While I respect Mr. Stanley's right to voice his opinion of the Splost programs over the last several weeks, it is important that the people of Henry County vote YES on November 6th.

Nothing is perfect and makes everyone happy. But a NO vote is only a vote to throw the baby out with the bath water.

We have a serious transportation problem in this county and 50% of the millions raised by Splost may not be what we hoped for, but it beats the hell out of 100% of nothing.

Rational minds must prevail and I hope the people of Henry County vote YES on November 6th.

On the contrary, it is important that the people of Henry County vote NO on November 6. If we keep handing them more money, they are never going to cut spending and our taxes will get worse.

Here's how this works. You pass a SPLOST. Instead of spending the money on things the county actually needs and possibly reducing the burden on the property owners, you pander to some special interest group and buy yourself some votes. Need an example? Senior Centers. We're building more of them if SPLOST III passes. These buildings have to be maintained and staffed forever. Who's going to pay for that? The only answer is to kick the millage rate up a notch. You kick another 1 percent over to the government and it costs you that plus a higher millage. So much for the 'rational minds' argument.

It also creates something the government loves. Dependents. Once you've instituted a government subsidized program like Senior Centers, you've created welfare recipients who will thank you with their votes until the day they die. I don't know this, but I'm guessing the county will be taking van loads of seniors to the polls on November 6. They get it. Do you?

Publius V,
Firstly if I were undecided as to how to vote for SPLOST you would have made my mind up as you are to embarrassed to address us with your real name...I have always believe if someone is not willing to reveal their own idenity then they probably have issues with what and why they believe what they espouse to be fact...I ask one question of you...if you are infact a property owner and not renter how much has SPLOST I or SPLOST II lowered your tax....as a realtor I can answer that for you ...NOT ONE DIME... I can show you proof that Rockdale citizens property tax decreased and in their own words was "because of SPLOST ala Rockdale County style"...I must agree with Dutch...keep giving them the money and they will keep spending it...As for Mr. Harper and his business associates....If you don't benefit your benefactors then come election time they will benefit someone else...You can rest assure that most if not all political appointments are made to those that put the appointer in office...Point in fact ...no that is incorrect ....by all apperance Mr.Basler's highest paying appointee...HCWSA board member was also one if not the main forces behind his campaign finances....not to say that is wrong it just has the apperance of being a payback...I personally think all appointees should be retirees or those with the interest of the county at heart and enough time to not miss those all important meetings that impact us all. I find it unacceptable that an appointee miss any meeting and vote when MY dollar is being spent...Check the minutes of any of these meetings....Doubt they miss any of the TRIPS to "seminars" that are taken at taxpayers expense.
Dutch said it all the government loves dependents...kinda like when you rob Peter to pay Paul ,Paul will always give you a gun and be your friend.....vote=gun....Dutch you can only hope for a lot of flat tires on those county funded vans.
I cannot for the life of me understand the mind that says you have to have bad to get good.....your logic is very flawed and is exactly what the political machine in america has fed you all these years and you ate it.
You don't have to accept bad for good ....it is much like gardening you pull the weeds out to allow your crops to grow if you leave the weeds in your garden the crops will either die or not produce the crop you desired,so your method of producing what is good is to eleminate that which is bad...I might add you do that when it first appears not after it has taken root.
Don

Publius V is a good friend of of mine. Even though we may not always agree, his comments are welcome and respected...as is his anonymity.

I promised myself I would not add to the comments on this post. But I must agree with Don & Dutch.

But a NO vote is only a vote to throw the baby out with the bath water.

I am not telling anyone how to vote. It is important that people know the unpublished facts. That is why I have made so many posts on the topic.

I fully understand that fair weather friends will again despise me. I will be blamed by commissioners and members of the Chamber and Growth Council.

I maintain that, should this referendum fail, it will happen because the BoC and city councils refused to listen and act upon the wishes of Henry's citizens. Like I tell my kids, "Clean up your act and you'll earn my respect." I understand the game, but neither the economy, the traffic nor my wallet can stand a half-hearted compromise.

Why are members of the Henry SPLOST Committee (Tony Moye, Steve Cash, Charles Mobley for examples) not beating the drums? Is it because there are no answers sufficiently palatable for the electorate? Plenty of potentially negative aspects are posted or appear in the newspaper. Where is the pro-SPLOST, sure-fire gotta get it passed, enthusiasm?

This will be a 6-year tax program. For me, it is not about winning friends and influencing people. Doing the right thing, especially at the right time, requires making the hardest decisions - and sticking to them. If a special election must called later (and it will be if the Nov. 6th vote fails), I pray the BoC and city councils will return to the drawing board fix their misguided priorities.

One more query: Now that Jim Baker (Baker & Lassiter) has announced a $50million Gwinnett-like Arena at South Point, what will the BoC do with the $7million earmarked for a civic center?