Newspaper Page Text
VOLUME 83, NUMBER 103
THE RED A ND BLACK
Georgia's only collegiate daily newsp
UNIVERSITY OE GEORGIA. ATHENS, GEORGIA 30601
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THURSDAY, MAY 5, 1977
appropriations, increase the motor fuel
tax or enact a type of sales tax
ARGO AND BROUN both said the state
could not continue cutting funds from
other programs to supplement the gas
tax.
"Sooner or later people are going to
have to face the fact of raising the gas
tax or cutting back the road improve
ment program," Broun said.
“I would think that implementing a
percentage of sales tax is the best answer
as the gas costs go up,” Argo said. He
added that he thinks the state needs an
increase in the overall state sales tax to
give property tax payers a break
"We need tax reform. That’s needed
more right now than the energy situa
tion,” he said.
Argo said he and other state officials
attended a congressional hearing Tues
day on transit legislation proposals
before the House Highway Committee A
report of the hearing published by the
committee cited a national trend in which
roads are deteriorating 1 1 -i times more
than they are being built In addition,
conservation should reduce the gas tax
rate by 20 per cent by 1985, the report
said
"Whatever the alternative chosen,”
Busbee warned in his speech, “We must
begin to reassess our traditional concepts
of what a transportation system should
be
"Major changes in traveling habits are
going to occur. Transportation systems
and their financing will have to change to
accomodate this new way of life."
Four-year terms
labeled 'absurd'
This photograph may be the only one in existence that
documents a dav that will long be remembered by University
viivtents and faculty members alike—the day the Legs took
over It*- world You've heard of killer sharks killer bees and
killer worms but this University was visited by the worst
atrocity of them all Killer Legs. Pictured is on- of the
countless victims who fell prey to this dread menace Political
scandles may come and go, but the survivors will never forget
this unusual threat to the otherwise serene campus life of a
typical institution of higher learning—in a place once known
as Athens.
By ROBERT ALEXANDER
State editor
Invasion of legs
pnoto by MARK SANDLIN
Area legislators this week said that
citizens are going to have to face up to
the effects of the energy shortage on
transportation financing in the state.
In interviews with The Red and Black,
Sen. Paul Broun and Rep. Bob Argo
responded to Gov. George Busbee’s
proposed alternatives to the decreasing
tax revenues from the state motor fuel
tax.
In a speech last week before the
Association of County Commissioners of
Georgia, Busbee pledged support for
Pres. Jimmy Carter’s energy package,
but expressed reservations about the
President's plans for reducing gasoline
consumption by 10 per cent before 1985.
In regard to Georgia he said, “The
motor fuel tax of 7.5 cents per gallon is
earmarked for highway use. If the
consumption of gasoline decreases in the
future, motor fuel taxes are going to
decrease as well.”
be obtained from the Voter Registrar's
office for those registered to vote in
Clarke County but unable to make it to
the polls
An earlier sales tax referendum was
defeated by the voters in Clarke County
in 1975, but John said the new proposal
has removed “a lot of impurities " She
added, however, that it was still not
perfect,
"The city can only roll back property
taxes for one year if the sales tax goes
into effect," John said. "But the county
can roll back property taxes and keep
them rolled back every year.”
John said the city should be allowed to
roll back property taxes for more than
one year.
By YVONNE WILLIAMS
Staff writer
Common Cause of Georgia has labeled
as “absurd and preposterous" a proposed
constitutional amendment which would
extend the terms of state legislators to
four years.
While voicing "adamant opposition" to
the proposal which was endorsed last
week by Gov. George Busbee, Common
Cause Co-Chairman Larry Thomason
vowed to marshall the support of interest
groups statewide to defeat the amend
ment.
Thomason, formerly a state legislator
and currently a Decatur attorney, has
challenged Georgia congressional leaders
to publicly debate the issue with him at
the University.
The author of the Georgia sunshine
Law, Thomason said he doubts that the
congressional leaders will agree to such a
debate
"I don’t think they will come out in the
open with it,” Thomason said. “I think it
would be much too dangerous politically
for them.”
THE AMENDMENT, which was passed
by the 1977 Georgia General Assembly, is
scheduled to come before state voters in
1978. There are currently only four states
which have instituted four-year terms for
legislators.
"There is no such trend nationwide
toward extending the terms of state
legislators,” Thomason said "The idea is
practically unheard of."
He charged that four-year terms for
state solons would "breed isolation and
remoteness in a legislator,” while usur
ping American democracy and elimina
ting "polities as the grass roots level."
"I would hate to think what kind of
legislature we would have with the
legislators that far apart from the
electorate," he said
(Busbee claimed Wednesday that this
year's succession amendment has
strengthened his position. See page 8.)
Thomason emphasized that state legis
lators have "severely inverted priori
ties," by initiating such an amendment
THE GEORGIA LEGISLATURE
should "get its own house in order," he
said, before advocating such a reform.
"Why should the people of Georgia
reward the state legislature with dou
bling of its terms?
"We should ask whether the legislature
has been responsive to the needs of the
people of Georgia," Thomason said.
"And is it held in high esteem as a
bastion for public good -1
“I think the answer to both questions is
no,” Thomason said
He blamed the state legislature for its
"inertia” to revise its faulty system of
committee appointments
IN ADDITION, Thomason said a tour-
year term for slate legislators would
undermine the ’’American brand of
democracy which works only when we
have frequent elections of public offi
cials.”
He added. "Giving a part-time Georgia
legislator a term of office twice the
full time member of Georgia’s U. S.
congressional delegation is absurd and
cannot be justified
"We will vigorously work for the defeat
of this amendment by mobilizing public
opinion against it,” be said
Thomason maintained that Common
Cause will seek to form alliances with
such organizations as the League of
Women Voters, conservation lobbyists
and "other publicly spirited groups" to
organize opposition to the proposed
amendment.
7 wish
I were'
Of schools and colleges contacted
yesterday, only the School of Social Work
seemed set on its method of allocating
the money. The school will use its
existing student faculty committee, ac
cording to Dr. Charles A. Stewart, dean
of the school.
THE COLLEGE of Education Council,
which was formed in May, 1976, decided
in a meeting last night to revise its
by-laws in order to conform to the new
allocations process. The by-laws were
written last year when it was necessary
for school councils to petition the Student
Government Allocations Committee for a
share of student activities fees.
According to President Glenn Maho
ney, an allocations committee will be
formed to review budget requests The
entire council will then review the
committee's recommendations.
The College of Education Council se'
By TOM BARTON
Assistant city editor
Many University students who are
registered to vote in Clarke County will
have to vote by absentee ballot on
whether to increase the county sales tax,
if they are not in Athens this summer.
The Clarke County Board of Commis
sioners will consider a motion to call for
a sales tax referendum on Aug 9 when it
meets next Tuesday, according to Com
missioner Jewel John.
"The Aug. 9 date was chosen for the
referendum because that is when the city
will also be having a primary election,"
John said. "Elections are expensive, and
this way we will avoid having to pay for
an extra election ”
John said the new tax will not raise any
more money for the county, but it will
change the source of the revenue.
“THE BURDEN would be shifted from
those who pay property tax to those who
buy things in the county," John said.
John added that Athens is a trade
center, and she said people come into the
city and use the roads and other services
without paying for them
"But the sales tax increase would hit
those who come into the city to buy
things," John said.
According to state law, each county
adopting a local option tax would be
required to reduce property taxes. Thus,
if sales tax is increased by one per rent,
property taxes would be rolled back by
the amount of extra sales tax revenue
collected
ALTHOUGH PROPERTY taxes would
be reduced, however, owners who rent to
others would not have to reflect lower
property taxes in the rent.
"The landlord legally does not have to
lower the rent because he would be
paying lower property taxes,” according
to Athens lawyer John Timmons
Timmons said the cost of the property
tax is usually carried over to the renter,
and should be discussed with the landlord
when the contract is signed.
Even though John said summer enroll
ment at the University has been increa
sing, she did not know how many of those
students were registered to vote in the
county. She also did not know what would
happen if the referendum were scheduled
for a date other than in the summer
ACCORDING TO Clarke County Voter
Registration Clerk Janet Pomeroy, the
county has no figures on the number of
students registered to vote in the county.
"We no longer register people by
occupation," Pomeroy said. "Students
may make a little difference in elections,
but I doubt if they make a big
difference."
Younger people vote at a lower
percentage rate than older people. Pom
eroy said In most wards there is a 10 per
cent difference between the two age
groups
"In general, special elections do not
generate a big voter turnout in the county
anyway. There can be a difference
between 10 per cent and 55 per cent in
voler turnout in primary elections and
referenduiio,” Pomeroy said
Capsule news
Pandoras ready soon
The Pandora will be ready for distribution May 30, 31 and June 1, according to
Phyllis Wellington, business manager for the University yearbook.
"Everyone who has already purchased his book should bring his receipt and ID,
Wellington said.
Since the books will be distributed during the final exam period, some students
may not be on campus, Wellington said. "Unless they paid us a dollar to have the
book mailed to their home, then they may have to wait until next fall to pick up
their books."
Extra copies of the Pandora will be available during the same time period.
Bicycles stolen
Two ten-speed bicycles were stolen from New Married Housing and Candler
Tuesday night They were valued at a total of $220. University police have the
matters under investigation, and urge students to have their bikes engraved with
ID numbers
SHE ADDKIl that absentee ballots can
Fuel shortage to hurt
transportation funds
...a graceful swan, or maybe a University Dolphin. Members
of the Dolphin Club returned last night to their aquatic
beginnings, as they displayed their talents in the annual water
ballet at the Physical Education pool. The Dolphins will have
two more performances tonight and tomorrow night at 8.
FEE ALLOCATIONS
School councils forming
By BRYANT STEELE
Staff writer
Most schools and colleges within the
University are still in the process of
organizing their methods for allocating
1977-78 student activities fees.
Under the allocations plan set up this
year by Dean of Student Affairs Dwight
Douglas, each school or college is to form
a council to allocate funds to their own
clubs and organizations. Douglas has said
some schools might be able to utilize
existing councils.
The amount each school is allowed to
allocate is determined by Douglas, ac
cording to Tom Cochran, an accountant
with Student Affairs.
Douglas has said that this phase of the
allocations process will involve more
students and will be closer to the
"grass-roots level.” ■
May 13 as the deadline for submitting
budget requests.
The School of Law will have organized
a committee to handle allocations by
Wednesday, according to Roy W. Detwil-
er, assistant to the dean.
A meeting will be held for the School of
Forest Resources Friday afternoon to
organize an allocations method, accor
ding to Dean Allyn M. Herrick.
The College of Business Administration
will use two students from its student
council to work with Dr. W. C. Elewellen,
dean of Business Administration, for
allocating the activities fees, according to
Vivian Edwards, Flewellen’s secretary.
Representatives from other schools and
colleges with knowledge of the allocations
process could not be reached for com
ment.
ACCORDING TO Brown, the state
constitution requires that all money from
gas tax revenue go to the transportation
department to be used for road improve
ments. For the last two years the state
has had to appropriate money from the
general treasury to supplement those
funds.
“This is a great departure from
anything we’ve done before The funds
for other programs have suffered,”
Broun said. Because of this supplemental
appropriation, Broun explained, the task
of finding enough money to pay the 95 per
cent pay increase for the University
system employes was made more diffi
cult.
In his speech Busbee said the supple
mental appropriation amounted to $63 8
million for fiscal 1978.
He offered three alternatives for fun
ding. He could continue supplemental
Vote on 1 % tax increase
proposed for August 9