Frank Ginn, Candidate for State Senate District 47
How do you propose to balance the state budget?
Sales and income taxes account for the bulk of state revenue. Growing jobs across Georgia is the fastest way to fill the budget shortfall. Eliminating unnecessary bureaucratic regulations will make Georgia more attractive when competing against neighboring states and help native businesses succeed. We need to market Georgia!
Do you support any kind of tax increase to generate more revenue for the state?
NO. Georgia’s tax burden already ranks higher than neighboring states and hurts our ability to attract top employers. Higher taxes lower productivity and inhibit the job growth we now need. The state must live within its means without relying on any new taxes.
Where in state government should spending cuts be made?
I intend to dig into the 2011 budget in search of any expenditure that should not be funded by the state. I believe the state should focus only on statewide issues. Local control is essential.
Do you support cutting the high salaries found in education in the state?
The state minimum salary schedule is set by the state legislature and the department of education. Teacher’s salaries were cut last year by a maximum of six days of pay. In the 2010-2011 school year, systems have the ability to furlough teachers with state approval. The question asks about high salaries in education and the question is quite vague. I am not for cutting teacher salaries across the board. We need to pay competitive wages to teachers to attract and keep good educators. I am sure there are extremes on both ends of the spectrum and I would let the local school board have more input.
Do you support Georgia adopting an anti-illegal immigration law similar to the one adopted in Arizona?
Yes! Illegal aliens cost our state and country billions in healthcare, education and law enforcement and compete unfairly for American jobs.
Should the children of illegal immigrants be allowed to attend Georgia colleges if they pay out-of-state tuition rates?
NO! Out-of-state tuition rates are subsidized by Georgia taxpayers. Law abiding citizens should not be required to subsidize illegal aliens.
Do you support the state giving up some of its control over local education and turning that over to local school boards? If so, what areas should be turned over to local control?
Yes. In the past year, many areas have been turned over to local control. Schools were allowed to adjust the number of days in a school year to shorten calendars and save on operations. Class size requirements were given to local systems to set. The state granted local systems the ability to furlough teachers in order to balance the budget. I believe local control of our schools is a good thing. For a local school system, the majority of the issues of local control are not possible due to federal mandates. I believe the federal government should have less input into education.
Do you support the state giving taxpayer incentives to companies looking to open business in Georgia, or should such incentives be banned in the state?
Georgia must offer incentives to compete with neighboring states. Whenever the state or local governments offer incentive packages, there must be a cost benefit analysis to ensure taxpayers will win in the long run. Also, we must not turn our backs on the existing Georgia businesses.
Do you support a multi-county sales tax to be used for transportation in the state?
Local control is nearly always beneficial. Transportation is an issue which crosses jurisdictional boundaries and I am concerned this approach may produce a highway grid with poor connectivity between districts. This funding approach has many deficiencies. For example, a major corridor from Commerce to Calhoun would benefit metro Atlanta, but would not even be in Atlanta’s region.
Do you support any kind of tax increase to generate more revenue for the state?
NO. Georgia’s tax burden already ranks higher than neighboring states and hurts our ability to attract top employers. Higher taxes lower productivity and inhibit the job growth we now need. The state must live within its means without relying on any new taxes.
Where in state government should spending cuts be made?
I intend to dig into the 2011 budget in search of any expenditure that should not be funded by the state. I believe the state should focus only on statewide issues. Local control is essential.
Do you support cutting the high salaries found in education in the state?
The state minimum salary schedule is set by the state legislature and the department of education. Teacher’s salaries were cut last year by a maximum of six days of pay. In the 2010-2011 school year, systems have the ability to furlough teachers with state approval. The question asks about high salaries in education and the question is quite vague. I am not for cutting teacher salaries across the board. We need to pay competitive wages to teachers to attract and keep good educators. I am sure there are extremes on both ends of the spectrum and I would let the local school board have more input.
Do you support Georgia adopting an anti-illegal immigration law similar to the one adopted in Arizona?
Yes! Illegal aliens cost our state and country billions in healthcare, education and law enforcement and compete unfairly for American jobs.
Should the children of illegal immigrants be allowed to attend Georgia colleges if they pay out-of-state tuition rates?
NO! Out-of-state tuition rates are subsidized by Georgia taxpayers. Law abiding citizens should not be required to subsidize illegal aliens.
Do you support the state giving up some of its control over local education and turning that over to local school boards? If so, what areas should be turned over to local control?
Yes. In the past year, many areas have been turned over to local control. Schools were allowed to adjust the number of days in a school year to shorten calendars and save on operations. Class size requirements were given to local systems to set. The state granted local systems the ability to furlough teachers in order to balance the budget. I believe local control of our schools is a good thing. For a local school system, the majority of the issues of local control are not possible due to federal mandates. I believe the federal government should have less input into education.
Do you support the state giving taxpayer incentives to companies looking to open business in Georgia, or should such incentives be banned in the state?
Georgia must offer incentives to compete with neighboring states. Whenever the state or local governments offer incentive packages, there must be a cost benefit analysis to ensure taxpayers will win in the long run. Also, we must not turn our backs on the existing Georgia businesses.
Do you support a multi-county sales tax to be used for transportation in the state?
Local control is nearly always beneficial. Transportation is an issue which crosses jurisdictional boundaries and I am concerned this approach may produce a highway grid with poor connectivity between districts. This funding approach has many deficiencies. For example, a major corridor from Commerce to Calhoun would benefit metro Atlanta, but would not even be in Atlanta’s region.
Trackbacks
Trackback specific URI for this entry
No Trackbacks