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Published Wednesday, January 28, 2009 in Opinion
Looks like our state will need more of citizens' money
Editorial
Get a tight hold on your wallets, citizens of Georgia. Our esteemed executive and legislative branches of state government are at work under the Gold Dome in our state Capitol, and they seem intent on raiding your pocketbooks.
Call it fees or taxes or fines, but Gov. Sonny Perdue and our lawmakers are looking for ways to raise money for the operation of state government. And the fallout from their efforts are likely to also raise our property taxes -- if not this year, then next year.
Here's just some of the talk under the Dome this week.
n A Republican plan has been offered to protected the $428 million homeowner tax relief grant program this year but eliminate the grants to local governments for next year. That may save you from an additional property tax bill this year, but expect your local property taxes to go up at least $200-$300 next year. Can't we all agree that's a tax increase the state again is handing down to local governments and local citizens? Such actions need to stop.
n House Republicans want to add a $10 annual fee on each passenger vehicle that would be paid when you get your car tag. This money would be used to help pay for trauma care. Call it a fee, if you want, but it's a tax passed along to citizens. We're not going to get too hot and bothered by this additional tax, because something has got to be done to fix our state's pathetic trauma care system, which allows 500-600 people to die each year because of lack of trauma care.
n Georgia lawmakers are again pressing for a one-cent sales tax to help provide relief for the state's clogged roadways. Senate Republican leaders unveiled legislation Monday that would permit regions to band together to charge a one-cent sales tax to fund transportation projects. Road money is critical, and this will be a big ticket tax item on impacted communities.
n Perdue is pushing again a plan to slap excessive or repeat speeders with stiff fines. The legislation would generate about $23 million for trauma network. The so-called super speeders legislation would add an additional $200 fine for driving over 85 mph and for driving 75 mph or more on a two-lane road. If earmarked for trauma care, this is a solid proposal; however, $23 million is only a drop in the trauma care bucket. Much more is needed.
These are just some of the revenue-generating ideas being discussed this week. There are others. To their credit, the governor and lawmakers are facing a difficult time balancing the state budget, and by law they must balance the budget each year.
Some of these revenue-generating proposals are needed. Out point is that citizens need to know that during these tough economic times, our governor and state lawmakers are going to be asking for more of your money.
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I have a great idea. Instead of our Republician leaders at the State Capitol trying to add fees here and new taxes there, why not cut some of the nonsense spending they take part in? Here's a few examples: per diem days, free and bogus "fact finding" trips, mileage and charges for luxurious dining establishments to "talk state business" and on and on.
Posted by ALICIA at 7:44 PM
Why is it that the fair market value of our properties decreased tremendously this past year, but our property taxes were almost identical to last years? If my house ain't worth what it was last year, then why didn't I pay much less? It's because Coweta Co. is greedy and are only interested in themselves!
Posted by Franky at 10:51 AM
It is time to eliminate property tax entirely and go to a sales tax. Let every citizen bare his or her share of the tax burden instead of pushing the total expense of running the government on to the backs of property owners. Property tax is unfair and is just another form of the progrssive tax system which punishes success. Fewer and fewer citizens are shouldering the tax burden at all levels of government and it needs to be stopped.
Posted by George Weese at 6:13 PM
I think we as tax payers should take a look at ALL the wasteful spending. 1st on the list she be Medicaid and Welfare, take it AWAY from all the LOW LIFE people who KEEP on having BABIES for ME and YOU to pay for. I am a school teacher and it makes me MAD to see this everyday. Sunny needs to cut his pay. This anit going to happen. He and his family and all these lawmakers have no problem sleeping at night. If they need or want something they just charge it and the state reimbursers them. They have no worries about money UNLIKE the rest of Georgians. I am tired of trying to keep my family afloat my business from going belly up so our state reps can have it all--plus.
Posted by A TAX PAYING CITIZEN at 11:04 PM
I hear about this big spending the new President is sending the states and everyboby, why don't our governor take that money and use it to help the money mass our state is in? Maybe our governor can pay back 21 millon now.
Posted by Herlinda Newton at 8:33 PM
We see that another round of tax increases is likely this year and next. How can our legislatures solve Georgia's problems by collecting more money? Georgia has the Nation's most inefficient government. Don't believe it? Then count the number of counties. Yes, there are 159 counties - 159 (who could even name them all???). Now, consider that Georgia has a footprint of unneeded and replicated administrative entities. Does Georgia need 159 sheriffs, sets of administrative departments, school systems, public service departments including the highly wasteful sanitation messes, etc. etc.??? Of course not. Tell your legislative representatives that we have had enough. We must tell them to improve our government by eliminating the wasteful duplication of civil servants, facilities, and public service (sic) entities that are wastefully duplicated in each of the 159 counties. There are too many unnecessary county folks at the public trough. If everyone wants to keep 159 counties, then raise taxes to feed the monster. Georgia citizens should create a greater outcry against this waste than the people who would stand to lose their artificially created positions created decades ago with the Georgia County Unit System. Recommend we demand reducing the number of county entities to no more than 25.
Posted by Skip at 7:33 AM
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Pockets
2/4/2009
Link To This Comment
Gov. Perdue will have to get the money somewhere else as the people of Georgia are tired of footing the bill. Get it by doing away with all forms of welfare and get rid of the jobs that are required to handle all these cases and there will be money left over. That or let him pay for it from the land sale profits in his pocket.
Posted by Dyark at 4:31 AM