Still warns of tough times ahead

Mark Still

Still warns of tough times ahead

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Sunday, August 22. 2010

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Work on this year’s budget may have just concluded, but Barrow County Board of Education chairman Mark Still is already looking at what challenges lie ahead for next year.

“It’s going to be tough again,” he warned. “Things, as everybody knows, are still tough right now.”

Still was a guest speaker at the Monday night meeting of the Barrow County Republican Party. He took the opportunity to provide an update on issues currently facing the school system.

After cutting millions in expenditures from this year’s budget, Still said next year’s budget process will be just as difficult.

“We had an interesting budget year to say the least,” he said. “We had to cut somewhere in the neighborhood of $9 million out of budget expenditures. During this budget that we’re under and the previous budget, there was $2 million of money we got from President Obama that will not be in the budget next year.”

Despite the financial constraints, the school system must educate a growing number of students.

Enrollment this year is up by over 500 students, Still said.

“We’re going to have to continue to build schools,” he said. “We can’t send the kids home and not educate them. That’s our job.”

Still emphasized the importance of the recently passed ESPLOST (Educational Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax) to the school system’s finances and also pointed out several areas in which cost savings have been recognized.

While the financial picture remains challenging due to the ongoing economic crisis, Still had some good news to share.

Several initiatives, including the JROTC program, the Parent Portal information platform and the use of Internet2 for distance learning are yielding positive results for Barrow County students, Still said.

Still also praised recent efforts by the Barrow County Board of Education and the Barrow County Board of Commissioners to work together on several issues of importance to the school system.

In particular, he praised fellow board members for their continued efforts on behalf of the county’s students.

“I don’t think there’s a person on that board who isn’t trying to do what is best for the kids of Barrow County.”

The other guest speaker at the August 16 meeting was State Senate 47 nominee Frank Ginn.

Ginn said he was excited to be the Republican nominee and was looking forward to serving his constituents.

“I want to be your waterboy,” he said. “I’m carrying your issues to the state. I want to serve you.”

Ginn asked for feedback regarding what needed to be done at the same level and encouraged anyone with concerns to contact him.

“If you have a concern, if you have an issue, you need to pick up the phone and let me know,” he said.

UP NEXT
The next meeting of the Barrow County Republican Party will be Monday, September 20 at 7:30 p.m.

The meeting will be held at the Winder Woman’s Club located at 15 West Midland Avenue in Winder and is open to the public.

For more information, visit www.barrowgop. com or join the Barrow County Republican Party on Facebook.

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#1 Edwin Gravitt on 08/22/10 at 12:56 PM [Reply]

As a Barrow County property owner and taxpayer, whose illegal property taxes continue to increase almost every year, I feel that, the Barrow County school board should consider bringing its business into conformity with the founding principles of our government of a Republic of Freedom. This would also apply to the costs that are absorbed by the Georgia taxpayers who fund our state colleges and universities to the tune of hundreds more millions of dollars each year. Now my question to those who "don't mind paying their taxes:" When will you say, with me, to your government(s) NO MORE!

#1.1 Red Ryder on 08/22/10 at 06:27 PM [Reply]

So when do you pay "legal" property taxes? Do you plan on just "suggesting" everyone else to just voluntarily give some of their money for schools?

Let us know when the Fair Tax passes. Until then, figure a way to fund our colleges and universities so our children can receive an education commensurate with every other state in the union.

#1.1.1 Edwin Gravitt on 08/22/10 at 09:11 PM [Reply]

There are no legal property taxes. And who says we have to be like every other state in the nation? We are, under the constitution, a Sovereign state that is supposed to respect private property rights and income, not tax them. Georgia does not respect that right. Now, as to your question on how to fund our colleges and etc: As a free American property owner that is not my problem, so eliminate the illegal property and income taxes. And there is no such thing as a "fair" tax. I am opposed to the so called fair tax. Now, I have a question for you: How long do you think it would be "fair" for our government to keep taxing our income and property until we have no income or property left and the government owns all of it, like Karl Marx wanted it to be? I am not on a fixed income, but with unreasonable taxation that leads to higher inflation and devaluation of the U.S. dollar, I am on a diminishing one and I want my Republican form of government back; and I feel that is reason enough for me to speak out against unnecessary and illegal taxation.

#1.1.1.1 MKR on 08/23/10 at 06:46 AM [Reply]

It's like freeper bingo. I think you filled your card.

#1.1.1.2 Jack Legg on 08/24/10 at 08:24 AM [Reply]

Well, I dont completely disagree with you about the income tax. It is definetly unconstitional and therefore illegal.The only problem with that is we are forced ,as Neal Boortz puts it at gunpoint by our govt. to pay it,so unless you want to start a revolution you better pay up.I disagree with the property tax also but its no illegal or unconstituional, just unfair. I think that a sales tax would be the best tax for everything ,not a v.a.t. either. I guess that we all have a choice, usually made when we are young and somewhat impressionable.Either opt out of society and live off the land, on some public land. Or opt into society and get a job, buy some form of transportation, buy some form of shelter, have a family and pay the tax.There is a tax and those taxes go to building a better socity to live in. Examples are paved roads, bridges,public water, police and fire protection, ems service.Those are just a few on the local level, The state and federal level expands those services and creates welfare that is supposed to be for widows and orphens, as well as help to those down on their luck, for a brief time. We all know the trouble with that though. They also provide us a military umbrella of protection against the crazies out there who would like to see America fall.Thats just some of what our taxes go for.Are there abuses in the system ? sure, but lets find a way to combat them inatsed of throwing the baby out with the bath water.

#1.1.1.2.1 Edwin Gravitt on 08/24/10 at 01:55 PM [Reply]

Simply put, the property tax, along with the income tax is unconstitutional and therefore, dead wrong to collect at the point of a gun and, must be eliminated before it succeeds, as Karl Marx intended; to tax us out of our homes and off our land that we bought and paid for, thus leaving us hopelessly dependent on a socio-Marxist world government. And NOTHING at all can justify it. Will you join me and millions of others in taking back our constitutional Republican form of a government of freedom? We would greatly appreciate it.

#1.1.1.2.1.1 MKR on 08/25/10 at 07:29 AM [Reply]

How exactly do you plan to "take it back?"

#1.1.1.2.2 Anonymous on 08/24/10 at 08:57 PM [Reply]

There are no "fair" taxes. Any tax, no matter how levied, will impact one group or individual differently than another. The "income tax" tends to gore the wealthiest, but that is a matter of perception. The "fair tax" will gore the middle class. Don't let Neil Boortz and his minions convince you otherwise - it will. Property taxes tend to gore property owners, but renters pay since landlords necessarily factor taxes in their computation of the rent to be charged. Taxes are, by their very nature, "unfair", but they are the price that we pay to live in a free society.

The welfare system, the great society, most social programs including the Earned Income Tax Credit - even social security - are all products of politicians trying to buy votes. Sad, but true.

We need government, but government's role in our lives should be limited.

#2 Edwin Gravitt on 08/23/10 at 06:45 PM [Reply]

Yes Sir/Ma'am. but I still have the Marxist styled taxes to pay.

#2.1 dawgmom05 on 08/24/10 at 03:53 PM [Reply]

Our Founding Fathers didn't mean for this nation to be like every other nation on the planet.
We used to be what others saw and strived to become. But that is no more. Instead we're leading the groundpack to finish the race in 1st place as the nation that every other country on the planet has set out to destroy.
They didn't have far to destroy because we did a good job of imploding ourselves with our own weapons of mass destruction. Greed, materialism, self righteousness, and greed, materialism, etc... You get the message.
I am really sick and tired of paying for people in my community, state, and nation who don't want to provide their own way making a living off my EARNED WAGES!!!!!
Get off your a-- and get a job and do something to help yourself because I can assure you that in more cases than one, you are certainly better able to work than I.
Also, I am so sick of our country being the one to everyone elses' rescue for every tragedy.

#2.1.1 MKR on 08/24/10 at 06:01 PM [Reply]

We're the mockery of the world because we let our sick die without trying to help them, we make our poor poorer, we make major criminals out of minor crimes, and we let our infrastructure crumble.

You don't get to claim moral superiority if you support the stratification policies that put us here.

How can you claim to be against greed and materialism when you trot out the same lines that were used to advocate the policies that built that "weapon of mass destruction?"

#2.1.1.1 Edwin Gravitt on 08/25/10 at 07:03 AM [Reply]

MKR I could not care less about what the rest of the world thinks about us. I only care about the government being small and close to we the people of our Republic in isolationism like the founding fathers advised us to be. We have infrastructure that was built by the federal government that it is not authorized to build and, therefore is unnecessary for it to tax or cause us to be taxed to our deaths to maintain. The unconstitutional income and property taxes were begun by the rogue federal government to destroy our economy and our freedom to do for ourselves and that my friend is tyranny in its most brutal form. We are NOT living in a free country. We are slaves to a world government, military industrial complex headquartered in New York City and its puppet headquarters in Washington, D.C. at 1600 Pa. Ave. and the U.S. Capitol building. Our county governments have the power to nullify all unconstitutional laws in this country and I will continue to fight to have them do exactly that with no ifs, ands, or buts. Government education is the biggest obstacle in reducing the government to its lowest level, so I will continue to insist that, the U.N., the teachers unions, ie. the National Education Board, as well as out Georgia Board of Education be eliminated and the education of our children be controlled by their parents at the local level. It would be nice to have you join me and millions of other patriotic Americans in our worthy endeavor. Thank you in advance for your support. We can take care of our sick and dying fellow friends, relatives and neighbors ourselves. And with trillions of dollars less taxes for our children to have to bear.

#2.1.1.1.1 MKR on 08/25/10 at 08:17 AM [Reply]

It seems like we have a fundamental disagreement on both the views of the founders and the role of government.

#2.1.1.2 Cindy Thurman on 08/26/10 at 06:25 AM [Reply]

Really? We are the contempt of the world? Why then are they beating down the door and sliding under the door to get in? Really? You hate your country that much that LIke OBAMA you apologize for us to the world??? Well, leave...the door opens both ways! See those delightful places first hand, write us and let us know about your adventures....BTW Take our apologizing officials with you.

#2.1.1.2.1 MKR on 08/26/10 at 07:38 AM [Reply]

"You can leave if you don't like it" is still, as always, hopelessly naive and ultimately self-defeating.

#2.1.1.2.2 MKR on 08/26/10 at 07:55 AM [Reply]

And jingoism is dumb.

#2.1.2 Edwin Gravitt on 08/24/10 at 10:38 PM [Reply]

dawgmom, we are dealing with progressive liberalism here, and it is destroying our Republic. No ifs ands or buts.

#2.1.2.1 MKR on 08/25/10 at 07:27 AM [Reply]

I like to think of it as enlightened capitalism.

#2.1.2.1.1 Edwin Gravitt on 08/25/10 at 07:58 AM [Reply]

Bartering with some unregistered gold, silver and several other swap and trade items, that people need, always on hand is the best method for freedom lovers and survivalists. Small inexpensive homes on big untaxed tracts is a great idea also.

#2.1.2.1.1.1 MKR on 08/25/10 at 08:39 AM [Reply]

Rare metals aren't too practical. Even if you split an ounce of each among every person on earth, you'd run out of either mining capacity or supply very quickly. Isn't this supposed to be about everyone being allowed to operate at their full potential? We would need to lose several billion people for this to work.

And it seems completely impractical for service businesses (especially internet-based). How would you build a web-based checkout or payment system on metals and barter?

Barter is great on a small scale, in a group of communities, but I've never seen someone with your perspective explain how it would work on a larger scale.

#3 Edwin Gravitt on 08/25/10 at 09:26 AM [Reply]

Keep it simple. Keep government out of our private lives. We can do the job, it can't. Government never does anything right, especially it's only job, which is to protect our freedom to succeed or fail in life, and if we fail; to pull ourselves up by our own bootstraps and try, try again. It is a proven fact that a country that depends solely on its ability to produce goods and services and welfare checks have always failed and we are living proof of that. Most of us just haven't awakened to smelled the coffee yet.

#3.1 Jack Legg on 08/26/10 at 10:28 AM [Reply]

Well, this conversation has come a long way off of Mr. Still's column.To get back on track, I think we need to start finding a way to collect over due taxes so that we can pay for our kids to go to school over the next few years, or cutting some more fat out of the budget or better yet, both.It is ridiculas to try and get out of paying what we owe as citizens ,yes you too Mr. Gravitt.Your tax money is needed to keep the terrorists at bay, and to keep our roads paved and our school, police and fire dept. running.BTW ,our little experiment of a country is a long way from failing, it has surrvived far worse than Obama and the Dems.You all need to figure out who and what the real enemy of freedom is,and it aint freely elected officials and their pie in the sky plans.

#4 Edwin Gravitt on 08/26/10 at 10:51 AM [Reply]

Mr Legg, I see nothing in your liberal views that gives me any satisfaction, at all, that we are a free people and that, income and property taxes are a must or, that they are legally collected by a rogue government at the force of arms against innocent, hard working American property owners. To my you and your co-conspirators that want to live off of the government dole at honest American citizens' expense I say, away with you. To coin an old phrase: America, Love it or Leave it. You would be doing honest tax paying citizens and their posterity a great favor.

#4.1 Jack Legg on 08/26/10 at 11:55 AM [Reply]

Boy did you read what I actually wrote ? liberal views?,co-conspirator? You sir are off the edge, off your rocker, and possibly off your medications.If you wantto live in the woods but still fall under the blanket of protection that our country afoords you , then you should go and live in the bush of Alaska.

#4.1.1 MKR on 08/26/10 at 12:05 PM [Reply]

That won't work either. Alaska pays people to live there.

#4.1.1.1 MKR on 08/26/10 at 12:14 PM [Reply]

I will continue to live where I am and fight illegal income and property taxes. I am a legal citizen of this country.

#4.1.2 MKR on 08/26/10 at 12:11 PM [Reply]

Typical liberal response.

#4.1.2.1 Jack Legg on 08/26/10 at 01:19 PM [Reply]

What , are you arguing with yourself now?Do yourself a favor, take a long swig of whiskey and go back and sit on the rocker that you fell out of.

#4.1.2.1.1 MKR on 08/26/10 at 03:07 PM [Reply]

I didn't post that. There's some bug in the software that fills the input fields in with the details for the comment you click reply on.

I reported the bug, but it's random, so they might not be able to fix it.

#4.1.2.1.2 J. Palmer Cass on 08/26/10 at 04:37 PM [Reply]

Does your preoccupation with whiskey explain why you cannot spell, punctuate, or write with any semblance of what is generally recognized as proper grammar? Or, perhaps, you are simply illiterate?

#4.1.2.1.2.1 MKR on 08/26/10 at 05:13 PM [Reply]

Respectfully sir, I don't see where your comment has anything to do with this discussion.

#4.1.2.1.2.1.1 MKR on 08/26/10 at 07:03 PM [Reply]

Please check the fields above the comment box before posting.

#4.1.2.1.2.1.2 Jack Legg on 08/26/10 at 07:45 PM [Reply]

My momma tinks eye kin spel prety dawggone good specialty fer sombody wut got a pubic edercatshun,misster cr-ass.

#4.1.2.1.2.1.3 J. Palmer Cass on 08/26/10 at 11:52 PM [Reply]

With equal respect, "sir," I inform you that your judgment on relevancy is not required.
Unless you are in charge here --and I don't think you are -- I'll do & say as I deem appropriate.

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