And while we Fayette County residents don’t like taxes, we do like the unique quality of life we’ve come to enjoy in our county.
In normal times, most of our government services, such as public safety, recreational amenities, roads, and infrastructure maintenance, are financed from property taxes and sales tax, with the income and outgo remaining in reasonable balance.
However, when property values and retail purchases decline dramatically, as they did starting in 2009, the tax revenue drops below the ability to maintain the level of services we have come to expect.
Revenue from property taxes declined by 22 percent from 2009 to 2013. This left our governmental officials with only two choices: reduce or delay maintenance and services, or raise taxes.
Our local governments did the former for as long as they could, until our safety and quality of life began deteriorating.
It is estimated that between 20-30 percent of our retail sales are made to people who reside outside Fayette County. Therefore, a sales tax increase, as opposed to an escalation in property tax, is more advantageous for our citizens, because non-residents help fund the infrastructure they use.
The cost of repair is almost always more expensive than the cost of maintenance. If we don’t address our problems now, it will cost us more in the long run.
It is time to play “catch up” on maintenance and improvements that have been delayed for too long. Please vote on March 21st, and vote “Yes” for the SPLOST.
J.D. Holmes, owner
Fitness 54
Fayetteville, Ga.
