Dear Editor,
This letter is a call to action; it is critical that voters this fall VOTE NO TO SPLOST #10. SPLOST #10 is a one-penny sales tax on items purchased in the county, and this is used to fund the wish list of capital projects (not daily operating expenses).
Our current Board of Commissioners continues to show they are fiscally irresponsible (excluding Dr.
Hersey). In the last two years property taxes went up due to the BOC’s unwillingness to sharpen the pencil, as it was easier to approve everyone’s requested budget.
If you attend any BOC meetings, you will realize they are trying to collect a paycheck and put in as little work as possible (often unprepared, having to do multiple meetings over the same issues as homework not done in advance, etc.).
When voters approved the county to borrow up to $22 million in bonds to fix the roads, our BOC voted to take out the approved bond of $22 million, but in reality, after fees and interest, it will be $24.5 million.
Taxpayers will be responsible for the remainder of this bill, a burden that could have been avoided with more responsible fiscal management.
While SPLOST #10 has not been voted on (it covers a six-year period), our BOC is eager to borrow another bond against these funds once approved for $32 million. If you vote yes for SPLOST #10, it also adopts the sales tax and this bond to put us further in debt. Our current penny sales tax has us trending at $4 million per year, which on the same target would be $24 million over six years, yet they want to borrow $8 million above that. A pie-in-the-sky number, and guess who gets left with the balance? The taxpayers.
On the surface, SPLOST #10 would be excellent for our community if our local government officials were fiscally responsible. I propose everyone to VOTE NO TO SPLOST #10 so we can pause until November 2025.
We have two commissioner seats on the ballot this fall and an opportunity for those constituents in the open areas to elect commissioners with math skills who will act in the best interest of the constituents and county.
That being said, if you are charitable and still want to help the county, I encourage you to make a tax-deductible donation to Putnam General Hospital or participate in the HEART program (georgiaheart.org). This program has the potential to significantly improve our local hospital and its ability to service our community.
Sincere thanks, Jennifer Ray, Putnam County