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The 2^nd Public Hearing on the Budget was held at 9:00 AM on Monday morning.  To my surprise a number of folks actually showed up at that time to speak out against a tax increase.  As in the first Public Hearing, the people did not hesitate to make recommendations for cuts.  They clearly expect government employees to share their pain during this recession and they fear the economy will be even worse next year.

I told the commissioners that I appreciate how difficult it is for them to recommend specific cuts in the various departments when none of them had attended the county manager’s individual budget meetings with department heads.  I pointed out that those meetings would have given them insight into how the departments operate and where cuts might still be made.  I, also, suggested that this would be good time to consider eliminating some government activities.

Chairman Raber responded that the enabling legislation leaves all decisions about government operations to the county manager.  He seems to think that attending the county manager’s individual budget meetings with department heads would constitute interfering with the way the county manager runs the government operations.  He doesn’t consider it a commissioner’s job to spend time listening to department heads.  He pointed out that commissioners are only part time and are not paid enough to do that.

My statement about eliminating some government activities was ignored.  I highly recommend the last Public Hearing on Thursday, July 15 at 5:00 PM just before the monthly Commission Meeting.  It will be worth your time.

The following is from my notes taken during the Public Hearing:

The session began with a gentleman asking, “Do you start from a “0” based budget?”  The answer from Finance Dept. representative Mark French was, “No.”  The gentleman pointed out that his experience in business and the military had led him to appreciate the importance of examining every line in the budget.

French explained that the budget has decreased over the last several years.  Commissioner Scott stated that the proposed property tax increase would only amount to $10 for a $300,000 house.

Frank Gilkerson, a candidate for 4^th District Commission seat, passed out his own information sheet on the budget.  He has set up a website: www.FixLCBudget.com.  He wants taxpayers to go to the site, review the budget and make recommendations for cuts that can be presented at the final Public Hearing.

John Tomkins asked about predictions for future years budgets.  Chairman Raber said, “You are asking a question that no one can answer.”

Lori Hackinson insisted that since budget cuts can be expected to be needed again next year, why not fix the budget (start making more cuts instead of increasing taxes) now?   She insisted that there is room to make more cuts citing road crews who stand around talking instead of working and employees who spend time doing personal business while the public waits.

Chairman Raber bellowed out at her, “This is not a forum to lash out at county employees!  When there is an ice storm, these employees are out in the middle of the night working!”

Commissioner Bowden reminded the Chairman in a point of order that the purpose of a Public Hearing is to listen to the public, not to challenge the speaker.

Hackinson continued, “I believe you need to consider furlough days.  That is what private employers have to do.”

Commissioner Stowers said he opposesd furlough days at the beginning of the budget because they might be needed later in the year to make ends meet.

Hackinson then suggested letting departments cut out those things that volunteers can do.  She added that in tough times Park & Rec can be run by volunteers.

Chairman Raber said, “If we make any more cuts, we will have to cut public safety.”

Commissioner Stowers added, “According to the YMCA, we have the best Park and Rec anywhere around.”

Human Services Director Fran Sullens pointed out that a number of positions had been eliminated from county government, there had been no salary increases for four years and the insurance deductibles had been increased to $400.

Hackinson who was still standing at the podium, responded that she has to have a $5000 deductible in order to afford any insurance at all.

Tax Commissioner Rachel Pruitt assured the audience that all excess expenses had been cut from her department.

Then Raber was going again, “We bust our buns working for you!  I’ve been chosen to be State Wrestling Championship Chair this year.  Everything is an open book.  We can’t hide anything.”

Jim Neal said, “You are the last line against this thing.  Many of us are fighting to keep what we have.  I don’t like to see cuts but we need to use cuts everywhere except fire and police that are essential (services).”

The Lumpkin County Trails Committee worked successfully for five years as a required public involvement for trails grants.  A single experienced county resident contractor had worked with the committee to lay out a route for the trail with switchbacks that would make the trail accessible to almost anyone who could walk.  Numerous volunteers who had training in trail construction had committed to help construct such a trail.

Public concerns were disregarded and public input eliminated when commissioners hired an independent contractor at a much greater cost to the county.  You see, when the trail was built, Lumpkin County had more money than it had sense.  The building boom was still going full force with property values and taxes still rising.

The hired contractor designed and constructed a trail straight down a steep hill toward and within a few feet of the reservoir.  It’s no wonder the EPD finally questioned the wisdom of a silt fence to protect the reservoir from a mudslide down that hill.

Unfortunately, the county now seems to have made the situation worse by widening the trail into an un-surfaced road that will need constant attention.  Rip rap added at the edge of the water may prevent erosion of the bank; but it doesn’t stand a prayer of stopping dirt that will be washed down the hill.  See the pictures.

During trail construction, members of the public were concerned about dirt entering the reservoir.  In response to those concerns, Lumpkin County Trails Committee members requested an opportunity to look at the work that was being done.  Immediately following their visit to the site accompanied by the contractor and numerous county employees, the Trails Committee was abolished.  Or to be more accurate, a determination was made that the committee never existed.  County employee members of the trails committee are well aware that the grant for our reservoir trail would have been lost without the efforts of that committee.

In the current economy, the county can no longer afford to kick volunteers to the curb.  This is our government.  Public land belongs to all of us.  If you are an elected official who does not value and respect volunteers, you are in the wrong place at the wrong time.  Maybe it is time for you to move on.

You created a disaster around our reservoir where we wanted a lovely winding trail that would be accessible to anyone who can walk.  Your so-called improvements have made it wider and much more likely to erode.  You have created pollution instead of protecting our water reservoir.  Where is the EPD?  Hopefully they will soon be all over you.

Numerous recommendations were made to the commissioners on how the budget might be reduced including more furlough days, eliminating employees, eliminating the county contribution to employee retirement, reducing the size of government and going to a four day work week.  Karen Bowden, Commission Bowden’s wife, pointed out that County Manager Stan Kelley had offered budget options that did not require a tax increase.

Ronald Caldwell asked, “What can we do without?”  Melvin Turner pointed out that 10% of taxpayers are being furloughed 365 days a year.” Jeff Clymer said, “You are trying to make employees happy instead of the taxpayers.”

Missy Wymer pointed out that Raber’s statement about every department being asked to reduce their budget by 10 % was misleading.  She pointed out that budgets of most departments had actually been increased.

Greg Puetz pointed out that there is a $379,000 increase in the proposed 2011 Budget over the current budget. He said that the budget needs to be written so that people can understand it.  He is familiar with such budgets, but finds our budget difficult to decipher.

County Finance Dept. representative, Mark French, responded to requests about the amount of department cuts with percentages ranging from 25% in one department to only 13% for Park & Rec.  He said only about half the departments actually had reduced budgets.

Commissioner Scott said he vigorously opposed cuts to essential service like EMS.  The audience unanimously opposed cuts to essential services, however, they clearly wanted cuts to non-essential services.

Lori Lee Hackerson asked, “What about next year?”  Commissioner Scott acknowledged that this budget only applies a band aid. Hackerson replied, “Then we need to take a scalpel (to it).”

Jeff Clymer told the commissioners that they will make next year’s budget decisions even worse if they raise taxes this year and put more people out of business.  He pointed out that a tax increase this year will reduce the number of property owners who will be around to pay taxes next year.

Robert Small praised people for speaking out and said we have to get over being intimidated by elected officials.

Taxpayers clearly expect government employees to cope with the same kind of income reductions that they have.  Numerous persons talked about how they are having to make do with less.

The only person in the room who claimed to be having great financial success was the chairman who bragged that he had just invested in another great financial enterprise.  John Raber, who has spoken out supporting tax increases every year that he has been on the Lumpkin County Commission, is clearly out of touch with his constituents.

Many people spoke during the meeting.  Please send corrections to <Emily@lumpkinsunshine.com> if the names are not correct.  If you would like to comment on this article, you may register as a USER on the Homepage and submit the comment.  To prevent SPAM, Users must be approved by the Administrator before a comment can be posted.  Emily Lewy

In recent months several animal shelters around the state had to very quickly reduce the number of animals housed.  In each case, they notified the public of the desperate situation and promoted adoption.  And in every case, the public responded and the animals were provided new homes.

Instead of publicizing the problem and encouraging adoption as other shelters do to reduce numbers, Lumpkin County quietly and without the knowledge of the public euthanized more than 100 animals within a matter of days.

According to the now unemployed former shelter director, Valerie Dombrowski, County Manager Stan Kelley never wanted the number of euthanized animals made public.  Yet, he ordered the shelter population reduced and these animals to be euthanized.

It seems to me Lumpkin County Commissioners have turned over policy decisions to the county manager that are not in his job description.

I can appreciate the fact that commissioners enjoy dumping controversial matters onto the county manager.  It is a smooth move if the public lets them get away with it.

Reality is, the purpose of a multi-member commission is to provide public oversight of policy decisions.  Decisions about the capacity and/or size of the animal shelter should not be made behind closed doors by a county manager.

A new mission statement for the shelter is needed since the one for our shelter on http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/lumpkincountypaws.html no longer seems applicable.  Commissioners need to hear what residents of this county want the mission of our shelter to be.

When an animal is picked up by county authorities or brought in as a stray, how long should it be held before being put up for adoption or euthanized?  At the present time it is held for five days.  Is that long enough?  A three day wait is being considered.  What if you are on vacation and your pet gets away from the person keeping it?  After three to five days, you can lose all rights to your pet.

Would the public support expanding kennel space at the shelter if it was done by volunteers and their contributions?  At the present time, county policy allows no expansion.  Do the commissioners support this policy?  Do they know what’s going on at the shelter?  Do they care?

Ultimately, county policies are determined by you, the voter.  Speak up, demand a voice in decision making, or reconcile yourself to being just another sheep in the flock.

Lumpkin County’s Budget Committee has been reviewing requests from the various county departments and making recommendations since mid-April.  Committee members are:  County Manager Stan Kelley, Finance Director Allison Martin, Grants Writer Mark French, County Clerk Ruth Bohac and Director of Human Resources Fran Sullens.

During the May Commission Work Session, Kelley and Martin responded to a few questions about the budget from commissioners.  Kelley is clearly frustrated with making ends meet.  He says he has cut to the bone.

Sales tax revenue is down.  Foreclosures and lower sales prices have reduced income from property tax.  With tax appeals still to be heard, the actual amount of property tax revenue won’t be known for some time.

County options for a balanced budget are limited to reductions in staff and service or a property tax increase.  There is continued pressure on the commissioners to increase property taxes.

Anyone who feels that their own budget has been cut to the bone had better let commissioners know what they would like to see cut from the county budget.

Just for starters, do we need to be expanding the Senior Center during a budget crisis?  Seniors do enjoy the place.  It is good for their health and well being.  The state subsidizes the program.  Many volunteers participate to make it work.  Yet, the  lower level of the Senior Center has never been utilized by seniors.  With more office space available for county government when the Justice Center opens, space on the lower level could now be used if expansion is justified.

Should government tax everyone to provide recreation for special groups?  Is this not the responsibility of community and/or religious groups?  Do we continue turning our responsibilities over to government until we become subjects of a government that makes all decisions for us?  Are rights of the individual and personal choice no longer a value?  Are we nothing more than robots if government controls our lives?

What do you think of a government that proposes eliminating firefighters, yet, spends county time in preparation to use SPLOST funds for more ball fields?

What do you think of a government that values ball fields over new jobs?  The Development Authority was to be allocated SPLOST funds to purchase land for an office park that would provide and promote new jobs.  Park and Rec was to be allocated funds for more ball fields.  Since it is unlikely funds for both will be available, Chairman Raber insists that the Development Authority take some of the Blackburn Park property instead of using SPLOST funds to purchase land in a better location.

Why are ball fields more important than jobs?  Elected officials believe that the folks who want ball fields will be more motivated to help them in the next election than you folks who are only concerned about jobs and making your own ends meet.

At a recent Lumpkin County Homeowners meeting, members said they needed to know more about the county budget before recommending cuts.  They did not realize that a Budget Committee creates the budget that commissioners don’t even see until the June 3 Work Session.

Budget cuts based on the actual budget will have been made by the Committee.  Any additional budget cuts must be based on the values of the community.  What do you value?  Speak now or trust government to make decisions for you.

Start talking with your friends about what you want government to do and the choices you prefer to make without government interference.  Lumpkin County homeowners will discuss these issues.  Read the post about LCHA’s May meeting.

Attend the June 3 Commission Work Session at 9:00 AM in Park & Rec.  Hear what they have to say about the budget.  Hopefully, copies of the proposed budget will be available for the public.

Commissioners will meet with the Budget Committee on June 7 and 11 to set the final budget.

The millage rate based on the proposed budget will be published on June 30.

July 8 at 6:00 PM PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED BUDGET

July 8 at 7:00 PM PUBLIC HEARING “NOTICE OF PROPERTY TAX INCREASE”

July 12 at 9:00 AM PUBLIC HEARING “NOTICE OF PROPERTY TAX INCREASE”

July 15 at 5:00 PM PUBLIC HEARING “NOTICE OF PROPERTY TAX INCREASE”

July 15 at 6:00 PM BUDGET RESOLUTION ADOPTED and ESTABLISH MILLAGE RATES during this Regular Monthly Meeting

For more information read the following great editorial from The Dahlonega Nugget:

http://www.thedahloneganugget.com/articles/2010/05/12/editorial/editorial.txt

From this article, I learned that Budget Committee Meetings are open to the public.  Their meeting schedule is not published because of last minute changes necessary to accommodate department heads.

Sharon Hall and Frank Gilkerson are the only members of the public who have been attending the meetings.  No commissioners have attended.  I get the impression that commissioners have been told they should wait for their Work Session budget presentation on June 3.

I have been told many times that Lumpkin County Budget Committee meetings were not open to the public.  Goes to show, if you don’t like what one person tells you, keep asking until you get the answer you want.

No wonder I don’t trust government.

Please note the change in time.

All county residents are encouraged to attend and participate.  We expect to have a lively discussion of the county budget.

Can we afford to expand the Senior Center during a budget crisis?

Should our county government  promote spending on ball fields at a time they are considering reductions in fire department personnel?

Do you realize that you will pay more for homeowners insurance if the fire department cuts are made?

What is important to you?  The commissioners need to know what you want.  Start talking about cuts now and make certain that you are heard before the budget is finalized.  Don’t complain about a tax increase after it has passed if you don’t speak up and tell the commissioners  where cuts can be made.

Discussions on the county budget at the last meeting resulted in the conclusion that we do not want emergency services and public safety reduced.  There were no recommendations on where the budget should be cut due to lack of information about the budget, yet, our commissioners will be voting on a budget that they don’t even get to see until June.

You would be shocked to find out how little your commissioners know.  They will see the proposed budget for the first time at the June 3 Work Session beginning at 9:00 AM.  They will meet with the Budget Committee on June 7 and June 11 to set the final budget.  We’ll post the time as soon as we get the information.

The millage rate will be determined based on the approved budget and published on June 30.  Official (required) PUBLIC HEARINGS on the PROPOSED BUDGET will take place on July 8, 12 and 15.  Do you really think your comments will matter by that time?

Join us for lemonade, cake and lively discussion.

Following the commission vote to not approve one particular site in Yahoola Creek Park for a Dog Park, they agreed to have a committee appointed to consider proposing a site.

The motion for the vote was very strange because it limited consideration by the commissioners of any other site.  Dog park proponents had been clear that they could work with almost any area within Yahoola Creek Park.

Dog park proponents have committed to pay for all improvements to the property, to establish and enforce stringent regulations, and to manage the park with no financial support from or legal liability for the county.  They have been very clear that they would not be interested in investing in a park that is not close to downtown Dahlonega.

During the first meeting of the Blackburn Park Concept Committee, County Manager Stan Kelley stated that we needed to develop the Concept Plan to get direction for the $900,000 from SPLOST for Park & Rec.  He said, “Yahoola Creek Park is done.”  Presumably, this means that no more ball fields will be developed in Yahoola Creek Park.  If indeed, that is the case, it ought to be easy to designate an area for a dog park.

Dog Park Committee members:

Commissioner Bill Scott who bitterly opposed the dog park was selected by

Commission Chairman John Raber to chair the Dog Park Committee.

Alan Roach from the Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Department

Sandy Steele, dog park member

Jane Mullinex, Wendell Caldwell, Brenda Norrell

Too bad this was scheduled as an early morning meeting.  It is important for as many people as possible to attend and find out what is going on.

According to Douglas Holtz-Eakin, director of the Congressional Budget Office from 2003 to 2005, ” By 2020, the federal deficit — the amount the government must borrow to meet its expenses — is projected to be $1.2 trillion, $900 billion of which represents interest on previous debt.  The health care legislation would only increase this crushing debt.  It is a clear indication that Congress does not realize the urgency of putting America’s fiscal house in order.”

The Real Arithmetic of Health Care Reform

On Thursday, the Congressional Budget Office reported that, if enacted, the latest health care reform legislation would, over the next 10 years, cost about $950 billion, but because it would raise some revenues and lower some costs, it would also lower federal deficits by $138 billion. In other words, a bill that would set up two new entitlement spending programs — health insurance subsidies and long-term health care benefits — would actually improve the nation’s bottom line.

Could this really be true? How can the budget office give a green light to a bill that commits the federal government to spending nearly $1 trillion more over the next 10 years?

The answer, unfortunately, is that the budget office is required to take written legislation at face value and not second-guess the plausibility of what it is handed. So fantasy in, fantasy out.

In reality, if you strip out all the gimmicks and budgetary games and rework the calculus, a wholly different picture emerges: The health care reform legislation would raise, not lower, federal deficits, by $562 billion.

Gimmick No. 1 is the way the bill front-loads revenues and backloads spending. That is, the taxes and fees it calls for are set to begin immediately, but its new subsidies would be deferred so that the first 10 years of revenue would be used to pay for only 6 years of spending.

Even worse, some costs are left out entirely. To operate the new programs over the first 10 years, future Congresses would need to vote for $114 billion in additional annual spending. But this so-called discretionary spending is excluded from the Congressional Budget Office’s tabulation.

Consider, too, the fate of the $70 billion in premiums expected to be raised in the first 10 years for the legislation’s new long-term health care insurance program. This money is counted as deficit reduction, but the benefits it is intended to finance are assumed not to materialize in the first 10 years, so they appear nowhere in the cost of the legislation.

Another vivid example of how the legislation manipulates revenues is the provision to have corporations deposit $8 billion in higher estimated tax payments in 2014, thereby meeting fiscal targets for the first five years. But since the corporations’ actual taxes would be unchanged, the money would need to be refunded the next year. The net effect is simply to shift dollars from 2015 to 2014.

In addition to this accounting sleight of hand, the legislation would blithely rob Peter to pay Paul. For example, it would use $53 billion in anticipated higher Social Security taxes to offset health care spending. Social Security revenues are expected to rise as employers shift from paying for health insurance to paying higher wages. But if workers have higher wages, they will also qualify for increased Social Security benefits when they retire. So the extra money raised from payroll taxes is already spoken for. (Indeed, it is unlikely to be enough to keep Social Security solvent.) It cannot be used for lowering the deficit.

A government takeover of all federally financed student loans — which obviously has nothing to do with health care — is rolled into the bill because it is expected to generate $19 billion in deficit reduction.

Finally, in perhaps the most amazing bit of unrealistic accounting, the legislation proposes to trim $463 billion from Medicare spending and use it to finance insurance subsidies. But Medicare is already bleeding red ink, and the health care bill has no reforms that would enable the program to operate more cheaply in the future. Instead, Congress is likely to continue to regularly override scheduled cuts in payments to Medicare doctors and other providers.

Removing the unrealistic annual Medicare savings ($463 billion) and the stolen annual revenues from Social Security and long-term care insurance ($123 billion), and adding in the annual spending that so far is not accounted for ($114 billion) quickly generates additional deficits of $562 billion in the first 10 years. And the nation would be on the hook for two more entitlement programs rapidly expanding as far as the eye can see.

The bottom line is that Congress would spend a lot more; steal funds from education, Social Security and long-term care to cover the gap; and promise that future Congresses will make up for it by taxing more and spending less.

The stakes could not be higher. As documented in another recent budget office analysis, the federal deficit is already expected to exceed at least $700 billion every year over the next decade, doubling the national debt to more than $20 trillion. By 2020, the federal deficit — the amount the government must borrow to meet its expenses — is projected to be $1.2 trillion, $900 billion of which represents interest on previous debt.

The health care legislation would only increase this crushing debt. It is a clear indication that Congress does not realize the urgency of putting America’s fiscal house in order.