Remarks by Dana Barrett
158 remarks on the record, newest first · Page 6 of 7
- Play at 1:33:54
“Okay. Listen, I also meant to say when we first started this conversation that I think, you know, it does sound like we've had a lot of issues. Obviously, the numbers show that, that we were hoping to have almost 100 people hired. At this point, we don't. That said, it does seem like with the July numbers and with the changes that we're talking about that have been made on both sides, the Sheriff's side, Wall's side, that we are making progress and moving in the right direction. So just for clarification, do you feel like... in the next quarter we will be on track to have 50.”
Board of Commissioners · Jul 15, 2026
- Play at 1:35:06
“And I think when I was asking questions about this last time, I asked about the reasons for the separations, and I think you were going to get that in some form or fashion, is that correct?”
Board of Commissioners · Jul 15, 2026
- Play at 2:04:18
“Thank you, Madam Vice Chair. I was just hoping we could get a detailed explanation, please.”
Board of Commissioners · Jul 15, 2026
- Play at 2:07:51
“It's my understanding from the conversations I've had about this since it's bubbled up for us that the petition that we will submit will cover all of the jurisdictions that we bill for, correct?”
Board of Commissioners · Jul 15, 2026
- Play at 2:08:58
“And the jurisdictions that we, there are several cities that we don't collect for, that our tax commissioner does not collect for, do they have to file their own petition?”
Board of Commissioners · Jul 15, 2026
- Play at 2:09:18
“Yeah, I mean, I think regardless of whose responsibility it is, I mean, all of the citizens we're talking about in any of the 15 cities are Fulton County residents. So I think we want to make sure that all of the jurisdictions are completely aware and educated on this process. They understand what's happening, what their options are and what they have to do. Because at the end of the day, we're going to get a lot of questions from our citizens if we are not getting the message out clearly to the cities and to them, frankly. So correct me if I'm wrong here, but it is possible based on this…”
Board of Commissioners · Jul 15, 2026
- Play at 2:10:30
“Well, but also correct me if I'm wrong here, but if one of the jurisdictions, any one of the jurisdictions does not use the 2025 millage rate, if they change their millage rate up or down, then they would also have a correction. So for everybody in that jurisdiction would get a corrective bill.”
Board of Commissioners · Jul 15, 2026
- Play at 2:11:08
“Okay. Yeah. So I just want to make sure that we're, and this may be a communications thing too, that we're doing the best job we can to communicate not only to the cities, but also to the citizens, because I guarantee you, we're not going to get any questions from someone who gets a refund, but the people who get an additional tax bill, I think are going to be probably pretty upset so and I think this may have some impact on whether legitimate or not that they're gonna have concerns and questions and I think the escrow account questions are gonna come up for people and all of those kind of…”
Board of Commissioners · Jul 15, 2026
- Play at 2:12:01
“Okay, but not the ones that we don't bill for.”
Board of Commissioners · Jul 15, 2026
- Play at 2:12:06
“Yeah, I mean, I think, you know, I'm looking at our, you know, external affairs because I know you guys, part of your role is to, you know, be in contact with the cities. So, yeah. Yeah.”
Board of Commissioners · Jul 15, 2026
- Play at 2:13:46
Not quoted here: it may name a member of the public. Hear it at the meeting.
Board of Commissioners · Jul 15, 2026
- Play at 2:14:18
Not quoted here: it may name a member of the public. Hear it at the meeting.
Board of Commissioners · Jul 15, 2026
- Play at 2:22:57
“Thank you, Madam Vice Chair. Just one other thing. First of all, I'm also supportive, because obviously we need to get this done. But it was brought to my attention that potentially one of the things that is problematic for the tax assessor side is the technology that they are using. And I'm not sure if it's kind of what you were mentioning, Commissioner Thorne, or additional. But I think it's... i guess that's a question slash comment that the technology may not be the latest and greatest available for tax assessors offices i don't i'm not an expert on this either but i just want to make…”
Board of Commissioners · Jul 15, 2026
- Play at 2:25:38
“okay and then just for clarification i have commissioner thorne mentioned um i think she said 292 parcels i think is that what you said commissioner thorne it's land packages yeah so my understanding was it's land packages which represents about a thousand parcels and again many of them not residential areas and things like that but still it is it is a significant number just to be just to want to get clarification on that commissioner ellis”
Board of Commissioners · Jul 15, 2026
- Play at 2:51:04
“Just a quick question. Does this budget that's being, this is just to increase the budget, or not the budget, but the spending authority with this particular vendor, but does this cover the HVAC issues in the jail as well, or is this just the other buildings?”
Board of Commissioners · Jul 15, 2026
- Play at 2:51:32
“Okay, because it is, first of all, the 10th floor has some ongoing AC or HVAC issues, but I also visited Rice Street again about a week and a half ago, and there were significant AC issues there. So I just want to make sure that we're we're increasing this enough to address the pretty serious issues we're having now in particular there. I know there was no AC in the kitchen when I was there and several of the units. So just wanting to make sure that we're not gonna have to keep coming back to the drawing board here.”
Board of Commissioners · Jul 15, 2026
- Play at 2:52:41
“Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Overall, of course, I have no issue with the organizations that have been chosen to receive the arts funding, but I do want to understand better the logic around the $142,430 being taken out of the $3 million pot to cover, it sounds like last year's, some last contracts from last year's arts grant program that weren't, the paperwork perhaps wasn't done in time or something.”
Board of Commissioners · Jul 15, 2026
- Play at 2:53:45
“I mean, conceptually, I'm missing something here because I'm sort of not okay with that. The logic for me being there was a certain amount of money appropriated last year that was divvied up among the various organizations paperwork notwithstanding. And then there was another $3 million allotted this year, minus the $200 specifically to the veterans, et cetera, or veterans-related programming. But there should have been a full $3 million given to this year's recipients. So I'm confused about why the funding for the backlog wasn't moved from some other contingency fund to cover the difference…”
Board of Commissioners · Jul 15, 2026
- Play at 2:56:35
“I hear you and I hear you, but at the end of the day, there was a certain amount of money allotted in 2025. It was awarded in 2025. It was not given to the recipients in a timely manner for whatever reason. I'm not throwing shade about why it didn't happen, but it didn't. And then there was 3 million that we approved for recipients of the 2026 grant program. $142,430 of that was held back from the current recipient pool. That is incorrect and needs to be rectified. really care whether it's from somewhere in your budget, not that I don't care, but it doesn't matter to me whether it's from…”
Board of Commissioners · Jul 15, 2026
- Play at 2:58:28
“Wouldn't this just be a budget sounding?”
Board of Commissioners · Jul 15, 2026
- Play at 2:58:39
“So what you're saying is, if this is approved as written today, it does not preclude us from awarding another $142,430 to existing recipients, is that correct?”
Board of Commissioners · Jul 15, 2026
- Play at 2:59:02
“Well, many of the recipients, as I said, didn't get the full amount. So it may just be a matter of divvying it up to existing recipients, but it should be.”
Board of Commissioners · Jul 15, 2026
- Play at 2:59:10
“But I just wanna make sure that if this is approved as written, that that still can be accomplished.”
Board of Commissioners · Jul 15, 2026
- Play at 2:59:56
“Okay, I mean, I'll support it because I don't want to hold the money back from the current recipients any longer than necessary, but I do feel like this has to be addressed. Otherwise, it's not in alignment with the resolution passed for the three million.”
Board of Commissioners · Jul 15, 2026
- Play at 3:15:03
“I'm calling a decorum violation. I'd like you to rule on it, please.”
Board of Commissioners · Jul 15, 2026