SPLOST: Will it pass?

The SPLOST tax was enacted as a county tax for funding capital projects and can only be initiated by the board of commissioners. Therefore, commissioners should have already developed a capital improvements plan to represent short and long term goals for the county. This plan should be used to plan a SPLOST, however, every time the subject of SPLOST is mentioned; the same old plans for its use come to the surface. Everyone should get away from the idea that SPLOST is good because everyone participates and pays. SPLOST is only good if the purpose is well defined and will benefit all citizens of the county. It is only good if the funds are uncorrupted and only used for the purposes voted on and never associated with those generalized money outlays for generalized projects such as to pave roads. The SPLOST should be absolutely specific and if paving a road is to be a use – it should specifically call out the roads that will be paved. The ballot language must include the total estimated revenue amount, a list of all proposed projects, and the time period of tax. The primary intent behind SPLOST is to pay for specifically enumerated projects, not to balance the government’s books or to pay for other governmental expenses. It is permissible to begin construction on a project and be reimbursed from SPLOST funds later. However, I am of the opinion that the county spends a lot of time collecting reimbursements and little time in construction. To be more specific, the term corruption comes to mind. A SPLOST project cannot be abandoned even when it is no longer feasible. It can only be adjusted.

Everyone should consider the SPLOST and the corruption encountered with the Barnesville Lamar County Agriculture Authority or the fire truck that wouldn’t fit in the fire station. If you are not familiar, you should make yourself familiar. It’s sad to say not to trust your elected leaders for they are only going to tell you what you want to hear with the intention to sell you a bill of worthless goods. They are not ever held accountable and they already realize that.

This is a good example of the uninformed voicing misinformation. I believe my source here was pretty good so this is the information I heard. The fire chief measured and informed the city manager that the fire truck would not fit in the station. The fire chief was ordered to order the truck anyway because renovations could be accomplished to the fire house. SPLOST was used to purchase the truck for around 700K. The truck did not fit as was previously informed. The fire chief was terminated. The truck was sold to recoup the 700K SPLOST and another truck purchased for around 200K. The first purchase (700K) was made using credit (debt). The original outlay for the project was met. The truck was sold but the debt remained and was not paid. Although the original intent of the project was met, it was afterwards corrupted to the tune of near 500K of misuse. The fire chief did sue and did win in the suit. If the fire chief termination was justified, there would have been no fault and the termination upheld without any payment to the fire chief. Therefore the descriptive term “insane” is perhaps inappropriately used for a person seeking justice.

I own property too and I don’t want to see taxes increase. Local government represents the people that elect them. They are not elected to go into office and do as they please. They should be held accountable. When they are faced with cutbacks or tax increases they need to listen to the people that elected them. At no time should local government spend the people’s money without first consulting with the people and always they should act on the people’s wishes. Therefore making the assumption that tax increases will result because the people refuse to bow down to government only indicates that government is corrupt and is not held accountable by the people. Maybe you should study up on the term “government by the people” and we the people should send those representatives with an inability to listen to the unemployment lines. Eventually we will get it right and elect honesty and integrity or something other than a ‘politician’.

What difference does it make? You have already made up your mind and apparently you will accept the truth or a lie as long as it sounds the way you want to hear it. So if the facts fell on your head you would try and call it rain. Or perhaps you already know the facts and hide under that anonymous veil tossing out words hoping to steer others away from the facts.