Fe b r u a r y 2 , 2 0 2 3 | A p p e n M e d i a . c o m | A n A p p e n M e d i a G r o u p P u b l i c a t i o n | 5 0 ¢ | Vo l u m e 4 1 , N o . 5
Alpharetta officials approve requests for funding hikes for departments By SHELBY ISRAEL shelby@appenmedia.com
DELANEY TARR/APPEN MEDIA
Roswell residents listen as members of the City Council discuss proposals for the city to conduct its own municipal elections during a Jan. 23 work session.
Roswell seeks own polling plan Officials, residents worry about planning timeframe By DELANEY TARR delaney@appenmedia.com ROSWELL, Ga. — The Roswell City Council has unanimously agreed to push forward on plans to have the city conduct its own municipal elections. At a special called meeting Jan. 30,
the council drew from discussions raised at a Jan. 23 work session and Jan. 24 committee meeting to avoid skyrocketing election costs from Fulton County, which has run municipal elections for years. In 2019 and 2021, Fulton County charged cities $2.96 per registered voter to manage their elections. In December 2022, the county proposed a new fee, $11.48 per voter. The Fulton County Board of Registrations and Elections pushed back against
the price hike and negotiated the county charge down to $9.38 per registered voter for this fall’s elections. The number is still too high for Roswell elected officials. Roswell is one of several North Fulton County cities pushing to split from the county-run arrangement. Milton set things in motion in December when its City Council voted to
See ELECTION, Page 4
► Growing deer population causes problems in neighborhood Page 5
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — The Alpharetta City Council heard an array of mid-year operating requests for more funding at its annual strategic planning retreat held Jan. 29-30 at The Inn at Serenbe in Chattahoochee Hills. Councilmembers fielded requests for an additional $750,000 in city legal services and more than $826,000 from Recreation, Parks & Cultural Services. Staff presented breakdowns of their department’s mid-year operating requests for the remainder of the 2023 fiscal year, which ends June 30. Based on information presented by Finance Director Tom Harris, legal expenses are expected to rise from current budgeted rates now and in the coming years. Nearly eight months following the death of longtime City Attorney Sam Thomas in 2021, the city appointed Cumming-based Jarrard & Davis to serve as city attorneys to handle an array of issues, including rightof-way... acquisitions and legal guidance. Harris said legal services will require an additional $750,000 this year, doubling its original budget for the 2023 fiscal year.
See REQUESTS, Page 6