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State of County Text of Speech-2016

Kellie Brownlow
Kellie Brownlow

The Chairman provides a positive summary of Cobb County's accomplishments in 2015 and outlook for 2016. Key points include: 1) Cobb County experienced strong economic growth and private investment in 2015, with over 4,500 new jobs created. 2) The partnership with the Atlanta Braves is proving highly successful, with over $400 million already invested in SunTrust Park and significant additional development. 3) Cobb County maintains its strong fiscal position, with the lowest taxes and a AAA bond rating, allowing continued investment in public safety, infrastructure, and other priorities.

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Cobb State of County, 1-11-16 1 Good morning Cobb County and Happy New Year! Thank you Ben for such a meaningful and sincere introduction. You are true friend and a positive force in the Cobb Community. Dr. Mathews- Thank you as well for a very inspirational invocation. I appreciate having you as my pastor and friend At First United Methodist Church. 2015 was an incredibly successful year and we have so much to talk about today. But before we start I want to recognize some people in the room Who, with out, the success Cobb experienced last year Would not have been possible. First and most importantly, my wife - Annette. As most of you in the room know Annette is a remarkable woman. She is my support, my encouragement and my reality check. I am so grateful to her for being my partner in life, and for being here today. Annette, please stand and be recognized. In spite of what you may hear, the Board of Commissioners agree on a lot more than we dont. The truth is, Cobb is served well to have 5 independent voices on the Board of Commissioners In fact, its our individual strengths that make us a strong board collectively and therefore, even in our disagreements, Cobb is better
Cobb State of County, 1-11-16 2 because we are a very strong Board together, and today you will hear all that we have accomplished together for Cobb County in 2015 Commissioners, please stand Commissioner JoAnn Birrell Lisa Cupid Bob Ott Bob Weatherford Please welcome, Mr. David Hankerson, Our County Manager. His Agency Directors, Department Heads and Staff Thank you to the team in the Office of the Chairman, Kellie Brownlow and Charlotte Collins who help keep my office running so smoothly day after day Thank you to the State Legislators who are able to join us today. We look forward to working with you this upcoming session. There are also many City elected officials, Constitutional officers, judges and representatives of the Sheriffs office here Thank you for being here. Your ongoing support and collaborative efforts help Cobb County to continue to strive for excellence. And be recognized as the best in class. I would be remiss if I did not thank the residents of Cobb County It is an honor and a privilege to serve as your Chairman. Despite its challenges, this job is extremely rewarding and I am grateful and thankful to YOU for giving ME this opportunity.
Cobb State of County, 1-11-16 3 Thank you to the Cobb County Chamber of Commerce for hosting the State of Cobb County. and Thank you to Georgia Power for For sponsoring todays breakfast and for always being such a great partner in our community As I began to prepare my remarks for this morning I couldnt help but reflect on the past 5 years that I have been Chairman of Cobb County And how much has changed since my first State of the County address. In January 2011, I stood before you in one of the worst economic times in many of our lives We on the Board of Commissioners, because of the recession, faced some of the toughest decisions in Cobb County history. Even after cutting as many positions as possible, we were then forced to cut services and raise the property tax millage rate in order to balance our budget. Those were the toughest choices I have had to make In my 14 years on the Cobb Commission These times required hard decisions and decisive leadership. We didnt know it then, but Doing the right thing to maintain Cobbs strong financial health Put the County in the position Of making the boldest decision in our modern history I am proud to stand here today just 5 short years later to report to you that the State of Cobb County is STRONG and getting stronger Cobb County has the lowest taxes
Cobb State of County, 1-11-16 4 The most robust economic growth And is the most fiscally conservative Of any of the core counties in the region Within 5 years We have restored the millage rate on property taxes to pre-recession levels All the while making tremendous investments in public safety AND embarking on one of the most significant public private partnerships in the history of Cobb County 2015 was a year of growth, investment and opportunity. Because of the halo effect of SunTrust Park, Cobb is experiencing economic growth At a record pace Together, this Board of Commissioners has worked tirelessly To keep our county prosperous Financially conservative, safe everywhere for everyone, and poised for an even brighter future. Cobb Countys tax digest, which is a reflection of property values across Cobb County is growing But not quite to pre-recession levels. Cobbs fiscally conservative financial policies Continue to be recognized by Wall Street For the 19th consecutive year, Cobb County earned a Triple AAA bond rating from each of the 3 major rating agencies Cobb is one of fewer than 44 counties in the United States to hold this prestigious rating I want to take a moment to recognize Cobbs Chief Financial Officer, Jim Pehrson Jim, please stand up Jim is without a doubt one of the most respected experts
Cobb State of County, 1-11-16 5 on budgeting and financial management in the State of Georgia. In fact, his expertise has been sought by governments across the country And we in Cobb County are fortunate to have his leadership Thank you Jim One of the wisest investments a local government can make with its resources is in public safety. Before I talk more about Cobb Countys investment in public safety, I want to recognize and thank every single first responder in Cobb County. Public safety is paramount in every community and make no mistake about it the men and women who risk their lives every day to protect ours are the true heroes of Cobb County It is because of the courage and commitment of these men and women that the Board of Commissioners made a $196 million investment in Public Safety. This includes new resources that will help put 80 additional officers on the street and help ensure that Cobb has the recruitment and retention policies in place to attract and retain the best and brightest in the public safety business. Infrastructure is another wise investment in the future of Cobb. The SPLOST program is Cobb Countys primary financing tool for infrastructure improvement 2015 marked the end of a very successful 4 year SPLOST
Cobb State of County, 1-11-16 6 that allowed Cobb County to invest almost $500 million dollars in major upgrades and renovations at dozens of parks, recreational and cultural facilities across the entire county. This SPLOST made possible key infrastructure and capital projects Including The Skipp Spann Connector The Windy Hill Diverging Diamond Interchange Major operational and pedestrian improvements on Six Flags Drive And much needed safety enhancements on Cobb Parkway at Mars Hill Rd. Thanks to the 2011 SPLOST Cobb County is now the home of an international airport. In 2015, our airport opened a new customs facility, began accepting international flights, and unveiled a new, world class air traffic control tower A tool for attracting and retaining major corporations. The Cobb International Airport is positioning itself to be one of the most corporate friendly facilities in the Southeast Now, Id like to talk about investment the private sector has made in Cobb County. In 2015 alone, private companies invested more than $300 million in Cobb. Since I have been Chairman, there has been more than $2 billion of private investment in our community. Cobb County is Bucking the Trend! Our economic growth is unprecedented While companies and jobs are moving from the suburbs to the urban core in most parts of the country The opposite is happening here in Cobb
Cobb State of County, 1-11-16 7 Let me explain just how we are bucking that trend Last year, more than 4,500 jobs were created or retained in Cobb County. Five new Class A Office Towers are moving forward in the Galleria area This is the first time an office tower has been constructed in Cobb County in more than 10 years! Cobb Countys unemployment rate is 5 percent This is the lowest unemployment rate we have seen since 2008! Tourism remains the largest economic driver in Cobb County generating more than $2.75 billion annually This is a 7 percent increase over the previous year and it is expected to continue to do better and better The Kennesaw State University Owls kicked off their inaugural season in 2015, bringing thousands of tourists and visitors to our great County for each of their home games. Speaking of sports Cobb County began 2015 as the future home of one professional sports team, We ended 2015 as the home of THREE professional sports teams. The Atlanta Blaze- a Major League Lacrosse team that will play at KSU and the Atlanta United Football Club, a Major League Soccer team both announced Cobb County as their new home. I cant talk about professional sports teams, calling Cobb County Home, without talking about the Atlanta Braves! The relocation of the Atlanta Braves to Cobb County is the largest and most anticipated project in the history of our community. And, our partnership with the Braves is proving to be a homerun for Cobb County.
Cobb State of County, 1-11-16 8 Many have questioned and criticized how I handled the Atlanta Braves project. I can tell you today that I sleep well at night knowing that I did the right thing for Cobb County. I want to make it clear today I am proud of the actions we took To bring the Braves to Cobb County The Atlanta newspaper will never get over it But the benefit to the economic prosperity Of Cobb CANNOT be overstated This partnership has and will change the future of Cobb County for the better FOREVER We are still more than one year from opening day But the results already speak for themselves Last year at this time, SunTrust Park Was a very big pile of dirt Today, it is clearly a ballpark. To date, more than $400 million construction dollars have been committed or spent; and More than half of this has gone to Cobb based companies. The project is on track and on budget. In addition to the ballpark progress It was a BIG year for the mixed use development the Atlanta Braves are building adjacent to SunTrust Park Now known as the Atlanta Battery, this unprecedented development made several major announcements in 2015 Comcast will occupy a 9 story Class A office Tower bringing 850 new high tech jobs to Cobb County. The Atlanta Braves will be bringing back
Cobb State of County, 1-11-16 9 the iconic Roxy Theatre right here in Cobb County. Omni hotels will be opening their 2nd luxury hotel in Georgia Right here in Cobb County And finally, 5 world class restaurants featuring some of the best known chefs in the Southeast will open up right here in Cobb County. Ultimately, the Atlanta Battery will result in more than $500 million of private investment Right here in Cobb County Not to mention it has already spurred an additional $300 million of private investment in the surrounding area. In fact, the Cumberland Community Improvement District predicts more than $1.2 billion of investment in just 5 years! This growth and these smart investments all point to a bright future with endless opportunities. There is one more thing I want you to understand that the Atlanta newspaper doesnt want you to know Unlike almost any other public private stadium development in modern history The investment by Cobb County into SunTrust Park is fixed Under no circumstance will Cobb County be responsible for any cost over runs associated with SunTrust Park Looking ahead, Cobb County is poised for greatness In 2016 and for decades to come When we become the first County in Georgia to implement priority based budgeting we will strengthen our position as one of the most fiscally conservative communities in the country Thanks to the Cobb voters, the 2016 SPLOST
Cobb State of County, 1-11-16 10 Was passed by a historic margin And it begins this month Public safety will continue to be a top priority As we begin planning for a new police headquarters And a world class joint public safety training facility Further, I am proud to announce that in 2016 the Cobb County Police Department working with the Sheriff and District Attorneys Offices will be implementing one of the strongest anti-gang initiatives in Georgia. This includes restructuring and reinvestment in both gang specific law enforcement and prosecution Cobb County has a message for anyone engaged in gang activity You are not welcome here! This past summer the Commission made good on my commitment to reduce the millage rate on property taxes to the prerecession level We also made good on our commitment to fully fund 80 new police officers and other public safety improvements In order to make good on these 2 commitments, our conservative budgeting policies required us to set the annual water fund transfer rate at 10 percent This has been common practice in the budget since 1998 Commissioner Birrell has consistently worked in a constructive manner to reduce the budgets reliance on this transfer So, I made the commitment to Commissioner Birrell that the reduction of the water transfer will be a top priority for any surplus revenue that comes in above digest projections I am proud to announce today that the actual transfer rate in 2016 will be the lowest it has been in 15 years
Cobb State of County, 1-11-16 11 And I am committed to working with the Board to eliminate it completely Finally, our fiscal health is giving the Board the opportunity to revisit the issuance of the 2008 green space bonds WITHOUT raising taxes So how are we able to buck the trends lower taxes reduce the water transfer and make large investments in public safety and green space? Two words. SunTrust Park. And THIS is just the beginning Revenues to Cobb have already exceeded projections and we are a still a year from opening day. I remain confident that this a homerun for ALL OF Cobb And it will provide unrivaled economic benefit to Cobb County and its schools for decades to come On behalf of the Board of Commissioners My commitment to you is that we will Continue to work together to Maintain this kind of bold and decisive leadership To keep Cobb County THE best place to live, Work AndYes..PLAY BALL!!!

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State of County Text of Speech-2016

  • 1. Cobb State of County, 1-11-16 1 Good morning Cobb County and Happy New Year! Thank you Ben for such a meaningful and sincere introduction. You are true friend and a positive force in the Cobb Community. Dr. Mathews- Thank you as well for a very inspirational invocation. I appreciate having you as my pastor and friend At First United Methodist Church. 2015 was an incredibly successful year and we have so much to talk about today. But before we start I want to recognize some people in the room Who, with out, the success Cobb experienced last year Would not have been possible. First and most importantly, my wife - Annette. As most of you in the room know Annette is a remarkable woman. She is my support, my encouragement and my reality check. I am so grateful to her for being my partner in life, and for being here today. Annette, please stand and be recognized. In spite of what you may hear, the Board of Commissioners agree on a lot more than we dont. The truth is, Cobb is served well to have 5 independent voices on the Board of Commissioners In fact, its our individual strengths that make us a strong board collectively and therefore, even in our disagreements, Cobb is better
  • 2. Cobb State of County, 1-11-16 2 because we are a very strong Board together, and today you will hear all that we have accomplished together for Cobb County in 2015 Commissioners, please stand Commissioner JoAnn Birrell Lisa Cupid Bob Ott Bob Weatherford Please welcome, Mr. David Hankerson, Our County Manager. His Agency Directors, Department Heads and Staff Thank you to the team in the Office of the Chairman, Kellie Brownlow and Charlotte Collins who help keep my office running so smoothly day after day Thank you to the State Legislators who are able to join us today. We look forward to working with you this upcoming session. There are also many City elected officials, Constitutional officers, judges and representatives of the Sheriffs office here Thank you for being here. Your ongoing support and collaborative efforts help Cobb County to continue to strive for excellence. And be recognized as the best in class. I would be remiss if I did not thank the residents of Cobb County It is an honor and a privilege to serve as your Chairman. Despite its challenges, this job is extremely rewarding and I am grateful and thankful to YOU for giving ME this opportunity.
  • 3. Cobb State of County, 1-11-16 3 Thank you to the Cobb County Chamber of Commerce for hosting the State of Cobb County. and Thank you to Georgia Power for For sponsoring todays breakfast and for always being such a great partner in our community As I began to prepare my remarks for this morning I couldnt help but reflect on the past 5 years that I have been Chairman of Cobb County And how much has changed since my first State of the County address. In January 2011, I stood before you in one of the worst economic times in many of our lives We on the Board of Commissioners, because of the recession, faced some of the toughest decisions in Cobb County history. Even after cutting as many positions as possible, we were then forced to cut services and raise the property tax millage rate in order to balance our budget. Those were the toughest choices I have had to make In my 14 years on the Cobb Commission These times required hard decisions and decisive leadership. We didnt know it then, but Doing the right thing to maintain Cobbs strong financial health Put the County in the position Of making the boldest decision in our modern history I am proud to stand here today just 5 short years later to report to you that the State of Cobb County is STRONG and getting stronger Cobb County has the lowest taxes
  • 4. Cobb State of County, 1-11-16 4 The most robust economic growth And is the most fiscally conservative Of any of the core counties in the region Within 5 years We have restored the millage rate on property taxes to pre-recession levels All the while making tremendous investments in public safety AND embarking on one of the most significant public private partnerships in the history of Cobb County 2015 was a year of growth, investment and opportunity. Because of the halo effect of SunTrust Park, Cobb is experiencing economic growth At a record pace Together, this Board of Commissioners has worked tirelessly To keep our county prosperous Financially conservative, safe everywhere for everyone, and poised for an even brighter future. Cobb Countys tax digest, which is a reflection of property values across Cobb County is growing But not quite to pre-recession levels. Cobbs fiscally conservative financial policies Continue to be recognized by Wall Street For the 19th consecutive year, Cobb County earned a Triple AAA bond rating from each of the 3 major rating agencies Cobb is one of fewer than 44 counties in the United States to hold this prestigious rating I want to take a moment to recognize Cobbs Chief Financial Officer, Jim Pehrson Jim, please stand up Jim is without a doubt one of the most respected experts
  • 5. Cobb State of County, 1-11-16 5 on budgeting and financial management in the State of Georgia. In fact, his expertise has been sought by governments across the country And we in Cobb County are fortunate to have his leadership Thank you Jim One of the wisest investments a local government can make with its resources is in public safety. Before I talk more about Cobb Countys investment in public safety, I want to recognize and thank every single first responder in Cobb County. Public safety is paramount in every community and make no mistake about it the men and women who risk their lives every day to protect ours are the true heroes of Cobb County It is because of the courage and commitment of these men and women that the Board of Commissioners made a $196 million investment in Public Safety. This includes new resources that will help put 80 additional officers on the street and help ensure that Cobb has the recruitment and retention policies in place to attract and retain the best and brightest in the public safety business. Infrastructure is another wise investment in the future of Cobb. The SPLOST program is Cobb Countys primary financing tool for infrastructure improvement 2015 marked the end of a very successful 4 year SPLOST
  • 6. Cobb State of County, 1-11-16 6 that allowed Cobb County to invest almost $500 million dollars in major upgrades and renovations at dozens of parks, recreational and cultural facilities across the entire county. This SPLOST made possible key infrastructure and capital projects Including The Skipp Spann Connector The Windy Hill Diverging Diamond Interchange Major operational and pedestrian improvements on Six Flags Drive And much needed safety enhancements on Cobb Parkway at Mars Hill Rd. Thanks to the 2011 SPLOST Cobb County is now the home of an international airport. In 2015, our airport opened a new customs facility, began accepting international flights, and unveiled a new, world class air traffic control tower A tool for attracting and retaining major corporations. The Cobb International Airport is positioning itself to be one of the most corporate friendly facilities in the Southeast Now, Id like to talk about investment the private sector has made in Cobb County. In 2015 alone, private companies invested more than $300 million in Cobb. Since I have been Chairman, there has been more than $2 billion of private investment in our community. Cobb County is Bucking the Trend! Our economic growth is unprecedented While companies and jobs are moving from the suburbs to the urban core in most parts of the country The opposite is happening here in Cobb
  • 7. Cobb State of County, 1-11-16 7 Let me explain just how we are bucking that trend Last year, more than 4,500 jobs were created or retained in Cobb County. Five new Class A Office Towers are moving forward in the Galleria area This is the first time an office tower has been constructed in Cobb County in more than 10 years! Cobb Countys unemployment rate is 5 percent This is the lowest unemployment rate we have seen since 2008! Tourism remains the largest economic driver in Cobb County generating more than $2.75 billion annually This is a 7 percent increase over the previous year and it is expected to continue to do better and better The Kennesaw State University Owls kicked off their inaugural season in 2015, bringing thousands of tourists and visitors to our great County for each of their home games. Speaking of sports Cobb County began 2015 as the future home of one professional sports team, We ended 2015 as the home of THREE professional sports teams. The Atlanta Blaze- a Major League Lacrosse team that will play at KSU and the Atlanta United Football Club, a Major League Soccer team both announced Cobb County as their new home. I cant talk about professional sports teams, calling Cobb County Home, without talking about the Atlanta Braves! The relocation of the Atlanta Braves to Cobb County is the largest and most anticipated project in the history of our community. And, our partnership with the Braves is proving to be a homerun for Cobb County.
  • 8. Cobb State of County, 1-11-16 8 Many have questioned and criticized how I handled the Atlanta Braves project. I can tell you today that I sleep well at night knowing that I did the right thing for Cobb County. I want to make it clear today I am proud of the actions we took To bring the Braves to Cobb County The Atlanta newspaper will never get over it But the benefit to the economic prosperity Of Cobb CANNOT be overstated This partnership has and will change the future of Cobb County for the better FOREVER We are still more than one year from opening day But the results already speak for themselves Last year at this time, SunTrust Park Was a very big pile of dirt Today, it is clearly a ballpark. To date, more than $400 million construction dollars have been committed or spent; and More than half of this has gone to Cobb based companies. The project is on track and on budget. In addition to the ballpark progress It was a BIG year for the mixed use development the Atlanta Braves are building adjacent to SunTrust Park Now known as the Atlanta Battery, this unprecedented development made several major announcements in 2015 Comcast will occupy a 9 story Class A office Tower bringing 850 new high tech jobs to Cobb County. The Atlanta Braves will be bringing back
  • 9. Cobb State of County, 1-11-16 9 the iconic Roxy Theatre right here in Cobb County. Omni hotels will be opening their 2nd luxury hotel in Georgia Right here in Cobb County And finally, 5 world class restaurants featuring some of the best known chefs in the Southeast will open up right here in Cobb County. Ultimately, the Atlanta Battery will result in more than $500 million of private investment Right here in Cobb County Not to mention it has already spurred an additional $300 million of private investment in the surrounding area. In fact, the Cumberland Community Improvement District predicts more than $1.2 billion of investment in just 5 years! This growth and these smart investments all point to a bright future with endless opportunities. There is one more thing I want you to understand that the Atlanta newspaper doesnt want you to know Unlike almost any other public private stadium development in modern history The investment by Cobb County into SunTrust Park is fixed Under no circumstance will Cobb County be responsible for any cost over runs associated with SunTrust Park Looking ahead, Cobb County is poised for greatness In 2016 and for decades to come When we become the first County in Georgia to implement priority based budgeting we will strengthen our position as one of the most fiscally conservative communities in the country Thanks to the Cobb voters, the 2016 SPLOST
  • 10. Cobb State of County, 1-11-16 10 Was passed by a historic margin And it begins this month Public safety will continue to be a top priority As we begin planning for a new police headquarters And a world class joint public safety training facility Further, I am proud to announce that in 2016 the Cobb County Police Department working with the Sheriff and District Attorneys Offices will be implementing one of the strongest anti-gang initiatives in Georgia. This includes restructuring and reinvestment in both gang specific law enforcement and prosecution Cobb County has a message for anyone engaged in gang activity You are not welcome here! This past summer the Commission made good on my commitment to reduce the millage rate on property taxes to the prerecession level We also made good on our commitment to fully fund 80 new police officers and other public safety improvements In order to make good on these 2 commitments, our conservative budgeting policies required us to set the annual water fund transfer rate at 10 percent This has been common practice in the budget since 1998 Commissioner Birrell has consistently worked in a constructive manner to reduce the budgets reliance on this transfer So, I made the commitment to Commissioner Birrell that the reduction of the water transfer will be a top priority for any surplus revenue that comes in above digest projections I am proud to announce today that the actual transfer rate in 2016 will be the lowest it has been in 15 years
  • 11. Cobb State of County, 1-11-16 11 And I am committed to working with the Board to eliminate it completely Finally, our fiscal health is giving the Board the opportunity to revisit the issuance of the 2008 green space bonds WITHOUT raising taxes So how are we able to buck the trends lower taxes reduce the water transfer and make large investments in public safety and green space? Two words. SunTrust Park. And THIS is just the beginning Revenues to Cobb have already exceeded projections and we are a still a year from opening day. I remain confident that this a homerun for ALL OF Cobb And it will provide unrivaled economic benefit to Cobb County and its schools for decades to come On behalf of the Board of Commissioners My commitment to you is that we will Continue to work together to Maintain this kind of bold and decisive leadership To keep Cobb County THE best place to live, Work AndYes..PLAY BALL!!!