The political tide in Barrow County long ago turned red.
All elected officials in Barrow County, where the office is of a partisan nature, are Republicans. In fact, it would be safe to say it would take a minor political miracle for any Democrat to get elected locally today.
That makes one wonder why local Republicans are so eager to reach into our pockets for more of our our hard-earned money. It’s been going on for some time. The Barrow Board of Education is always on the prowl for more cash in terms of a Educational Local Option Sales Tax. Local voters granted that wish when they recently voted another tax on themselves.
Some members of the Barrow County Board of Commissioners let it be known that since privatization was not chosen then taxpayers had better be ready to give up more of their hard-earned money via a property tax hike. I wrote about this issue in a recent column and an interesting reply to it is printed on page 5A in today’s edition.
Last week the Winder City Council decided to increase the occupational tax which will cause local business owners to pay more. The fact that the amount is relatively small is really beside the point. It should be noted that council members Al Brown and Larry Evans voted against this proposal and deserve credit for doing so.
But why are so many local Republicans eager to cause the working class of Barrow County to pay more in taxes? It doesn’t matter to me if it’s an ELOST, a property tax increase or a higher tax on local business owners. In the real world, where the tough economic times continue, it’s safe to say most can’t afford to pay more in taxes (under the threat of arrest or loss of property if you don’t). Some try to convince us taxes of this nature are “fair.” Baloney. (I would use a strong word but this is a family newspaper.) No tax is fair and that word should never be used to describe one.
Politics is a funny bird at times. During campaign season you’ll hear candidates talk about taxes are too high, that hard working men and women pay too much in taxes, this party is the party of less taxes, etc. However, it seems at the local level in Barrow County too many elected Republicans don’t think we are paying enough in taxes. That’s news to many including one man in his mid 30s I spoke with recently at a BOC meeting who said he works two part-time jobs in addition to his full-time employment to be able to afford his rather modest house and property in Barrow County. The man jokingly told me, “There is no security guard to let people into my neighborhood.”
As a Libertarian for more than 25 years, it’s no real surprise to me that local Republicans are really no more of a friend of the taxpayer than Democrats are. A favorite Libertarian line in fact goes, “What’s the difference between Republicans and Democrats? One steals from your right pocket and one steals from your left.”
In the end, it’s just more of a money grab to take from a group of hard-working people who can’t afford it. It’s wrong to make senior citizens and those without children in the school system to continue to pay more taxes.
It’s wrong for certain members of the Board of Commissioners to threaten to increase property taxes. The blame here goes on the BOC members of the past who could not control their spending. And it’s wrong to put a higher tax on local business owners in downtown Winder (regardless of how small the amount is.)
Perhaps a sign should be made that reads “Welcome to Barrow County, where the local Republicans love taxes.”
The Republicans can’t blame Democrats for this one (or the President.) The reason? They are no elected Democrats locally.
•Secretary of State Brian Kemp spoke at last week’s Barrow County Chamber of Commerce Eggs & Issues event and pitched his idea of moving Georgia’s 2016 presidential primary up in order to help put more value on the Peach State’s vote.
Kemp’s idea is solid. I’ve said for years Georgia’s primary should be moved up so those running for the highest office in the land would actually have to campaign here.
Our votes are just as important as those in Iowa or New Hampshire although you wouldn’t know it by the way the candidates treat it.
Kemp is pushing an idea of having several Southern states advance their primaries. He’s referring it as an “SEC” primary, in reference to states with universities in the Southeastern Conference.
With the 2016 presidential primary set to feature a long list of candidates from both major parties, the idea to have Georgia’s vote mean more is a solid idea and one that is long overdue.
While Kemp deserves credit for this idea, it should be noted (again) that the Secretary of State should be a non-partisan office, to at least give the appearance of being objective during elections (presidential, state-wide and local.) No doubt feeling he was among friends, Kemp warned of Hillary Clinton running for President in 2016. Someone who is supposed to be overseeing the election process for our state, needs to keep comments like this under their hat. Of course, Kemp is a Republican so I doubt few in the room had any problems with his comments.
We all remember the loony Florida Secretary of State and the way she disgraced her office in 2000 during the presidential election. We don’t need that for Georgia. It’s past time to make Secretary of State a non-partisan office. It’s fine for people to run for it, just without party labels.
Chris Bridges is editor of the Barrow Journal. You can reach him at cbridges@barrowjournal.com.
"The blame here goes on the BOC members of the past who could not control their spending."
Really...
Doesn't bother you that the BIG GOVERNMENT Democratic party under the guise of the BIG GOVERNMENT GOB(Not GOP)party have failed to meet any of the basic tenants of the Barrow County Republican party...
Doesn't it bother you that the same GOB(Not GOP)types voted to take private property (Smith Farm) to realize the Realtor's wet dream.
Doesn't it bother you that the same GOB(Not GOP)types have failed to balance the budget over the last decade under Garrison and Yearwood without raiding the county reserves and gutting public safety.
Doesn't both you that the same GOB(Not GOP) types are funding the massive COUNTY debit interest payments with SPLOST funds. NOT USING THOSE SPLOST funds for county projects.
Doesn't it bother you that the same GOB(Not GOP)types voted this year to use the first surplus in a decade to give pay raises that they can not support next year.
Doesn't it bother you that the same GOB(Not GOP) Party types have voted AGAINST small business and Agra-business again and again. Then complain loudly when those small business find a way to escape their grasp by annexing into the business friendly municipals.
Doesn't it bother you that the same GOB(Not GOP) types that pushed off the emergency ems system until they had to pay for it, study, pay for it, study again, pay for it.
Doesn't it bother you that the GOB(Not GOP)types said they saw the benefit of outsourcing IT and grounds services...
Doesn't it bother you that the GOB(Not GOP)types said they believed in savings in the plan...
THEY believed that the plan would help resolve the massive county debit...
THEY believed that the plan would give the county a way to repair / replace capital assets..
Seems, the GOP party members (Shook, Goodman and Graham) stand for the tenants of the party...
We are THE FREEDOM PARTY.
We believe in lower taxes (not raising taxes).
We believe in less. Limited governmental intrusion into our lives.
We believe in equal opportunity for all of our citizens (not equal results of misery).
While the GOB(NOT GOP)party types think, Screaming "OBAMA" and clicking your heels three times won't change the fact that the BIG GOVERNMENT GOB(Not GOP)party
IS NOT...
Responsible for their FAILURES...
Accountable for their WASTE...
HAS NO SOLUTIONS...
Rather, the Barrow County Closet Democrats (AKA GOB party)(Ben Hendrix. Bill Parks, Isaiah Berry and Steve Worley)Just raised their hands NOT to VOTE FOR OR AGAINST but to push off their mess AGAIN...
Really...
You are surprised that the county will have to go back for more to fund…
The high dollar clerks, six figure pros and their 5% raise that was funded this year from the extra tax digest they took last year…
All the equipment in need of repair…
All the infrastructure that that has languished...
Why does the Barrow County Republican Party continue to let Coach, Parks, Hendrix, and Worley run for re-election as "Republican in good standing" when in fact they are nothing more than Democrats? Why not tell them when they come in to run for re-election -- not as a republican - run under your "true" party!