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JASPER COUNTY’S FIRST WOMAN COMMISSIONER SWORN INTO
OFFICE
Jasper
County’s first woman
commissioner was sworn in Monday, December 29, 2008. Mary Patrick, a long time advocate of open government and a watchdog,
is now the County
Commissioner representing
District 4.
When asked about the biggest challenge facing the county,
she replied, “The budget. Our budget is
going to be a big challenge, especially with the falling revenues due to the
downturn in the economy. I think we’ll
have a deficit in 2009 of about $1.5 million.
Out of $9 million budget that’s about 20% short.”
Patrick says another challenge will be learning how to
tighten our belt and make very hard, serious decisions. The county is going to have to make serious cut
backs to keep property taxes from increasing dramatically. Patrick hopes this new board can work as a
team saying, “It’s the only way we can do what is right for the citizens.” Lower revenues are a given and can mean less
services for the citizens. It will be a
challenge and everyone is going to have to compromise. Basic government services like providing
public safety and maintaining our roads should be the first priority, according
to Patrick.
TWG wishes the new
board well. Citizens are hoping for
discussion of real issues, compromise, follow through, and concern for those
paying the taxes. Read our mission
statement below. Our goal is to keep
you, the citizen informed, based on that mission statement.
TWG
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Mission
Statement:
** To keep the taxpayers of Jasper County, Georgia
informed as to where and how their tax dollars are
being spent.
** To keep the taxpayers abreast of local policies
and laws being discussed and enacted.
** We advocate more open government, less government
spending, and lower property taxes.
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