The Sound Guy

Another point to make is that capital for Parks and Rec is not only land acquisition. Mowers and other equipment to maintain the existing parks is also purchased using revenue from the SPLOST. This saves many man hours and $$$ for repair of worn out equipment and makes more efficient use of the people we have (bigger mowers = faster cutting). That in turn reduces the dollars for salaries that are required to come out of the M&O budget which is funded by the property tax. (SPLOST cannot be used for salaries) I would prefer that the SPLOST referendum make equipment a priority, then l

I read the cap on the pipe has been taken off due to a hit by the submersible so the oil is dumping freely now *and* their is a possible hit by a tropical storm in the area of the spill in the next week or so. This is continuing to get worse.

Wow, I didn't know that their influence was so great that they could PICK our county commissioners!! If Surepip's influence was that great, I'd be willing to bet his case would have gone to court long ago! However, fact is that there are no Democratic challengers in many of the races, so this is the only vote that counts. Why should they not have just as much right to campaign for their selected candidate as anyone does?

As my 14 yo soccer playing DD sent me: Never Say DIE with the US team!! Did you hear them say that the US has something like 9 goals scored after the 86th minute in the qualifying rounds? That's incredible.

Looking at the two budgets, he cut 2.3 million from the general fund. He cut around 13 million from the entire budget from what I see. Not sure I see the 2 million in capital in the general fund categories, can you give me category you are looking at? Thanks. The SPLOST, by law, can only be used for Sheriff, E911, Fire, DOT and Parks and Rec since that is what the ballot listed when voted on. The Watson complex (aka Jerry's Palace) is not included in that, nor any capital costs associated with the county buildings downtown, vehicles not included in those dept, etc.

Hey, the value was coming down no matter what thanks to the idiots in Washington (of both parties). Might as well celebrate the little silver lining we get.

Cool!! Thanks.

Dang, this has been one of the more interesting threads today and I missed it until now because I thought it was about the recalled glasses at McDonalds. <Makes note to actually READ OP of the thread from now on>

Oh man you are a riot!! :rofl: And here I thought *I* was Mr Negative! Did he say anything about celebrating it??? ROTFLMAOUIP!!!

I'd also like some real debate also instead of GOPR's almost snappy comebacks. I really don't know who I'm going to vote for. I want to hear Barnett speak, but he missed the PBA/Pcom meet and greet and I missed the GOP one. Anyone know if their is another M&G planned anywhere? if not, then I guess we're going to have to wait until the disclosures come out Whitey to figure out who's who. But I'd still like to know if that was a real press release or a hoax.

Ah, so you admit, you are not here to be helpful or debate in any way, you are only here to stir up trouble?

If I remember from the school bond vote, there are 4 times a year they can put special items up for election. Not sure if the SPLOST falls under that law or not.

Well, well, well. Touchy are we? No, that was the rhetorical question, the response I'm looking for is some explanation of your comment that I'm "out of touch". Care to get into details GOPR, or would you prefer to stay with your one liners? Come on, the major complaint in this forum is that no one will debate. Well, I'm still undecided in this race. If Jason is your boy, convince me why I should vote for him. Let's hear it.

Ok, got it. Like I said, I'm unlucky, they look at mine in August, so they will use last years tax instead of this years. So it will be the 2011 review before they notice that the taxes dropped.

Hey, GOPR, still waiting for a response.

<Sigh> I hate to admit it, but you have a point. That Fire tax boondoggle still chaps my butt. It begs the question, that since they didn't put the education SPLOST on this ballot, you have to wonder why they didn't delay this one until after the main primaries also. I believe they both expire about the same time next year. Of course, I'd put money down that this is *just* like the bond, if it fails this time, we will see it again, since it doesn't actually expire until sometime next year, March I think.

Ok, our assessment came in today. Down 16.2% from last years. The value is now just a little above what we paid for the property in 1998 and the building costs we had in 1999-2000 to build the house. Now to see what happens after the election to the tax rate. Those were the taxes based on last year's assessment. The tax bills for this year won't be available until later this fall.

Man, Where can I get one of those!! Last crater I saw made was that guy who filled up the 2' beach ball with his welder and set it off....

Dawg - I always quoted it as: An Optimist cannot be pleasantly surprised... A Pessimist always is....

Hmmm... I wonder if that was part of the 3 million removed from the budget this year... Talk about tax money going up in smoke!

The up side is that will be the most friendly and helpful customer service they may EVER get from a government office!

"Out of touch"? Care to expand on that? Just how am I "out of touch" Or do you believe the county government runs on peanuts and cracker jacks? I've been through a 15% wage cut, it was no fun for our budget and doubt it has been fun for David. Since Jerry and crew would have been happy to raise the rates under the pretense that "taxes are not being increased" I was amazed and happy that David looked at cutting the budget *first*.

I'm concerned because my policy has an "inflation adjustment" that is supposed to protect me against building costs going up. That additional coverage costs money. I guess I need to sit down with the agent and see if it's grown beyond the "real" cost of rebuilding. From $500 a year in 2000 to $1500 a year in 2010 just seems to be too big a jump.

We also don't need spineless party line followers that are not looking out for the good of the county, but trying to buy votes. IMO, standing up for the taxpayers means making sure we have adequate services we need now and planning for the future, not just minimizing taxes at the expense of everything else. Whether we like it or not, those roads we use, the Fire and Police departments, Animal control, all take money to run. It costs money to do the planning and get permits for the Reservoir that is desperately needed. We need someone who will balance priorities of needs within the co

There is a 20 mil cap on the BOE, I don't know about the BOC. It may be I am just unlucky, my yearly review occurs just *before* the taxes hit, so they always use last years tax numbers to calculate this years escrow. Of course, the year my taxes jumped a $1000, they did an emergency review to up my escrow payments in December, but somehow I don't expect them to do that if they owe *me* money.