August 30, 2006
More and more
frequently taxpayers, led by taxpayer groups, are challenging
cities and counties. Taxpayers are demanding that the LAWS
be followed. Government authorities can no longer get by
with doing “as they please” without scrutiny from the taxpayers.
Lawsuits
challenging Beltline bond authority to be heard
August
28, 2006, AJC, Horizon Section, page D4, — David Pend
Atlanta’s
plan to sell up to $200 million in bonds to buy land along
the Beltline will face an unusual hearing today in Fulton
County Superior Court.
Proposals
for local governments to sell bonds typically are rubber
stamped by a Superior Court judge, who makes sure the bond
papers are legal. But this time, two separate lawsuits filed
against the Beltline’s special tax district are slowing
the approval process.
The
Fulton County Taxpayers Association
contends the city doesn’t have the authority to exercise
the state law that allows special tax districts to be created.
The group, including its president, John Sherman, and seven
other members raise several other contentions against the
Beltline tax allocation district.
Atlanta resident
John Woodham filed a lawsuit that also challenges Atlanta’s
authority to issue bonds under the state’s Redevelopment
Powers Law. Woodham contends the current city charter, as
created by the state Legislature in 1996, does not authorize
Atlanta to exercise redevelopment powers.
Both lawsuits
raise issues that came up last autumn during the intense
campaign to create a special tax district for the Beltline.
The district is expected to generate about $1.7 billion
in property taxes over 25 years to buy and build parks,
trails, transit and work force housing. Critics
contended that property owners outside the Beltline tax
district will shoulder an unfair amount of the cost of providing
routine city services to residents and businesses that move
into the Beltline tax district.
The case is
to be heard at 2 p.m.(8/28/06) by Superior Court Judge
Bensonetta Tipton Lane at the courthouse, located at 185
Central Ave. in downtown Atlanta. The judge also has reserved
the same time on Thursday (8/31/06) to hear additional comments,
if necessary.
TWG
===========================================================
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.
|
