Gwinnett Magazine, Leaders & Legends: Phillip Beard

Gwinnett Daily Post, Buford's Phillip Beard is longest serving city official in Gwinnett County at 46 years and counting

As of August 29, 2023, Phillip Beard did not have a website and did not complete our questionnaire.

Natural Resources & the Environment

Housing & Urban Development

As commissioner, disbanded Buford police force to ease budget constraints.

- As commissioner, disbanded Buford police force to ease budget constraints.

Public Safety

Buford City Schools, Phillip Beard Bio

Supports continued funding of fine arts programs.

As commissioner, reallocated police dollars towards Buford schools, helping the school district rank first in Georgia.

As commissioner, helped to maintain constant tax and utility rates since 1973.

- Supports continued funding of fine arts programs.
- As commissioner, reallocated police dollars towards Buford schools, helping the school district rank first in Georgia.
- As commissioner, helped to maintain constant tax and utility rates since 1973.

Public Services

As commissioner, led redesign of the city's utilities system.

- As commissioner, led redesign of the city's utilities system.

Transportation & Infrastructure

Phillip Beard

- City commissioners work together with the rest of the commission to set and implement city policy. 
- The city commission is tasked with ensuring the health, comfort, and safety of residents of the city 
- City commissioners work with the mayor to govern city departments, such as the police department, fire department, transportation department, and parks and recreation department. 
- City commissioners represent either the whole city or residents of a specific district. 
- Most city commissioners in Georgia are elected in odd years to four year terms. Elections are nonpartisan. 