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THE MADISON COUNTY (GA) JOURNAL THURSDAY. FEBRUARY 19. 2009 — PAGE 3A
Stimulus .cont’dfrom 1A
$150,000 to $190,000.
Board of assessors change meeting date
BOC to meet about chief appraiser
The Madison County Board of Commissioners (pictured
here) will meet Thursday at 5 p.m. to discuss a recommen
dation from the board of assessors to name Stacey Rubio as
the county’s chief appraiser. Rubio is serving in that role on
an interim basis.
health research and construction
of National Institutes of Health
facilities.
State block grants
•$5 billion in aid to states to use
as they please to defray budget
cuts.
Education
•$54 billion in state fiscal relief to
prevent cuts in state aid to school
districts, with up to $10 billion for
school repair; $26 billion to school
districts to fund special education
and the No Child Left Behind law
for students in K-12; $17 billion to
boost the maximum Pell Grant
by $500 to $5,350; $2 billion for
Head Start.
Homeland security
•$2.8 billion for homeland secu
rity programs, including $1 billion
for airport screening equipment.
Law enforcement
•$4 billion in grants to state and
local law enforcement to hire offi
cers and purchase equipment.
New tax credit
•About $115 billion for $400 per-
worker, $800 per-couple tax cred
its in 2009 and 2010. Credit phas
es out for individuals with adjusted
gross incomes of $75,000 to
$90,000 and couples with AGI of
Alternative minimum tax
•About $70 billion to spare about
24 million taxpayers from being hit
with the alternative minimum tax
in 2009. The change would save
a family of four an average of
$2,300.
Expanded college credit
•About $13 billion to provide a
$2,500 expanded tax credit for
college tuition and related expens
es for 2009 and 2010. The credit
is phased out for couples with
incomes over $160,000.
Home buyer credit
•$3.7 billion to repeal a require
ment that an $8,000 first-time
home buyer tax credit be paid
back over time for homes pur
chased from Jan. 1 to Aug. 31,
unless the home is sold within
three years.
Bonus depreciation
•$5 billion to extend a provi
sion allowing businesses buying
equipment such as computers to
speed up depreciation through
2009.
Auto sales
•$2.5 billion to make sales tax
paid on new car purchases tax
deductible.
By Zach Mitcham
zach@mainstreetnews.com
Madison County's Board of
Assessors will now meet on
Thursdays.
The group agreed Monday to
change its regular meeting dates
from the first and third Mondays
of the month to the first and third
Thursdays of each month at 5:30
p.m.
The move was needed because
the county board of commission
ers recently decided to change
its meeting schedule from the
second and fourth Mondays of
the month to the final Monday
of each month, followed by the
first Monday of the next month
at 6:30 p.m.
That means the BOC meeting
room, where the assessors also
gather, will be tied up by the
commissioners during the BOA’s
regular meeting times.
BOA chairman David Ragland
suggested the board meet on
Wednesdays, but assessor board
member Larry Stewart noted that
the BOC often holds Wednesday
afternoon budget meetings later
in the year.
Monday’s assessor board meet
ing was relatively uneventful. The
group talked at length about a tax
appeal by Wendell Williams, who
was not at the meeting but has
challenged his tax increase of
over 60 percent. Ragland said the
board has the authority to request
that the tax commissioner reissue
a con'ected tax bill for 2008.
“If we see fit that the value was
so eironeous and the situation is
so out of kilter, then we can ask
that that it (the tax bill) be struck
and reissued,” said Ragland, add
ing that Georgia codes give the
board that authority.
The BOA postponed any action
on the matter, agreeing to con
sider it later when Ragland can
present the code that gives the
board that power. Stewart ques
tioned whether such an action is
appropriate.
“I’m troubled by that,” said
Stewart.
The board also considered sev
eral conservation use applications
Monday, agreeing to seek the
county attorney’s opinion on one
request and agreeing to grant a
medical hardship release for a
couple that seeks to end their con
servation status. They also agreed
that a refund should be granted
in cases in which a property split
has led to a landowner errone
ously charged twice for a portion
of his property. One such case
will likely result in a $500 refund
for one property owner for 2007
taxes.
The assessors also heard from
interim chief appraiser Stacey
Rubio, who noted that appraisers
toured the new feed mill off Hwy.
72. She said the staff will look
at similar businesses in the area,
such as the feed mill off Hwy. 98
in Maysville, as it assesses the
property.
Also Monday, Ragland said he
would like to call a special meet
ing to discuss city/county assess
ment ratios.
Broun .cont’dfrom 1A
He predicted that the country would not see a fix for the problem in the
current Congress.
“We’re (lawmakers) not stopping the problem that created this mess in
the beginning,” he said.
Broun also spoke of his support of the Fair Tax, which he maintains
will leave more money in people’s pockets, which would stimulate the
economy.
And he said he would like to see more done to encourage small business
instead of regulations that are “killing them."
Farm Bureau members also heard about state matters from Rep. McCall,
who was asked about current environmental air quality regulatory controls
that include Madison County as part of the metro Atlanta area.
McCall said he was continuing to fight the county’s inclusion in the
metro area’s bum ban, particularly since it interferes with the agricultural
preparation of fields for planting.
He said Madison County’s inclusion in the metro area air quality is a
tactic to improve Atlanta's pollution numbers. ‘The solution to pollution
is dilution...,” McCall said. "It makes (Atlanta) look better with the clean
air from Madison County factored in.”
The group also discussed the upcoming 2010 census and the proposal to
move it from the Department of Commerce into the White House.
Broun said the new administration wants to use “statistical sampling”
to count those (the homeless, minorities, the poor and indigent) that they
maintain cannot be counted accurately.
“This will hurt the rural areas of our country," Broun said, since federal
funds are allocated according to population.
“.. .They want to count people that are primarily Democrats.”
McCall addressed the current nationwide peanut product recall stem
ming from the Peanut Corporation of America’s plant in Blakely, noting
that all farmers are facing some tough times now, but that peanut farmers
are having real troubles due to the plant's widely publicized problems.
McCall also said funding for the Homeowners Property Tax Relief
Grant has been approved by the House and Senate and placed on the
governor’s desk.
“It's up to the governor now,” he said.
Food ..cont’dfrom 1A
a month here at our church, even
up to a 100.”
Cowart said the February food
distribution is set for Saturday.
Tire minister said he feels Angel
Food has truly helped Madison
County residents in need.
“It’s been great for our people,
been great for every person, not
just needy but people who want
to save money, quality food,
USDA approved,” said Cowart.
We help people tremendously
... Angel Food has never done
anything except sell food. And
it’s hard for us to believe some of
tire things being said.”
According to The Walton
County Tribune, the FBI and IRS
officials executed search warrants
Wednesday at the Walton County
offices of Angel Food Ministries
and at a business owned by Andy
Wingo, a former officer of Angel
Food and current owner of Good
Hope Food Company.
“At the conclusion of their
investigation, we feel confident
government authorities will be
satisfied with the integrity of the
organization and recognize the
enormous benefits Angel Food
Ministries provides throughout
the United States,” the minis
try’s CEO Joe Wingo told The
Tribune.
The Atlanta Journal-
Constitution reported Tuesday
that Joe Wingo, Iris wife, Linda,
and sons Wesley and Andrew
together earned $402,097 in
2007, down from $2.1 million
in 2006, while also receiving
$1.1 million in loans from Angel
Food over a two-year span.
The Rev. Thomas Dial of
Madison County's Moon’s
Grove Baptist Church, which
also serves as an Angel Food
host site, said he's been keeping
up with the news on the Angel
Food investigation. He said
the good work of tire program
shouldn’t be forgotten amid ugly
headlines.
"I’ve been reading about some
of controversy, but this is a good
service and people rely on it,”
said Dial. "We hope the ministry
can go on even if the Wingos
aren’t in the ministry. We hope it
can be resolved and put behind
them and we can move on.”
Dial said Moon's Grove has
served as a host site for about
three years. He said the church
is focused on helping those in
need.
"We’ve been growing little by
little,” said Dial. "We have five
or six families who are regulars,
who don’t want to see it go
away. We also have a food bank
here for families that can't afford
to buy it (tire $30 Angel Food
boxes).”
Dial said the community
doesn’t have all tire facts to real
ize what's going on with the
Angel Food investigation.
"We "re not tied to that ministry
except to provide food at a low
cost to people,” he said.
According to tire Angel Food
Ministries website, tire organiza
tion is “a non-profit, non-denom-
inational organization dedicated
to providing grocery relief and
financial support to communities
throughout the United States.”
Angel Food began in 1994
with 34 families in Monroe and
"has grown to serve hundreds
of thousands of families every
month across 35 states," accord
ing to the website.
MCMS. ..cont’dfrom 1A
school. The middle school
showed a 62 percent attendance
rate during the last week of Jan.
2008.
"That's quite a marked
improvement,” Madison County
Schools Superintendent Mitch
Taxes .cont’dfrom 1A
ers - is held to a cap for assessed
valuation and the value of which
is reassessed when it changes
hands,” said Powell.
Since the permanent freeze
would require a constitutional
amendment, it requires two-
thirds approval from the House
for passage. That measure failed
to gain the required votes, but
McCall said he expects HR1 to
come up again.
"Unfortunately, HR 1 did not
receive the required constitu
tional majority to pass but a
procedural rule in the House
will allow us to vote again," said
McCall.
While some laud the proposed
changes, not everyone is in favor
of the assessment freeze legisla
tion.
Critics say that a property
assessment cap would lead to
considerable differences in taxes
paid by residents in the same
neighborhood, ultimately hurt
ing the real estate market by
discouraging people from mov
ing into new homes.
“Fortunately, defeat of HR
1 permitted important policy
considerations to prevail over
politics," said Jim Higdon,
Executive Director of the
Georgia Municipal Association
(GMA).
Higdon said the assessment
freeze has been tried in other
states and that it ultimately “sti
fles new economic growth by
creating a system in which new
businesses and industries pay
higher property taxes than exist
ing businesses.”
McGhee said last week.
McGhee commended the
efforts of Madison County
Middle School graduation coach
Renee McCannon, MCMS
teachers and its staff.
"Several things have been put
in place at the middle school,"
McGhee said of the strate
gies to spur attendance. “Mrs.
McCannon is in charge of those,
but she solicits a lot of help from
faculty, staff and administration
folks there at the school.”
The middle school demon
strated the high rate during a
typically low period for atten
dance.
‘That week is one of your
poorest attendance weeks ...
right after the holidays when we
get back, that's typically a rough
time," McGhee said.
Parts of proposed state
bill ‘bothersome’
McGhee is wary of a bill going
before the state legislature that
places higher scrutiny on school
board members than other elect
ed officials, he says.
While most of the “school
board governance bill” (SB 84)
is standard practice for “good
boards of education," a few stipu
lations are excessive, McGhee
said.
Under this bill, school board
members can accuse other school
board members of infractions
without evidence, according to
McGhee. Those matters would
go to a hearing.
“No proof has to be presented,"
McGhee said.
He said the bill also allows
the governor to replace board
members if that board of educa
tion is even being considered for
probation.
‘Those are two things that
are a little bothersome to me,"
McGhee said.
McGhee said the bill has been
tweaked a little bit, but he hasn’t
seen the latest version.
SPLOST down
Madison County Schools
showed $41,000 less in its
SPLOST receipts in January
compared to Jan. 2008.
“We’re watching that rather
closely,” Assistant Superintendent
Bonnie Knight said.
FAYE CAREY'S TAX SERVICE
CONTINUES TO OPERATE
“We’re here for your income tax preparation needs”
In business 46 years at the same location.
Thank you for your prayers and thoughts
during the passing of Faye in December.
We appreciate our customers.
• DiAnne Carey, Enrolled Agent - Owner (Faye’s Daughter)
• Peggy Thrasher, Tax Professional
• Kellie Beard, Tax Professional
We Look Forward To Helping You With All Your Tax Needs.
Please call for an
appointment.
Walk-ins Welcome.
706-795-2265
Fax: 706-795-5291
Email: careystaxservice@windstream.net ’
www.careystaxservice.com
2579 Faye Carey Road • Danielsville, GA 30633 ’
HOURS:
Mon. - Fri. ~ 8:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Sat. ~ 8:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
\\1
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you Manage your Health Care Options
Emergency Room
Medical
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• Decrease time spent
waiting in the ER for
medical services
* Decrease the costs
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dealing with non-
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> Help ensure emergency
room resources are fo
cused on patients with
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At Ty Cobb Healthcare System, it’s all about providing the best
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and will decrease the costs charged to patients in
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COBB MEMORIAL
HOSPITAL
521 Franklin Springs Street
Royston, GA 30662
Phone: (706) 245-1845
HART COUNTY
HOSPITAL
138 West Gibson Street
Hartwell. GA 30643
Phone: (706) 856-6900
Starting
March 1,2009...
All ER Patients will be evaluated by physician on duty
True emergencies will be treated, stabilized, and then admit
ted or transferred as necessary before financial arrange
ments are required
If it is not an emergent medical condition, patients will be
provided with a list of resources available to them in the
community to receive the appropriate care
Non-emergent patients wishing to receive care in the ER
will be required to pay a cash deposit depending on de
ductible due and copayment.
The minimal charge for non-emergency treatment is $ 100
and will be expected at the time of service
Quality
•
Value
•
Convenience