WHAT DOES $145 MILLION BUY?
In spite of what you may believe you are voting for if you read all 27 lines of the SPLOST ballot, you are actually voting yea or nay to building a new jail that could top $145 million.
The truth about the SPLOST is hidden in state law and pages 3 and 4 of the Resolution of the Board of Commissioners. Copies and sample ballots are available from the Elections Board at 770-920-7326.
These sources make clear that a new jail qualifies as a Level 1 priority, which simply means all SPLOST money goes to the jail until it is completed or there is no more cash. Only money not used for the jail goes to other projects.
The Aquatic Center exceeded cost estimates by 300 percent. If the new jail were to exceed its uncapped estimated cost of $87 million by just 66%, it would consume all the $145 million of the SPLOST.
Why did the BOC hide an $87 million new jail in the last lines of a 27 line ballot? The first 25 lines offer parks, roads, water projects, etc. Sounds good, but the jail gets the money first and all other projects must wait.
Even if money remains for other projects, it will not be enough because the BOC undercounted thousands of residents. State law requires the most recent U.S. Census count to determine population. The last census was taken in 2000, so six years of population growth have neatly vanished from BOC estimates. No wonder city officials refused to sign onto this turkey.
While the BOC incumbents concealed the real intent of this ‘Jail SPLOST’, the sheriff inflated projections and proclaimed unrealistic or non existent studies to justify his odd jail fantasy.
If we had foolishly funded the suggested 1200 jail beds in the 2002 “assessment” by the Sheriffs’ Association, we recently would have been stuck with 531 empty beds instead of only 142.
The sheriff claims he has studies declaring Douglas County needs an $80-$100 million new jail. OK, let’s see them.
The recurring threat that a Federal Judge may order the county to build a new jail or add more jail space is unfounded. It is more likely that a judge would order smarter, cheaper and better problem solving alternatives, rather than continuing a failed management policy.
Whitfield and Floyd counties are implementing low cost alternatives such as faster bond hearings, work release programs and ankle bracelets for home monitoring for non-violent offenders. These alternatives are much cheaper than concrete and steel and should be implemented before taxpayers are asked to fund additional costly construction projects.
The courthouse cost about $40 million. Can you imagine a jail more than three times its size?
For voting information contact Voter Registration at 770-920-7213 and www.dctc.wordpress.com.
Tony Cain 770-944-3456
Posted by dctc 