Agreeing that it was mistake

to roll back the millage rate last year, but then wanting to roll back

the millage rate this year is a contradiction.

Wholeheartedly supporting the

bond referendum to purchase the Braelinn Baptist Church while serving

as the church's financial advisor, but opposing a tax increase when considering

the resulting half-million dollar operating expenses is a contradiction.

Supporting the adoption of

financial policies to deal with budgetary issues and then avoiding their

implementation is a contradiction.

Inflating revenue projections

to avoid a tax increase during an election year but committing to support

a 28 percent increase next year is a contradiction.

Refusing to acknowledge the

need to maintain a revenue increase due to reassessed property values

to help offset increased expenses due to inflation is a contradiction.

I will not contradict myself.

I do not support extravagance and foolish financial decisions. I still

believe our budget is the means in which council provides guidance and

direction to the administration and that we need to improvement communication.

I will do everything I can

to help keep our property taxes low, but we do need to acknowledge the

fact that our taxes are low.

I have criticized the city's

lack of commitment to provide open government, but I will give credit

where credit is due. Overall, the financial operation of our city is run

very efficiently. To put it in perspective, consider the fact that last

year Fayette County's fire tax was 3.78 [mills] while Peachtree City's

entire city tax was 3.84.

Think about it. We provide

an entire array of city services including recreation, police, fire, EMS,

public works, developmental services, building inspection, code enforcement,

administration, etc., for little more than what the county can provide

for fire service alone.

We obviously can do more for

less. We could actually make a profit if we were to provide first emergency

response to areas just outside our city limits if the county would agree

to give us their fire tax in return.

My opponent has told you he

feels that he is the better choice because he has an ability to influence

people. However, my vision for our City Council is one of unity and consensus

without intimidation or force.

While I do not back down from

a challenge or cower in the face of adversity, I do believe that community

leadership requires compromise. And in order to achieve compromise one

needs to have all of the facts and replace personal aspirations with community

objectives.

A vote for Nancy Faulkner on

Nov. 6 is a vote for someone who will give you the facts, make decisions

with integrity and common sense, and place community objectives above

political aspirations.

Nancy Faulkner

[email protected]

Back

to Opinion Home Page |