It would appear Chairman Worthan and Sheriff Miller are doing everything they can to get you to vote for the SPLOST.. except telling the truth. Why does a county of 100,000 citizens needs a jail at the cost a county of 800,000 would need? Why, now that the decision has been made to leave the jail where it is, why on earth would we tear down the existing one to build another one. Why can’t the sheriff’s office get their facts together on the jail capacity… is it 450, like Chief Copeland says, or is it 811 like the sheriff has said in the past? How can the cost of a jail can be determined when there aren’t even any design plans for the jail?
Sheriff, Chairman, where are the studies showing we need a new jail? You couldn’t find them when we asked. Where are the architectural plans for this high-dollar facility? You could only find other counties’ jail plans when we asked. In fact, you couldn’t find much of anything when we asked, such as the studies showing why other solutions (and there are many other options you’ve completely ignored, such as work release for non violent offenders) won’t work in this county. We know you have been informed the cost of your Taj Ma-jail could easily be double what you have proposed to spend. What happened to the additional jail space promised with the building of the annex several years back?
When the last SPLOST was coming up for a vote, we warned the citizens it would be continuous– that government doesn’t easily let go of a tax once passed. But after the county commission told the citizens what they wanted to hear, the citizens voted for it. Seemed pretty silly to me, but then, some of us studied the issue. This time, there are too many unanswered questions for this tax to be reasonable at all. Even the question on the ballot is, well, questionable.
Now, if the citizens of Douglas County vote in favor of this SPLOST, you will, collectively get what you deserve– a nice jail and more people in your neighborhoods doing all kinds of things to get in it– But go ahead and let your government grow– they know what’s best for you. As for me, I will vote no, because this is dynasty-building on the backs of the citizens and nothing else.
Mike Raiford
Douglas County Taxpayers Coalition
Posted by dctc 