I want to preface this article with the disclaimer that some of our elected officials work very hard to curtail the expenses of government. They are too few among the remaining members who cannot see the value in small government. LS
In this country we elect representatives to do the business of governing. They are placed in office to protect and serve the best interests of all citizens regardless of race, creed or color. They are expected, by virtue of our casting votes for them, to be trustworthy and diligent in the tasks before them. Foremost in many minds are the prayers they will not waste our money – and they will strive to take less of it from us.
We own houses and cars. We have children in school. We use water and medical services. Some of us have brown hair, and the day will soon come when that is also taxed!
Go to the last public hearings on Wednesday, September 3rd to hear both the county commissioners and the school board each allow thirty minutes of public discussion. Each board will set the new tax rates on that day. This is not representative government – it is tyranny.
County commissioners and city council members act as a board of directors similar to the board of any corporation. A board's activities are determined by the powers, duties, and responsibilities delegated to it or conferred on it by an authority outside itself. That means you and me – the citizens, voters and taxpayers. We are the shareholders and customers the boards are elected to serve.
Who among us knew two months ago the school board would raise property taxes for Maintenance and Operation by 2.78% and Bond debt by 2.72%? Before the qualifying period ended for school board members, nobody knew! Of course we are continually told the board of education does not have enough money to throw at this problem or that. We know they want to exceed the state law holding property tax millage rate at 20 mils. It is too late to replace the board members – the executives we elected – to run a tight ship.
Likewise nobody knew before the election that the county board of commissioners and every city except Hampton would increase property taxes! What are the odds that a social programming, tax & spend, "do it for the children ", greenspace activist would step into the office of Chairman? What are the odds that her opponent, a fiscally conservative CPA with 40 years progressive business experience, would have won the election? Has the county really gone so liberal as to elect the Henry Hillary, or were the voters kept ignorant while the sitting commissioner prayed for a low voter turnout?
County Unincorporated ……. 2.11%
Water ……………………...... 2.56%
Hospital …………………...… 2.77%
These are the amounts of increase to last year’s property taxes everyone will pay: 7.44% higher. Add back the school board’s 5.5% and the real tax increase will be 12.9%.
Living in McDonough, 3.82% increase. In Stockbridge, 4.61% increase. Locust Grove will have a 3.16% increase. A little math for all of you who did not vote in July or August… McDonough property taxes will increase a total of 14.65%.
Let’s say, for example, that you own a nice house on a few acres and your tax bill already costs about $5,000 per year. Sure that is higher than the average homeowner, but it is ok because the liberal tax and spend politicians know it’s ok to steal from the county’s rich people. When the tax bills are sent out this time, that same McDonough homeowner will pay an additional $732.50. In unincorporated areas the increase will be $645 – not much better.
So what are the executive boards of our county and cities providing for this added cost? More debt, larger budgets, parks, greenspace, bridges to proposed malls, a butterfly park, new cars for the police department… we are getting a great expansion of government, but nothing to justify their hands digging deeper into our wallets.
I am personally sickened by the backdoor assessment increases that are manipulated to achieve the desired budgets set by governing authorities. Not one sector of Henry County’s economy has escaped the serious downturn in property values. Bankruptcies and foreclosures are the dreaded fear of business owners and homeowners alike. In this down market we could not sell our houses for the old values, and certainly not for an artificially inflated assessment! The only increase goes to the government, while our assets are taxed away from us.
Given full information about the plan to increase taxes would surely have affected the field of candidates for public office this year. Plan, you say? Yes – it is not possible to announce a property tax increase within two weeks of an election if that plan were not already in place months ago.
As a Henry Citizen, like all of you, I would propose a fitting response to the executive board members who supposedly represent us. Raise taxes without major spending cuts, and you will not be returned to office again! Elected officials don a mask of superiority because "they understand the full scope," and we who fund their actions cannot. Appeasement of the sort we are paying for will please individuals, groups and organizations that receive our tax dollars. And that is reflected in approval ratings and future votes. Only when we citizens take a stand, refuse to follow like sheep, and stay vigilant in pursuit of our own liberties will governing authorities actually do our bidding. The Pot O' Gold comes from our pockets regardless of whether we can afford the extravagances of this socialist tyranny.
They say public service is a thankless job. I see no reason to thank people who find ways to rob their shareholders and customers.
