DALTON, Ga. — Mayor David Pennington says he’s an outspoken leader who’s not afraid to take a stand and make tough decisions.
He’s halfway through his first four-year term and said the City Council is working hard to accomplish two goals outlined when he first took office in 2008.
“We’ve got a laser focus,” he said. “We want to be the best business environment in Georgia, and we want to change our dynamics to attract young, educated people here again.”
To improve the business climate, he said he and the council have “reduced general government’s property taxes by 20 percent” and cut numerous business fees.
The council also implemented the freeport tax exemption, Mr. Pennington said. Beginning this year, manufacturers get a 20 percent tax exemption on certain inventories. Plans are to increase the exemption to 100 percent over the next few years.
Early in his term, Mr. Pennington evicted the Downtown Dalton Development Authority from City Hall in a crusade to lower the tax the authority levies on downtown businesses.
Today, he said that tax has been reduced from 3 mills to 1 mill. The city is supplementing the authority’s budget about $60,000. The authority now shares offices at the newly renovated Dalton Freight Depot with the Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Former authority chairman Ben Laughter said there were “struggles to get there, but that’s OK.”
Mr. Laughter said there’s more cooperation now between the authority and other agencies with similar missions.
“I think it’s fair to say that David Pennington forced the issue,” he said.
YOUNG PROFESSIONALS
Mr. Pennington said having more young professionals living in the city will help the area’s economic recovery and develop new businesses.
“They will show us what the future is,” he said.
A number of revitalization projects are aimed at making the community “more interesting,” he said, adding that the communities people like to visit are the ones where people also want to live.
He named the completed Freight Depot as one such project. Others are renovation of the historic Hamilton House and plans to make the old Crown Mill section of town an eclectic neighborhood that draws young professionals.
The Dalton Community Center is being renovated to include space for things such as the health department’s Women, Infants and Children program, a library and an arts area.
“When it comes to attracting young, educated people, the best thing you can do is educate the young people that you have in your community,” said Mr. Pennington. “We want to be able to get at those kids before they ever start school.”
He said the city also is working to help grow Dalton State College. Leaders hope the school one day will have a presence downtown.
Andrea Dobbins, organizer of the United Way’s Young Leaders Society, said, “People feel like there’s a lot of energy” and they’re excited about conversations taking place.
BUDGET CUTS
The mayor and council have reduced the budget to decrease taxes and weather difficult economic times, while still investing in certain areas, Mr. Pennington said.
He said the city’s operating budget dropped from about $36 million to about $28 million over the past couple of years. The city operates with about 50 fewer employees through layoffs and not filling vacant positions, and has consolidated some services with the county.
Councilman George Sadosuk said the council has faced criticism for the layoffs, but “we’re probably one of the few cities in the United States to end up in the black this past year.”
Former Mayor Ray Elrod said he probably wouldn’t have handled things the same way, but he said the current administration “appears to be good stewards of the taxpayer money.”
“I think they’re doing what they need to do,” he said.
NEWSMAKER
Name: David Pennington
Age: 57
Hometown: Dalton, Ga.