Attention Taxpayers, time to take action. Attend Meeting!

On Tuesday, December 10, 2013, 6:00pm Douglas County Commissioners will hold a public hearing to consider setting the 2014 budget. Citizens will be given 3 minutes to voice their opinion concerning spending and taxation.

In the budget process last year they increased the 2013 spending by about $10 million over the previous year. No citizens showed up to speak about the increase and the budget was passed without any public scrutiny. We need to attend this hearing!

Rather than seeking ways to reduce spending and roll back the tax increase, commissioners have made it clear they will spend every dime with no consideration of any cut backs in spending. At the budget retreat, county manager claimed a 3 percent across the board cut, yet the budget spending will remain the same.

Commissioners used the excuse that they could not foresee the future when it was time to set the millage rate. That rate determines how much property owners will pay in taxes to cover the budget. They claimed 60 percent of the budget was already spent and their hands were tied. They also berated the citizens for not participating in the budget discussions, as if our opinion would have any impact on their desire to increase spending.

Let me be clear, the tax increase was not due to unknown factors. The increase was due to a conscience effort to increase spend.

The budget cuts we should seek do not involve animal shelters, patrol cars, fire fighters and law enforcement personnel or police radio systems. These items are either funded or can be funded through alternative means, over time, without budget increases.

The bulk of the tax increase went to fund salary increases and benefits packages for employees not services.

Some of the 2013 tax increase was never spent and will be rolled over into the 2014 budget to grow the reserve fund. This reserve cash is approximately $14 million. The sheriff’s department has a discretionary fund of about $4 million that can be used to purchase many of their needs. Instead we find the money is being spent on banquet dinners, catering and other non-essential items.

The promise of no new tax increase by Chairman Tom Worthan is a blind promise. Without budget cuts and without knowing the value of the property digest, taxpayers face yet another tax increase in July 2014. At that time the commissioners will shrug their shoulders and say “we could not predict the future”. That is why they need to exercise due diligence, cut spending and seek alternatives means of funding projects.

I hope the public will understand the need to be a part of this budget process. Once the vote is taken, it’s too late to express your opinion.

James Bell

Lithia Springs, GA