How Much Debt Does Woodstock Have?

• $24.9 million for water and sewer; 
• $10.1 million in road and infrastructure improvements; and 
• $8.9 million related to facilities.
• $893,000 for equipment.

Woodstock, through its Urban Redevelopment Authority, in 2010 took on $19.6 million in bonds to pay for needed improvements to its grit chamber at the Waste Water Treatment Plant.

Sixty-five percent of that —$12.6 million, to be exact — was to refinance existing debt incurred through the issuance of bonds in 1998 and 2003, City Manager Jeff Moon said. 

The other — $3.09 million in bonds — is when the city had to perform its Noonday Gravity Relief Sewer project, which the city replaced a sewer line from Highway 92 through downtown along Main Street. 

The city also took on $4.2 million to purchase the former Woodstock Community Church site on Main Street, which it plans to eventually revamp into its headquarters, and $4.7 million to purchase the former Robert Harris Homes building on Highway 92 where its current offices are located.

The city purchased the building on Highway 92 after it determined the former Woodstock City Hall site was in poor condition. The building, which was cramped and had part of its foundation crumbling, on Arnold Mill Road was eventually demolished and allowed the city to expand its Park at City Center.  

Other projects the city utilized bonds to perform include:

• Purchasing the right-of-way related for the city center at $2.3 million;
• $3.4 million for right-of-way acquisition for the Ridgewalk Parkway interchange;
• $1.67 million for Woodstock West at Walton Communities portion of the city's grid streets;
• $2.7 million for Ridgewalk Parkway widening and improvements;
• $893,280.99 in equipment needs such as: 20 Police Vehicles, 9 vehicles for its Stormwater Department, 3 Streets Department vehicles, various information technology equipment, Public Works Equipment, Fire Department thermal imager and Fire Department breathing apparatus. 

City Manager Jeff Moon said the city does not have any debt in relation to operations, pensions, payroll, retiree health insurance and or tax anticipation notes.
 
Woodstock also took the liberty to compare/contrast its debt burden to surrounding cities. When the city calculates the debt burden just under its general fund, the number stands at $790. However, if the city includes debt in relation to utilities, general fund and other purposes, the number jumps to $1,787. 

The burden of surrounding cities includes:

• Canton at $2,043;
• Gainesville at $7,392;
• Marietta at $1,484;
• Kennesaw at $720
• Alpharetta at $876
• Roswell at $127
• Acworth at $846
• Smyrna at $1,000

See the attached document to review the city's debt presentation, what it has already paid off and what loans it could soon payoff.