Newspaper Page Text
October 22, 2008
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Fire truck at First Baptist pre-school
Members of the Monroe County Fire Department visited the pre-school students at First Baptist Church recently. On
hand for the exciting visit are, left to right: Lonna Waites, Brin Chesnut, Eason Farmer, Tanner Ivey, Paris Ibarra, Izak
Tucker, Tori Castillo, Catharine Caldwell, Dawson Dell, Topanga Katzer, Hayden Walker, Daniel Boyer, Logan Shepard,
Molly Rivers, Park Davis, Holly Baxter, Garrett Bloodworth, Grade Bloodworth, Blain Caldwell, Luke Maddey, Aaron
Mccoy, Lydia White, Brunson Moore. Teachers standing Dottie Waites holding Cooper Green, Kimberly Benson hold
ing Karlie Dell, Tammy Turner holding Adelyn Turner, and Lynn Dean.
PAGE 11A
Know thy
amendments
FROM THE ATLANTA
JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION
Georgians voting early or heading to the polls Nov. 4
will have to make sense of three weighty proposed
constitutional amendments that deal with taxes.
The three proposals were added to the ballot by law
makers during the past two sessions. Voters may
select yes or no and the amendments need a majority
yes vote to become law.
AMENDMENT 1
This amendment would provide tax breaks to indi
viduals and corporations that own more than 2,000
acres of land.
Under the amendment, forests would be taxed based
on actual use rather than the potential development
value, bringing Georgia in line with other
Southeastern states. The lost revenue to cities and
counties would be covered by the state taxpayers, at
an estimated cost of about $40 million a year. In
exchange, timber owners would have to agree not to
subdivide or develop their land for at least 15 years,
or face stiff financial penalties.
Conservation groups hope the tax breaks for the
largest landowners will forestall development.
AMENDMENT 2
This amendment would allow school property tax
revenue to help fund redevelopment projects.
Lawmakers passed a law in 1985 allowing the prac
tice, helping a number of projects, including Atlantic
Station, spring to life.
The Georgia Supreme Court ruled in February that
the state constitution prohibits school tax money from
being spent on anything other than education. That
decision cut the tax subsidies available to redevelop
ment efforts across the state — from Atlanta’s
Beltline loop of trails, transit and parks to Smyrna’s
effort to overhaul aging shopping centers.
Critics say school tax money is too valuable a
resource to be used to subsidize development costs.
AMENDMENT 3
This amendment would allow counties and cities to
approve “infrastructure development districts,” meant
largely for developers, who could borrow money to pay
for infrastructure and amenities (such as streets, sew
ers, golf courses and so on) in their development.
They would then levy fees on the people who buy the
homes in the development to pay off the bonds.
Supporters say the so-called “private cities” amend
ment will help spur development in rural counties.
Critics say taxpayers outside the development could
be stuck with the expense of building access roads and
upgrading existing water and sewer systems to accom
modate the new construction. Only government should
have the right to assess fees, they say.
EXPERIENCED PROFESSIONAL LEADERSHIP
MORE THAN 20 YEARS OF COMMITTMENT
Vaughn, Wright & Boyer Law Firm, Partner
Vaughn Farms LP, Partner
Monroe County Bank, Board Member
Macon State College Foundation, Board Member
Monroe County, Past Assistant County Attorney
Georgia Cattlemen’s Association, Member
Monroe County Cattlemen’s Association, Member
Middle GA Regional Development Center, Past Chair
Georgia Agri-Leaders Forum, Member
Develop. Auth. of Monroe Co., Past Chair/Attorney
Georgia Forestry Association, Member
Monroe County Chamber of Commerce, Past Chair
✓Conservative Values /Honesty & Integrity /Good Common Sense
I ASK FOR YOUR VOTE AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT
Paid for by the Committee To Elect James Vaughn | (478) 994-3830 | P.O. Box 736, Forsyth, GA 31029