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Weather Today: Isolated T-stomts H ‘gh: 87 Low: 70 * w . Volume 137, Number 175 How great is the Great Plan? Meeting to be held at BOE on proposal to abolish property taxes "We're reluctant ■P* 4 to send all the BT | money to Atlanta aid let them dole ftiltt it out as they see fit. It's good • that it will open a dialogue (about tax reform) but this is the wrong way to go at this point." Perry Mayor Jim Worrall money, you have Superintendent of Schools David Carpenter By CHARLOTTE PERKINS Journal Staff Writer Are you tired of property taxes? Do you want to pay more sales tax on more services? Do you want local control of local rev enues, or would you rather have all taxes go to the state to be redistributed to the cities and counties? Whether your answers are yes or no to any of the above, Mayor Jim Worrall and Superintendent of Schools David Carpenter are hoping you’ll find the time to attend a meeting at 1 p.m. Tuesday at the Board of Education building on Main Street. The meeting is one of seven tax reform meetings being held across the state by the Georgia Municipal Association. The subject of the will be House Resolution 900, also known as “The Great Plan for Georgia,” which is House Speaker Glenn Richardson’s controversial proposal for abolishing all property taxes in Georgia and broadening the sales tax. The proposal would have to clear the PERIODICAL 500 8 1HR 4 COOI * Georgia Newspaper Project Main Library- University of Georgia ATHENS GA 3G6G2-GGG2 Sept. 12-14, 2007 Serving Houston County Since 1870 FOOD - IB Another gift from Italy ... the Frittata. Also, don’t underestimate the beauty, wonder of a carrot; chicken - a blank canvas for creative cooks. Restaurant Report Card and more. LEGAL ORGAN FOR HOUSTON COUNTY, CITY OF PERRY, CITY OF WARNER ROBINS AND CITY OF CENTERVILLE Georgia General Assembly before going on the ballot as a statewide referendum. While the idea of getting rid of all prop erty taxes sounds good to many on the sur face, it is not going over well with city and county governments across the state. While there appears to be universal agreement that Georgia is overdue for tax reform, municipal and county-level lead ers, including city councils, commissioners and boards of education, are concerned about losing local control of funds. “We’re reluctant to send all the money to Atlanta and let them dole it out as they see fit,” Worrall said. “It’s good that it will open a dialogue (about tax reform) but this is the wrong way to go at this point.” Worrall also said that the proposal to end all ad valorem taxes and broaden the reach of the sales tax will ‘put a burden on a whole bunch of fplks.” Superintendent Carpenter said, “If you a<m control the money, you have no local control.” Carpenter expressed concern that the state would use control of the expanded sales tax revenues to redistribute school funding that is now under local control, allowing communities to have a voice in determining the quality of their local schools. Notes from Jerry Griffin, Executive Director of the Association County Commissioners following a recent meeting with Speaker Richardson tend to support Carpenter’s concern. Griffin wrote in a memorandum to all commissioners across the state, “The speaker did acknowledge that this is an income redistribution system with the goal to bring those below the median service level up while holding everyone else where they are at, particularly in education.” Richardson, in that meeting, implied that one goal was to see that everyone receives an adequate level of educational resources, “ with the result that “litigation over equitable education financing will disappear.” The GMA is opposing the plan. Jim Higdon, in a memorandum to mayors across the state, urged city officials to fight Richardson’s proposal. “Are you ready to give up your ability to govern your city?” Higdon asked.” I think I know the answer to that - a resounding NO. However, your ability to govern your city is swinging in the wind as the Speaker of the Georgia House of Representatives pushes his Great Plan (HR9OO) to get rid See PLAN, page jA BIRTHDAYS E-mail your birthdays to: hhj@evansnewspapers.com or donm@evansnewspapers.com, or send them .***?»,. Ext. 231. Sept. 13 „ ■ Bruce Patton ■ Pastor Terry Hyman Sept. 14 ■ Sara Satterfield Wednesday-Friday, September 12>14, 2007 This week in HHJ history: 30 years ago: “Drought” is the word on the streets as County Extension Chairman Emmet Whelchel says the current state is worse than the record-setting drought in 1954, and that the county has suffered losses in excess of $8,000,000. 20 years ago: Staff for the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter announce it will name the facility’s main entrance after former Georgia Gov. Joe Frank Harris and his wife Elizabeth, two credited with helping ensure the GNFA came to fruition. Also, the county voted to keep its millage rate the same at 14.54. 10 years ago: The Associated Press does a feature story on Perry. In it, the AP cites “leadership” as a reason for Perry’s success. Also, Sheriff Cullen Talton beefs up security at the Houston County Courthouse in Perry in preparation for the upcom ing murder trial for Dr. Vincent Mallory. In addition, activities locally raise more than $6,000 during the annual muscular dystrophy telethon. HP V I \ I Ato MU Jfflu * JL. i fl : . Ijmjm IP I ! * fig e-.niirli'rl i »*»■ ~ .. ... i . .. i.nm w —■ ENI/Gary Harmon Motorcycles line the perking lot of the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter during the Poker Run held Saturday. For more, see 7A. Washington St. hills to get playhouse hock NIL l ' 1 Journal/Charlotte Perkins Mike and Michelle Trotter and their neighbor Lisa Franklin smile after a unanimous vote by the Perry Planning Commission to allow the Trotters to have a playhouse for their children placed in the backyard of their Washington Street home. Franklin is holding her son, Walker. SPORTS - 3B HOCO beats Tift County in softballll Lots more softball. Perry football 1 team uses bye week to return to basics. More football previews. A Old Glory on the ‘run* My mother, Julia Knighton, spent several nights in the Perry Hospital recently. I want to publicly thank all of the people who cared for her. Every person that served mother did so with compassion and very professionally. She required gentle handling and they were so careful and sweet with her. Our family has nothing but good things to say about the hospital and the care mother received there. Janice Walker tv Evans Family Newseapi i< i. - - www.hhjnews.com By CHARLOTTE PERKINS Journal Staff Writer After a detailed presenta tion involving square feet, setbacks, minimum distances and maximum lot coverage, Perry Planning Commission voted on Monday night to approve four different vari ances from the city’s Land Development Ordinance so that an “acccessory struc ture” could be placed in the rear yard of a Washington Street home. Or, putting it simply, they made it possible for two little girls to have their playhouse back. The saga of the playhouse started when Mike and Michelle Trotter gave their daughters, ages 4 and 8, a See PLAYHOUSE, page 7A INDEX CALENDAR 2A OBITUARIES 3A OPINION 4A FOOD 1B SPORTS 3B Correction In a recent issue the reserva tion number of Perry Players was given incorrectly. The cor rect number is 987-5354. News tip '*!’■« 6 a m.-4 p.m: 987-1823 Ext. 231 4 p.m.-until: 397-8811 Award-Winning Newspaper Better Newspaper <lp)