Courthouse meeting gets heated

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Wednesday, February 9. 2011

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By Kay S. Pedrotti

A SPLOST town hall meeting Jan. 31 on the upcoming March 15 referendum drew about 65 people expressing opinions for and against the penny sales tax.

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#1 Anonymous on 02/09/11 at 06:32 AM

might as well vote it in they will try and find away to screw you over anyways.

#2 Anonymous on 02/09/11 at 06:36 AM

i would like to call a town meeting to burn the court house down so we don't have to dump money into it. Then we can take out who ever wants to raise our property taxes because we don't want to pay to a "SPECIAL" tax jesus didn't we have a tea party in the 1700's for a reason.

#3 msw on 02/09/11 at 08:34 AM

We are losing $85,000.00 per month???? Do you mean to tell me that businesses in Pike produce over 8.5 million in sales revenue every month???? If you need money tell me what it is for, show me a business plan and a payout schedule and I as a tax payer will be glad to produce it, but to pay in 1% sales tax into some coffers pocket is silly.

#4 fat bass tard on 02/09/11 at 08:45 AM

yes, they will raise taxes anyway. but, they will have to vote on it and you will know who to fire in the next election.

a splost does nothing but exempt the politicians from blame.

something else to note, every time a splost has been voted in, property taxes were increased anyway. not once has a splost kept property taxes from increasing.

#5 fat bass tard on 02/09/11 at 08:49 AM

the meeting got heated because people are getting sick and tired of the commissioners like don (tom) collins, spending money before they have it and then telling us that in retaliation for voting down the splost they are going to raise property taxes.

raise them don, you are on your way out of the commissioners office anyway.

#6 Sheila Tolley on 02/09/11 at 06:52 PM

I love fat bass tard.

#7 Like on 02/10/11 at 12:33 PM

This needs a "Like" button as seen on Facebook. :)

#8 DMG on 02/10/11 at 12:55 PM

I find it hard to understand that people are still arguing over SPLOST.

Folks, it is this simple. The court house is in disrepair and needs renovation. How is that going to happen? Either in increased property taxes or through SPLOST.

I for one would prefer to pay a few cents in SPLOST...along with any visitor to Pike County to pay for this renovation.

Besides, we voted down the last SPLOST because of the wide scope of the proposed budget. At least this time they have focused the spending on the courthouse.

Get on board folks, either way we will be paying for it, might as well add visitors to the income factor.

#9 fat bass tard on 02/10/11 at 03:55 PM

it's all a matter of trust.

do you trust the commissioners to spend your money wisely?

2 million dollar pipeline
800,000 over budget

or would you prefer to wait till there are new commissioners in office and then decide whether or not there is a need for more taxes.

i personally am TAXED ENOUGH ALREADY!!!

#10 know what on 02/10/11 at 09:15 PM

ELECTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES

#11 Old Zebulon Road on 02/10/11 at 10:20 PM

I, for one, would love for SPLOST to pass. The traffic passing through Pike from other counties and the renters that do not pay property taxes anyway could help with the tax basin with SPLOST rather than property owners carrying the sole responsibility. These renters/non-property owners utilize the services of Pike without the responsibility of helping to pay taxes which provide for these services. This could be alleviated by the SPLOST without any major cash outlay by any one person.

I don't know if any of you have had the pleasure of attending an event at our beloved auditorium, but you should make an effort to go inside the next time it is open for an event. If it is able to be opened with all the roof-leaking issues and falling ceiling tiles inside. It is embarrassing to know that the talented Pike County band, chorus, and theater students do not have a place to perform for their parents, grandparents, and the community without going to one of the local churches. While the support of Life Springs Church in offering the use of their building for band concerts is very much appreciated, the community should be providing the facility, not individual churches.

Is it a good idea to continue to renovate the courthouse? In the 11 years my family has lived here, there have been three or four times when money was poured into the courthouse to repair/patch one problem or another. Twice money has been spent to rid the building of bats and then clean-up the mess made by the bats. The underlying problems of the building don't ever seem to be addressed, only patchwork to fix the outside appearance of the problems. A true restoration of this building would be possible only with an extremely high price tag attached. Can we really justify that expense when the funds could be used to educate our children or provide a more suitable facility for community performances?

You may not agree, but at least think about the points that have been made. It is only by offering our input, listening to other people's input, and coming together as a community making informed decisions, that true progress can be made.

#12 Anonymous on 02/11/11 at 06:17 AM

Yeah but the thing is why only the courthouse? Does all the other small towns in pike reap the benefits? Also where is it right to raise my property taxes if I have the right to vote down a special tax that shows that our vote doesn't matter that your going to get what you want either way. You get on board and think about it.

#13 msw on 02/11/11 at 08:12 AM

A special property tax fee of $200.00 per household would yeild 1 million dollars for any repairs neeeded to the court house. As I stated before inform me of the need, show me a business plan and a payout schedule and I as a PIKE COUNTY property owner will pay my due. I will not vote for a tax that does nothing but fund some bottomless pit with no accountability of spending.

#14 fat bass tard on 02/11/11 at 10:33 AM

people driving through pike county do not pay any splost tax. they only pay if they stop and buy. why would they stop in pike county to buy something when, gas is cheaper in upson, lamar and spalding counties, there are only 3 restaurants on the main highway and there are multiple grocery stores in these other places.

the idea that renters don't pay property tax is completely ludicrous. rental property has as much, or more in most cases, property tax as any other property in pike county. the "renters don't pay property tax" horse hockey was created by the politicians to convince you that a splost is somehow more fair. it is not.

as far as the auditorium and the courthouse, the budgets of the school and county commission have had money budgeted for maintenance of facilities. they have chosen to use that money elsewhere instead of maintaining the facilities as directed.

it is time for pike county to reduce waste in the government and spend money where it is needed instead of on each others pet projects. instead of $2 million dollars for a gas pipeline that in no way could benefit pike county, they need to spend that money fixing what they have let go for the last 20 years instead of duping people into believing the only way it can be done is to increase taxes.

#15 fat bass tard on 02/11/11 at 10:36 AM

i just want to reiterate on point because people have this HUGE misconception that needs to be corrected.

PEOPLE FROM OUTSIDE PIKE COUNTY RARELY SPEND MONEY IN PIKE COUNTY.

splost WILL be paid almost entirely by people living in pike county.

#16 fat bass tard on 02/11/11 at 10:39 AM

i agree. my house is in dire need of restoration. maybe i can get on the splost committee and get some money for my repairs.

$2,000,000 should do.

#17 thinker on 02/11/11 at 02:38 PM

lets see a one penny increase verses a property tax increase,thats a no brainer i have an idea lets make the splost a 10 cent tax then do away with property taxes all together whos with me ,plus the sheriff is spending way to much money some body stop him, is there that many criminals in pike. i lived here for 26 years and they still havent even considered paving the road i live on , will i see that done before i die i highly doubt it

#18 Just my two cents on 02/11/11 at 02:54 PM

I dont chime in much I just read but I do agree, I think the county has to make some money somehow to repair some of these roads or repair these potholes more professionally. But also I dont see outsiders paying for most of the splost. Pike County is not a booming tourist county and that is why so many of us like it.
Also so what is the next option with the Courthouse? I mean it does need to be repaired/renovated desperately but if not this then are you all wanting to spend a lot more on a brand new one?

#19 Anonymous on 02/12/11 at 07:35 AM

Economic illiteracy alert. Renters pay property taxes. The tax is part of the rent. The landlord is not a charity, he collects property tax monthly as a portion of the rent. Sorry, but renters are not getting a free ride.

#20 Wood on 02/12/11 at 10:08 AM

If you are a property owner in this county why would you vote against SPLOST? If we vote for SPLOST, the renters will pay their fair share. Renters in the county currently get a "free ride" for their expense to the county. If SPLOST were to pass these folks would have to pay their fair share. Get a clue people.

If you don't already know, these things are going to have to be paid for one way or another. We can pay for them with increased property taxes next year or pay them over the next several years "a penny at a time".

A brand new courthouse sounds great to me but you are still going to have to renovate the old courthouse, either way. It is a historic building and the centerpiece of Zebulon, let's take a little pride in what we have and have had since before most of us were even a thought. Life it too short to argue over something as small as a penny.

If you don't want to help pay, then shop in Barnesville, Griffin, Woodbury or Thomaston where you are already paying for someone else's SPLOST. All these communities already have a SPLOST in place that YOU pay for when YOU shop in their communtities.

Show some pride by Helping your Community and vote YES for SPLOST!!

#21 Anonymous on 02/14/11 at 05:28 AM

Have you ran for the office?? Then shut up if you haven't.

#22 fat bass tard on 02/14/11 at 06:41 PM

i was a county commissioner when the budget was 3 million and the courthouse was in perfect working order.

you shut up!!

#23 Sheila Tolley on 02/14/11 at 07:24 PM

People do not have to run for office to have an opinion. If everyone was in office who would pay their salaries?

I ran for the State Line once.

#24 thinker on 02/15/11 at 08:07 AM

just look at spalding co and the senior center 6 years still no center i think splost is like crack to these politicians they had it, now they dont and are runnin around trying to get another fix

#25 fat bass tard on 02/15/11 at 09:50 AM

do you honestly think that rental property is exempt from property tax? or have you drunk the cool-aid and believe anything.

or is this councilman wood who is one of the chief cool-aid mixers?

pike county needs to cut waste before talking about a splost.

#26 fat bass tard on 02/15/11 at 10:03 AM

this story repeats itself all over the country. money being collected for one thing but being spent on something else.

sorta like money being budgeted to maintain facilities both in the school and in the county but that money being spent elsewhere.

i think it's important that before we allow them to have more money that they provide a thorough accounting of what happened to the money that was budgeted to begin with.

#27 Anonymous on 02/15/11 at 10:06 AM

Councilman Woods. Why don't you donate some of your vast fortune that you've made off the people of Pike County and pay for the courthouse yourself.

That way you can show off that pride and all.

#28 Rob Roy on 02/15/11 at 10:08 AM

Have you ever thought about advertising in the other counties that Pike County has a 1% savings on all purchases.

You could make up for the lower tax rate by providing incentive for people to shop in Pike County.

#29 Sheila Tolley on 02/15/11 at 10:21 AM

The results from The Publishers' Clearinghouse drawing have been announced. Anonymous won. Come and claim your prize. Bring ID proving you are Anonymous. We fear ID theft.

#30 Sheila Tolley on 02/15/11 at 10:26 AM

That is true. They only stop in Pike to get a biscuit in the morning and a cold beer in the evening on the way to somewhere else.

"If I had a farm in Pike County and a house in Hell, I would sell my farm and go home."
-Cecil Tolley-

#31 Anonymous on 02/15/11 at 10:40 AM

Feel free to stop by the county commissioner's office to look at the Fiscal Year 2010-2011 budget. Other than the $95,000 that was recently cut from the budget, that will tell you exactly where every dollar goes.

#32 fat bass tard on 02/15/11 at 11:26 AM

i want to know where the money from the last 20 years has gone while the auditorium and the courthouse have fallen down.

can they tell me that? can you?

#33 Sheila Tolley on 02/15/11 at 03:13 PM

But it will not tell you where the "lil brown bags from the past" came from.

#34 Judy Harris on 03/06/11 at 02:03 PM

Have any of you thought about those who live in this county and do not own property?? What are they paying for??? If you vote down SPLOST then property taxes is going up to help pay for the courthouse and guess what, those who do not own property in the county do not pay anything. why do they get a free ride???? I for one vote YES for the tax because it will be paid by ALL in the county and those who pass through. I'm tired of paying someone else's part. VOTE YES

#35 Sheila Tolley on 03/06/11 at 11:56 PM

Get Teen Challenge to pay taxes.

#36 fat bass tard on 03/07/11 at 10:17 AM

where are these people living? there aren't that many bridges in pike county.

#37 Hubba Hubba Bubba on 03/07/11 at 11:20 AM

1. SPLOST will actually drive retail business away from Pike county. The retail stores located in Pike are mom-and-pop shops and small chain stores at best. Their cost of goods are higher to begin with, because they don't have the volumes and discounts that Kroger or Wal-Markt stores do. It's tough enough for them to compete as it is. Better to put toll booths at the county line and charge people leaving Pike to buy outside the county.

2. There's no way you will collect enough Pike County SPLOST to sufficiently repair the current courthouse. Build a new one off the square and turn the old one into a museum, special events center or similar.

3. Be careful what new taxes you vote in, because they have a nasty habit of becoming permanent.

4. As the price of gas escalates, so will the cost of food, clothing and fuel. If you buy these in pike county, the SPLOST may be 1% on the dollar, but the percent of tax you pay as a function of your income increases, because your income isn't going to rise accordingly. If gas hits $7 a gallon- and some say it could easily do that- you're going to need every penny of your income to feed your family. There's no way to recall the SPLOST once it's voted in.

#38 Slim on 03/07/11 at 07:07 PM

JC lives on Hwy 18 norht of Concord.
His assistant Polecat administrator lives on the new paved part of Reidsboro Road. Both pledge to pass SPLOST. My thinking is we need more bridges in Pike County.

#39 Sheila Tolley on 03/07/11 at 09:50 PM

BS...DMG. SPLOST is another cookie jar. Have court in The Court House just as it is.......or retry everyone who has been tried in it before. Because it must have been unfair to them also. No air conditioning, No heat, Inadequate restrooms will just speed up the processes. If Da Judge wants a prettier throne, let him bring his own.

SIMPLIFY. Don't COMPLICATE. Teen Challenge has offered their building in lieu of paying taxes. Take them up on it.

Any decent Judge would have said, "Get from here you fool" when an attorney asked to move Weis to the Griffin Courthouse. Griffin has their own set of idiots. They do not need ours to be imported. Give the convict a catheter and a bag. That should keep him from meeting anyone in the halls.

#40 Marlie on 07/22/11 at 07:32 PM

Yeah that's what I'm tanlkig about baby--nice work!

#41 Anonymous on 07/23/11 at 03:16 AM

The Courthouse is for the entire County, not just Zebulon. And obviously, it is a public building, unlike your house. (duh)

Hopefully it will get a proper, conservative facelift. Just don't do like Spalding county, and let it burn down, and get stuck with an ugly "modern" building. Or even do like Swainsboro and bulldoze it, and be stuck with a gaping hole in your county seat, littered with tacky trinkets, and suffer years of regret.

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