Gwinnett Buzz

Apparently, the City of Berkeley Lake is about to join the long list of Gwinnett cities that are spending exorbitant sums of money on city hall buildings.  The city council approved $1,479,639 for the construction of the facility and an accompanying park.  Based on the 2007 population of 2014, this translates to $734.68 per resident; the per household amount would be even higher.  Now, before you say “you don’t live in Berkeley Lake, so why do you care?”  You are right, I do not live there.  In fact, I do not even get to that part of the county too often.  I do not have a dog in this fight.  However, I am concerned about government excess regardless of whether it is in Gwinnett or elsewhere.  In fact, I question why a community of barely 2000 people even needs an additional layer of government in the form of a city.

Here is a look at the current city hall.  Yes, a one-room facility is small, but for such a small city, wouldn’t a renovation and possibly a one or two room expansion be better stewardship of taxpayer money?  It is an attractive facility (see here and here) but for 2014 people, it simply seems excessive, especially during a recession.