First and foremost, the Anti-SPLOST Committee is neither a city-organized nor a city-appointed committee. It was Mayor Ford Gravitt who put all of us in contact with one another, because from his discussions with each of us, he knew we were concerned about the SPLOST VI funding....
First and foremost, the Anti-SPLOST Committee is neither a city-organized nor a city-appointed committee. It was Mayor Ford Gravitt who put all of us in contact with one another, because from his discussions with each of us, he knew we were concerned about the SPLOST VI funding. This committee is a group of citizens from all over the county who have had enough of the games, disrespect and mismanagement of the county’s business. Forsyth County is our county, Ford Gravitt’s county and your county.
Ford Gravitt is concerned about SPLOST and the future of Forsyth County. He has been serving the public for over 34 years…long before Forsyth County was a hot bed of growth and development, long before many of us moved here, and long before it was a “wealthy suburb” of Atlanta. So, yes - he is involved, and yes - he gives comments, but no - we are not the Mayor’s select group. Ford cares about the well-being of Forsyth County, just as we do.
Both Commissioner Laughinghouse and Commissioner Richard have said the $160 million bond is pre-funding of SPLOST monies. Interestingly enough, they never brought this up until they were confronted with it. If this is the case, I wonder what the true benefit of the bond will be after we pay interest and fees. Is it worth it to spend before we earn?
In either event, why is this not clearly stated on the ballot? It would have been so easy to have added a few words on the ballot that would have made this clear to the citizens of Cumming/Forsyth County.
The question, as now written, reads as follows: “If imposition of the tax is approved by the voters, such vote shall also constitute approval of the issuance of general obligation debt of Forsyth County in the principal amount of $160 million for the purposes of funding the County roads, streets, bridges and sidewalks.”
If the commissioners had meant to repay the bond from SPLOST VI revenues, then why was this not clearly stated on the ballot so that it truly laid out the intentions? The question could have easily been worded:
“If imposition of the tax is approved by the voters, such vote shall also constitute approval of the issuance of general obligation debt of Forsyth County in the principal amount of $160 million for the purposes of pre-funding SPLOST revenues to be used for funding County roads, streets, bridges and sidewalks and shall be repaid from SPLOST VI revenues.”
I do not think that the original intention of the plan was to repay the bond with SPLOST VI revenues. It is my belief that the commissioners were, once again, caught in the act of trying to hoodwink the citizens of Forsyth County.
In addition, Commissioner Laughinghouse stated that my comment regarding “zero commitment” is incorrect. This, too, warrants further explanation. In the past, there have been lists issued by the commissioners to outline various projects. My terminology of “zero commitment” refers to the fact that the Board of Commissioners has not accepted its lists as binding. For example, SPLOST V called for a 30,000 square foot addition to the County Administration Building. When Commissioner Richard was asked about this, he said he knew it was on the list, but they (BOC) decided that the engineering and costs were incorrect, and therefore it had to put it off. So it was on the list, it was agreed that it is sorely needed, it was funded, and then it was excluded. It appears whatever portion of the $7,800,000.00 that was earmarked for that project was used on something else. To me that is ZERO COMMITMENT to the county and its citizens. Saying one thing to get an issue approved and doing another when implementing it. Except it was not just one thing. Look back at SPLOST IV and SPLOST V and you will see at least six projects that were listed on them, but not implemented with the allocated funds. Instead, these projects were placed on SPLOST VI. Over and over again we have had things presented to us in order to induce us to vote favorably and then, once approved, these things were omitted or excluded. Again folks, that’s ZERO COMMITMENT.
The Capital Needs Review committee was put together after the Anti-SPLOST committee was formed. It was a direct response to our questions and concerns. This group has developed a listing of projects that it feels are important. I imagine that the members of this group have spent many hours trying to do the right things for the best interests of the citizens of Cumming/Forsyth County. I’m sure they felt that they were an integral part of making SPLOST VI the best ever. However, the past has shown us that this list is a smoke and mirrors tactic to gain approval. Then the Board is off and running with $500,000,000.00 of your money!
Don’t be fooled by that “Public Safety” terminology being bantered around. Public Safety to you and me means something different to the Board. Public Safety is fire protection, emergency management and things of that nature. Public Safety does not include police protection. Don’t get me wrong, fire protection and emergency management are very important. We feel we should fund a new jail from SPLOST instead of a bond that will increase property taxes. We need to include the Sheriff’s Department in SPLOST instead of trying to pass these bonds. Then the capital needs are funded by sales tax revenue versus only home owners and property owners.
Our plan is quite simple…we are not against SPLOST as a way of funding projects in the county. We are Pro-SPLOST with the best interest of the county being the basis of which the SPLOST is developed and carried out. We are firmly “anti-give-them-a-blank-check-and-let-them-run-with-it” as has been done in the past.
It turns out that we are more pro-SPLOST than Commissioner Richard. He supports a bond to build a new jail and another bond to build a courthouse and another bond for green space. Bonds are paid from your property taxes. More bonds equates to additional taxes to pay off the bonds. It’s that simple. More borrowing means more tax revenue to repay. I was incorrect as I was under the impression it was a 30 term. So it will be 20 years…well, that’s better. It is you, me, our friends and our neighbors that will pay this debt….and yes, probably your children too.
Our plan is to not renew the SPLOST in February. Not defeat it, not kill it, but simply not renew it right now. Let’s take a year off and develop a worthy plan that incorporates the needs of all parts of the county.
So please just take a little time to think through the issues. Let’s postpone SPLOST VI until February of 2009 when a plan can be presented that reflects the needs and desires of the citizens of Cumming/Forsyth County. One that has teeth in it to insure it will be carried out.
One that is truly a benefit to everyone.
