[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6345376,"mediaKeyId","2249247-22a0bb42f968d681dd06edb51131b8f3","parentId",2249247,"title","Sandy Springs presentation credits insourcing with nearly $26 million savings; staff outlines 20‑year accomplishments","audioSeconds",222,"startMs",1016000,"endMs",1238000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2249247-22a0bb42f968d681dd06edb51131b8f3&start=1016&end=1238","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2249247-22a0bb42f968d681dd06edb51131b8f3/thumbnail_1016000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6345376/Sandy-Springs/Fulton-County/Georgia/Sandy-Springs-presentation-credits-insourcing-with-nearly-26-million-savings-staff-outlines-20year-accomplishments","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6345376-3ca03de251bcf09c0bf1647079b313f3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771098337&Signature=BU4OBDYC4y3Xqx6Q7fegt-fM-OSH~TLZyFfn1OUoz~X3NzWfyJe2AR6PHhi-nzSl6wr3X4uprjg2KJIpN1KZSSRibzvPHmjgcFes4Uv6PbGbIN3bW~qKUC73wLReh~AreZmModsWafYkZIASPrYANRYhXC7TgJJcHwpRt11K1alZjM~exXEajlEy1UsUk-pFUhQbWATfvjWvo~Zr6KaduLp6Ji9sf1-fiEWW5FCraaYJGXu7PYH79HT64Y2YHRz1HMi0i1pY7drjU6iqz1Qet8cTYP9ZuWF9YeptmeFNW6l6m7nVQWYu7reJ9pLN2GBeumAbtJs3ntrm4rFScYuZAg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-02-08T00:35:19.453Z","article","City staff told the council the decision to bring many contracted services in‑house has yielded larger savings than originally projected and said staff will continue to refine the city’s service‑delivery strategy.

The city manager reviewed the history of the public‑private partnership model used at incorporation and the later rebidding and insourcing exercises. Staff presented a five‑year comparison showing an expected savings of about $13.5 million from insourcing; the actual net savings, including added staff costs and benefits, was described at nearly $26 million over the same comparison period.

The manager also highlighted a series of operational accomplishments since incorporation: roughly 640,000 call‑center responses since 2015; more than 60,000 IT help‑desk tickets; nearly 30,000 open‑records requests closed between 2018 and 2024; 11 new city parks totaling about 95 acres; investment of about $483 million in capital projects (excluding City Springs) since incorporation; and creation of new public safety and recreation programs. Staff noted the city still relies on a large number of service contracts—88 primary service contracts were cited—and that those contracts continue to be a part of the delivery mix.

Keith McMillan, the city’s director of data strategy, analytics and AI implementation, presented a comparative analysis of general‑fund dollars per full‑time equivalent (FTE) across several peer cities. McMillan said Sandy Springs was an outlier on that metric, breaking the $300,000 mark and sitting roughly 2.97 standard deviations above the peer mean, a sign that the city’s budget per FTE is substantially higher than typical peers. \"We're doing that well,\" McMillan said, describing the result as a measure of the city's scale and investment in staffed services.

Council members asked staff to continue refining the service‑delivery strategy, to inventory contracts and assigned fund balances, and to present options for capital priorities that balance pay‑as‑you‑go funding and potential debt. Staff agreed to supply more detailed breakouts of assigned fund‑balance line items and contract expenditures for council review.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","2025 City Council Retreat (Day 2)","oneSentenceSummary","City staff reported that moving multiple contracted services in‑house beginning in 2019 produced bigger savings than projected—about $26 million over five years—and highlighted city accomplishments, expanded services and a data analysis showing Sandy Springs’ general‑fund spending per staffer is high relative to peers.","taxTitle","Sandy Springs, Fulton County, Georgia","taxId",2960,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6345381,"Council hears that water litigation aims to remove surcharge; staff says buying system is not the objective",6451,2819000,9270000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2249247-22a0bb42f968d681dd06edb51131b8f3&start=2819&end=9270","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2249247-22a0bb42f968d681dd06edb51131b8f3/thumbnail_2819000.jpg","/articles/6345381/Sandy-Springs/Fulton-County/Georgia/Council-hears-that-water-litigation-aims-to-remove-surcharge-staff-says-buying-system-is-not-the-objective","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6345381-f01ea988e22f3435c6a43cdc134b9a37/orig.mp4?Expires=1771098337&Signature=pAX8zhT0m1Xf8SQg6eryHbwLUbuQpAit0bRztkDaAinrqIMdDMs3aCrFyznC52lQRAQUI7mmpQqN0e0-QoMC~xVDaC2oHD0TL2lnUKP1d8ypAXiYIgPxjxZ~IwoyNGtiKCLfo5yFkjMa6yhY6lMCll2ita1V-tbPSR4Qbys3uGdXAtr~P2H3OnXNHk-zaEYI0i5ibrE1idSeFv6E8YDDqgsmtvmniEBlwN~u5FkJelq0FboXc2jPtYBNl-NWaafVriR0TpY8YnLfV3A2hr7WCI9egORhQrn2bxfv-PnyVpSp22Z6oPqg5NQ3Bhw2X0pGB5HOQbNS4~nbPnX0nvg8fg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Council members used the retreat to press city staff for clearer public discussion about ongoing litigation and contingency plans tied to the city’s water service.

Councilwoman Jody Raichel asked whether contingency planning signaled an intent by the city to acquire a water system, and raised concern about the scale and cost of any such purchase. City leaders said the litigation’s stated goal remains elimination of the surcharge charged to Sandy Springs customers by Atlanta, and that contingency work is meant to prepare the city for any possible outcome without presuming that the city will purchase a system.

The mayor clarified that litigation is aimed at removing the surcharge and ensuring reliable service and that staff are preparing for multiple contingencies in case the litigation produces outcomes that require further action. City staff emphasized that contingency planning is standard legal and financial preparation and not a decision to enter the water‑utility business.

Council members asked for more public conversation if litigation moves toward a settlement or an outcome that could leave the city confronting operational decisions, and asked staff to return with materials that explain likely impacts on residents and on the city’s finances. No timetable or specific price estimates were presented at the retreat; council and staff said they would bring more detailed analyses to a future public meeting if circumstances warrant.","Council members pressed staff for clarity about litigation with Atlanta over water surcharges. City leaders said the litigation’s objective is to eliminate the surcharge and ensure reliable service; contingency planning is underway but acquiring a water system is not the city's stated goal.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6345386,"Sandy Springs retains AAA credit ratings; advisers say city can borrow but urge caution",2386,113000,2499000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2249247-22a0bb42f968d681dd06edb51131b8f3&start=113&end=2499","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2249247-22a0bb42f968d681dd06edb51131b8f3/thumbnail_113000.jpg","/articles/6345386/Sandy-Springs/Fulton-County/Georgia/Sandy-Springs-retains-AAA-credit-ratings-advisers-say-city-can-borrow-but-urge-caution","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6345386-6f4aba3c0aae4067b9acf9df2ba1d38f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771098337&Signature=d-ZxGOuCMWseZeJCXdQLSO5BG0lwxow69tK8ZLe9ll4VCj24tpD6di1alVyzOdf3799n8iodan0xAogePVhbdt-D2jNImoiXNPMBKT6Lt8smqSQD-NGLdMdxrL2b2KcGAVyAv4emnvH5WkOsywgZ0naMWlBP-ZmTzF03TD2GPKr0OghCFhTEhx~BZh9JjULO9tWOO~lmGTMw2scFpgaQwz-BG~wNo2CCGBOaL6jLFeOKr3zyWcypneQthxT8A2vvR8x7sZFUBCDm8RmyZiCGrQL7-V3-cDpR3V1m7k6tH4CwMD5X6q0bCDKn2uBQ9auVbycAa05jPr9Dvf08O-vmXA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Sandy Springs officials were told at their annual council retreat that the city remains in strong financial health, holding AAA ratings from Moody's and Standard & Poor's and large reserve balances that give the city room to consider future borrowing.

David Cheatwood, the city's outside financial adviser, told the council the city's audited fiscal‑year 2024 results show robust revenues, steady annual debt service of about $12.6 million and fund balances that provide flexibility for capital spending. He said rating agencies cited a sizable tax base, high income levels and strong reserve and management practices when affirming the top ratings.

That rating and the city's financial position matter because they affect borrowing costs and how much capacity the council has to fund projects without increasing investor risk, Cheatwood said. He summarized three common ways to measure capacity: what current revenues can support, how much the scorecard could absorb without a downgrade, and the limits set by the city's own policies.

Using the city's 2024 results as a baseline, Cheatwood presented modelled scenarios. Relying on the roughly $5 million that flowed to fund balance in fiscal 2024 as a repeatable annual source, he said the city could support roughly $64 million of new 20‑year debt under the stated repayment assumptions. Using rating‑agency scorecards, he estimated the amount that could likely be added before the scorecard would move a notch down is about $76 million. By contrast, purely complying with the city's debt‑to‑full‑value policy would technically allow a much larger issuance—he cited a theoretical maximum of about $256 million—while another policy test (debt service as a share of revenues) produced a different upper bound (roughly $165 million under static revenue assumptions).

Cheatwood cautioned that the larger policy ceilings are theoretical and that affordability, revenue projections and potential below‑the‑line adjustments by rating agencies all affect outcomes. \"If the goal is to preserve the AAA rating, that tends to put practical capacity in the $60 million to $75 million range,\" he said.

Council members asked what types of capital could be financed and about the mechanics of a bond referendum. Cheatwood advised that quality‑of‑life referendums such as parks and trails historically perform well if they include broad public engagement, geographically distributed projects and clear information about tax‑bill impacts rather than only headline dollar amounts.

City staff and advisers also reviewed specific balance‑sheet items that underpin the ratings. Cheatwood reported an unassigned general‑fund balance of about $35.7 million at fiscal‑year end, assigned fund balance of roughly $31.5 million, and a capital projects fund balance reported near $44 million; together those buckets give the city roughly $111 million of available resources by the measures he described. Outstanding principal was presented at about $207 million, and annual debt service was shown at roughly $12.6 million.

No formal decision was taken at the retreat. Council members pressed staff for follow‑up information on options, including public outreach and the projected property‑tax impact of any referendum, and staff said they would return with more detailed scenarios should the council direct them to pursue one.","Financial adviser David Cheatwood told the council the city maintains AAA ratings from Moody's and S&P, has strong reserves and capacity to issue new debt; advisers estimated $60–$76 million of new borrowing could likely be absorbed without downgrading, while policy limits could technically allow much more.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Sandy Springs presentation credits insourcing with nearly $26 million savings; staff outlines 20‑year accomplishments

Council hears that water litigation aims to remove surcharge; staff says buying system is not the objective

Sandy Springs retains AAA credit ratings; advisers say city can borrow but urge caution