Fulton commissioners propose 17% tax hike (Atlanta: 2013, buyers, budget)

[jsvh]

Originally Posted by gt6974a

Am I missing something here? Usually, the Atlanta folks are gun-ho about raising taxes and fees

Trapped in 1970s stereotypes are we?

[GeorgiaPeanuts]

An additional 12 dollars a month on average? Not sure why that is making a big stink. Fulton has a budget shortfall so at the end of the day the people have to fund their government. You can't just keep cutting taxes, and now thanks to Kansas their is proof that trickle down economics is a farce and is not cogent with reality:

Kansas Republican Tax Cuts Are Becoming a Total Disaster - US News

They cut taxes and still had worse job growth than national average and had a nearly 50% budget shortfall. He is still running for reelection promising to cut them again.

[jsvh]

Originally Posted by GeorgiaPeanuts

An additional 12 dollars a month on average? Not sure why that is making a big stink. Fulton has a budget shortfall so at the end of the day the people have to fund their government.

Fulton is bloated and needs to be cut back. As a city of Atlanta resident my city taxes pay for police, fire, roads, parks, Beltline, and more. But the Fulton mil rate is even higher than Atlanta! The only thing significant the Fulton does for me is courts and those mostly release repeat serious offenders with a slap on the wrist.

You can't just keep raising taxes blindly. Since property values are going up Fulton is already getting more money each year if it just kept the mil rate steady. (Many other municipalities are lowering mil rates since values are going up).

You should never blindly raising taxes without a reason. Taxes are needed and serve many useful purposes but Fulton does not do anything to justify the level of taxes that it collects.

[ATLJR]

As jsvh said, it's not taxes people are upset about, it's Fulton Counties inability to effectively govern. They're wasteful, they do very little, and yet somehow they want more money? That's the issue.

Here's a good article, mostly a response from Reed towards Fulton County, on the issues:

Reed: 'If Fulton County doesn't want to do the work, it should stop taking the pay'

[mattee01]

Fulton county needs to become fully incorporated then be abolished and let the individual municipalities run the area.

[jsvh]

Originally Posted by mattee01

Fulton county needs to become fully incorporated then be abolished and let the individual municipalities run the area.

I agree. Local control is better.

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by gt6974a

Am I missing something here? Usually, the Atlanta folks are gun-ho about raising taxes and fees

You mean gung-ho against them. We have been railing against high taxes for years.

[AcidSnake]

Well for one thig, Arthur Ferdinand is not a state employee. Public employee is probably the term you were looking for.

Also, there plenty of higher paid Public employees in Georgia's University System. USG Professors who are getting paid waaay higher than Arthur Ferdinand.

Originally Posted by buckyball

This is government going hostile against residents they serve. 2 commissioners didnt even show up at the meeting to vote, and one was late, so the tax hike vote was postponed. No wonder things in Fulton are the way they are.

arthur ferdinand is the highest paid state employee (the county tax commissioner) with salary almost tripple the governer. The tax digest went up, the tax payment rates went up due to lien sales, and they still want more tax. As a gay democrat from the city, thank god for republicans.

[GeorgiaPeanuts]

Originally Posted by ATLJR

As jsvh said, it's not taxes people are upset about, it's Fulton Counties inability to effectively govern. They're wasteful, they do very little, and yet somehow they want more money? That's the issue.

Here's a good article, mostly a response from Reed towards Fulton County, on the issues:

Reed: 'If Fulton County doesn't want to do the work, it should stop taking the pay'

The biggest budget item is for the Sheriff at over 106 million, next highest being non-agenda, but not sure how to tell what that comprises at 93 million. Finally followed by Grady Transfer at 63 million.

So it is true that Fulton is predominately paying for Police services, regardless of the fact that many cities of Fulton county also have their own police. The Grady Transfer I believe is to do with moving Grady to be managed by a non-profit organization.

[AnsleyPark]

Originally Posted by GeorgiaPeanuts

An additional 12 dollars a month on average? Not sure why that is making a big stink. Fulton has a budget shortfall so at the end of the day the people have to fund their government. You can't just keep cutting taxes, and now thanks to Kansas their is proof that trickle down economics is a farce and is not cogent with reality:

Kansas Republican Tax Cuts Are Becoming a Total Disaster - US News

They cut taxes and still had worse job growth than national average and had a nearly 50% budget shortfall. He is still running for reelection promising to cut them again.

The proof was established long ago by Mr. Reagan.