Also included is an easy-to-understand glossary of what the various terms and mumbo-jumbo (e.g.
“net investment in capital assets”) mean.
“People look at an annual report and it’s a bunch of numbers and it’s boring!”
says Abby Wilkerson, Suwanee’s public information officer and the author of the city’s 2016 annual report.
The untraditional report matches Suwanee’s broader approach to governing.
“We want to get our message across.
“She pitched the idea to us and we gave it a tentative green light,” Allen recalls.
When Wilkerson returned with a first draft, “we said, ‘wow!’
there’s something to this!
She was able to write our accomplishments into a story that is really high quality.”
The story describes how the villains are stymied at every turn by Suwanee’s civic investments.
“Look at all these happy people … Im disgusted!
“says Main Stream, who kicks a bike tire in frustration.
“Hey man, not cool!”
“They … they … they literally CUT THE RED TAPE!!!
“What is this … this … Oh no … could it be?
… Am I becoming INTERESTED?!
“cries Disinterested Cat.
“That was intentional.
It’s Official!
Data for the report comes from the city’s more formal Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR).
Suwanee received an award from the association for its 2015 PAFR.
The city hopes its 2016 edition is a winner, too.
“We’re pretty proud of our City Hall,” says Goodman.
The Suwanee annual report stands out as well.
“They recognize the uniqueness of it.”
But Allen didnt have to travel far to get positive feedback.
“I can tell you one thing, he says.
“This is the only annual report my 12-year-old son has read!
That’s certainly a victory right there.”
Mary Ellen Flannery is a freelance writer and editorPage published November 2017
