By Annie Piekarczyk / Staff

“We have to remember in every decision we make, that the top priority is serving the citizens who live here,” said newly elected Alpharetta City Councilman Mike Kennedy, who was sworn in Monday at Alpharetta City Hall. Kennedy defeated Aubrey Osteen in the November election and captured the open seat vacated by Jim Paine, who could not run again due to Alpharetta’s term limits.

For Kennedy, two was a charm. Brandon Beach soundly defeated him in his maiden Alpharetta electoral attempt eight years ago.

A financial advisor by trade, Kennedy foresees himself becoming very involved in budget planning and economic development strategy. After all, he said, the biggest challenge currently facing Alpharetta is ensuring that the city can provide the necessary public services and capital improvements within the context of a slow economy and a declining tax base.

That’s also what Kennedy’s biggest concern was as he prepared to take on his new role as councilman: trying to match the high-quality city services residents have come to expect from Alpharetta with the challenges of a declining tax base.

“As we develop the 2011 budget over the next few months,” said Kennedy, “we need to make sure we continue to fund items like road improvements and park maintenance.  We can’t make the mistake that other cities make and let our infrastructure decay during tough economic times.”

Kennedy also said the city has to make sure to have police officers and firefighters on the streets, continuing the provide the level of public safety services Alpharetta citizens have to come to expect – the type of quality services Alpharetta is known for.

However, it won’t be easy. Kennedy said, “All of this has to be done within the context of a slow economy and — at least in the short term — a declining tax base.” Because, Kennedy said, the 2011 budget will probably be the same as or even lower than the 2010 budget, the city will have to look at each expenditure even more carefully than before.

Other top priorities the newly minted councilman cited include making progress toward a larger scale traffic solution through the comprehensive North Fulton Transportation plan, which is being coordinated by the Atlanta Regional Commission. In fact, Kennedy pointed out, there is an opportunity for public input this week during a meeting at Alpharetta City Hall.  Kennedy would also like to see downtown redevelopment back on the agenda once confident that some sort of economic recovery is in place.

“People want to live where the streets are safe, the parks are clean and the taxes are reasonable,” said Kennedy.  “That’s what Alpharetta has been known for many years, but I don’t want us to become complacent.  We need to make sure we are working hard to make Alpharetta the kind of place where great companies will want to come and bring good jobs with them.”

Kennedy, for one, got a new job, albeit part time as a council member. Now he has to be sure his constituents can find the same opportunities.