Did Douglas County Sheriff’s Department Create Jail Mold Emergency?

Why did a leaky pipe cost taxpayers more than $305,000?

From Staff Reports: Douglas County Taxpayers Coalition

www.douglastaxes.com

Douglasville GA: On August 25, 2008, Chief Deputy Stan Copeland of the Douglas County Georgia Sheriff’s Department went before the board of commissioners seeking more than $300,000 for a temporary housing unit for 25 female inmates displaced by an alleged “mold emergency” in their jail dormitory.

Copeland said they discovered a leak in the ceiling, apparently coming from the kitchen above the dorm. He told the commissioners the concrete floor may have deteriorated and they could move the kitchen outside the jail for a cost of $1 million.

Douglas County Attorney to Make $1.8 Million on Jail SPLOST

Douglas County Attorney to Make $1.8 Million on Jail SPLOST

From Staff Reports: Douglas County Taxpayers Coalition

www.DouglasTaxes.com

Douglasville GA: If Douglas County voters approve the November 3, 2009, Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) and bond referendum for a $150 million new prison, county attorney Ken Bernard could receive $1.8 million for initiating the $120 million property bond, which will be secured by taxable properties within the county.

SPLOST: Douglas Taxpayers Group to Fight $150 Million Tax proposal… again!

Lithia Springs, Ga.: The Douglas County Taxpayers Coalition (DCTC) has begun a public awareness campaign to make voters aware of the upcoming November 3 Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax referendum.

Douglas County Commissioners voted 4-1 to place the referendum on the ballot for the third time in four years. The referendum is for a six year, one percent sales tax to equal $150 million and a general obligation bond (loan) for $120 million.

Douglas County Ga. Schools: $30.7 Million in reserves

AJC reported (10:44 p.m. Friday, September 4, 2009)  that the Douglas County Georgia School System has over $30.7 million in reserve funds, yet the board voted to increase property taxes and furlough teachers and staff.

Read the article: HERE>>>>

$150 Million SPLOST/Property Bond on Nov 3 Ballot

On Tuesday September 1 2009 the Douglas County Board of Commissioners vote to call a referendum on a Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) for the construction of a 1500 bed prison facility in Douglas County.  This is the third time since 2006 the BOC has place this issues on the ballot. The previous SPLOSTs were defeated by the voters.

Commissioner David Lathan was the only commissioner to vote NO to the resolution.

The 6 year sales tax is expected to raise $150,000,000.00 ($150 million) with a 6 year property bond for $120,000,000.oo

The resolution below doesn’t mention the cost of the tax or bond.

Tab 6 on the agenda reads as follows:

• 6. Referendum resolution of the Board of Commissioners of Douglas County, Georgia imposing a county one percent sales and use tax as authorized by Part 1 of Article 3 of Chapter 8 of Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia annotated, for the purpose of providing funds to pay or be applied toward the cost of acquiring, constructing and equipping a jail and related law enforcement complex, including the reimbursement of amounts previously paid by the county to acquire land and other costs related thereto; specifying the period of time for which such tax shall be imposed, specifying the estimated cost of the capital outlay project to be funded from the proceeds of such tax; authorizing the issuance of certain general obligation bonds secured by the proceeds of such tax; specifying the principal amount of such general obligation bonds is to be issued; specifying the purpose for which such general obligation bonds is to be issued; specifying the maximum interest rate or rates of interest which such general obligation bonds may bear; specifying the principal amount to be paid in each year during the life of such general obligation bonds; requesting the board of Elections and Registration to call an election of the voters of Douglas County, Georgia to approve the imposition of such sales and use tax and the issuance of such general obligation debt; approving the form of ballot to be used in such an election; and for other purposes. (Legal)

Comments on Taxes and Liquor By James Bell to BOC

Theses comments were made by James Bell to the Douglas County Board of Commissioners on July 7, 2009.

1. First of all, I support holding a public vote on Sunday Alcohol sales by the drink. Once and for all, we as a community can determine what we will socially tolerate. The voters will have to determine if revenue and ending county/city turf battles are worth the risk of more drunk drivers on our streets.

Douglas County Ga. Property Tax Increase

Please be aware that your property taxes will continue to increase if you take no action and allow our elected officials to TAX US TO DEATH!

State Homeowners Tax Relief Grant ‘HRTG’ will NOT be funded this year

Be aware that earlier this year, representatives in the Georgia Legislature passed a measure that cuts the funding for the Homeowner’s Tax Relief Grant. This bill was enacted into law when it was signed by Governor Perdue this spring. When you look at your property tax bill, you will see how much this grant reduced your property tax burden.  Typically this will add an additional $200-$300 in taxes owed per homeowner.

Taxpayers Call to Action! Attend Meetings – Call Officials!

Douglas County Commissioner Freddie Ashmon Jr. Arrested?

DCTC has received a tip that Douglas County Commissioner was arrested this morning for assaulting a citizen at a town hall meeting in April. A $3000 bond was set.  DCTC broke the story on on May 1st.  More on this story later as it develops.

Read the Story>>>

Douglas County Ga. School Board $295,000 Lawyer Contract

Tax Group Asks School Board to Postpone $295,000 Attorney Contract Vote

Douglasville, GA:  The Douglas County Taxpayers Coalition (DCTC) has asked the Douglas County Board of Education to postpone the scheduled June 15^th 7:00 PM vote for a $295,000 services contract for legal services with board attorney Ken Bernard.

In a letter dated June 12, 2008, James Bell director of DCTC called the proposed fees “excessive and extreme”. Bell asked that the school board postpone the vote scheduled next Monday night until the board can do their “homework” and determine what other counties are paying for comparable services.

“Our research indicates other counties are paying around $100,000 to $150,000 for legal services”, Bell said. “We feel $295,000 pre year for a part time attorney is excessive and grossly out of line with comparable school districts.”

According to Bell the contract was written by Mr. Bernard for Mr. Bernard and little research has been done by the school board as to what is reasonable to pay for such legal services.

Bell said “in hard economic times the school board should be looking for ways to cut expenses especially when they are considering raising our property taxes to meet their enormous budgets.”

Bell points out that the school board consumes over 70 percent of the property taxes collected in the county.

“We need a school board that that will look after the interest of taxpayers and this means providing the best service for the best price. Overpaying by one or two times the going rate for a part time lawyer accomplishes neither”, said Bell.

For more information visit www.DouglasTaxes.com

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To: Chairman Jimmy Bartlett &

Douglas County Board of Education

From: James Bell

Douglas County Taxpayers Coalition

Dear Mr. Bartlett and School Board Members,

This concerns the proposed $295,000 services contract between the Douglas County School System and attorney Ken Bernard.

I respectfully request that the June 15^th vote on this matter be tabled and postponed until the board has the opportunity to research the contracts and fees of other comparable school districts.

Based on the information I have obtained from other school systems, the proposed fees are extravagant and grossly out of line with acceptable fees being paid. Other counties report fees ranging from $100,000 to $150,000 for legal services.

In a time when taxpayers are struggling to keep pace and with the threat of high property taxes and millage rates, it is incumbent upon you to prove the best service at the most reasonable price.

We find this contact proposal to be excessive and extreme. We ask that you consider a more reasonable alternative to legal council.

Thank you for your service and consideration,

James Bell

New Georgia law assures that property assessments won’t go up until 2011

By Shannon McCaffrey Story updated at 8:28 AM on Thursday, May. 7, 2009

ATLANTA – Property assessments in Georgia cannot rise until 2011 under a bill signed into law on Wednesday by Gov. Sonny Perdue.

Supporters say the new law will prevent local governments from hiking assessments during an economic downturn that has driven many property values down. But critics say it could lead counties and cities to boost millage rates instead, meaning tax bills will rise either way.