Yearwood proposes 2-mill tax hike for debt; another 2 mills may be needed for county operations

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Wednesday, April 20. 2011

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Barrow County Board of Commissioners Chairman Danny Yearwood proposed a two-mill tax hike this week with all of the new revenue dedicated to pay toward county debt. Yearwood also said another two mills may be needed to fund ongoing county operations since expenses continue to go up and the tax digest continues to fall.

If both of those proposed tax hikes get approved by the BOC, it would mean a 39 percent rate hike for county residents and a 49 percent rate hike for Winder residents. The actual tax increase, however, would depend on what happens to individual property values that are again expected to drop.

“I told people that I would not raise taxes, and I’m sorry,” he said following Tuesday morning's joint meeting of the Winder-Barrow County Industrial Building Authority and the Joint Development Authority of Winder-Barrow County.

For the full story, see the April 20 issue of the Barrow Journal.

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#1 Kenny Roell on 04/20/11 at 03:59 PM [Reply]

Sure why not - after all you're a "lame duck" chairman.

2012 - let's clear the board and start with a clean slate on the BOC or at least three new ones. We need to keep Worley

#1.1 Tommy on 04/20/11 at 05:24 PM [Reply]

Kenny, I do not remember a damn thing that worley has done that was any way worth keeping him either. Clean them ALL OUT!!!

#2 Phil on 04/20/11 at 05:21 PM [Reply]

Ok all you "it's only a penny" ... SPLOST people ... that wanted to keep the tax to keep from having property taxes raised ... BITE ME!!! Your liberal fear tactics did not work did it? Now you too will pay this 2 mills and a penny. Yelp only a penny ... whats next SPLOST people?

#2.1 Matthew on 04/20/11 at 05:28 PM [Reply]

I'm not quite sure what SPLOST has to do with the mil but OK.

#2.1.1 Will on 04/20/11 at 06:45 PM [Reply]

Because Matt the cry of the SPLOST vote hear while back was said to keep from raising the property taxes. Did not work did it?

#3 shake my head on 04/20/11 at 06:07 PM [Reply]

How about this novel idea. Lets get some new businesses to move in here not just gas stations and banks. That will help the community by creating jobs and raising tax revenue. But all they do is deny businesses from coming into barrow and winder, why???? is it to protect the good old boy network of businesses. It is a sad day for barrow county residents if this passes

#4 Mr Green Jeans on 04/20/11 at 06:52 PM [Reply]

Being sorry does not help me pay your increase you darn red neck. Why people? Why do we keep time after time voting these non-qualified people to these positions? I understand why Danny was voted in ... because the other guy had to go. We just voted a few months back and put the same stupid people back into office. When will the people of Barrow Co ever wake up and vote for qualified people not just buddies.

#4.1 Real Taxpayer on 04/21/11 at 12:55 PM [Reply]

I'd vote for "unqualified rednecks" before I'd vote for smart-ass carpetbaggers, or any of the ilk that you seem to prefer. Interlopers should tread lightly.

#4.1.1 Mr Green Jeans on 04/21/11 at 05:28 PM [Reply]

BOO HOO cry baby. You must drink the Obama Cool Aid. Tax and spend Liberals. Your why we are the most backwards county in North Georgia. At least carpetbaggers pay their way and don't have to drink from the taxers pools. We have had enough of your give me programs. You will have to work some day worthless.

#5 Danny on 04/20/11 at 07:09 PM [Reply]

This BOC is the prime example why all people should not be allowed to vote. There should be a test to take before you can vote.

#5.1 Markey Malarkey on 04/21/11 at 01:09 PM [Reply]

Just who would establish the criteria? YOU?
And what would it be? How much money you have?
How smart you are? Yes, this fantasy is oft-express by elitist vermin such as Neal Boortz.

#5.1.1 Jack on 04/21/11 at 05:33 PM [Reply]

At least Neal had not taken from the tax payers funds. I suspect you have. I suspect you do on a regular basis. That is why the conservatives scare you. Your days at the tax payers well is coming to an end soon.

#5.1.1.1 Markey Malarkey on 04/21/11 at 06:49 PM [Reply]

You suspect wrong, cretin. I will match my bank accounts against yours -- anytime. My house and automobiles are 100% paid for. I do not now and never have accepted government subsidy. However, I don't believe that the voting franchise should be the exclusive property of plutocrats and landed gentry.

So, to reiterate: Your silly suppositions are 100% in error.

#5.1.1.1.1 Mr Green Jeans on 04/21/11 at 07:17 PM [Reply]

What does this have to do with you voting your redneck friends into office is beyond me. Having money is no guarantee you will make good voting decisions. Still say you drink from the well of the tax payers. Typical redneck with a little money who thinks they are special. I have a combined total net work of 1.45 million and I am no more special that anybody on welfare. I served in VietNam three times and used my VA benefit to get a great education. Until we can educate you rednecks in this county ... you and your redneck friends will hold us all back.

#5.1.1.1.1.1 Markey Malarkey on 04/21/11 at 08:19 PM [Reply]

That's a great "argument" to call someone a "redneck" and then accuse someone you don't know of being a moocher from the taxpayers. Well, I'm telling you I'm not and never have been. If you persist in repeating the untrue statement, then you are merely a liar. If you can prove your accusations, then do so. You wouldn't have the guts to say these things to my face either.

#5.1.1.1.1.1.1 Green Jeans on 04/21/11 at 08:42 PM [Reply]

Oh no, do I need to get my mommy?

#5.1.1.1.2 David on 04/21/11 at 07:23 PM [Reply]

Yelp you drink from the well. You have to be one of those demorats. Get mad, call names, and try to have more money than any repuborats. I bet you was a bullies in school too!! Folks this Markey must be the poster child for barrow redneck club.

#5.1.2 Bobby Jo on 04/21/11 at 06:47 PM [Reply]

Neal did not vote for a single board member we have in Barrow County. The Barrow County rednecks voting for their redneck buddies are responsible for our mess ... not Neal. Get a grip. Are you one too?

#6 BarrowCountian on 04/20/11 at 07:41 PM [Reply]

Remember Phil, Barrow County is heavily Republican and had to have those right wing voters to approve that penny tax. You are right in that every screamed "VOTE FOR SPLOST OR YOUR PROPERTY TAXES WILL BE RAISED!!!" Well it now seems we got hit with SPLOST and are going to see a property tax increase anyway. Hate to say I told you so.

#6.1 Phil on 04/20/11 at 08:10 PM [Reply]

I am proudly one of those right wingers ... I do not drink that left wing cool aid ... but I did not fall for that stupid SPLOST tax. I am a little smarter than that. Not all right wingers are un-informed. Some of us do our research before we vote. There has never been a county that started a SPLOST that did not raise taxes to go along with it. I challenge you to find one that did not rasie taxes also when the next budget was presented to the board. Now the SPLOST people will pay for that vote. The trouble is I have to pay too!!!!

#6.2 Anonymous on 04/20/11 at 09:48 PM [Reply]

Splost is not effecting my family. We refuse to spend one dime in Barrow County. 100% of our shopping is done across the county line.

#6.2.1 Ted Bernstein on 04/21/11 at 03:44 PM [Reply]

I hope some of that money you spend is devoted to education. Then, you might able to distinguish between effects and how you are affected by being ignorant.

#7 Da Pope O Barro on 04/20/11 at 08:19 PM [Reply]

Hey Yearwood,

Ya'll started saving for this yet? Gonna cost millions!!

On January 1, 2013, all public safety and business industrial land mobile radio systems operating in the 150-512 MHz radio bands must cease operating using 25 kHz efficiency technology, and begin operating using at least 12.5 kHz efficiency technology. This deadline is the result of an FCC effort that began almost two decades ago to ensure more efficient use of the spectrum and greater spectrum access for public safety and non-public safety users. Migration to 12.5 kHz efficiency technology (once referred to as Refarming, but now referred to as Narrowbanding) will allow the creation of additional channel capacity within the same radio spectrum, and support more users.

After January 1, 2013, licensees not operating at 12.5 KHz efficiency will be in violation of the Commission's rules and could be subject to FCC enforcement action, which may include admonishment, monetary fines, or loss of license.

#8 Diablo's Advocate on 04/20/11 at 09:14 PM [Reply]

Nobody likes paying property taxes (I sure don't) but think about the situation of Barrow County this way:

Over the years through multiple commissions Barrow has racked up debt for public service projects often including major infrastructure projects to accommodate a growing populace. Some of this was paid for by SPLOST but must now be operated. In the end the bills have come due. Just as you have to pay your credit card or mortgage or home equity line for improvements, so does the county.

Secondly, in order to continue to provide services (many of them state mandated, the others mandated by us, the public) the county has had to hire people, build buildings, build roads, buy ambulances, fire trucks, patrol cars, and so on. This is not free. For the last decade this was paid for with explosive growth in the county digest. Essentially, we were all getting off on the cheap because of this. Now that the real estate bust has occurred, we the people have to make up the tremendous difference in what was brought in from digest growth to what is now a depressed tax digest. The only way to make it up and pay the bills is a millage increase.

Just because the millage rate is increased does not mean we will be paying more in taxes. If it is set back to bring in relatively the same level of revenue that was coming in before the major digest drop it will be of no change to us. However, perhaps we may have to pay a little more because, as I said earlier, the debt is due. We all want the federal government to balance the budget and pay down the debt and that is what it sounds like the county is doing or trying to do.

I do not think Barrow County has made the best choices in the past for sure but major cuts have been made for several years now. Some things just have to be paid for.

Anybody else have any better ideas besides screaming for a local government shutdown? (That won't help attract any real businesses now will it?)

#8.1 George on 04/21/11 at 08:07 AM [Reply]

You hide your head in the sand and wait. I bet you pay more overall dollars this year than you paid last year in taxes.

#9 J_B_Moore on 04/20/11 at 09:36 PM [Reply]

I love to look back at all the negative comments I recieved when I posted that my wife and I voted no on the SPLOST slush fund. A 39% rate hike for what? Look at the services we recieve. I am paying large metro county taxes for pathetic return. Privatize all county services with the exception of water and police services. If it is not a constitutional office bid it out. I ask anyone to look at Chatham county and I believe it is southeaster fire service a PRIVATE company that provides better response times than county fire departments. Have you ever seen private road contractors sitting on tailgates for hours as I have our county roads and bridges? Yes and it still bugs me my hill in front of my property that is on right of way that gets looked over with the bush hog on the boom every time they cut right of way. Eliminate the city police departments and allow the sheriff to provide protection as he is constitutionally required to do and stop duplication of services. It is very simple to do. Lower taxes and wave any and all impact fees,licensing, etc. on any business for the period of three years if they relocate to barrow county. drop the sales tax below any in the state of Ga and retail with boom like crazy. We are not getting the revenue now so why not "buildit and they will come". wave taxes for any new constructed home purchases for one year. Bring people, bring business and the money will follow. Who is going to move to Barrow county when it has the highest taxes in georgia. For anyone who wishes to argue you need to look at forbes magazine and their is a place called Forsyth County Georgia THIRD FASTEST GROWING COUNTY IN THE US, SEVENTH WEALTHIEST IN THE US,and to put the nail in the coffin of your argument, lowest taxes in metro atlanta. Coincidence I dont think so.

#9.1 the rest of the story on 04/20/11 at 11:25 PM [Reply]

Wow JB. I looked up Chatam County. The City of Savannah is a City run fire department.
Southside Fire operates outside of the City in some parts of the County. Interesting thing is, they're a subscription based fire service. A $100,000 house cost $160 per year. What happens if you don't subscribe? It says on their page that your insurance company could deny your claim if you don't have fire protection (subscription).

#9.2 What???? on 04/21/11 at 06:39 PM [Reply]

It helps when your county has a money making tourist attraction called lake Lanier. Take away the lake and Forsyth is another hick county like Barrow.

#10 Anonymous on 04/20/11 at 10:55 PM [Reply]

There's not a dime's difference between the Social Democrats and Social Republicans in this county. Remember both the Socialist and the Fascist believe that they, they the government know best. The Central party (Republican)has shown its colors and You Loss. You Loss everything

#11 Fortitude on 04/21/11 at 11:09 AM [Reply]

BOC,
Any one of you that votes for a property tax hike, will not get a single vote in 2yrs. I just want you to know that you must think of other ways to get revenue, not off the backs of those who have a stake in the county, but those who use our services and then move on.

#12 Anonymous on 04/21/11 at 03:29 PM [Reply]

i am sick of this tax mess. everyone needs to do their share. many are not. renters and tax dodgers(private and public are cheating and lying every which of way to suit their own agenda. fathers that never work or pay child support, people who set up businesess and never get a license to do so mske money and dont report their income doing it in full view and nothing is said or done. the people that get a public paycheck eah week or gettin totally screwed. i will not pay another dime for such corruption in our county,state or country. tired of it .

#13 Steve Marlow on 04/21/11 at 05:55 PM [Reply]

When you vote Barrow Co Redneck CHUMPS into office ... then you get this monkey business.

#14 J_B_Moore on 04/21/11 at 11:46 PM [Reply]

What???- what is the money maker about lake lanier? There is no large marina in forsyth county and I do not believe bait and tackle stores are the reason for the success and not the low taxes. As far as subscription fire service, why should I worry about the ones who do not pay for their fire subscription? That is the problem no one is held accountable for their actions. I have never used the public school system in barrow for my children but have paid thousands over the years for others kids. Lets get some accountability.

#14.1 Anonymous on 04/22/11 at 07:19 AM [Reply]

The money makers for Forsyth County are the million dollar homes, the horse farms, the county's attitude toward small business -- all of which help to attract businesses.

Barrow County commissioners think running small business out of the county, shutting down horse farms and building "affordable" (aka cheap) homes, and retirement communities is the way to go.

We need higher $$$ homes (more tax - same lot size), more REAL eateries and not just fast food, a downtown people can be proud of and not be just an eyesore that's almost impossible to drive through. We need ordiances inforced on junk cars, trash, condemned trailers and homes, etc...

#14.1.1 Annie Omus on 04/22/11 at 08:55 AM [Reply]

I agree 100% with your comment.

#14.2 anon on 04/22/11 at 07:42 AM [Reply]

So you would be ok with what happened in Tennessee, happening to your family or neighbor? You know, where the guy forgot to pay his subscription, so the private fire service watched the house burn down and did nothing.

#14.3 SPQR on 04/22/11 at 12:08 PM [Reply]

You should worry because the less people that pay means that 1) YOUR costs will increase to offset that amount of lost revenue 2) The amount of "protection" you get will be lowered.
Barrow FD has a $6 million budget and they are understaffed now (meaning less safety for the firefighter meaning increase county liability for injuried firefighters or firefighters not getting the job done because it is not safe.) How many $160.00 per households do you think it would take to make the $6 million that they have now? 37,500. Number of households in Barrow according to the US Census: 25,168 which means about a $4 million budget so just to make up the difference (which is still not what they need seeing as to how they have 1 guy on the fire truck or NO ONE on the truck like last week, their trucks are LITTERALLY falling apart (ask Danny how many of his trucks failed their pump test a few weeks ago) your amount would increase to $238.39 per year. Call the county and ask how much of your property tax goes towards the fire department. I would bet that it was a lot less than $238.39.
Oh and no, I am not a firefighter for Barrow, none of my family is, etc, etc, etc. I just pay attention and we all need to start doing more of that.

#15 Jay Wallace on 04/22/11 at 09:40 AM [Reply]

Our Board of Commissioners makes The Three Stooges look like amateurs. Barrow County lets step up and get rid of these fools.

#16 J_B_Moore on 04/22/11 at 12:54 PM [Reply]

If I have to pay to make sure I have more than 1 man on a truck to come to my home than I will pay more. Where you are missing the point is when I pay a subscription that money goes directly to provide that service for me. It is not divided up and maybe I get service, maybe I don't. Why don't you also do some research on contract savings by those that use that service and how their response times are cut by one-quarter. The whole thing is private industry runs service better than the government, its a fact. Unless it is a constitutional office it should be contracted out. And Yearwood should be kicked out.

#16.1 SPQR on 04/22/11 at 01:40 PM [Reply]

Then maybe Barrow should reinstate the "fire tax". Then the money can ONLY go to the fire department. Gwinnett has that, Jackson has that and that money can't be taken to pay for a courthouse or ball fields! My concern with subscription is people not paying for it so the community suffers from an underfunded FD. You want the money to go to the right people and I want the proper funding so maybe the fire tax is a good common ground for us.

#17 Tired of taxes on 04/22/11 at 10:08 PM [Reply]

After years of trying, we have finally gotten the County Assessor to lower our property value to within $5000 of it's current value.

Along comes Yearwood with a proposal to raise our taxes by 39% to cover what has been a spending spree and offset any property value savings we may have realized.

When an official tells us that we must share the sacrifice by spending more of our hard-earned dollars, I just want to strangle that official. We didn't create the problem but we will most certainly have to pay to correct the overspending.

#18 Wolf Larsen on 04/23/11 at 12:57 AM [Reply]

I am another voter who voted no on the SPLOST slush fund.
You people are going to get exactly what you deserve; i.e. the best government that money can buy!
W.L.

#19 J_B_Moore on 04/23/11 at 07:35 AM [Reply]

Please and if I may i want to apologize to all Barrow county Firemen. I am not discounting your efforts or the job you do, I am concerned for your safety as well as how pitiful the county is running your Department. One or only two on a truck does no good. Are we asking you to go into fires by yourself and leave the truck man outside? We would never allow a Deputy To clear a house by himself. It is a shame what these commisiioners are doing to the county and its citizens. I remember when every where you looked there were volunteer firemen who loved giving of themselves for free to protect and then some genius ran them off. I have to ask is there now or has there ever been a commissioner that does not suffer from a diminished mental capacity?

#19.1 Anonymous on 04/23/11 at 08:04 AM [Reply]

Blow hard of the neighborhood, blow hard on blog sites!!

#20 BOC Members on 04/23/11 at 03:23 PM [Reply]

Please, Please go ahead and vote for a tax increase. Make sure to vote for the full 4 Mill increase.

We need this tax increase; We need it just like we need a new Board of Commissioners.

So please go ahead and vote for a tax increase so myself and other citizens can be assured of your being voted out next year.

Please vote for it so when the new commissioners and chairperson take over Jan 2013, they aren't having to clean up after you; After all it's easier to lower taxes then raise them!

So please do us all a favor and vote in the tax increase.

#21 Good Ole Boy on 04/25/11 at 03:38 PM [Reply]

Where is DOOOOOOOWAYNE when you need him. Has already been kicked out the county?????

#22 J_B_Moore on 04/27/11 at 12:57 PM [Reply]

19.1 as i have said before you are to much of a coward to use your realname as I do. Maybe it is that I am in a proffession where it is my duty to protect cowards such as you that are probably near 50 years old and still live with your parents. Maybe when you are weened from your mother you will be able to confront me and disprove me with factual arguments. "Blow hard" is the name you like to use appearently you do not know me or you are simply trying to attack me because I have hurt your feelings. If you would like to find me and discuss issues I am very easy to locate and I would be happy to debate in any public setting, any one who disagrees with me. I state only facts in my post and I have been a public safety employee for many years and I have also ran my own business for just as many years. I would place my knowledge above any one who wants to set and have such a low cognitive ability that they can only submit name calling. Go have your mommy tuck you in and let the adults talk. Have a nice day!!!

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Yearwood proposes 2-mill tax hike for debt; another 2 mills may be needed ...

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Yearwood proposes 2-mill tax hike for debt; another 2 mills may be needed for county operations

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