Citizens force tax retreat

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Tuesday, August 24. 2010

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Barring a last minute change of heart, the Lamar County commission will vote tonight to not increase its millage rate.

UPDATE: The commission voted unanimously to implement the fire/EMS fee and leave the millage rate unchanged at 8.942 mills. The precise amount of the fire/EMS fee will be determined soon.

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#1 Ron on 08/24/10 at 03:19 PM

We'll see if the commission is true to their word or were just telling their bosses what they wanted to hear to shut them up, only to do what they want to do later. If they don't do as they were told by the citizens, it is time to file recall papers on everyone who lied.

#2 GM on 08/24/10 at 03:46 PM

It is still a tax. It is just being called something else. The fact that people will still be paying more remains the same. They will still have to pay more.

Come election time these overspenders must go. It is time to get a write in to run for chairman. Anyone have any suggestions to approach?

#2.1 Anonymous on 08/24/10 at 06:28 PM

I think you may be a good candidate.

#2.1.1 GM on 08/24/10 at 08:55 PM

Just some simple basic thoughts about what we need:

1. Someone who has experience multi-tasking and operating within a fixed budget.
2. Someone with the ability to locate the funds for a project before obligating the funds for the project.
3. Someone that has the ability to say no.
4. Someone with the ability to shut-up and listen to what the people have to say.
5. Someone with the ability to present proposals, with the ability to explain the benefits and potential pitfalls while gathering feedback from the public using that knowledge to make logical approaches to the decision making process.
6. Someone that understands that team is not spelled with an “I”
7. Someone that will make every effort to see that authorities are not to be confused with social gatherings with the ability to transmit the message that taxpayers expect results from tax dollars.
8. Someone who can communicate with other department heads and ask for their suggestions dealing with problems within their departments.

In short; we need a manager capable of managing. I bet we have many people in the community that can fill those shoes.

#2.1.2 Anonymous on 08/25/10 at 05:34 PM

That's right, you're paying more for less!!

#2.2 In Agreement with GM on 08/25/10 at 03:17 PM

George Brown would be a good pick. He has the background and has always sided with the people in his district. I know he has some nay sayers but those are from people he wouldn't cater favor to. He should run as a write in against the person that was comitted to getting him replaced. Its not good to have a chairman with a stacked deck.

#2.3 Anonymous on 08/25/10 at 04:42 PM

Royce Turner
Kent Kingsley
Kenny Roberts
Bobby Burnette
Dr. Korb or Dr. Korb
Ann Claxton
The past Rec Director

#3 Anonymous on 08/24/10 at 04:14 PM

That doesn't surprise me. Cutting employees wages is a lot easier than making the difficult decision of cutting the funding to various Authorities and Agencies. Way to go Commissioners! Maybe because Gene Hardwick is a member of at least one authority. How about Brown? Matthews, his family runs the water authority. LOL Enjoy yall's time in office..it'll be your last.

#4 gab on 08/24/10 at 07:29 PM

Its a shame the county has got into such a mess. It doesn't help much knowing we are not alone. There are alot of other counties and cities in as deep as we are. I really hate to hear that they plan to cut the salaries of the county workers. Some of those guys don't make much to start with and now they will be faced with lower pay and higher taxes. I know, I know, the commisioners are not raising taxes, wink wink,just charging a new fee. Trim the fat at the top guys and do away with the usless authorities.

#5 Anonymous on 08/24/10 at 08:06 PM

What? Approved new fire and ems. No 10% cut. No cuts in service. No new taxes. No new fire tax or fire fee. No millage. Not higher. We need a full time paid firefighters with the firehouse.

#6 HAG on 08/24/10 at 08:08 PM

I don't see anything changing in Barnesville anytime soon. The powers that be, the 'richie riches', if you will, own everything and have a pocketful of money and a pile of wanna-be's kneeling at their feet just begging for popularity.

Look at downtown. The people who own most of it have influence, rub noses with the ones who are in leadership positions and make sure Barnesville never has a chance to grow. As long as we keep letting these folks run things, we'll never have a Walmart. I mean, ocme on, Walmart might not be everybody's favorite place, but at least you can buy everything there. And it would create jobs. Of course, if you wanna keep buying your stuff overpriced and feeding the fat little piggies with their hands in the cookie jar, then be my guest.

#7 Anonymous on 08/24/10 at 09:46 PM

A Walmart would kill this town, just as it has Griffin,,,there is one just down the road in Forsyth, enjoy,,,,,support your local businesses, they are the backbone of any small community. What we don't need is a county water authority. Not many in the county want county water., Look at all the wasted money tied up in all the pipe on the side of the roads,,,how about Wayne Pattersons salary as county manager,,,bet he could live on less,,,we don't need the things he had in Clayton County when he was a manager there, this is Lamar, we do not have that kind of tax base, I say get rid of his position now,,

#7.1 Anonymous on 08/25/10 at 05:41 AM

good comment, I live in the county and don't want county water. When I lived in the city limits my water tasted like it came out of a fish tank.
Fire services are a joke, my local station unlike party city in the North is unmanned but I will have to pay the joke fire tax..Thank you commissioners for at least cutting some dead weight. I challenge ya'll to be leaders in the state and start the ball rolling to do away with the property tax, or at least the school portion for citizens over 60. If you always do what you've already done then you will always get what you've already got..Have a good day and let's keep up the fight, see you at the next meeting.

#7.1.1 abc on 08/25/10 at 09:04 PM

Did you not goto school? Who payed the school tax then?Just think,there was somebody bit.hing about paying school tax when you went to school and when your grand kids get to be your age they will prob be bit.hing about school tax. Just think what they will have to pay.

#7.2 MO on 08/25/10 at 06:51 AM

I'll challenge you on two points - county water and Wayne Patterson. I live outside the city limits and was so happy to have the opportunity to hook onto county water for convenience and water quality reasons. The Water Authority is a separate entity which is not funded by taxpayers. Thanks, Amberly, you're helping our county move forward. As for Wayne Patterson, he's the one who is keeping Lamar County from making the mistakes Clayton made. Thanks, Wayne we appreciate your dedication to your job and our county.

#7.2.1 Anonymous on 08/25/10 at 09:03 AM

If a good county manager was in placed he/she would have had measures corrected and in place before _____hit the fan. No, Mr. Patterson I am not thanking you! This didn't happen over night.

#7.2.1.1 MO on 08/25/10 at 10:19 AM

Are you blaming the county manager for your personal financial problems? He's not responsible for this economy that's busted everyone and everything.

#7.3 clung on 08/29/10 at 01:18 PM

just so i understand what you're talking about... could you please tell me how griffin is dead. are you frackin kidding me? griffin is booming compared to what it was just a few years ago. have you not been there in a while? even the old down town area has lots of shops that are still open for business. god.. stop being so dumb. if we did get a wal-mart it would create jobs!!! that would mean less people asking the state for help just to survive. that would mean less gas money to go to wal-mart (and you know you do.. don't lie).. it could improve our economy here!! the people of b'ville would still go to giant mart and as for the shops down town... i don't know anyone who goes to those anyway. the only ones that ever make it are the restaurants and the movie star.

#7.3.1 Anonymous on 08/29/10 at 06:07 PM

Barnesville is too small to sustain a Wal-Mart. Besides, I'd rather drive a few miles and NOT have that crap where I live.

#7.3.1.1 Anonymous on 09/01/10 at 12:08 PM

Lamar county is pretty big though. from what i heard they were talking about putting one in the general area of the army surplus place on the hwy. that would be in the county. yeah we have plenty of wal-marts surrounding us but i'm thinking of jobs here. 15% unemployment! unfortunately i'm one of them... and there is nothing here. i don't want to be dependent on the state to help me feed my kids.. do you? something has to give at some point.

#8 HAG on 08/25/10 at 06:30 AM

I'm sorry 'Anonymous' but small businesses are NOT the backbone of a small community. The taxpayers are!!! The small businesses are more often than not owned by the already rich in the community. You say it would kill this town? I think it would greatly benefit this town.

Now, I don't have a problem with shopping small businesses. Some of them i'm quite fond of. And i'm not jealous of anybody's money. I do quite well financially and my home is within 8 years of being paid for.

I just think that since there's no industry planned for this community anytime in the near future, that we all would benefit from something like Walmart.

#8.1 Anonymous on 08/25/10 at 06:54 AM

A Walmart would turn Barnesville into a ghost town.

#8.1.1 Anonymous on 08/25/10 at 10:00 AM

A super Walmart would be the new Mecca for Lamar county citizens. Competition is at the core of American capitalism. The standard of living would rise and gas money would be saved by not having to drive to Griffin, Forsyth or Thomaston.
Just a few businesses to fail as a result: All drug stores, ACE hardware, All tire shops, Fred’s, possibly most gas stations, all clothing stores, all optometry, all grocery stores (Ingels and GiantMart), possibly the auto parts stores and numerous other businesses not mentioned.

#8.1.1.1 Honestly... on 08/25/10 at 11:00 AM

NO WALMART!!!

http://www.alternativesmagazine.com/30/baynton.html

#9 tax money wasted on 08/25/10 at 07:14 AM

the school system is where the money is wasted, its that simple

#10 katie on 08/25/10 at 07:16 AM

Would someone who knows the facts and not just speculating explain how the fire/EMS fee will be billed and collected? With a fee we lose the income tax deduction allowed for real estate tax. How is it going to be charged to those who don't own property? If it isn't, then the same ole property owners are paying for the increase as usual.

#10.1 anon on 08/25/10 at 10:20 AM

Why should I pay a fee for ambulance service when I will be paying for the ambulance trip if they come to get me? Don't the fee cover the costs? Or is my fee for all those who don't pay the ambulance cost for their rides?

Same for Health Dept fees. Shouldn't the people using the service pay?

Good luck collecting the fees from dorm room students and those in public and section 8 housing.

#10.1.1 Anonymous on 08/25/10 at 10:58 AM

the bill you recieve is payment for the ambulance service,the ems fee is to make the ems service available in your area.

#10.1.2 Anonymous on 08/25/10 at 11:22 AM

Unfortunately you'll be paying for those that get a free ambulance ride or call the ambulance to their house then choose not to go. They gotta make up the money somewhere and now the county commissioners are going to force the entire county to cover it. EMS/Fire Tax is the dumbest thing I've ever heard of. At least increasing the millage rate made sense.

#10.1.2.1 Anonymous on 08/25/10 at 12:40 PM

just exactly who do you think has been paying for it all along???

#11 Hey on 08/25/10 at 07:18 AM

What's up with the Hot Shot? A couple of weeks ago, I paid for $15.00 gas with my debit card there and when I looked at my bank statement it said there was a debit for $100.00 to Hot Shot. But then it was credited back to my acct. I thought it was a fluke. But when I went back a few days ago, it did the same thing again. Is the owner doing that on purpose to launder his lotto money or something? Anybody else had this happen?

#11.1 gab on 08/25/10 at 11:42 AM

Hey, hey, when you prepay for gas with a debit card, the store "pre-approves" an amount larger than you will ultimately pump into your tank. Usually at the close of the day, sometimes the next day, the overpayment is credited back to your account. While its the way gas companies have of making sure folks have enough in their account to pay for the gas they pump, they don't get to see the actual amount in your account, this practice can really screw you up sometimes. I had a friend who went to another store later in the same day they had pumped gas and had their card rejected because the gas company hadn't credited their account back yet.

#11.1.1 Anonymous on 08/25/10 at 12:26 PM

actually they are only suppose to pre-approve $1 on card for gas not large amount (that's called stealing)... it's up to your bank whether they want to approve that transaction or not... so yes Hot Shot is doing something drastically wrong but then again didn't they just get raided for illegal gambling?

#11.1.2 Anonymous on 08/25/10 at 12:40 PM

Be careful with that too if you're account runs out and you have the overdraft protection. For example if they debt $100 to check your account, then gas is $40 thats -$140 out your account until they give the $100 back. If you only had $100 in your account then you just went into the red. Guess what, now your bank is going to charge you a $30 overdraft fee...which will come out of the $100 that Hot Shot will put back into your account. In the end your tank of gas costs $70.

Long story short don't use the pay at pump feature at Hot Shot.

#12 Anonymous on 08/25/10 at 08:46 AM

I like Walmart...They are always open, they have a huge selection of products, they are priced good, granted some nich businesses are doing well against them, I go there...I'll bet the people in Barnesville wish They had one so they would not have to drive to Thomaston,Griffin or Forsyth.

#12.1 Anonymous on 08/25/10 at 10:56 AM

I'd much rather drive a few miles to Walmart than to have it junk up our town.

#12.2 Still love Walmart? on 08/25/10 at 11:02 AM

Wal-Mart is a parasite on the town body. Like a giant tick, it attaches itself to the side of a community, digs in and begins to suck the money out. It entices local folks with goodies at prices unheard of. Like innocents entering an opium den, people succumb to the illusion of prosperity, not realizing the enormous price to be paid soon after. Everything sinks to the lowest denominator (or is that dominator)—wages, prices, products, and services. Until most people have to shop there, because either they can’t afford to do otherwise, or there’s no other widget stores left.

#13 Anonymous on 08/25/10 at 11:21 AM

The county has 22 firefighters. And city has 21 firefighters. No way. No cut service.

Tea party. No 10% cut. No cuts in service. No new taxes. No new fire tax or no fire fee. No millage. Not higher. We need a full time paid firefighters with the firehouse.

#13.1 wtf? on 08/25/10 at 02:13 PM

I hate you. I get tired of reading your stuff. While it may be that I agree with you, the way you type it...makes me want to knock the living hell out of you....damn!

#13.1.1 Anonymous on 08/25/10 at 04:45 PM

I don't hate: but I agree with you about the destruction of the English Language.

#13.1.2 abc on 08/25/10 at 08:09 PM

I agree, this person should be banned for life. Please go away!

#14 Hey on 08/25/10 at 11:24 AM

Well, maybe if Walmart did come here, the local folks would quit price gouging us. Not to mention, I would prefer to give my money to Walmart for gas than these cheap crooks we have in Barnesville.

You see the rich folks panic everytime Walmart is even whispered.

#14.1 Anonymous on 08/25/10 at 02:08 PM

I'm not rich and I despise Walmart.

#15 Anonymous on 08/25/10 at 11:55 AM

Don't worry. We need your help. Fix problem. You can help the fire department with tax.

Lamar County, Barnesville, Butts County, Henry County, Clayton County, DeKalb County, Fairburn, Fulton County, Atlanta, Spalding County, Griffin, Pike County, Zebulon, Jasper County, Thomaston, Yatesville, Monroe County, Forsyth fire departments, and Care ambulance service and Mid Georgia ambulance.

#16 Anonymous on 08/25/10 at 12:18 PM

"A Walmart would kill this town, just as it has Griffin,,,there is one just down the road in Forsyth, enjoy,,,,,support your local businesses, they are the backbone of any small community."

RIP B'ville. Not so long ago I needed some saw blades to complete a task. Went to a "local business" to purchase some. This local business wanted $30 for the same thing that cost $3 at Home Depot in Thomaston.

Care to guess where I bought my saw blades?

#17 Anonymous on 08/25/10 at 02:37 PM

I would really like to thank the Commissioners! You have successfully given the lower class property owners the shaft. Think about what a millage rate increase would effect the most. It would effect the expensive homes the most, because it is a percentage of the value of the property. The new fire/ems fee will be higher than a millage rate increase on properties of lower value. The number I heard was 1mil is equal to $40 on a $100,000 home. And the fire/ems fee was estimated at around $125. So if your property is valued BELOW $300,000...you are getting screwed!

#18 Bo on 08/25/10 at 03:01 PM

Since the ambulance service is a private business why then must the county provide money to it. It should be like every other business that has to support itself. Another thing is the county leaders got Lamar into this mess. When the money was there they were spending just like every other govt in this country. They knew eventually the economy would fall, it always does,but no one had the balls to save or slow down spending. In other words they couldnt say no and to stay in office had to spend or give money or programs to people to so everyone would be happy and stay in office.

#19 John Davis on 08/25/10 at 06:31 PM

Voters in district 4 need to unite and help fund a billboard with a picture on Gene Hardwick on it and the follwing message; "Miss me yet?" Thank you Nancy for your suggestion that country employees take a 10% salary reduction. They haven't had a raise in the past three years.

#19.1 Anonymous on 08/27/10 at 06:50 PM

She only cares about her rep
She is a GLORY HOUND!

#20 TTerry on 08/26/10 at 09:01 AM

Do not forget how lucky we were on the millage rate and the commissioners had the good sense to listen to the overwhelming shout of the property owners.
We can not forget the battle is not over. Do not forget the school has the power to take your hard earned dollars that go a lot less further than it did a short time ago. My understanding at one of the commissioners meetings, the school system of Lamar county, was setting on about $7,000,000 in surplus. This tells me somewhere I have been abused not only by the county, but more by the people that run the school system.
For the people that gripe about those of us that do not want to pay the school tax due to age--I never had anything harsh to say about the tax when I had 4 children in the system. I thought it was my responsibility to pay, and I lived in Butts County on Jackson Lake. Very high. Now I have no children in school, and I pay more school tax than I ever have in my life. There comes a point in time when enough is enough.
I call on every one of us to find out when the school system is meeting and put forth all of the energy I enjoyed seeing at the county commissioners meetings. We have another 500 lb gorilla eying us like a big banana ready for picking and pealing. I am tired of getting pealed

#21 anon on 08/26/10 at 10:16 AM

How does County plan to collect the fees? How will they force Gordon dorm students to pay, or how will they force gov't housing users to pay? Can't be attached to property tax for all those who don't own property.

Maybe everyone should refuse to pay this fee. They cannot prosecute everyone and certainly cannot attach to some folks' property if not applicable to all.

I say refuse to pay the fee period.

#22 Anonymous on 08/26/10 at 12:10 PM

Cut services and salaries. Cutting the transportation, office workers, officials, 4-H, animal control officer, School nurses, Teacher training, Nutrition, Custodial, Central office, Coach, Public Service Leadership Academy, Secretary, Sports, Bus driver, Law enforcement explorer, and public worker.

Cut the Industrial Development Authority, Solid Waste Authority, Water Authority, Emergency Management Agency, senior buses, combine the Recreation and Senior Center Departments, extension office, health department.

No cut sheriffs, fire and emergency services.

#22.1 Ron on 08/26/10 at 02:30 PM

I'm interested in knowing what ego-maniacal elected person came up with "authority" after some of these departments.
The correct term should be SERVICE.

A message to the local public servants:
We give you money to perform a service. You are NOT the authority. You have certain limited powers that WE have given you. We do not have to obey you. We obey the laws of the land.
I'm pretty sick of you, the politicians, walking around like you're some kind of pope. We, the people who elected you are the authority, you are mere servants who can easily be replaced.

#22.1.1 Anonymous on 08/27/10 at 01:37 PM

"Authorities" are just a way for Government to provide a service and dodge responsibilities. Example.. if the Water Auth. lost $100K, the Commissioners and County Manager would blame the authority and its board. Thus relieving the county of any responsibility. Its a win win situation if your in County Govt. or a relative of said Govt. Official. But its lose lose if your a taxpayer or customer.

#22.1.2 Anonymous on 08/27/10 at 07:19 PM

No cut sheriffs, fire and emergency service. But? Third and final public hearing.

Cut services and salaries. Cut the transportation, office workers, officials, 4-H, animal control officer, School nurses, Teacher training, Nutrition, Custodial, Central office, Coach, Public Service Leadership Academy, Secretary, Sports, Bus driver, Law enforcement explorer, and public worker, Industrial Development Authority, Solid Waste Authority, Water Authority, Emergency Management Agency, senior buses, combine the Recreation and Senior Center Departments, extension office, health department.

#23 vicky stewart on 08/26/10 at 12:18 PM

i was at workshop monday i wonder where the furlough days went to that the clerk judge
and they agreed too .its hard to take a cut any kind but . i wasn/t ask it was done.i know several people that hae furlough days.
goverment needs to act like a business,
i did not hear how we were going to reduce the debt of 2.4 million
they listened to some small extent but ...
as to the school board go get a copy of their budget they over spent by 1million now they have aprom 5,098,000.00 surplus.yes i will be at the next school board meeting

#24 Anonymous on 08/29/10 at 09:43 AM

I love the idea ..... "voters in district 4 need to unite and help fund a billboard with a picture of Gene Hardwick on it and the follwing message; "Miss me yet?"

I will be more than happy to contribute. She is a fake and only cares about herself and getting her quotes or picture in the paper! She doesn't really care about Lamar County.

I remember her critizing Hardwick for being at the County Office every day since she said "We have a County Manager". Well, you see what happens when commissioners aren't involved on a daily basis.

#24.1 You all know me! on 08/29/10 at 11:04 AM

Rather than regress to one already replaced - why not start thinking about replacing Nancy with someone new too. Moving backward is not an answer for anything except backward thinking people. VISION - If you don't have it - you will never be able to see past your own nose. Gene was not the answer - Nancy is not the answer - perhaps the next person will be. But if not: Replace that person too. It just proves a point. The political party isn't the answer, the integrity of the person is. Find loyalty to the people accompanied with integrity and move forward.

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