Today, the Council for Quality for Growth, in partnership with the Cumming-Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce, hosted more than 200 attendees at the Forsyth State of the County. Council Chairman Brent Reid kicked off the event which featured a look at the county’s current initiatives and recent achievements with updates from Chairman R.J. (Pete) Amos and Board of Education Chair Darla Light.
Speaking first, Chairman Amos gave a demonstrative speech of the county’s progress and achievements over the past year and painted a positive outlook for the county’s future. Chairman Amos detailed Cumming’s downtown makeover with the construction of the new courthouse and jail which are both scheduled to open in 2015. In addition to these facilities, two downtown parking decks are under construction with the first one scheduled to open later this month. Chairman Amos explained these projects were funded by SPLOST 7 in addition to the new animal shelter that is opening this summer.
Another voter approved measure that is currently underway is the Parks, Recreation and Green Space Bond from 2008. From this, the Big Creek Greenway’s nearly 3 mile extension, the planning for over 500 acres of additional parks, plans to add 6 miles of new trails at Sawnee Mountain Preserve, and additional biking and hiking trails at Charleston Park, are all taking place. These efforts, as Chairman Amos highlighted, contributed to Forsyth County being named the healthiest county in Georgia for the second straight year.
The importance of the significant infrastructure improvements that have taken place in order to keep up with the Forsyth’s population growth, which is the fastest growing county in Georgia, were also recognized. Among those projects moving forward are the new Shakerag Water Reclamation Facility which is scheduled for completion in 2016, the widening of Castleberry Road scheduled to be bid out mid-summer, and the first phase widening of Bethelview Road currently underway.
Despite these strategic investments in infrastructure, Chairman Amos noted the triple-A Moody’s rating the county still holds, one of only three counties in Georgia. This ensures the county is able to plan and build accordingly as the population continues to swell. Chairman Amos also stressed Forsyth’s low tax rates, among the lowest in the metro area, and how the county has maintained the same total millage rate four consecutive years.
Chairman Amos highlighted several upward trends the county experiences over the past year. Among them was over 2,700 residential building permits that were issued, an increase over 2012 of nearly 500. Additionally, since January, Forsyth has seen $72.8 million in new capital investments through 8 economic development projects that have already surpassed last year’s totals. This is sure to build upon the over 600 jobs created through economic development projects last year.
More positive trends were provided by the county’s Board of Education Chairwoman Darla Light, giving an update on the Forsyth County School (FCS) District. Chairwoman Light presented the tremendous growth of school system has experienced as a result of the county’s growth. Currently the 7th largest school system and 3rd fastest growing system in the state, FCS is adding 1,700 students each year and has opened 14 new schools since 2003. This has all been accomplished while having the lowest per pupil expenditure in metro Atlanta. Even so, the district ranks 8th nationally among large-district use of technology. Other school district achievements include having the highest CRCT and SAT scores in Georgia and having the highest graduation rate among the state’s 20 largest school districts.
Among the recent school district initiatives, redistricting of the system has taken place this past year, as expected with the significant population growth and construction of new schools. Chairwoman Light also discussed the current superintendent search which will conclude in the Fall and the hiring of additional teachers and purchasing of additional trailers to accommodate increasing student enrollments.
The presentations by both Chairman Amos and BOE Chairwoman Light underscored Forsyth County’s strong future and bright outlook that is destined to continue. In his concluding message, Chairman Amos expressed his gratitude to every citizen, business owner, and student for making Forsyth the place it is today, saying that they were the most integral pieces of the “puzzle.”
The Council would like to thank Chairman Amos, BOE Chairwoman Light, and the Cumming-Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce for a great event.