With the March 15 referendum on a proposed six-year extension of the county’s Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax only weeks away, the issue has yet to generate much political activity – either for or against.
That could change Monday, Feb. 21, when Barrow County commission chairman Danny Yearwood addresses the Barrow County Republican Party on the topic. Yearwood is the main speaker for the 7:30 p.m. meeting that will be held at the Winder Woman’s Club building at 15 W. Midland Ave.
While every local government in Barrow County is depending on the six-year extension for the funding of needed capital improvements or equipment, the county government has the most at stake in whether the measure passes or fails in four weeks.
That is because the previous administration in 2005 set into motion a decades-long repayment plan utilizing about $4 million a year in SPLOST proceeds to pay back the $58 million in bonds issued for the construction of major projects, including the Barrow County Criminal Justice Center, the new fire headquarters and Station 6, and the renovation of the old courthouse facilities in downtown Winder.
If the penny sales tax were not renewed, the more than $4 million in annual debt payments would have to come from the county government’s General Fund.
[Full Story »]
Legislative delegation waiting to see results of BOC’s political wrangling
Will he veto it – or not?
That was the unanswered question lingering in the political atmosphere last week after the Barrow County Board of Commissioners passed a motion to ask the Georgia General Assembly to amend the county’s charter to weaken the chairman’s veto power. The measure would allow for only four votes to override a veto rather than the current five votes.
BOC Chairman Danny Yearwood said only: “I will decide what I’m going to do, and I will let you know… ”
A full week after the surprisingly strong 5-1 vote Feb. 8 to request the charter amendment, Yearwood still had not announced whether he would try to block it.
His eight-day window for vetoing the board’s action was set to expire Wednesday, Feb. 16 – hours after he was to meet privately with Rep. Terry England, Rep. Tommy Benton and Sen. Frank Ginn. [Full Story »]
That was the unanswered question lingering in the political atmosphere last week after the Barrow County Board of Commissioners passed a motion to ask the Georgia General Assembly to amend the county’s charter to weaken the chairman’s veto power. The measure would allow for only four votes to override a veto rather than the current five votes.
BOC Chairman Danny Yearwood said only: “I will decide what I’m going to do, and I will let you know… ”
A full week after the surprisingly strong 5-1 vote Feb. 8 to request the charter amendment, Yearwood still had not announced whether he would try to block it.
His eight-day window for vetoing the board’s action was set to expire Wednesday, Feb. 16 – hours after he was to meet privately with Rep. Terry England, Rep. Tommy Benton and Sen. Frank Ginn. [Full Story »]
Committee to address mold crisis
Barrow County Commission Chairman Danny Yearwood announced Tuesday night that he has appointed a committee to study the mold problem at the county’s old courthouse and annex in downtown Winder and to present a solution.
[Full Story »]
Engineering board takes on county, GDOT over turn-lane fix
Put this story in the category of “no good deed goes unpunished.”
After working tirelessly to fix a dangerous traffic problem last year, county engineering department manager Darrell Greeson has wound up in a hot seat with the Georgia Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors. On Jan. 4, a board attorney sent Greeson a “cease and desist” order demanding that he do no more engineering work — such as designing road improvements. [Full Story »]
After working tirelessly to fix a dangerous traffic problem last year, county engineering department manager Darrell Greeson has wound up in a hot seat with the Georgia Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors. On Jan. 4, a board attorney sent Greeson a “cease and desist” order demanding that he do no more engineering work — such as designing road improvements. [Full Story »]
Yearwood: SPLOST is only ‘Fair Tax’
Saturday, September 11. 2010
City and county officials met Sept. 8 to discuss how funds from the proposed 2012 SPLOST would be split between the county and its municipalities.
Though voters have yet to approve the SPLOST, officials are working to determine what projects will be funded and how revenue from the one percent sales tax will be allocated.
“This is the only fair tax there is to me,” said Barrow County commission chairman Danny Yearwood. “Because everybody that comes through here and buys a hamburger or anything else or buys something and pays sales tax, it helps fund municipalities and the county.”
[Full Story »]
Though voters have yet to approve the SPLOST, officials are working to determine what projects will be funded and how revenue from the one percent sales tax will be allocated.
“This is the only fair tax there is to me,” said Barrow County commission chairman Danny Yearwood. “Because everybody that comes through here and buys a hamburger or anything else or buys something and pays sales tax, it helps fund municipalities and the county.”
[Full Story »]
Yearwood wants blog investigation reopened
Almost three weeks and a GBI investigation later, a post on a local blog is still generating controversy.
Just days after the GBI announced it would not pursue criminal charges against the author who posted a comment which Barrow County commission chairman Danny Yearwood perceived as threatening, Yearwood asked that the investigation be re-opened.
The comment, posted August 6 on the Barrow County Citizen’s Watch “Watcher’s Blog,” was in response to a rumor that Yearwood had proposed closing one of Barrow County’s six fire stations and slashing the Sheriff’s Office budget as cost cutting measures.
[Full Story »]
Just days after the GBI announced it would not pursue criminal charges against the author who posted a comment which Barrow County commission chairman Danny Yearwood perceived as threatening, Yearwood asked that the investigation be re-opened.
The comment, posted August 6 on the Barrow County Citizen’s Watch “Watcher’s Blog,” was in response to a rumor that Yearwood had proposed closing one of Barrow County’s six fire stations and slashing the Sheriff’s Office budget as cost cutting measures.
[Full Story »]
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