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Busy Friday in Norcross
Friday, June 19 — It’s Hayden with my weekly newsletter on Norcross.
City hall is closed today in observance of Juneteenth, an official U.S. federal holiday since 2021.
One hundred sixty-one years ago, Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to enforce the Emancipation Proclamation and free the last enslaved people in the United States. The city of Norcross’ annual Juneteenth Celebration took place earlier today.
Here’s more news to know:
🎤 The Summer Concert Series continues tonight at 7:30 p.m. with “the ultimate Earth Wind & Fire and Chicago tribute band,” September In The Park.
🚧 Each Friday night concert this summer also comes with a couple of street closures along Park Drive near Thrasher Park.
👨🍼 The city is helping dads relax this Father’s Day weekend with a downtown pop-up on Saturday, June 20, featuring an inflatable fun zone to occupy the kids for a few hours in the afternoon. You can find other downtown business deals and family activities on the Father’s Day pop-up webpage.
🏛️ Norcross is looking for a new city manager, with Eric Johnson set to retire in September after serving nearly six years in the role. Council members opted to contract with a recruiting firm to guide the hiring process and select the most qualified candidate.
🗳️ Oh yeah, Georgia’s primary runoffs were this week. See who’s going to be on the ballot for the Nov. 3 general election.
Now for some stories,
🖖 Hayden
✨ Early bird tickets are now on sale for Community Assistance Center’s CAC Annual Gala on Sat., Sept. 19 from 6 to 10 p.m. Join us for an inspiring evening supporting neighbors and building a stronger, more stable community. SPONSOR MESSAGE
Community mourns loss of Norcross Council member
❤️ Norcross Council member Marshall Cheek (1957-2026) passed away on June 14 after a years-long fight with cancer. He was 69.
On Monday afternoon, Norcross officials ordered the American flag at city hall to be flown at half-mast. The celebration of life for Cheek is on June 23 at Patterson Funeral Home in Brookhaven, from 3-6 p.m.
“He very much loved the city,” Council member Bruce Gaynor said. “He was very honored to be on the city council, took it seriously, and saw it as a major way of giving back to the community.”
💞 Read about his time in public service from Norcross officials here.
Run for Dads. Fight Prostate Cancer.
SPONSORED BY PROST AWARE
💙 Celebrate Father’s Day with purpose at run4DAD 2026. This family-friendly event invites you to honor the dads in your life while supporting prostate cancer awareness and research.
Choose from a 5K run, 1-mile walk, or kids’ race—there’s something for everyone. Gather your friends, bring the family, and enjoy a meaningful morning of movement and community impact. Make this Father’s Day weekend one to remember by giving back and showing up.
➞ Join us Sun., June 21, and run for the dads who matter most.
Council weighs 150% business tax hike to balance budget
💸 The Norcross City Council discussed increasing the occupational license tax rate on businesses by 150%, raising about $600,000 in operating revenue to balance the city’s 2027 budget.
If the council approves the rate increase, which requires a public hearing, the city’s business occupational tax revenue would increase from about $425,000 to $1.06 million, according to the Norcross Finance Department.
Council members Bruce Gaynor and Matt Myers confirmed that even with the increase, the city’s business and occupational license tax would still be the lowest among peer cities.
📊 Read about the kickoff of the FY 2027 budget process here.
✨ Early bird tickets are now on sale for Community Assistance Center’s CAC Annual Gala on Sat., Sept. 19 from 6 to 10 p.m. Join us for an inspiring evening supporting neighbors and building a stronger, more stable community. SPONSOR MESSAGE
Gwinnett County official recognized for anti-trafficking documentary series
🏆 Marsy’s Law for Georgia, a victim’s rights advocacy group, recently honored Gwinnett County Chief External and Government Affairs Officer Deborah Tuff for her team’s anti-human trafficking documentary series, “Upfront Gwinnett: Trapped and Trafficked.”
The recognition comes as awareness efforts surrounding human trafficking increase with the FIFA World Cup currently in Atlanta.
In the documentary, Tuff interviews survivors and law enforcement officers to expose how vulnerable targets become victims, and how they recover once liberated.
💪 Read more about Gwinnett’s fight against human trafficking here.
Question for readers: What do you think about city property taxes?
🏡 The image above shows the value of the city’s local homestead exemptions this fall (FY 26), compared with property tax discounts next year (FY 27).
Norcross voters approved the increased exemptions last November as relief for rising property values. With the city’s local exemptions increasing, Norcross officials say they are uncertain about the ability to fund services down the road.
Is your property bill increasing each year, despite the city maintaining its tax rate? Do you think property taxes are too high, or are they necessary to maintain city services? Let me know.
💵 Read about Norcross property tax changes and city funding here.
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