Douglas County Property Tax Deadlines

New Year Brings Property Tax Deadlines

Lithia Springs Ga. – January 2, 2009: Douglas County property owners who feel their property has decreased in value due to the slump in the housing market can file a property tax return (Form PT-50R) between January 1^st and April 1^st of each year.

This little known process allows property owners to declare what they feel is the true market value of their property and will activate the appeals process. The property tax returns then go through the same course an appeal would, getting reviewed by staff and eventually the county Board of Assessors.

Vote No To SPLOST

Why I am voting against the SPLOST

Over the past few weeks, I have seen several articles, and heard many speakers covering the SPLOST that is on the July 18th ballot. There has been mass misinformation leaving the public confused and unclear about what is really going on. I intend to vote NO for the following reasons.

My primary reason for voting NO is the $87 million allocated to the building of a new jail. While Sheriff Miller and the Board of Commissioners tout the need for a new jail, overcrowding, and grand jury statements; the fact of the matter is there are NO independent studies that have assessed the situation. Are there safe cost effective alternatives available that are underutilized by our current administration? Are the courts the bottleneck that causes our supposed jail overcrowding? What are the demographics and statistics on our jail population? Without thorough and independent studies, the people of Douglas County have no true facts to base their opinion. We may very well need a new jail; however, we need a fair study to prove it.

Secondly, while the Sheriff is asking for $87 million, the actual construction costs can exceed this estimate. Currently, the location of the jail is in question. There are no estimates for the increased operational costs once the jail is built. Using SPLOST funding, allows unbridled spending, without oversight to protect the peoples money that comes with general fund projects. Without proper oversight, you can be assured that questionable expenditures will abound; especially when given an $87 million blank check without a comprehensive plan.

SPLOST funds have become the drug of choice for county officials. By continuously depleting every dime the general funds have available, county officials are now dependent upon SPLOST money and threaten to raise property taxes to feed their never ending hunger for more spending. The mere thought of losing out on a few weeks worth of 1% sales tax revenues, has prompted the aggressive push by county officials to pass this SPLOST extension as soon as possible. This irresponsible SPLOST proposal has been rushed to the ballot without public input, detailed plans, or clue as to the location of the jail. The current SPLOST doesn’t expire till next summer. If you vote NO, the county will have to wait till next summer to propose the SPLOST again, and will miss out on 2 weeks worth of pennies.

By voting NO, I am sending a clear message to the ‘leadership’ of Douglas County to stop trying to mislead the public with vague, biased, and blatantly incorrect statements. If we are successful, and this SPLOST fails, be rest assured county officials will return next summer with a more detailed comprehensive plan. After all, an addict will always come back for their fix.

Brad Forschner
Lithia Springs

Tax Group Concerned Over Electronic Ballot Accuracy

The Douglas County Taxpayers Coalition (DCTC) is concerned that there is no way to confirm the accuracy of the vote tally in next Tuesday’s Primary Election and SPLOST vote and fears the ballot results could be manipulated.

James Bell, head of DCTC, said he is concerned that regardless of how the SPLOST goes, the public will never know if the vote count was accurate. Bell said his concerns are valid after observing the last SPLOST vote in Cobb County.

“In Cobb, the SPLOST was failing by 2% until there was a ‘technical glitch’ in the system,” said Bell. “They were unable to count votes for an hour and a half and when the vote count resumed the SPLOST was leading by 2%.”

Bell points out Cobb’s election results showed the SPLOST vote passed by only 114 votes out of 40,000. In addition, 285 votes were recorded as “non-votes”, a margin of error that could have won the vote.

This week a group, www.voterga.org, filed a lawsuit asking a judge to stop the State of Georgia from using any electronic voting system that does not produce a paper ballot and a system for hand-counting at least some ballots to ensure the accuracy of the machines.

Bell said he does not believe our election officials would attempt to manipulate the election results but the chance of a “technical glitch” is a grave concern.  “Voters need to be confident their vote is counted accurately and that results are verifiable,” Bell noted.

DCTC will be watching the results closely.

Read more about the Voting Machine lawsuit

Promises, Promises, Promises!

 

In the July 9^th SPLOST article in the Douglas County Sentinel by Winston Jones, the article mentioned that the voters are confused about what they are voting for and how the money will be divided. Based on the information the county has provided the pubic, it is no wonder why there is confusion. After attending the informational meeting Monday night, I have learned that county officials are also confused about the facts.

Chairman Tom Worthan said the money will be split 60/40 from the first dollar collected. The fact is, by state law and the resolution signed by the Board of Commissioners, Level One projects (New Jail) can consume up to100% of the SLPOST revenues collected before it can be applied to any other projects. This means that if the proposed jail cost exceeds the estimates, revenues will be pulled from other projects to satisfy the jail cost.

Douglasville, Austell and Villa Rica know there are no guarantees the cities will get any of the money promised by this SPLOST. Because all projects listed in the SPLOST proposal cannot, by law, be abandoned, property owners will be required to cover the shortfalls through higher property taxes.

Time and time again county officials have threatened property owners with tax increases if they do not pass this SPLOST. But the fact is unknown operational costs of a new jail and cost overruns on the proposed projects, like the 300% cost overruns at the Aquatic Center, put property owners at risk of tax increases.

Do you believe that Douglas County will lower your property taxes if the SPLOST passes? Have your property taxes decreased in the past 10 years? Do you really believe Tom Worthan will roll back your taxes?

Promises, promises, promises!

In Cobb County, voters passed a $1.2 billion SPLOST (by only 114 votes) after being threatened with higher property taxes. Yet less than a year later, the county has announced that property taxes will be increased by over 4%.

Worthan claims that if the SPLOST fails, property taxes would have to be used to fund the jail and the cost will be under $600 per home over the six year period. But based on a county population of 110,000, the SPLOST will cost $1,318 for every man woman and child over the same period.

The truth about the 75% matching road funds from D.O.T., is all qualified road projects are already eligible to receive matching funds on state and federal levels. SPLOST is not the goose that laid the golden egg!

One other interesting issue is why the SPLOST was placed on the primary ballot. Special and primary elections are typically used for tax proposals because officials know that fewer voters tend to vote in these elections. In Cobb’s special election only 10% of voters turned out for a one issue ballot. Meaning 5% of voters passed a billion dollar tax on 100% of the population. This is just one more ploy by Commissioner Worthan to undermine public participation in our county government. Worthan has a history of attempting to shut out public input by eliminating the evening business meetings so working class folks are unable to attend, and refusing to allow citizens to speak at board meetings.

This is why your vote is so important. We must send a clear message to our elected officials that they must use our tax dollars responsibly. If they cannot manage to operate our county with the revenues they already have, we must elect officials who can.

Vote NO to this SPLOST on July 18^th.

Thank you,

James Bell

Douglas County Taxpayers Coalition

www.dctc.wordpress.com

SPLOST Defeated in Straw Poll

The straw poll, conducted July 4th, asked 100 likely Douglas County voters – “If the vote was held today, would you vote yes or no on the $145,000,000 SPLOST Tax.”

Yes: 46%

No: 54%

While this is not a scientific poll it is a good indication as to just how close the SPLOST vote may be.

Please remember that in Cobb County, the last $1.2 Billion SPLOST passed by only 114 votes. Cobb County claimed that 285 voters attempted to register a vote but it was recoreded as a “non-vote” on a single issue ballot.

YOU MUST VOTE! Let your voice be heard!

Remind your neighbors to vote “NO” July 18 or in early voting July 10-14 at the D.C. Courthouse.

Please read the ballot question carefully! The “New Jail” issue is hidden on the last line in an attempt confuse the voters.
VOTE “NO”! 

For more information contact: James Bell 404-452-4668

The Real Truth About SPLOST

 

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

Tax Protest Continues: Vote No $145,000,000 Tax

Street Demonstration Reaches the Masses

The Douglas County Taxpayer's Coalition will continue voter outreach through street demonstrations and distribution of information. We need your help! Please join us for the following events.

Remember to vote "NO" on the SPLOST July 18th.

The Douglas County Taxpayers Coalition will hold an informational meeting:

When: June 22, 2006 – 6:00pm

Where: Lithia Springs Public Library

Why: The public is invited to attend this informational meeting concerning the proposed $145 million SPLOST Tax and New Jail vote July 18.

“Yes, public officials are invited and we will give them more respect than I was given at “their” meeting!” JB

Protests will continue each Friday 4-6pm at alternating intersections.

June 23 – Chapel Hill Rd / Douglas Blvd.

June 30 – Hwy 5

July 07 – Chapel Rd.

Grand Finale July 14^th (TBA) Stay Tuned!

For the Douglas County Taxpayers Coalition

www.dctc.wordpress.com

Thank you, James Bell email – libactnet@yahoo.com

Floyd County seeks $1.75 million for inmate work release center

 

Floyd County is seeking $1.75 million in special purpose, local option sales tax funding to build a work release center for nonviolent local inmates as an alternative to jail.

County Manager Kevin Poe said the cost to taxpayers would be about $10 a day, compared with $40 a day to house the offenders in jail.

Additionally, he said, people convicted of offenses such as DUI or failure to pay child support would be able to make restitution without losing their jobs and spiraling deeper into debt.

“A lot of times, it starts a cycle that increases our recidivism rate,” he said.

Poe made a presentation on the project to the SPLOST Citizens Advisory Committee, which is charged with recommending a package of projects to put before voters in November’s election.

The committee’s next series of presentations is scheduled for Tuesday at 5:45 p.m. in Rome’s City Hall.

Members have not voiced opinions on the projects they’ve examined at their May 22, May 30 and June 1 sessions but have closely questioned the presenters.

Willis Potts asked Poe why — if the proposed work release center will save the county $30 a day per inmate — officials don’t issue bonds for construction instead of using SPLOST funding.

“That may be an option,” Poe replied.

The center would be located next to the Floyd County Prison on Black’s Bluff Road, allowing it to share kitchen and security operations. Floyd County Prison officials would manage the center.

Poe said the cost would drop about $250,000 if the county is able to renovate the old prison.

The structure is 80 years old, but it was built with 12-inch-thick concrete block walls and may be reusable.

Source:Go Here!