I attended county 2012 budget meetings last month. From what was said, and what I was able to absorb, the statement that “the past administration left a surplus” from the previous administration is quite a misnomer that may increase your property taxes.
It appears that the past administration left us in a dire situation: the “surplus” was accumulated by deferring expenses for needed county vehicles, communications & maintenance equipment, and road and bridge improvements that now must be paid.
Key county employees testified about their increased workloads as tasks performed by recently retired staff are heaped on remaining coworkers, and staff reductions impact assigned missions. The bottom line: the commissioners must either invade remaining reserves, raise property taxes, or both.
At the last commissioners meeting, there were widely differing opinions among the commissioners regarding the adequacy of the 2012 budget. Unless the 2012 budget includes enough revenue to adequately fund county operations, the present problem will continue or worsen and be passed down to the next board.
As of last month, however, there is a third alternative. House Bill 240 was recently signed by Governor Deal, which allows county commissioners to approve a voter referendum that would allow, if the citizens approved it, the county to apply unspent money for impracticable or unfeasible SPLOST projects to existing debt (or, if there is no debt, to reduce property taxes).
Under such a scenario, the remaining funds for the Fayetteville bypasses could reduce debt on the Justice Center enough to reduce the annual payments by about $1.2 million. That’s just about what the county needs to close this year’s gap, savings are enjoyed in following years, and the need for increased property taxes is reduced or eliminated.
For several years now, the commissioners and outspoken citizens have been at odds over the county bypass SPLOST projects. With the dire 2006-11 economy, county funds have been, and are continuing, dwindling from further declining real estate values.
It is now time for both the commissioners and citizens to set their differences aside for the greater good of Fayette County, and take a hard look at the financial picture together. Home equity is sinking below debt. More and more homes are being foreclosed. People are losing their jobs and can’t find employment. Little to no new home construction is forecast for the foreseeable future.
All this requires is for at least three current commissioners to approve a SPLOST referendum. The referendum would then enable the people of Fayette County, not the commissioners or opposition groups to be the ones who decide the fate of the bypass program. To that end, I feel that winning Chairman Herb Frady’s support is crucial to getting this issue before the voters. Historically, he has had the support of the voting majority of commissioners.
The east and west bypasses were never identified specifically as voting issues in the 2004 SPLOST election. it is now time to give the citizens of Fayette County a chance to be heard.
This matter is slated to be heard during the June 9, 2011 commissioners’ meeting. Whether you have ever attended a commissioners meeting or never will again, this meeting is too important to miss. Call, email, or write the commissioners and tell them that you support HB 240. The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. in the Commissioners Room located in the Fayette Government Administrative Complex, located diagonally across the street from the old courthouse, 140 Stonewall Ave. West, Suite 100, Fayetteville, Ga.
Please attend. Bring your neighbors and families.
Copies of this letter have been emailed to all Fayette County commissioners.
Steve Smithfield
Fayette County, Ga.
