Paulding’s Mill-Rate Increase: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
In a few short days, this Tuesday at 2pm to be exact, our Board of Commissioners will be voting to raise the M & O property tax mill-rate by 14.3%. Let’s take a look at this increase and it’s impact on our Fiscal Year 2011 Budget (dollar amounts are in millions):
The Good: We don’t need to raise the mill-rate! You can see from the chart that even though expenses for FY 2011 will exceed revenues, we still end up with a 31% reserve. This equates to an extra 3.2 million above and beyond the required 25% (12.8 million) reserve. This is accomplished by using the current 2011 FY Budget proposed by Chairman Austin. Not one additional cut would have to be made.
The Bad: The proposed mill-rate increase would raise taxes on every residential property that decreased in value by less than 12.5%. Now I know that this would not effect the majority of citizens in Paulding, however, how many would be impacted? Out of the approximately 60,000 residential properties in Paulding, around 15,000 of them would incur a tax increase on this portion of their tax-bill. That is about 1 in every 4 residential properties having their taxes raised unnecessarily in one of the worst economic years in recent decades.
The Ugly: Why would Chairman David Austin propose raising the mill-rate for FY 2011 even though it is not needed to meet the expenses of FY 2011? Here are a few theories:
1. Raising the mill-rate this year would inflate the excess reserve which could be used to alleviate any need to raise the mill-rate in future years. Meaning, why raise the mill-rate close to the 2012 Commissioner Chair election when you can do it now and get it over with.
2. Raising the mill-rate this year would inflate the excess reserve, put the blame on the two exiting commissioners (Powell and Kirby), and allow Chairman Austin’s two hopeful replacements (Pownall and Barnett) to get a pass on having to raise the mill-rate during their first couple of years.
3. Raising the mill-rate this year would allow Todd Pownall (if elected) to keep his campaign promise of “I am not in favor of a tax increase or millage rate increase. This means as a county we will have to look for creative solutions to accomplish goals, complete tasks, and provide county services.“ By the way, Todd Pownall has already backed away from this promise when given the opportunity on camera to speak against this mill-rate increase. Fast forward to the 25:55 minute mark and you’ll see what I’m talking about. David Barnett also took a pass on opposing this mill-rate increase in the video.
Bottom line folks is that we need to call all 4 of our post commissioners over the next 48 hours and tell them to vote no on this unnecessary tax increase. Also, please come out and support me in speaking out against this tax increase at the Public Hearing on Tuesday, August 10 at 10:00 a.m.
Keep Pressing On!
Everyone who votes for more taxes on us in this country will not get my vote or my families vote and I will make sure my influence on others and where my contributions go will be heard my me. We in america are sick and tire of the thiefs legally stealing our money and we need to spend and live with-in our means and sometime just like a good parent we need to say we just can not afford it and deal with it. Thease people are just spoiled and think when they want more or they spend what we got lets just TAX TAX TAX. I don’t mind paying my fair share but it is about time for a revolution in the country if TAX increase continue. We are the people and we have the power not the damn goverment. Freedom to the people.
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I encourgage everyone to remember the promises that are made by each elected official. Not just this election but the ones we voted into office in 2008 and before. Are the ones in office today keeping the promises they made? I do not agree on the Mill Rate increase. I think Paulding County has enough in excess reserve. I am sure that if they looked at the budget of each and every department within the county, they could cut back on a lot of the spending. Don’t tax the people that have worked hard to put a roof over their heads yet they don’t get pay increases. The value of their homes are decreasing every year and you want to raise taxes!!! I pay my taxes and don’t mind paying my fair share but the value of my home isn’t worth today what it was worth 5 years ago yet the taxes are higher and you want them higher still!!! I don’t think so, Commissioners. I am a registered voter and vote every opportunity! I campaign for people I believe in……I can also campaign against the ones that don’t hear my voice!!! Remember in November and again in 2012!!!
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Mr Austin and other commission members- you speak of the need to raise the mill rate to ensure we the county have the reserves needed. I agree with the above poster in looking at all departments and trim their budgets. Most of us are holding on by the skin of our teeth, yet you want to raise our taxes. Have you or any of the other commission members offered to take a PAY CUT????
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Go for it Mr Austin and fellow commisioners.
You are JUST WRONG, and don’t even get it!
I feel sorry for you, and hope and pray you will one day think of someone else other than yourselves.
Feel free to contact me if you cant figure out how to operate on a budget, and I will try to assist you.
Budget means “A PLAN FOR SYSTEMATIC SPENDING”! Don’t spend money you don’t have!
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I oppose the increase for logical reasons – but also oppose the notion and suggestions that all elected officials are out to embezzle money or trick you into something with the end result being to take your money. That’s absurd. Fact of the matter is, one of several will need to happen – cut and minimize service’s, cut workers pay or lay offs. Pick what you want for whatever reason you want. A commission pay cut is a noble approach. Shirley Franklin did that in Atlanta and to this very date, the mayor’s pay remains at that rate. The county needs to operate within their means and stop printing more money from the rate payers wallet.
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