The elected leaders of Gwinnett County and its 15 municipalities last week concluded a seventh day of court-ordered mediation without resolving the dispute over service delivery. Under state law, counties and cities must operate under an agreement known as the service delivery strategy (SDS). The agreement defines the services to be provided by the county and sets out how those services are to be funded.
After the county and the municipalities failed to agree on a new SDS by a Feb. 28 deadline, the county filed a petition with the court seeking alternative dispute resolution (ADR). Formal mediation sessions were the first step in ADR.
“Gwinnett County government has been seeking a new agreement with the cities for more than two years now, and we remain committed to working out our differences within the framework of Georgia’s service delivery law,” said Gwinnett Board of Commissioners Chairman Charles Bannister. “At this point, however, we simply cannot reach a consensus. The equitable delivery of services to Gwinnett’s 800,000 residents is of chief concern to me and my fellow board members, and we continue to hope for an outcome that serves the best interest of all our citizens. We are now evaluating all available options.”
County Administrator Jock Connell says significant issues remain.
After the county and the municipalities failed to agree on a new SDS by a Feb. 28 deadline, the county filed a petition with the court seeking alternative dispute resolution (ADR). Formal mediation sessions were the first step in ADR.
“Gwinnett County government has been seeking a new agreement with the cities for more than two years now, and we remain committed to working out our differences within the framework of Georgia’s service delivery law,” said Gwinnett Board of Commissioners Chairman Charles Bannister. “At this point, however, we simply cannot reach a consensus. The equitable delivery of services to Gwinnett’s 800,000 residents is of chief concern to me and my fellow board members, and we continue to hope for an outcome that serves the best interest of all our citizens. We are now evaluating all available options.”
County Administrator Jock Connell says significant issues remain.
“The essence of the issue is how the county will use revenue received solely from residents, property and business owners who live, work and operate their businesses outside of the 15 cities in Gwinnett County,” said Connell. “The County’s position is that these revenues should be used solely to benefit those who pay it—in this case, 80 percent of Gwinnett County’s population. The cities oppose this view, but each of the cities in Gwinnett collect similar revenues and use such proceeds to benefit their residents, who make up 20 percent of the County’s population. However, the County thinks it is only fair that the people who pay should receive the benefit. I believe it is our obligation to do all that we can to safeguard this fairness on behalf of the large majority of Gwinnett County residents who do not live in a city.”
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