Mayor's Corner

Mayor on Tax Day 2013: We Cannot Tax Ourselves Enough to Maintain Federal Spending Levels

A country based on a Ponzi scheme tax structure and thousands of pages of regulation, that takes two Philadelphia lawyers to guess at what the correct tax treatment is for any item on the tax return, isn’t long for this world.

Welcome to Tax Day 2013.  Was it Mark Twain who said, “There are two sure things in this life: death and taxes?” Let start with the premise, no one likes to pay taxes. Taxes are the necessary inconveniences which supports the services your government provides. In our country at the federal level, we have a progressive tax on the income a person receives. If you make a lot of money, you pay a lot of federal income taxes. On the other hand, if you make little money, you pay less.  We are to the point in the United States that about 50 percent of our citizens pay taxes to support federal services for 100 percent of our citizens and residents. Some kinds of income are treated differently from other. Some incomes have special tax treatments. In…

• Photos (1)

Three Questions With the Mayor: Important Meetings, Public Safety Reminder and Demographic Changes

Dacula Mayor Jimmy Wilbanks answers questions about our community.

In this week's "Three Questions With the Mayor," Dacula Mayor Jimmy Wilbanks provides an update on the latest city news and discusses demographic changes in our area. Dacula Patch: What's new in Dacula this week? Mayor Wilbanks: I wanted to remind each reader that this is a busy week at City Hall. Monday night at 7 p.m., the Planning Commission will meet to make a recommendation to the City Council on the rezoning of the PEAK at University Parkway project. Wednesday at 5 p.m., there will be a Called Council Work Session to hear from the applicants for the package store. On Thursday at 6 p.m., the City Council will vote to award the first license for a package store at a special Called Council Meeting. This meeting will be followed by the …

• Photos (1)

Three Questions With the Mayor: New Sign, Liquor License Application Period and Dacula Business Vision

Dacula Mayor Jimmy Wilbanks answers questions about our community.

In this week's "Three Questions With the Mayor," Dacula Mayor Jimmy Wilbanks provides an update on the latest city news and discusses what type of new business he would like to see in Dacula. Dacula Patch: What's new in Dacula this week? Mayor Wilbanks: A new electronic sign arrived at the Dacula City Hall this past Saturday. This installation replaces the old manual sign while reusing the familiar monument structure. In the next few day, city staff will be trained in the use of the sign, and it will become fully operational. The City Council authorized the new sign as a part of the Mayor and City Council's effort for communicating with Dacula residents. Using the electronic sign will make it faster, easier, and more economical to post …

• Photos (1)

A Christmas Message From Dacula Mayor Jimmy Wilbanks

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all our residents and Dacula neighbors from the Mayor, City Council, and the City staff.

I know that each of you who are reading these Christmas greetings have your own traditions and activities during this season. Some traditions are religious in nature while others may have a more secular tone. Whatever your method of celebrations, good wishes and hopes are on the way from City Hall. I hope your Christmas will be filled with smiles. Smiles are hard right now, in light of Newtown, Conn., as that tragic lunacy could have happened anywhere. But, I expect to see a lot of smiles anyway. Think about your growing up time and smile. Think about the fact that the economy is slowly recovering and smile. Just think of Christmas Dinner and smile. Perhaps we are smiling because we are sure that our family get-together will be well …

• Photos (1)

Three Questions With the Mayor: SPLOST Project Update, Urbanization and Thanksgiving

Dacula Mayor Jimmy Wilbanks answers questions about our community.

In this week's "Three Questions With the Mayor," Dacula Mayor Jimmy Wilbanks provides an update on the latest city news and discusses what he is most thankful for this Thanksgiving. Dacula Patch: What's new in Dacula this week? Mayor Wilbanks: Contractors have completed the work in the Freemans Walk subdivision with the exception of placing the STOP bars. The City usually waits a week or so to let the asphalt cure slightly before installing the stop bars. Work continues on Superior Drive, Mobley Drive and Laura Lane. The Maintenance Facility is really taking shape now. All three of these projects are funded by 2009 SPLOST funds. Without your positive vote on SPLOST, these projects could not have happened. Dacula Patch: What is something …

• Photos (1)

Three Questions With the Mayor: Peak Development Update, Declining Earning Power and the Importance of Voting

Dacula Mayor Jimmy Wilbanks answers questions about our community.

In this week's "Three Questions With the Mayor," Dacula Mayor Jimmy Wilbanks provides an update on the latest city news and explains why it is critically important to vote. Dacula Patch: What's new in Dacula this week? Mayor Wilbanks: Today is the first meeting at the Atlanta Regional Commission on the DRI process for the PEAK at University Parkway project with regional staff, city staff, owners, and others. Dacula Patch: What is something Dacula residents need to know? Mayor Wilbanks: I heard a statistic yesterday that might be of interest. Five years ago $22,000 in an average money market account would have brought in $1,000 of taxable income over a year. Today it takes $3,300,000 to bring in $1,000 in taxable income over a year’s period…

• Photos (1)

Three Questions With the Mayor: Development News, Conserving Willpower and the Toughest Part of the Job

Dacula Mayor Jimmy Wilbanks answers questions about our community.

In this week's "Three Questions With the Mayor," Dacula Mayor Jimmy Wilbanks provides an update on the latest city news and discusses the toughest part about being mayor. Dacula Patch: What's new in Dacula this week? Mayor Wilbanks: As Dacula Patch has reported, Gwinnett County agreed to settle the arbitration dispute with the City just prior to the Panel’s meeting. Now with that issue settled, the City is gathering the materials for the DRI and GRTA sessions on this project, and I expect the initial documentation to be submitted to the Atlanta Regional Commission this week. Joint meetings will be scheduled between the City, the owner, and ARC/GRTA after this initial submittal. Dacula Patch: What is something Dacula residents need to know…

• Photos (1)

Three Questions With the Mayor: Arbitration, Political Signs and What Happens Next With Annexation

Dacula Mayor Jimmy Wilbanks answers questions about our community.

In this week's "Three Questions With the Mayor," Dacula Mayor Jimmy Wilbanks provides an update on the latest city news and discusses what happens next regarding the annexation of a 157-acre tract of land just outside the city limits. Dacula Patch: What's new in Dacula this week? Mayor Wilbanks: The City of Dacula/Gwinnett County Arbitration Panel meets on Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2012 at the Eastside Precinct building at 2273 Alcovy Road at 9 a.m. to determine if Gwinnett County has a valid objection under the law, and, if so, to hear that objection. The public is invited to attend, but no public input will be heard. If readers plan to attend, they should be aware that seating is limited. Dacula Patch: What is something Dacula residents need …

•  3 Comments
• Photos (1)

Scott

12:55 pm on Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Well, that's a bummer. Sounds like the vote might have been "let's get Dacula to be bigger" rather than "this is the plan to success". Was it the city council that voted or on a ballot for the citizens? (being just outside city limits I wouldn't know and haven't followed it that close.) I'm worried about the amount of apartments able to be built as part of the plan. Last comments show it for …   more ›

Three Questions With the Mayor: 9/11 Day of Remembrance, Pedestrian Traffic and Vegetable Soup With Cinnamon

Dacula Mayor Jimmy Wilbanks answers questions about our community.

In this week's "Three Questions With the Mayor," Dacula Mayor Jimmy Wilbanks provides an update on the latest city news and shares his favorite thing to cook. Dacula Patch: What's new in Dacula this week? Mayor Wilbanks: On Tuesday at Olde Mill Park from 5-7 p.m. there will be a remembrance of 9/11/2001 events. This is a student-led program under the auspices of Greening Forward. The event includes a service project in the area of Dacula High School and Olde Mill Park. The event will conclude with speeches, recognition of volunteers, emergency service personnel and veterans. More than 100 volunteers and emergency service personnel are expected to participate. Dacula Patch: What is something Dacula residents need to know? Mayor Wilbanks: On…

• Photos (2)

Three Questions With the Mayor: Waffle House Update, Stormwater Reminder and Learning New Things

Dacula Mayor Jimmy Wilbanks answers questions about our community.

In this week's "Three Questions With the Mayor," Dacula Mayor Jimmy Wilbanks provides an update on the latest city news and discusses the first job he ever had and what he learned from it. Dacula Patch: What's new in Dacula this week? Mayor Wilbanks: A building permit has been issued for Waffle House at the corner of Liam Avenue and Dacula Road. Dacula Patch: What is something Dacula residents need to know? Mayor Wilbanks: While we didn’t get too much rain from Hurricane Isaac, this may be a good time to remind residents about keeping curb lines, drop inlets, and drainage ditches clean and in good repair. A little maintenance really improves our storm water efforts. Please don’t put trash in these areas. You have a responsibility (along …

•  6 Comments
• Videos (1)

Kristi Reed

10:22 am on Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Hi Andrew - The more pressing issues were covered in the first two questions. This feature always features a third, more personal question as a way of letting Dacula residents get to know their elected official better.   more ›