June 26, 2014 | northfulton.com | 73,500 circulation Revue & News, Johns Creek Herald, Milton Herald & Forsyth Herald combined | 50¢ | Volume 32, No. 26&&

Alpharetta-Roswell

REVUE NEWS

Empty NestSponsored section

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Poor puppyDog dragged behind truck

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Tony DungyCoach shares advice with dads

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Students rallyHelp ailing teacher

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Ga. 400 to close June 28Annual bike ride in the morning

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Location Change for the Roswell Fireworks Extravaganza!!!July 4, 2014 Roswell Fireworks will be at Sweet Apple Elementary School.Fireworks Display at Dark. Call 770-641-3705 for information.

FULTON COUNTY BUDGET:

Fulton takes step closer to tax hike

By HATCHER HURDhatcher@northfulton.com

ATLANTA – Fulton County voted at the June 18 commis-sion meeting to advertise a 1.57 mill property tax increase in the general fund. But stung by taxpayers’ sticker shock over the proposed 17 percent increase on their tax bill, Fulton County Commission Chairman John Eaves said the commissioners would respond. He vowed to take a sharper pencil to the 2014-15 budget of $625.4 million.

Eaves said he planned to call a special called work ses-sion to re-examine the budget. He pointed out that advertis-ing the millage increase did not hold the county to passing that increase. It does cap the millage rate at the 1.57 mill increase, but a lower rate may pass.

Fulton Finance Director Patrick O’Connor said the mill-age rate is necessary for the county to meet its obligations.

“Without [the millage in-crease] we would be in a credit crisis,” O’Connor said.

The board voted to ad-vertise the new countywide millage rate of 12.051 mills in a 5-2 vote (Commissioners Liz Hausmann and Robb Pitts dissenting). This advertisement means the county may in-crease the general fund millage rate by no more than the 1.57 mills advertised. The board may reduce the rate increase if it chooses at the July 16 board meeting when the final millage rate is set.

However, that would re-quire either serious cuts or finding untapped revenues. The commissioners are faced with a $48 million shortfall in this year’s budget and the pro-posed 1.57 mill increase would generate an estimated $51.8 million.

And that includes a $40 million infusion from the coun-ty’s fund balance. The county has regularly tapped into its reserves of $150 million since

Commissioners vow to revisit 17 percent increase

HAUSMANN EAVES

See TAXES, Page 4

PHOTOS BY KRISTINA BAK/STAFF

Participants in this year’s race range in age and species.

Hop to it!By KRISTINA BAKnews@northfulton.com

ALPHARETTA, Ga. – After exercising strenuously, what better way to cool off than with a cold brew? In Alpharet-ta, June 21 was the day to do just that, with the Craft Beer Festival and 5K held down-town.

The race was the first in the World’s Hoppiest Race

series. The series benefits Canine Assistants, a local program that provides service dogs to those with special needs.

The 3.1-mile course was a qualifier for the AJC Peachtree Road Race on July 4 in Atlanta. The race started at the Corner Deli at 8 p.m. in downtown Alpharetta.

Running, brews take over Alpharetta

See RACE, Page 24

Participants could sample over 100 craft beers from all over the country.