County Support to City of Cumming
Ratios:
- The 2010 census estimate of 5,400 city versus 170,100 county residents - - - -
City is 3.2% versus 96.8% for the County. - Average City household income is under $40,000 - - - -
54% lower than the County's $85,900.
City of Cumming and its residents receive:
- LOST and SPLOST payments reflecting sales taxes paid primarily by county and city residents.
Sales tax paid by county residents is considered higher than the 96.8% population ratio as County residents have 54% more income to spend. - The prime purpose of LOST is to allow a taxing municipality to lower or at least not increase property taxes. Only Forsyth County taxes personal property throughout the county - - - the city does not.
- Approximately $4,000,000 for both finished and raw water is paid annually to the city.
- Since the city preceded the county government, it established the Lake Lanier withdrawal permit from the Corps of Engineers. The city is not interested in sharing the permit but rather uses it as a leverage point with the county.
- The city with the mayor’s 40 year tenure is reported to have steady relationship with the corps.
- The finished water rate per 1,000 gallons wholesale price to the county used to be approximately 50% higher than city residents pay at retail.
- (by previous agreements) Various county areas are assigned to the City which has sole rights to sell water to the county citizens. New taps range approximately $5,000. All county residents who buy water from the city pay approximately 25% more than city residents pay.
- In addition, the city's two main roads with at least 50% of all city traffic are state maintained.
- The City receives the economic benefits of having the county municipal infrastructure, many of the professional service firms (legal, engineering, etc) present in the city, and all of the people involved in the government.
Since City of Cumming Residents pay Forsyth County property taxes, they also have / use the following:
- Use of all County public facilities parks, libraries, health services/facilities, senior services, etc
- Enrollment in Forsyth County Schools
- Support of their police department by Forsyth County Sheriff department in all areas where needed. (e.g. recent retail homicide arrest by the Sheriff’s department)
- Full protection by the Forsyth County Fire Department whenever needed
- County Judges, Court House, and Legal Infrastructure
- County Municipal office and operations facilities, county employees, staff and facilities of the myriad professional firms (legal, accounting, consulting, etc) which serve the County.
- Use the County jail facilities.
- Use of landfills located in the County
- City Residents utilize services of various County Departments including: Voter Registration and Elections, Emergency Management Agency, Roads & Bridges, 911 Center, Tax Commissioner & Assessor’s office, etc