July 2012 Issue

    INSIGHT

       
       
       Millage increase, T-SPLOST ... enough is enough!
        by Patrick Anderson, Publisher


    Congratulations to the Glynn County Board of Education for their decision NOT to raise property tax rates for 2012. They
    decided to use their available reserve fund to balance the budget. Such was not the case with the Glynn County Board of
    Commissioners. They voted to raise the millage rate .84 mills, despite having more than enough in their $53 million reserve
    fund to make ends meet. Only Commissioner Bob Coleman voted against a tax increase.

    There were dozens of excuses for protecting the massive reserve fund, from unfunded capital improvement plans to fear of the
    unknown. Who can predict how large the cost over-runs will grow once they crank up construction on the new county jail?
    And one thing is certain with most county projects, there will be cost over-runs.

    Only Bob Coleman is listening to the taxpayers. People want LESS county government, not more. They want LOWER millage
    rates, not higher. Could the message have been any clearer than when  Glynn County residents voted down a 1% SPLOST tax
    last November by nearly a 60% margin? What short memories!

    Now we have the County and most public officials (assisted by the Chamber of Commerce) queuing up in support of the 1% T-
    SPLOST ... oops, I mean the recently renamed "Transportation Investment Act." This quote is from a page on the County
    website explaining the urgent need for our YES vote on July 31: "Transportation infrastructure funding comes almost solely
    from Georgia's motor fuel tax which isn't bringing in enough money to match currently available federal funds." link

    So if I understand this correctly, we have to increase sales taxes on everybody in order to keep up with the free money
    hemorrhaging from the Obama administration? Excuse me, but this is exactly the kind of tax and spend crap that keeps
    infuriating the conservative electorate.

    As a result, Obama will likely be a one-term president and the Senate will return to a Republican majority. If that happens, the
    Republicans will cut spending across the board in 2013 (as they should). So, why do we need 10 years worth of  1%
    transportation sales tax to acquire federal matching funds that should be drying up soon? The T-SPLOST has a 10-year shelf
    life. Obama has only 6 months!

    Voting on referendums has become very easy for me these days. Any proposal that increases taxes or expands government in
    any way is an automatic NO.

    I've had enough.




                                                                             Contact the author: Patrick@StSimonsLetter.com
the St Simons letter is published by Patrick Anderson & Associates, Inc. Copyright 2011. All rights reserved.
For further information contact
Info@PatrickAnderson.net
StSimonsLetter. com
StSimonsLetter.com delivers crucial real estate
information to your INBOX every month.
Access INSIGHT and other
reports marked "Free"
You also receive monthly
notification of new articles
Access ALL articles for ONLY
$1 per month for first three
months, $5 per month
thereafter ... cancel anytime.