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Roswell hears funding pitches from partner groups By DELANEY TARR delaney@appenmedia.com ROSWELL, Ga. —The Roswell City Council began the process of refining its 2024 spending plan April 24, first at a work session and later at a formal meeting. The council work session featured funding requests from partner organizations operating outside the core city bureaucracy – organizations representing cultural arts, economic development, beautification and historic preservation. The council also set in motion the first round of the $179.6 million general obligation bonds that will fund projects for parking, public safety and parks and recreation. At the work session, the council heard presentations from five of the city’s partner organizations. Roswell Inc, the city’s accredited economic development organization, highlighted opportunities for continued growth in the coming year. Steve Stroud, the nonprofit’s executive director, said the focus in 2024 is to collaborate with the City Council and mayor to foster business growth. The organization proposed city funding of $315,000 for operations and for a leadership trip to visit sister cities to glean ideas for smart economic growth. Roswell Inc also expects to receive an additional $499,000 in funding from private sources. The $315,000 budget request is bro-
North Point, Windward mixed-use waved ahead ► PAGE 3
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School budget spending details draw comments at Milton forum By DELANEY TARR delaney@appenmedia.com
DELANEY TARR/APPEN MEDIA
Roswell City Council members Lee Hills and William Morthland chat with residents between the April 24 budget work session and City Council meeting at Roswell City Hall. ken down into operations and staffing costs, economics and business development, industry support and communications. The leadership retreat, projected to cost $36,000, is a structured trip to one of Roswell’s sister cities, like Asheville, North Carolina. Roswell Inc members meet with city staff and department heads to determine best practices. Following the presentation, Roswell
Mayor Kurt Wilson asked Stroud, “What does success look like for Roswell Inc?” Stroud said success is helping grow existing businesses and welcoming new businesses, using the economic strategy created by the mayor and council. Roswell Inc is primarily targeting information technology and medical companies. Visit Roswell, the city’s destination marketing organization, presented a
100-acre development pitched for Union Hill
River Eves principal abruptly quits post
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See PITCHES, Page 20
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MILTON, Ga. — Fulton County District 2 School Board member Lillie Pozatek held a community meeting on April 18 where educators and community members gathered at Hopewell Middle School in Milton to hear details on the school district’s proposed 2023-2024 budget. Pozatek, who represents areas of Alpharetta and Milton said the meeting was also an opportunity to get feedback from her district on the proposed 2023-24 budget, rounding out at about $1.1 billion. “I know this is a team effort, I am here to represent you,” Pozatek said. Fulton County Schools Chief Financial Officer Marvin Dereef presented the budget, which is scheduled to be adopted on June 6. The budget has been discussed at previous school board meetings, and it calls for employees to receive a 7 percent salary increase for the 20232024 school year. Dereef said the compensation increase is the highlight to the budget, because “we’re in a competitive market” with neighboring school districts in DeKalb and Cobb County. “We have 10 school districts that border us, that’s our competition,” Dereef said.
See BUDGET, Page 9