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FOCUSS DeKalb seeks your input
Hundreds of DeKalb County citizens, business owners and other stakeholders turned out to community meetings last month to help develop a blueprint for the county's future. FOCUSS (Fiscal Accountability, Opportunity, Community, Unity, Safety and Sustainability) DeKalb, the county's strategic planning initiative, hosted five meetings to give you an opportunity to contribute your input to our strategic plan.
FOCUSS DeKalb is centered on four focus areas -- economic development, infrastructure, public safety and services -- which work together to yield a high quality of life, strong neighborhoods, economic sustainability and fiscal accountability.
Citizens interested in contributing their ideas to the county's strategic plan still have time. An online survey is available until Oct. 2. Click here to take the online survey.
For more information, visit the Strategic Plan page on the DeKalb County website.
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Prescription discount cards in water bills this month
DeKalb water bills this month will include something extra to help you save money. Beginning Sept. 1, National Association of Counties (NACo) Prescription Drug Cards will arrive along with the bills and can be used immediately to save users up to 20 percent off prescriptions not covered by insurance.
CEO Ellis recently joined Commissioner Larry Johnson at Surebill, the company that distributes DeKalb County water bills, to help stuff the first of the envelopes that will contain the cards.
The cards have been available in the county since 2006 as a result of its relationship with NACo, and have already saved DeKalb users more than $447,173 in prescription costs.
The cards are accepted at nine out of 10 pharmacies, including major drug and grocery store chains, and local and independently-owned pharmacies. There is no enrollment form or limit on who can use the card or how many times it can be used.
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New revenue commission looks for non-tax revenue to fund county operations
DeKalb County's new Revenue Enhancement Commission is moving full steam ahead identifying new non-tax sources of revenue for county operations.
The commission, a joint initiative of DeKalb County CEO Ellis and the Board of Commissioners, is headed by District 6 Commissioner Kathie Gannon and is comprised of DeKalb residents and finance and business experts with significant community involvement.
In the coming months, the group will explore new internal and external revenue sources and develop recommendations that DeKalb County can use to increase revenue operations without raising taxes. The final recommendations are due Nov. 1.
The Revenue Enhancement Commission's next meeting is set for Sept. 14, 6 - 7:30 p.m. in the Maloof Auditiorium, 1300 Commerce Drive in Decatur. You are invited to attend and your comments are welcomed.
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DeKalb County Public Library celebrates Library Card Sign-Up Month with limited-edition cards
This month, limited-edition library cards featuring art from DeKalb County residents will be available to the public at all DeKalb County Public Library branches in celebration of National Library Card Sign-Up Month.
This is the first time the Library will use designs from DeKalb County residents for its library cards. From April to June, the Library asked residents in three age groups -- children, teens and adults -- to submit their designs for the new cards, and more than 500 entries were received.
On Aug. 21, the Library unveiled the designs chosen to grace the cards. Deondria Boyer, a 7th-grade student at Tucker Middle School, won in the children's category, Mollie Simon, a 9th-grade student at Chamblee High School, won in the teen category, and Deborah Hunter won in the adult category.
The cards will be distributed until the supply is exhausted.
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