Budget, growth addressed at forum

The Committee for Shaping Banks Future sponsored the forum which was held at the Banks County High School auditorium. Candidates attending the forum include the Post 2 candidates, Ray Holcomb, Neal Pulliam, Ernest Rogers and Fred Wendt and Post 4 candidates Jerry Loftice and Charles Turk. Post 4 candidate Robin Trotter was not present because she was attending a work-related conference.

BUDGET

The candidates were asked how to handle budget needs to address future growth. Their responses include the following:

Pulliam: “First of all, right now at this time, there is nothing I can do about the current budget because it is already set anyway. Therefore, we would have to wait until the next fiscal year to know. At that time, we would go in a different direction to do whatever it takes to finance the budget of the county.”

Loftice: “We have to realize that growth is coming so we need to tighten our belts. Economic tough times are not over yet. What we have to do is we have to look at all departments and see where we are spending our money and where we can cut our money. We have to make sure we are getting a day’s work for a day’s pay and that we are getting the most for our county government. It is our job to oversee this and make sure that we trim the fat. We’ve got to make sure we are not wasting resources. We have to make sure we manage it positively. We need to work with our citizens so we can avoid that dreaded three letter word, taxes.”

Rogers: “First of all, you have to cut out all excess spending in every department. You can take SPLOST fund for any capital projects you need. That could be equipment, cars for the sheriff’s department, trucks for the fire department or anything as far as equipment or capital expenses. By doing that, you can take some of the burden off the taxpayers. Another thing we need to work hard on is industrial development. They pay a larger percent of taxes for what they actually receive from the county. By getting industrial development in the county, that will take a lot of the burden off of the farmers and the residents of the county.

Turk: “There are two ways to fund — property tax and sales tax. We need three to four (large businesses) over there on the 85 corridor, it would give us a $2 million base. That would help the land owners. If we could get a big retail store…sales tax is where the money is. If we can get another SPLOST, we can look and see what we need SPLOST to go to. We’ve got to get some businesses in and some industry and some retail. The sales tax is where it is. That way we can keep the property tax as low as we can.”

Holcomb: “I know that sales taxes are at an all time low right now and counties are struggling. We need to have quarterly meetings with our department heads and make sure they are within budget. We need to make sure our money is being spent wisely. Employees are one of our most valuable assets and I certainly don’t advocate laying anybody off but we may have to look at furloughing as some other counties have done. Most of all, the county has to live within our means.”

Wendt: “Banks County has several funding sources that they use to support the budget. Property taxes and sales taxes do fund most of the budget. However, we also have fees, fines, licenses and we can also get grants and sale equipment. All of those go in the same pool. I also have a proposal that I pledge to cut my own salary by 10 percent. I also request voluntary cuts by the other top officials of the county. There is also another business in the county that pays us fees. That is the Waste Management business. Currently, we are getting a very low fee for the dumping that is one there. We should enter into serious negotiations with them to increase the fees so that they match more what other counties and municipalities are getting.”

FUTURE GROWTH

The candidates were asked where they see future growth potential in the county. Their responses included the following:

Loftice: “Along our major arteries. We are looking at the mall area. We are looking at 441 North. We look at the Martin Bridge area. I think it is time to really buckle down and go after that as fast as we can. Growth is coming and you better be ready for it. Right now, is a downturn but growth is on the way. We have to be ready for the future. Not only do we want to bring businesses in but we have to keep them.”

Rogers: “The future growth of Banks County is going to have to be retail, commercial and industrial areas of the county. We have several locations in the county that are prime locations. We have the Martin Bridge Road area. We have the industrial park down at 85. We also have the Southern Railway. All of these areas are ideal areas for industrial growth. We’ve got to make things a little easier for industrial businesses to come in. I don’t think the county has done everything it can to draw industrial businesses in. I would like to have the planning board, the IDA board, the chamber of commerce, the CVB and the commission board all sit down and discuss our zoning, our regulations we have on industrial businesses and see what we can do to make it more desirable for a business to come to this county.”

Turk: “The growth is going to be at the Martin Bridge cordior. Right now, there are funds in the state to help put in water lines and sewer lines and gas lines for counties that have surrounding counties that are building but they are not. We have a couple of counties that have done a good job getting industry in. Let’s talk to them and see what we are missing. We want it but we are not anywhere prepared for it right now. We need to work with the different boards to try and get some businesses in here.

Holcomb: “I see 85 and the 441 corridor as the big potential for growth. We’ve got to be ready. We’ve got to develop our infrastructure to make sure we have water and sewer to attract industries. We also need to look at some kind of incentives for these big companies such as tax breaks and relief. We need major industry and higher paying jobs. We also need to look at the north end of the county on 441. There is a great potential there.”

Wendt: “I like the others see the same areas primarily because that is where industry would like to develop their businesses. We have to match it with our land use plan to make sure that is where our development areas should be. We need to have our infrastructure in place so it is ready for the businesses to come in. We thing that is hurting us as much as anything is the turnover on the commission. We’ve had five different chairmans of the commission in the past 12 years. The chairman is the leader of the county. He is the one that makes the contacts. He is the one that works with state government on business develop. Every time we change the chairman out, we get someone new in who has to learn the ropes and doesn’t know the people and we go back a step. It’s a real difficult situation.”

Pulliam: “The first thing is that we are going to have to get some grants and we are going to have to spend some money. On Martin Bridge Road, that is a great spot. We have interstate 85. But are we ready? Do we have the output on that waterline? Can we produce what a company asks for? We need to check into that and see that we are ready to support an industry. We need to get ready on the sewer system. It is not in place. For us to grow, we are going to have to get off of our haunches and go out and find people who want to come into here. We are going to have to make it attractive enough that they see a future here.”

OPENING/CLOSING STATEMENTS
Comments from the candidates during their opening and closing statements included the following:

Rogers: “I’m a life-long citizen of Banks County. I’ve been married to my wife, Judy Ann Boling Rogers, for 38 years. We have two children, a great son-in-law, a great daughter-in-law and we have six wonderful grandchildren. I went to school here in Banks County. My children have gone to school here in Banks County and my grandchildren are going to school in Banks County. We have plans to stay here for our whole life. We have concerns for the county.

Turk: “I’ve been married to my wife, Kim, for 24 years. She and I have two daughters. One of them is a freshman at Abraham Baldwin Agriculture College majoring in physical therapy. Our youngest daughter is a sophomore at Banks County High School. She is active showing cattle, pigs and goats. I moved back to the county 22 years ago from Alabama where I had been transferred with my job. My two daughters are the fifth generation to be raised on our farm. I farm cattle, goats and poultry for a living and have rental property. I plan on staying in Banks County for the rest of my life and finish raising our daughters here, so I have an interest in Banks County. I would like to see a little bit more open government and try to get a hold on the zoning in this county … When you come down to the bottom line, you are voting on the core beliefs. When the chips are down, you have to look at who you are voting for. How have they done in business dealings in the past? Have they treated you fair? Have they paid on time? That is what it is. You are going to have to judge us on who we are. Look at what we have done in the past. We can all fluff our resumes up in the last two months but look at the last two years, the last five years, the last 15 years. Look at what we have done. That is what you are going to be voting on — who we are. I would appreciate your support and your vote. We are not going to agree on every issue but I will listen. That is all you can ask for — someone who will listen to you and listen to your point of view and then make a decision.”

Holcomb: “I was born in Habersham County in the upper end. I’ve lived the past 32 years on Baldwin Falls Road with my wife, Beverly. We have two children and seven grandchildren. We attend Gethsemane Baptist Church in Cornelia. I retired from Lucient Technologies in Norcross where I worked for 29 years. I have served on the city council for the City of Baldwin for the past nine years — the last two years as mayor pro tem. I’ve attended several classes through the Georgia Municipal Association. Classes such as open meetings, open records, economic, planning and zoning and ethics in government. I’ve also attended a newly-elected official class at the University of Georgia. I would like to serve the citizens in District 2 and all of Banks County … I’ve tried in the past few weeks to meet as many of you as possible but it’s impossible to knock on every door. My door is always open. I look forward to serving the people in District 2 as well as all of Banks County. My platform, if I have one, is honesty and common sense. I hope we can work together to make Banks County a better place to live and raise our children.”

Wendt: “I am a retired official from the University of Georgia, having served 30 years there. I’m married to my lovely wife, Judy, who has been a school teacher in Banks County for most of 30 years. We have two children, Melissa and Frank. Both of them attended Banks County schools and when on to higher education elsewhere. We feel very proud of the county and the school system. We feel like this is our home, having lived most of our lives here, mine starting in 1945 … I want to thank the other candidates. They’ve all been great, steadfast people. I know of no problems that they’ve introduced into this race and I appreciate that very much. Difficult times are ahead for the county budget and property taxes and sales tax. We are going to have to look at an increasingly stringent budget and perhaps a reduction in personnel. I hate to see that. I would first like to see the top officials take a pay cut to help funding other personnel.”

Pulliam: “I’m married to Jan. We have five children. We live on Apple Pie Ridge. I’ve lived in the county since 1953. I have concerns for the county and the desire to meet the needs of the people of the county and to stand for what the people believe is right … The main issue is the people of Banks County. We’ve got to talk more and discuss more with our officials in the county. I’ve always been open minded to any issue that comes up. I don’t believe in making decisions negatively. I’m asking for your vote and your support.”

Loftice: “I was born in the mountains of Southwest Virginia in a place called Possum Holler. I moved to Georgia and started teaching school in 1971. I taught school for 33 years and am a retired educator and former business owner. I’m a husband of 38 years to my wife, Debbie. I’m a father to two children and grandfather of three and can’t hardly wait to have some more. We are happy Banks County is our home. I have gotten to know some great people. I want to try and help the children of Banks County with job opportunities. I want to help the senior citizens of Banks County because God has allowed me to become one. I think there is a big challenge facing us and I think, if we work together, we can achieve anything we want. Any goal is within our reach but we have to work together … I’m ready to go to work for the people of Banks County. I’m not waiting around. I want us to grow. I want to do what I can for the kids of the county. I feel like I can lead unbiased. I’ve got the time to invest in the future of Banks County. If you will allow me to serve as your commissioner, I will listen to your needs. I will follow through.”