Newspaper Page Text
6A
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 16, 2006
DREAM
From page lA
African-American children
at a time when nothing was
available for them. She
enrolled her own children,
too, and got an ongoing proj
ect going which is close to
the heart of many.
The new building, which
can serve 121 children, was
made possible by fund rais
ers, donations, backing from
the Church Women United
and a number of churches
and civic clubs, as well as
grants.
At the opening ceremo
ny County Commission
Chairman
Ned
Sanders’
voice broke
as he talked
about how
much his
late wife,
Annette,
had loved
Cherished
Children,
and how he
STEPHENS
had asked that memorial
donations be made in her
name.
Members of the Warner
Robins Pilot Club were there,
taking pride in the sunshine
filled babies’ room which
they furnished in memory of
Pilot Gertrude Scarborough,
who was a caregiver for many
years at her church.
Debbie Stephens was all
smiles about being back home
with Cherished Children.
She graduated from kin
dergarten there, and is now
back as Executive Director.
Stephens said that the
community support was
“such a blessing,” and noted
that Jean Coleman “truly
loves kids.”
“She saw the need,”
Stephens said. “There were
no daycare facilities then for
African-American children.
She started it and stayed
with it.”
As for Coleman, she says
“God planted a seed in my
mind.”
EARFUL
From page iA
transportation projects
road and sidewalks includ
ing, some SB2 million of
that directly associated with
schools, Sanders noted.
“SPLOST is another way to
fund infrastructure, it is a
use tax.”
Sanders said “if we don’t
raise taxes marginally, we
have to reduce services and
lay off people.”
Burch said, “that is where
the seniors are - having to
do without, cutting back.”
Sanders said, “as we build
more houses, we have to
provide more services for
the increasing population.
In 1990, Houston County
had 89,700 people, in 2000,
there were 110,700, accord
ing to the Census Bureau
and at a 2.7 percent rate of
growth, we’re at 131,000 as
of July.”
He noted the Detention
Center is the biggest expense
we have at sll million a
year. “People come her
for jobs, good schools, low
crime rate and our taxes
are low,” Sanders said.
Winton Cain told the
board “I believe why you’re
doing is not in your best
interest of credibility. It
really damages your cred
ibility, raising taxes beyond
what the law says you have
to,” after the SPLOST.
Cain noted “revenue does
not keep up with growth”
and proposed impact fees
and provided a study by
the Brookings institute on
Florida. In the study Cain
said, “impact fees are like
user fees to ensure revenue
of those services growth
demands. It does not slow
job growth.”
Cain said, “the time has
come for developers to pay
for things they’re having
the great benefits from.”
Sanders said “impact fees
are not a significant source
in total revenue,” compared
to SPLOST, and impact fees
are stringently auditable
and stringently directed. ”
Cain said the impact fees
would not cover all, but
would fill in the gaps. “I
don’t appreciate having to
support the infrastructure
for all the new subdivisions.
I think developers should
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Journal/Charlotte Perkins
Jean Coleman, with her young friend Shannon Martin, is surrounded by friends and
board members of Cherished Children. From left, Gary Martin, Harrison Head, Elizabeth
Bonaparte, Betty Bailey, Rep. Willie Talton, Fannie Corbin and Brenda Walker.
- ■■ - 11 ■" ", y / ,
Journal Charlotte Perkins
Warner Robins Pilot Club members take pride in their support of Cherished Children.
They donated funds for the furnishings in the babies’ room at the new facility in mem
ory of Gertrude Scarborough. They provided 15 cribs with mattresses, toys, mats and
decorations. From left, Margaret Duffey, Eleanor Granthum, Terry Duernberger, Virginia
Brand, Brenda Walker, Imogene Yongue, Marilyn Beckman and President Linda Harris.
have to pay.”
Sanders noted roads,
water lines and sewer lines
in the cities are paid for by
developers, and are paid into
the enterprise fund, paid for
by users.
He noted the funds for
impact fees are restricted,
“targeted only to those devel
opments and the immediate
areas.”
“I don’t see a whole lot of
counties rushing in to use
them,” said Sanders, also
chairman of the Association
of County Commissioners
Georgia revenue committee.
The county is looking into
impact fees.
Wade Patton also raised
the credibility question.
“You’re losing credibility by
raising taxes. If the increase
is so minute, then bring it
down so you don’t have to
raise taxes. Cut it down.”
While the county has pro
posed lowering the tax rate
or millage, down half a mill
from 9.82 to 9.32 mills, with
reassessments that rate
brings in more revenue than
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Journal Kay Lightner
Winston Cain (standing) spoke out at the Tuesday morn
ing public hearing on the tax rate increase. Cain and
others asked why taxes are going up if the SPLOST was
passed.
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the rollback rate of 9.11
mills. The rollback rate is
the tax rate the county needs
to bring in the same amount
of money as it did last year
if the reassessments did not
occur.
The tax increase, is 2.31
percent over the rollback
rate, Sanders said. The
county has to meet increased
costs for fuel, electricity and
employees, “in a realm of
reasonableness.”
With zero revenue increas
es, we can’t give raises, can’t
buy vehicles and can’t us the
energy needed.
Sanders noted the coun
ty portion of the tax bill is
only 41.4 percent of the total
bill. The school system gets
58.6 percent, and the state
Department of Revenue gets
a quarter of a mill to operate
and administer tax laws.
He also explained how it
affects the average taxpayer.
Based on a $150,000 house,
minus the $2,000 homestead
exemption, the SB,OOO state
tax credit, it would cost
$455.50 for city residents,
LOCAL
and $515 for those in unin
corporated areas because of
the fire tax. “It’s less than
a dollar a month more,”
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13&7-D Sam Nunn B!vd.
Parry, GA 31069
/I (Q nil 478-987-0172
questions@comsouth.net
00036421
The following chart shows the percentage of students
served by the honored Houston County schools each day
and the average daily participation throughout the state of
Georgia for that type of school.
School Percent students Percent state average
served each day participation
Breakfast
Lindsey Flementary " "73 TO
Pearl Stephens * 55 TO
Flementary
Lunch
Kings Chapel "*92 "84
Flementary
Lindsey Elementary "95 84
Miller Flementary " "91 84
Park wood Flementary “ "9T "84
Pearl Stephens 93 84
Flementary
kussell Elementary i "91 ■
Westside Elementary " "93 84
Perry Middle School " 87 72
Thomson Middle 87 "72
School
'Warner Rofrrns Middle 87 72
School
Northside High School " "54 59
Perry High School , "59 59
SCHOOLS
From page iA
faculty and staff who sup
port and participate in the
program and it as
enhancing the learning
process; and a wide vari
ety of menu options daily,
allowing students greater
opportunity to select a
nutritionally complete meal
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ENI/Gary Harmon
Lunchroom workers in the Perry High School lunch
room prepare the Student meal for Tuesday.
Sanders
The fire tax rate is 1.19
mills this year, down from
1.3 mills last year, to pay for
HOUSTON DAILY JOURNAL
that they enjoy.”
During the 2005-2006
school year 74 percent of
students in attendance at
Georgia schools ate lunch
each day and 29 percent ate
breakfast.
Also according to the
release, “this participation
is among the highest in the
nation, with schools across
the state achieving above
average
fire service in the unincor
porated areas of the county.
City residents pay city taxes
for fire service.
'
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