plan to continue to observe and offer suggestions. Don't forget your commitments--follow through!
Thank you for being engaged! This is what a sometimes messy representative government is all about.
I want to personally thank the Dacula Business Association, Chad Parson, President, and Colin Daymude (Save Dacula Library Facebook group) for their assistance in convincing the Library Board to hear this solution. I appreciate each man, woman, boy and girl who sent messages to the Library Board, the Board of Commissioners, to newspapers and the media asking for full-service libraries complete with books as well as the electronic technology currently available at our library branches. Just because Dacula was the first cut, we shouldn't forget the people in Snellville and Lilburn who joined with us. Kudos also go out to Commissioners Nasuti, Kenerly and Beaudreau for their help. Equally as important is the concern of Representative Donna Sheldon and Senator Renee Unterman in helping come up with this solution.
I would be remiss in not recognizing the service of the Library Board and its professional staff. Sometimes rhetoric fails to express an admiration for the individuals providing public service. This economic downturn has put us all in an uncomfortable position, no less the Library Board. I'm sure that we all depend on professional staff. That's our comfort position. However, the Board has the final responsibility and say. I appreciate the Board's stepping out of its comfort zone to chose the most equitable option.
We shouldn't be finished here. Some of us made commitments to the library system. Some plan to volunteer, some to make donations to the Library Foundation. Some plan to continue to observe and offer suggestions. Don't forget your commitments--follow through!
Thank you for being engaged! This is what a sometimes messy representative government is all about.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Fighting for Tax Payer Rights
The Cities of Gwinnett are in a Service Delivery Strategy Agreement dispute with Gwinnett County. Our first and latest SDS agreement expired in February of 2009. Before the agreement expired, the Gwinnett Municipal Association had worked for two years to try to flesh out an agreement with Gwinnett County that would prevent the County from taking about $10 million per year out of the pockets of county residents who live within municipal limits without providing the corresponding services. Our argument is that you should not pay for services that you don't receive.
Rather than settling this disagreement in a manner that would have resulted in fair treatment for municipal taxpayers, Gwinnett County filed a lawsuit that has resulted in long delays, large legal fees, and the extension of taxpayers being charged for services we don't receive. While this is a complex issue, the solution is simple--an agreement that ends double taxation.
Here is a table that may shed some light on the problem. The table shows what each person (not tax parcel) pays per year for County services the taxpayer doesn't receive. Obviously, the cities that provide their own police services are the hardest hit.
This table shows that for Dacula, each person living here pays about $18.51 each year for County services which they do not receive. While that doesn't seem to be much, over a ten year period (the length of an SDS agreement) some $850,000 is taken from you. It is even more problematic for Norcross where the per person amount is $84.72. The sum total taken from county taxpayers living in municipalities is about $100,000,000 over a ten year period.
While the lawsuit is on-going, Gwinnett County has no reason to agree to change this unfair taxation policy--it still get its free money. The judge has not seen fit to impose any sanctions for not reaching an agreement. For the past three years, I have been greatly involved in trying to resolve this issue. Some would say that the Cities and the County should reach agreement on this issue. One finds it hard to agree with a group that doesn't have a reason to or want to reach agreement. The Cities have proposed seven different positions that could have solved the issue, but Gwinnett County has refused to even consider one.
Taxpayers should understand that a favorable settlement for municipal taxpayers will not put any money in any city's treasury. Rather, you will not be charged for services you didn't receive. It will be money in your pocket.
We will eventually reach an agreement--maybe one that a judge will impose. And I am sure that in the case of a judge-imposed solution, neither the County nor the Cities will be satisfied and pleased. You need a Mayor who will continue to fight for tax fairness for you.
Please vote for and support Jimmy Wilbanks for Mayor on November 3, 2009 at the Dacula City Hall.
Rather than settling this disagreement in a manner that would have resulted in fair treatment for municipal taxpayers, Gwinnett County filed a lawsuit that has resulted in long delays, large legal fees, and the extension of taxpayers being charged for services we don't receive. While this is a complex issue, the solution is simple--an agreement that ends double taxation.
Here is a table that may shed some light on the problem. The table shows what each person (not tax parcel) pays per year for County services the taxpayer doesn't receive. Obviously, the cities that provide their own police services are the hardest hit.
| | $83.78/person |
| | $16.16/person |
| Braselton | $89.64/person |
| Buford | $18.98/person |
| Dacula | $18.51/person |
| | $84.07/person |
| Grayson | $19.80/person |
| Lawrenceville | $84.57/person |
| Lilburn | $87.77/person |
| Loganville | $71.46/person |
| Norcross | $84.72/person |
| Rest Haven | $21.66/person |
| Snellville | $53.83/person |
| Sugar Hill | $18.24/person |
| Suwanee | $65.82/person |
This table shows that for Dacula, each person living here pays about $18.51 each year for County services which they do not receive. While that doesn't seem to be much, over a ten year period (the length of an SDS agreement) some $850,000 is taken from you. It is even more problematic for Norcross where the per person amount is $84.72. The sum total taken from county taxpayers living in municipalities is about $100,000,000 over a ten year period.
While the lawsuit is on-going, Gwinnett County has no reason to agree to change this unfair taxation policy--it still get its free money. The judge has not seen fit to impose any sanctions for not reaching an agreement. For the past three years, I have been greatly involved in trying to resolve this issue. Some would say that the Cities and the County should reach agreement on this issue. One finds it hard to agree with a group that doesn't have a reason to or want to reach agreement. The Cities have proposed seven different positions that could have solved the issue, but Gwinnett County has refused to even consider one.
Taxpayers should understand that a favorable settlement for municipal taxpayers will not put any money in any city's treasury. Rather, you will not be charged for services you didn't receive. It will be money in your pocket.
We will eventually reach an agreement--maybe one that a judge will impose. And I am sure that in the case of a judge-imposed solution, neither the County nor the Cities will be satisfied and pleased. You need a Mayor who will continue to fight for tax fairness for you.
Please vote for and support Jimmy Wilbanks for Mayor on November 3, 2009 at the Dacula City Hall.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Fiscal Experience and Success
I'm sure of one economic fact. You cannot spend yourself out of debt. This is just what America is trying to do in this continuing, serious downturn in our economy. And our County is not far behind. Don't be fooled. No government has any money of its own. The money any government spends is money you and I give them. That fact is as true of Dacula government as it is of the federal government, Georgia government and Gwinnett County government. It's your money, and you need a fiscal conservative to manage your money.
I am a fiscal conservative and a fighter for your taxpayer rights. The City Council and I have kept your property tax rate low, and we have succeeded. In the last eight years of my administration, the tax rate has stayed the same or been reduced. That is true of 2009 and is in stark contrast to Gwinnett County where the Board of Commissioners has had to let a judge set the temporary millage rate for the County. It is in even starker contrast to some State of Georgia departments.
We have had a grant approved by the Georgia Department of Transportation to repair sidewalks along Winder Highway, to make some safety improvements to the pedestrian crossing at McMillan/Broad Streets/CSX, and to renovate and revitalize the Second Avenue business district. We have been working to get started with this improvement for four years and have had our portion of this grant money available for about four years. We heard recently that maybe in about four more months, the City will receive the go ahead to get started. Not really a good way to run any business.
Your mayor is a fiscal conservative. Even in terrible economic times, I am continuing to keep your property tax millage rate low while being successful in keeping essential services going. On November 3, 2009, please vote for and support the election of Jimmy Wilbanks to another term as mayor at the Dacula City Hall. Absentee and early voting begin next week. November 3, 2009 is election day. The polls will be open on November 3, 2009 from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM.
I am a fiscal conservative and a fighter for your taxpayer rights. The City Council and I have kept your property tax rate low, and we have succeeded. In the last eight years of my administration, the tax rate has stayed the same or been reduced. That is true of 2009 and is in stark contrast to Gwinnett County where the Board of Commissioners has had to let a judge set the temporary millage rate for the County. It is in even starker contrast to some State of Georgia departments.
We have had a grant approved by the Georgia Department of Transportation to repair sidewalks along Winder Highway, to make some safety improvements to the pedestrian crossing at McMillan/Broad Streets/CSX, and to renovate and revitalize the Second Avenue business district. We have been working to get started with this improvement for four years and have had our portion of this grant money available for about four years. We heard recently that maybe in about four more months, the City will receive the go ahead to get started. Not really a good way to run any business.
Your mayor is a fiscal conservative. Even in terrible economic times, I am continuing to keep your property tax millage rate low while being successful in keeping essential services going. On November 3, 2009, please vote for and support the election of Jimmy Wilbanks to another term as mayor at the Dacula City Hall. Absentee and early voting begin next week. November 3, 2009 is election day. The polls will be open on November 3, 2009 from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM.
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