December 10, 2006
Special
Tax District to Benefit Jasper County Water Authority
At the BOC meeting last Monday (12/4/06) the Commissioners
voted to implement a “Special Tax District”.
If you live anywhere near a JCWSA fire hydrant you need
to find out how this will affect you!
Those
persons in the county that are serviced by fire hydrants
and thereby receive the benefit of a reduced ISO rating
and lower insurance rates will be part of this “Special
Tax District.” Once identified this area would be subject
to an additional tax levy that would be dedicated to the
Jasper County Water and Sewer Authority for the maintenance
of the fire hydrants.
When asked for a copy of the Ordinance that was passed,
the TWG was told, “The ordinance is
currently being drafted by our attorney, and the work on
the maps to identify the tax area is still in process.”
This means the Commissioners voted on something that wasn’t
even a reality or the details known.
There
will be public hearings concerning this new tax district
on both Wednesday 12/13/06 and Thursday 12/28/06. Presumably
at the “first reading” on 12/13/06 the public will have
documents to review. TWG was not given a time that these
hearings were to be held, but will we guess at 9:00AM. Call
the BOC office 706-468-4900 to find out what time the meetings
will be held.
Here
are some questions you need to ask the Commissioners, especially
if this new tax district will affect you:
1. Why must the taxpayers supplement the JCWSA budget? Will
JCWSA be able to meet their debt obligation this year or
again have to pay “interest only?” JCWSA should stand on
its own.
2. The new tax district was proposed for areas serviced
by fire hydrants—does this include the City of Monticello,
Alcovy Shores Water area, and others with fire hydrants
that haven’t needed the taxpayers assistance? Will it include
areas like Turtle Cove that don’t receive JCWSA water service
but fire hydrants are close by and can service the area?
3. The JCWSA members have spoken harshly when they receive
criticism about where they are running their lines and have
said more than once “Get your facts straight” when questioned
about their ability to service their debt. They continue
to runs lines for Residential areas instead of Commercial
and Industrial areas.
4. The last group of Commissioners signed an agreement with
the JCWSA to help fund their fire hydrants, but this agreement
was only IF the appropriation was put in
the budget. It hasn’t been in the budget for the last 2
years; therefore the JCWSA wants to sue the County BOC to
make them pay. Remember how many times the previous JCWSA
Chair wrote in the paper that they received NO county funds?
5. During the Bear Creek Reservoir hearings, it was brought
up what happened to Lumpkin County WSA. Lumpkin couldn’t
make ends meet because the promised population boom didn’t
materialize and not everyone was interested in “hooking
up”. Again TWG was told to “Get their facts straight.” The
fact is JCWSA is now in the same position as Lumpkin WSA.
6. USDA –Rural Development is the bond holder of the bonds/debt
of the JCWSA. The taxpayers of Jasper County are not liable
for the debt unless the BOC makes them liable with some
sort of agreement. (USDA recently picked up $5 million of
debt default from a Golf Course it funded in Peachtree City.)
7. The JCWSA has a mutual agreement and other dealings with
the City of Monticello. Will the City receive any tax benefits
from this new tax district because of its relationship with
JCWSA?
Everyone
should attend these public hearings and hear what the County
Attorney and Commissioners have to say about this new Special
Tax District and find out who it will affect and how.
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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