Denmark library branch continues on schedule ► PAGE 3 M ay 2 3 , 2 0 2 4 | 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 2 8 , N o . 2 1
Forsyth County School District presents draft of 2025 budget Parents raise pleas for campus security By LUKE GARDNER newsroom@appenmedia.com
likely be looking to leave their current locations soon due to leases or workforce concerns. Warner said the smallest of the targeted companies has an annual revenue of $380 million and generates a minimum of $400 million each year in property taxes “just on the equipment they have on the ground at their current facility.” He said the companies’ employment numbers range from 250 to upwards of 1,800.
CUMMING, Ga. — Forsyth County Schools Deputy Superintendent Mitch Young presented a draft proposal for the 2025 school year budget May 14, a spending plan totaling $714.8 million – a 10.8 percent increase from the current year. Young told members of the Board of Education that more than half the increase is due to state mandates for increased teacher pay and subsequent benefits the district must match. Even so, Young said, local residents should face no increase in the district’s tax rate on property. Last year, he said, the school district voted to reduce the levy by two full mills, which he described as “far and away” the biggest cut among districts in the area. Forsyth County Schools receives just over 47 percent of its revenues from the state, with the balance culled from local sources, primarily property taxes.
See FORSYTH, Page 15
See SCHOOLS, Page 15
JAKE DRUKMAN/APPEN MEDIA
At left, Alex Warner, vice president of economic development at Forward Forsyth and the Forsyth County Chamber, presents plans to attract life science firms to the county. Warner spoke at the May 16 Forsyth County Development Authority meeting at Lanier Tech.
County leaders broaden scope to attract biotech investments By JAKE DRUKMAN newsroom@appenmedia.com FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Forsyth County leaders are taking their efforts to attract new biotechnology industry players crosscountry this June. Members of Forward Forsyth, an organization that partners the county’s government and private business owners, will be in San Diego June 3-6 to attend the BIO International Convention, working to attract companies in the life science and
ROI
matters.
pharmaceutical industries. Members of the Forsyth County Development Authority approved $5,000 in funding for the trip at a May 16 meeting. Alex Warner, vice president of economic development at Forward Forsyth and the Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce, said the trip is being undertaken in partnership with the state and there are seven specific life science companies the organization wants to “actively target” for recruitment. While he did not name the companies, he noted they will
Targeted local marketing in the most trusted local media works. Alpharetta | Roswell | Milton | Johns Creek Forsyth | Dunwoody | Sandy Springs Local community newspapers – Heralds & Criers – that matter.
Partner with Appen Local Media: Local: Print | Websites | Email Newsletters | Podcasts Use the power of trusted local to grow your business. APPEN Marketing: 770-442-3278 Advertising@AppenMedia.com