Your Views: Making Local Government Better

From the ambitious to the readily achievable, from upscale aspirations to the socially conscious, Roswell residents offered many ideas

Here's what you had to say this week.

What local government services do you utilize and appreciate?

• All, but in particular, , especially .
• Sanitiation, Recycling Center, Bulky Trash Day, Recreation and Parks programs, the and city events.
• The fabulous PARKS and great schools!
• The parks and recreation offerings, concerts, Alive After 5 and Memorial Day service.
• The services that are the most important to all of us are those provided by our public safety departments; and fire protection. I am convinced that our is the crown jewel of all that Roswell provides to it citizens. When you recognizes that most members of our fire department consists of volunteers and that a fully funded department would cost taxpayers some $2 million annually we should all count our blessings for such a well organization entity with outstanding leaders like Chief Spencer and his staff.

What services would you like to see Roswell's government provide?

• During FY2010 Roswell City Council moved 19 full time employees from the General Fund to the Participatory Recreational Fund. The latter is a self funded fund in which expenses are paid by the various participants from youth recreational to senior citizen programs. The total costs transferred to the Participatory Recreational Fund totals $1,300,000 annually. Plans require participants to absorb this entire cost. Yet the most discouraging result of recent increase in fees has been a noticeable drop in youth participation. Meanwhile the forthcoming general obligation bond includes $12 million for synthetic turf fields. Myself, I would prefer seeing lower fees to encourage more youth participation. Not an escalating turf-war with our neighbors to see who has the most Astro-turf surfaces!
• Bus service. A loop from Canton/Alpharetta Highway down Pine Grove across Lake Charles or Shallowford, back up Woodstock Road. We don't have sidewalks so a trolly/bus would be nice to get around. The traffic is terrible and our air quality must be feeling the strain.
• I think [the city] provides all the services we need.
• An indoor pool.

How do you feel about the rate of local taxes?

• Too high, however I would say that about everywhere.
• I think city of Roswell taxes are very reasonable compared with where I lived before moving here.
• Ok as it is.
• During an interview that was published in the local media in June of 2010 Mayor Wood said “We’re not covering our current costs with current revenues. We’re covering them with savings. That’s not sustainable. I’m looking a few years down the road. I see a deficit coming. At the current rate, the council will have spent all of our available reserves by 2012. After that they will either have to raise taxes or make drastic cuts in the city budget.” I take Mayor Wood at his word.

Do you have suggestions for lowering taxes? Could you do it without having to cut services and programs? If not, which services should go?

• Close the Roswell Senior Center.
• I think if you cut the services Roswell provides it would lower the quality of life and thus would lower our property values.

Did you submit ideas for the Comprehensive Plan, Imagine Roswell 2030? Will you share a few?

• More green space, more bike paths.
• Yes; I suggested that they offer more incentives to the property owners on Highway 9 to redevelop their properties.
• Start spending money that will make money for the community. Get behind the merchants of historical Rowell and bring the Roswell Square back to life. An improvement to a sidewalk here and an intersection there just does not bring any significant improvement to new commerce in the area.

Do you feel heard by local elected officials? What can they do to be more accessible to you?

• Yes
• Yes, I think they are very accessible.
• No comment.

Agree, disagree or have more to say? Tell us in the comments below.

We'll share the survey results with local officials. Check back every Monday for new questions so you can share your ideas, suggestions and even your own questions.

Then, every Saturday, we'll publish some of the most interesting responses and whether any of your ideas are being considered or could be possibilities for our city.