City officials are inviting the community to check out the new, state-of-the-art Norcross Public Safety Building at an Aug. 22 Cookout with Council, before an official Sept. 2 ribbon-cutting.
Norcross City Manager Eric Johnson, who is retiring to Florida just a few days after staff begins working in the new building, said the $26.9 million project is the most expensive in city history, largely due to soaring construction costs.
“I am very proud of the fact that we have paid for more than three-quarters of the cost of that building with cash … without leaving a legacy of debt for future generations,” Johnson said. “I would suggest, if I were here, that we pay it off five years from now when the first opportunity arises.”
New police and court facility
The new 42,252-square-foot building is retrofitted for future expansion within the complex, negating the need for any renovations in the next two decades. There’s a community room, a courtroom, a 1,600-square-foot Real-Time Crime Center, a fitness center, and a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training studio for officer training.
Johnson said the public won’t be allowed to tour the building without an ID-verified background check after Sept. 8, once the police and municipal court facility at 6025 Buford Highway is operational. He credited Police Chief Bill Grogan with leading the construction of the new facility.
“[Grogan] has been the master of making sure the public safety building gets built,” Johnson said. “He was heavily involved in the design … you can see cool things like the fact that we have a big public space up front.”
Johnson said he wanted to see Norcross pass its annual budget and open the new public safety building before retiring to Florida with his wife of 48 years.
Related stories:
• Former Henry County manager to become Norcross city manager
• City Council discusses funding for $26.9 million public safety building
At the Aug. 10 city council meeting, officials approved a $120,000 change order to its construction contract to include specialized hardware and software for the PSB’s new Real Time Crime Center. A city memo said an additional $450,000 federal grant covers the cost of the new technology, allowing staff to display multiple video feeds on the RTCC’s monitor wall.
Other city news
Council members selected CyberElite Corporation, which ranked highest among 11 firms, to conduct a comprehensive cybersecurity assessment. Consultants will review technology infrastructure, identify vulnerabilities and compliance gaps, prioritize risks, and help create a long-term cybersecurity improvement plan.
The $48,100 cost will be covered through a federal cybersecurity grant, according to a city memo.
The city’s fiscal year 2027 budget, running Sept. 1 through August next year, totals $62.7 million split across six funds. The spending plan encompasses $23.6 million for the general fund; $15.3 million for Norcross Power; $12.1 million for capital projects; $6.1 million for the solid waste fund; $4.3 million in special revenue; and $1.2 million for stormwater management.
The city’s general fund for day-to-day operations and personnel includes $9.9 million (or 42%) for public safety and police; $7.3 million for general government; $2.5 million for public works; $2.4 million for cultural arts and parks; and $1.2 million for community and economic development.
Property taxes provide about 41% of the general fund’s revenue. The adopted property tax rate of 6.249 mills maintains the city’s current rate for the fifth consecutive year.
The adopted rate, which does not exceed the state-calculated rollback rate and is not considered an official tax increase, is expected to generate about $10.3 million in fiscal year 2027.
