The bottom line is that Americans

are overtaxed today by all levels of government. Despite the fact that

staff and council have worked diligently to make the budget process as

painless as possible, there is nonetheless a 12.3 percent tax increase

proposed to balance this budget.

It is one thing to sit by idly

and say you're against tax increases and vote accordingly. It is quite

another to make general and specific proposals that would have balanced

the budget without a tax hike. That is what I have done.

During the budget workshops,

I offered many suggestions and three specific plans that would have offered

a zero percent millage increase without affecting public safety budgets

in Peachtree City. However, I am but one vote out of five, and a majority

will always prevail in a democracy.

Nonetheless, there is still

such a thing as principle and that is what I stand on. In tough times,

expenses and budgets can and should be cut to relieve the burden to taxpayers.

This necessarily comes at a sacrifice because you simply cannot have your

cake and eat it too.

I believe there simply was

not sufficient sacrifice in this budget, and I will never buy the argument

that taxpayers don't care about how their money is managed so long as

their services are provided.

The buck has to stop somewhere,

and for me, that is now. I will not support a tax increase and I will

not vote to approve this budget.

Dan Tennant

Mayor Pro Tem

[email protected]