SPEAKS AGAINST TAX HIKE Banks County citizens spoke out against a proposed tax hike at a board of commission public hearing Thursday night in Homer. Ray Gowder is shown speaking to BOC chairman Milton Dalton and commissioner Rickey Cain.

BOC proposes tax increase; Citizens air opposition at public hearing

Posted by
Angela Gary
in News Links, Top Stories
Monday, November 23. 2009
Comments (55)
More than 30 people attended a public hearing on a proposed tax hike Thursday night with seven speaking in opposition to the plan and asking the commissioners to find other options for cutting the budget. The BOC is proposing increasing the millage rate by 1.75 mills to 9.9. This will mean an additional $70 in taxes per $100,000 in property value. This would mean a person who owns a $300,000 home would owe an additional $210 in taxes.

The BOC will hold a final public hearing on the proposed millage rate increase at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 30, at the courthouse annex. A vote on the proposed millage rate will immediately follow this public hearing.

At the public hearing Thursday, Ray Holcomb was among those speaking against the proposed tax hike.

“One of the most unfair taxes in America is the property tax,” he said. “We have so many people who don’t own any property and pay taxes but they are entitled to the same benefits as those who pay taxes.”

He asked the BOC to look for other sources to cut revenue.

Martha Threatt questioned the proposed tax hike during a time when “people are out of work and real estate is down.”

“I don’t understand why this is happening,” she added.

Jerry Loftice said he “sees a lot of waste” in government and believes other cuts can be made to the budget.

“Manpower really needs to be looked at,” he said. “Are we getting the more bang for our buck. Let’s see where we can trim more fat.”

Ray Gowder said, “This is not a time to have a tax increase. If you operate a business, you have to cut things out. Y’all need to do the same thing.”

COMMISSIONERS RESPOND

BOC chairman Milton Dalton said the county is operating with a 11 percent loss due to the decrease in sales tax revenue. He said the proposed budget has no salary raises, no new vehicles or other capital expenses.

“It is just bare necessities,” he said. “ … This budget was 4 mills short to start and we’re just adding 1.75 mills.”

Commissioner Rickey Cain added, “We can’t come up with what we need to cover the expenditures … We’ve done everything we can to cut and save. When the revenue doesn’t come in, you go to property tax. That is the bottom line.”

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#1 outside observer looking in on 11/23/09 at 06:36 PM [Reply]
thanks for the ''heads up'' on the money situtation mmmmm I rember when I was in the military and got a speeding ticket in your friendly town. Evidently there was a cash shortage then also. We had trial on the highway,,,I paid the fine,,, but a funny thing happened ,there were never any points taken off my drivers license.....wonder where the money went?? the down side to this was that the ''fine'' was roughly a third of my months pay....Oh well I made moree money when I went to Vietnam!!!!!!!
#2 Gordon Eli on 11/23/09 at 10:02 PM [Reply]
Yet, another sign of government unable to run efficiently. Tighten up like the rest of America has had to do......Most of corporate America didn't get a raise, so don't feel bad. My benefits are costing me more, what about the county benefit plan, have you look there to reduce cost? Have you look into jobs that could be eliminated? It wouldn't be hard to find waste in Banks County Government. If all the citizens of Banks County, would just look around I am sure you can find things too. We need to become more involved, look around jot down what you see and bring it to the monthly meeting so we can ask question and get answers. Look forwarded to seeing everyone at the next meeting!!!
#2.1 anonymous on 11/26/09 at 12:23 PM [Reply]
You made some great comments. Good idea about letting the employees pay more for their benefit plan just like all of us have to do at work.
You are right everyone except the commissioners seems to see all the waste in Banks county government---all they need to do is open their eyes and look around.
Like he said learn to tighten up like the rest of America has had to do.
#2.1.1 Anonymous on 11/29/09 at 12:25 AM [Reply]
FYI: Banks county HMO Plan costs $600 per month. Very steep. That is DOUBLE what it was 2 years ago. The "powers that be" have laid the bulk of the premium on the employee, so you're barking up the wrong tree on this point. Also, the dental plan isn't all that great, no orthodontic coverage. We get no chiropractic coverage. In other words, the HMO plan is NOT a cadillac policy, and yet the premium is STILL $600 for the employee. Again, barking up the wrong tree on this point. They have already cut costs in this area.
#3 Anonymous on 11/24/09 at 01:12 AM [Reply]
Goood Grief, Charlie Brown, maybe it was not State Patrol that can do that, maybe it was the woman thaat took it. They say she likes money!!!
#4 Anonymous on 11/24/09 at 01:56 AM [Reply]
if the tax commissioner would do her job the county would have money to pay there bills
#5 Anon on 11/24/09 at 05:18 PM [Reply]
Here it is on Tue. PM and the news is not good on TV. Unemployment will remain around 12% thru out 2010 and maybe thruout 2011.Banks county comm. can't seem to get it thru their thick skulls that this is serious.The tax office is in such a mess and tax bills wont be out on time. I agree with Loftice on waste. All you have to do look around to see it. This down turn is going to be around awhile, so cut the fat out now and get it over with. If they raise taxes now all it will do is prolong the problem.
#5.1 Anonymous on 11/24/09 at 11:54 PM [Reply]
In times of depression recreation is not a priority , cut it out completely will save money . Or what about all the county vehicles being driven home and other places by county employees . Let them drive their own vehicle to work like most people have to do . That will save money to . I'm sure their are other ways to save money to but it seams elected officials only know one thing and that is to raise taxes!!!!!!!!!!
#5.1.1 Anonymous on 12/03/09 at 04:05 PM [Reply]
yeah lets cut out recreation. the recreation department does a good job for the crap they put up with. let your kids go out and get in trouble. at least at recreation department they dont get in trouble.
#5.1.2 Anonymous on 12/03/09 at 06:26 PM [Reply]
why should recreation be cut. why not the maintenance department. what yall want your kids to do go out and get drugs. at least at the recreation department they stay out of trouble.
#6 Anonymous on 11/24/09 at 07:42 PM [Reply]
I don't think $70.00 per 100 thousand is to much to pay to get the adequate fire and ems coverage needed for the county
#6.1 Fed Up on 11/25/09 at 08:29 AM [Reply]
You apparently are the one driving the Banks County 911 vehicle to Quality Foods in Commerce! So what were we doing there, Inspecting the fire retardent?
#6.2 Banks Citizen on 11/25/09 at 01:36 PM [Reply]
You must work for Fire/EMS!!!! Banks County needs to furlough days just like other surrounding counties have done, instead of raising property taxes. I agree, they need to drive their own cars home instead of county vehicles, this would cut out alot of expense.
#6.3 anon on 11/30/09 at 12:20 AM [Reply]
It is not $70 per 100,000 it is AN ADDITIONAL $70 per 100,000 of property value for everyone.

200,000 property value==$140 more in taxes!!
300,000 property value==$210 more in taxes!!

Dalton said no salary increases--when he completes his term at $70,000+ he will get an automatic 2.5% increase or about an additional $1750 per year for his job.
#7 henry garcia on 11/25/09 at 07:49 PM [Reply]
If the banks county board claims they have trimmed all the fat from the budget, I say thats horse squeeze. Why not print the detailed budget of law enforcement, schools, there is no way it cost 2million a year for law enforcement in this county. The building inspectors up at the walmart everytime I see him and hes not inspecting the building. Why does he need a county vehicle, how many new buildins does he have to inspect anyway. Whean he inspected our home he sighned a co, without the electricity or the power being hooked up, what a crook. Cut the budget to the bone like the american people.
#8 taxpayer on 11/26/09 at 07:34 AM [Reply]
It seems that everyone except the commissioners knows of all the abuse of county cars/trucks being driven everywhere by employees. The commissioners need to tell the taxpapers the exact cost of each department using take home cars/trucks since they have "trimmed the budget to bare necessities".
Keith Covington routinely drives his truck in Banks, Habersham, Jackson, and Hall county to run all his personal errands. What kind of county work related to his job is Covington doing at Ingles grocery on Sunday afternoon?? Surely nothing to do with his job since it is not even in Banks county.
I realize that a few employees on call need a car at times to respond to emergencies. How many times this year has Covington needed his truck to respond to an after hour emergency? How much could this one department save if the truck was only driven for work related business?? Let the employees drive to work in their own car and spend their money on gas, insurance, tags, etc just like the rest of us taxpayers have to do.
#8.1 citizen (taxpayer) on 11/26/09 at 06:05 PM [Reply]
Yea, I know exactly what you mean. I saw a county employee myself buying groceries not in banks county, in uniform in his county vehicle and this is what we are paying for??????
#9 homeowner on 11/26/09 at 07:55 AM [Reply]
I can't believe they have trimmed all the cost possible. What about the abuse of county vehicles by the employees. Chairman Dalton is over paid at an annual salary of over $70,000 for his job. If everyone would just look around all of us can obviously see ways to trim the budget. I guess we need to point out all the ways to really trim the budget since the commissioners can't or don't want to see the abuse by county employees that is right in front of them.
#10 voter on 11/26/09 at 08:24 AM [Reply]
How about the commissioners volunteering to take a pay cut to help trim the budget instead of raising our property taxes.
#11 enough complaining on 11/26/09 at 09:41 AM [Reply]
No wonder Banks county is laughed at...these comments make you all look foolish!
How many of you complained a few years ago during the boom when the $$$ was pouring in and the county was adding and building ?? Wasn't in your pockets then so hey keep building new buildings and fire stations. How many went in front of our former commisinors when are fire/ems went paid ?
This is 8-10 years in the making people not a currant issue. I took the time to study the county budget recentlly and the is no where to cut unless of coarse you folks want to cut services that are already way behind the times.
#11.1 Anon on 11/26/09 at 10:36 PM [Reply]
Comments about government waste do not make the taxpapers look foolish.
Even if your comment is true about it taking 8-10 years to get in the shape the budget is now in, you are wrong it is a current issue.
Since you studied the budget recently exactly what amount was allowed for county employees to drive county trucks to Walmart, dentist and doctor appt, and to the grocery store???
#11.2 Milton Dalton, Joe Barefoot, Ricky Cain - Read the Taxpayer's lips on 11/27/09 at 08:51 PM [Reply]
If you vote to raise taxes, when you can save elsewhere - furlough - county vehicles used for personal business - etc your days in office will be numbered. You might as well resign the day you raise taxes because you won't be going back in come election time!
#12 taxpayer on 11/26/09 at 12:03 PM [Reply]
Teachers have to take days off without pay all accros the state. County employees in local governments surrounding Banks county are taking days off without pay---what makes the Banks county employees so special that they can't do the same.
All of us have to live in our budget the county commissioners need to learn the same lesson as the rest of us.
#12.1 Anonymous on 12/01/09 at 10:52 AM [Reply]
Taxpayers need to research what they are saying when it comes to surrounding counties furloughing their employees and asking why Banks County does not...? County employees are taxpayers too.. please realize this..and further more, the surrounding county governments have numerous positions in each department, from five to fifteen, in each office. Most of the offices in Banks County have 1 to 3 employees in each department.
#12.2 dear john on 12/01/09 at 11:18 AM [Reply]
If the taxpayers would do some research before they speak about the surrounding counties furloughing their employees..?? Other counties have anywhere from 5 to 15 employees in EACH department. Many offices in Banks County may have 1 to 3 employees in each department. DO YOU UNDERSTAND THE REASON FOR THE SURROUNDING COUNTIES TO USE FURLOUGH NOW???
#12.2.1 Taxpayer on 12/02/09 at 07:06 PM [Reply]
Furloughs is to reduce the cost of budget. All this means is the county employees in Banks County may have to do extra work in their department to make up for the person being off. All surrounding governments are having to furlough or take a pay cut per hour or in some cases both to reduce the budget. If Banks County cant afford the manpower off then maybe their salaries need to be reduced!! This budget is OUTRAGEOUS and the biggest expense is SALARIES, you might want to look at taking your day off before you speak.

If you claim Banks County has less employees why are the salaries the biggest expense in the county?
#12.2.1.1 dear john on 12/03/09 at 09:20 AM [Reply]
first of all, a furlough would be a "shut down" of the total county. Not just a person here and there having the day off. WHAT MONEY WOULD THAT POSSIBLY SAVE?? Furloughing where EVERY dept and EVERY person in the county was off, would mean saving money. NO WATER BEING USED, NO ELECTRICITY BEING USED, NO WORKING PERIOD. That would be the ONLY way the county could benefit from a furlough. As far as salaries?? Look at your head comm salary!!! And now you've elected two more part times?? I'm sure they'll recieve health insurance too,huh?? Like Barefoot and Cain?? So a furlough?? uh-huh
#13 Anon on 11/26/09 at 02:13 PM [Reply]
no not a worker for the local fire. U want to furlow days the way other departments have done. Do you realize the way other departments can do that is because they have enough personnel to. Which in turns means when Hall county furlows a worker the med unit will still operate when they rotate another off the engine for coverage. In Banks county there is minimum coverage to maintain the number of calls. So if this county furlows that means shutting down an ambulance and station for a day. If that was your area where that happens and you was having a heart attack time makes a big difference in how much of your heart muscle dies. Response times also makes a difference when some child is trapped in a car wreck or your house is on fire. So if the fire department had adequate staff furlows might be an option.
#13.1 anon on 11/26/09 at 11:00 PM [Reply]
there are many employees that could take furlough days besides the fire/ems/police that would not effect life saving measures.
You could furlough employees at the tag office, tax assessors office, commissioners office, water dept office, building inspectors office, code enforcement office just to name a few. If some of these people were forced to take a day off without pay maybe they would think twice before doing the grocery shopping at the expense of the county taxpayers.
#13.1.1 Anonymous on 12/01/09 at 11:08 AM [Reply]
Have any of these so called "know it alls" stopped to think that these county employees, driving their OWN vehicles, and sitting in the pick up line at school ARE ON THEIR LUNCH HOUR?!!? That is UNPAID!!!! Get real people!! The employees insurance rates skyrocketed, but their salaries didn't raise any to cover that! The county wasted money building the "Taj Mahal" on Thompson Street, no expense spared! And the renovated Courthouse on the square?? Have you been in there?!? You have to back out the front door to turn around! No room!!
#14 anon on 11/26/09 at 11:35 PM [Reply]
Maybe the tax increase is going to pay Sammy Reese to send out some more letters and buy some more radio commercials.
#14.1 taxpayer on 11/28/09 at 09:24 PM [Reply]
What does Mr. Reece have to do with wasteful taxdollar spending? He is not on the BOC and how he decides to spend his money is none of the public's business! Someone is spending more money than he is. Have your read this weeks edition of Banks County news?

Let's stay on the topic here, spending taxpayer's money is an issue we need to be concerned about. If you are a concerned citizen you will spread the word to be at the BOC meeting Monday Nov. 30, at the annex building to voice your concerns about the increase in property tax. Look around, there is a 53% increase in foreclosures in this county, if you cant afford to pay to keep your property how can you afford a tax increase and if you don't pay the county will take it!!
#15 Old Commish on 11/27/09 at 07:19 AM [Reply]
Heart muscle dies !! Sounds like an EMT ? Ok explains why they dont want tax cuts. Did you guys know that most of our co employees dont live in our co. Theese tax increases are not going to effect most of them !! Lets see staffing ?? jackson co has 6 ambulances,thats great, but most of there fire and rescue is vollenteer,and thet run three times the amount of calls. No body is saying cut the ambulances, but we could cut so many of theese paid firefighters. As for the sheriffs office, the cut needs to be in the jail not on the road, there are so many depts in our co that needs to be audited,like 911 why do we have a 911 director assistant. So we have got to start completly over, its the only way to fix this mess,and if we get the Gene Hart bunch back in office, this wont be the last tax increase !!! I promice !!!
#15.1 anon on 11/30/09 at 11:08 AM [Reply]
You are correct some of Jackson county is volunteer and some is not. THe county is trying to convert to paid staff like most counties are. Doing away with paid firefighters will solve your tax increase but not your insurance increase. If your release your paid firefighters this in turn will increase your ISO rating and in turn will increase your homeowners insurance more than likely more than what your tax increase would be.
#16 outside observer looking in on 11/28/09 at 06:37 PM [Reply]
just look at the facts and then wonder about why Banks county is not doin Banks County Georgia
Population, 2008 estimate 16,760 9,685,744
Population, percent change, April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2008 16.2% 18.3%
Population estimates base (April 1) 2000 14,422 8,186,812
Persons under 5 years old, percent, 2008 6.8% 7.6%
Persons under 18 years old, percent, 2008 25.1% 26.3%
Persons 65 years old and over, percent, 2008 12.2% 10.1%
Female persons, percent, 2008 50.0% 50.8%

White persons, percent, 2008 (a) 94.1% 65.4%
Black persons, percent, 2008 (a) 3.9% 30.0%
American Indian and Alaska Native persons, percent, 2008 (a) 0.3% 0.4%
Asian persons, percent, 2008 (a) 1.0% 2.9%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, percent, 2008 (a) 0.1% 0.1%
Persons reporting two or more races, percent, 2008 0.7% 1.3%
Persons of Hispanic or Latino origin, percent, 2008 (b) 3.8% 8.0%
White persons not Hispanic, percent, 2008 90.4% 58.1%

Living in same house in 1995 and 2000, pct 5 yrs old & over 60.9% 49.2%
Foreign born persons, percent, 2000 2.1% 7.1%
Language other than English spoken at home, pct age 5+, 2000 3.7% 9.9%
High school graduates, percent of persons age 25+, 2000 65.4% 78.6%
Bachelor's degree or higher, pct of persons age 25+, 2000 8.6% 24.3%
Persons with a disability, age 5+, 2000 3,028 1,456,812
Mean travel time to work (minutes), workers age 16+, 2000 30.1 27.7

Housing units, 2008 6,864 4,026,082
Homeownership rate, 2000 80.9% 67.5%
Housing units in multi-unit structures, percent, 2000 1.9% 20.8%
Median value of owner-occupied housing units, 2000 $92,400 $111,200

Households, 2000 5,364 3,006,369
Persons per household, 2000 2.69 2.65
Median household income, 2007 $43,813 $49,080
Per capita money income, 1999 $17,424 $21,154
Persons below poverty, percent, 2007 13.7% 14.3%
Business QuickFacts Banks County Georgia
Private nonfarm establishments, 2007 298 231,8101
Private nonfarm employment, 2007 3,693 3,648,4181
Private nonfarm employment, percent change 2000-2007 21.3% 4.7%1
Nonemployer establishments, 2007 1,456 738,158
Total number of firms, 2002 986 674,521
Black-owned firms, percent, 2002 F 13.4%
American Indian and Alaska Native owned firms, percent, 2002 F 0.7%
Asian-owned firms, percent, 2002 F 4.0%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander owned firms, percent, 2002 F 0.0%
Hispanic-owned firms, percent, 2002 F 2.7%
Women-owned firms, percent, 2002 S 29.1%

Manufacturers shipments, 2002 ($1000) NA 126,156,636
Wholesale trade sales, 2002 ($1000) 15,288 201,091,040
Retail sales, 2002 ($1000) 106,327 90,098,578
Retail sales per capita, 2002 $7,012 $10,551
Accommodation and foodservices sales, 2002 ($1000) 8,363 12,740,423
Building permits, 2008 74 35,368
Federal spending, 2008 62,134 74,164,6421
Geography QuickFacts Banks County Georgia
Land area, 2000 (square miles) 233.67 57,906.14
Persons per square mile, 2000 61.6 141.4
FIPS Code 011 13
Metropolitan or Micropolitan Statistical Area None


1: Includes data not distributed by county.

Download these tables - delimited | Download these tables - Excel | Download the full data set


(a) Includes persons reporting only one race.
(b) Hispanics may be of any race, so also are included in applicable race categories.

D: Suppressed to avoid disclosure of confidential information
F: Fewer than 100 firms
FN: Footnote on this item for this area in place of data
NA: Not available
S: Suppressed; does not meet publication standards
X: Not applicable
Z: Value greater than zero but less than half unit of measure shown

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Source U.S. Census Bureau: State and County QuickFacts. Data derived from Population Estimates, Census of Population and Housing, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, State and County Housing Unit Estimates, County Business Patterns, Nonemployer Statistics, Economic Census, Survey of Business Owners, Building Permits, Consolidated Federal Funds Report
Last Revised: Tuesday, 17-Nov-2009 11:49:29 EST Skip footer sectionPrivacy g to good....
#17 anon on 11/29/09 at 05:59 AM [Reply]
I don't know who the Gene Hart bunch is, but get real. Hart was in office for four years and we had no tax increase. Dalton has been in office one year and we have a tax increase. Hart's salary was less than $40,000 per year, Dalton is over $70,000 per year. Am I the only one who sees a correlation here? You say we need to start over, how do you suggest doing this, by electing a former commissioner who may or may not have been part of the problem? And on the other side, electing someone who walked off his volunteer fire job when the going got rough and helped leave the county unprotected? This is a no-brainer.
#17.1 Mickeymouse on 11/29/09 at 01:51 PM [Reply]
Seems like Gene bought a Jacquar with county so what it was his years that we are paying for. Just like the 8 Bush years we are paying for now.......
#17.2 To anno: on 11/29/09 at 08:56 PM [Reply]
FYI: Go back and pull public records, Gene Hart voted to increase the BOC chairman's salary, not Mr. Dalton. The reason this county is in the mess it is in is because of the previous administrations spending habits. Mr. Dalton only inherited this problem from previous admin. Look at the other two that are still on the BOC if you want to blame someone, number their days. Get involved and get rid of the two that caused these problems. They also voted to increase their salaries!
#18 Anon on 11/29/09 at 12:34 PM [Reply]
Sammy Reese is on the Banks County Planning Committee and receives county money for his service on that committee. What about the letter to all county employees about being involved in political campaigns? Does this apply to Mr. Reese?
#19 daydreamer on 11/29/09 at 08:21 PM [Reply]
First of all not all county employees are screwing the county out of money. The insurance if you take it is paid by you the employee for a total of 600.00 a month just for medical; that's no dental or vision which is separate and cost extra . So no one pays that for any employee . There is a lot of waste in the county. Employees driving county vehicles on personal trips, county employees in parent pick-up lines during working hours getting their kids while they should be at work. Are they still on the clock or did they clock out to go pick them up every afternoon then come back to work? Also the tag office is such a joke. Walk in and not a single person is in the office and you have to take a number and sit any where from 3-5 minutes just for them to look around and call a number. What a waste of time,money and man power.Has the county looked at how many employees they have in the tag/water dept's to see if they could let a few go? Also why don't we start at the top and take a pay cut like everyone else is having to do in the world. There are people loosing there jobs,homes,cars,etc..Do you think one person in the courthouse that makes top money thought "well maybe I could do my job and give a little bit of my salary back to the county"?!?! I mean geez we have to elect more people to the commissioners office not knowing where we stand with the ones we have and therefore not knowing what we will get with the new ones. Also about the reply to the comment by Sammy Reese earlier by someone..Well What about the letter to all county employees about being involved in political campaigns? Does this apply to Mr. Reese? What about Robin Trotter?? Isn't she a county employee??? Why didn't she have to step down from the many, many positions that she holds in the county to run for the commissioners seat? If she is voted in will she still keep all the jobs she holds?will she be able to balance all that she does and be able to dedicated to the citizens of banks county? Because we need some leadership,with honesty,truth,and fairness,that will help Banks County out of our financial slump and rebound for a bright future for our children
#19.1 Anon on 11/30/09 at 12:22 PM [Reply]
Whoa now! Sammy Reese gets paid for his time on the Planning Comm. board. Robin Trotter is under contract from the North East Ga. Family connections. Not a County Employee. So either Reese and Trotter can do what ever they want.About Milton Dalton salary-He gets his retirement income and Chairmanship-Both only comes to about $67,000.00. Lets get it right before you speak.
#19.1.1 daydreamer on 11/30/09 at 04:22 PM [Reply]
Go back and pull public records, Gene Hart voted to increase the BOC chairman's salary, so poor Milton salary is/or close to 70,000.00 a year. No one knows except for human resources that makes out the check for the county employees. EXCUSE me anon do you do the payroll for banks county?? You have so much information on the salaries and employees of this county. You get an attitude when someone steps on toes and says something about your friends, But that's the right of freedom of speech.. Lets get it right before you speak. Cute motto try to live by that one...
#19.1.2 daydreamer on 11/30/09 at 05:49 PM [Reply]
Sammy Reese is on the Banks County Planning Committee and receives county money for his service on that committee. What about the letter to all county employees about being involved in political campaigns? Does this apply to Mr. Reese? anon this was your comment so which is your comment on it????
#19.1.3 homeowner on 11/30/09 at 07:08 PM [Reply]
You seem to think that Milton Dalton only gets $67,000 total income from the county in both retirement and BOC chairman. I was not including his retirement income from the county in the $70,000 as I quoted before.

INFORMATION FROM THE COUNTY IS: The annual base salary is $60,000. After certification is received, an additional $1,200 (annually) is added to the base salary. In addition to the base salary there are also supplements and the longevity factor.
The salary for the present chairman, Milton Dalton, amounts to an annual salary of $70,010.90. I am not including whatever amount he receives in a retirement pension.

I was basing my comment of $70,000+ on information provided by the county for the BOC salary only. Do you have first hand knowledge that this is incorrect?? What are you basing you statement of retirement and BOC salary both only amounting to $67,000???
I will stand by my statement made on 11/26/09 from information that was provided by the county. Where did you come up with the figure of $67,000 for BOC chairman and retirement pension???
#19.2 A. Wilson on 12/01/09 at 10:20 AM [Reply]
I am one of the County employees that is NOT
screwing them out of any money. I take my
lunch hour to pick up my kids everyday which the County does not pay. Also some of the other people do the same or they are part time and get off at 3:00pm everday to pick up kids. People that are paid hourly must account for their time off.
#20 w.roberts on 11/29/09 at 10:44 PM [Reply]
After reading all these comments seems to me people need to start attending commissioners meetings to know all the facts on where county money goes. If Gene Hart had been re-elected his salary would be where Milton Dalton's is. Because Gene Hart, Ricky Cain and Joe Barefoot petitioned the state legislature to raise the salaries of the three county commissioners and the raise went into effect the first of this year. Also Ricky Cain and Joe Barefoot got raises too.
#21 Donna Coghlan on 11/30/09 at 10:20 AM [Reply]
Continue to elect "good ol' boys," and you will have more of the same. We need people in these offices who have the ability to govern in the 21st century. In days gone by, those in power counted on being able to get away with the stuff being discussed here, but this is a different world and a different time.

We need commissioners who are capable and wise to move us forward, not backward; or Banks County is doomed to just stagnate while those around us prosper.
#22 Anonymous on 11/30/09 at 03:07 PM [Reply]
About furloughing employees,in the water department they are one deep in each position.During the past budget work up 4 positions were deleted.To furlough in this department the absent eployee would have to be replaced by paying overtime to another employee or the plant could be shut down for that day and the county could do with out water during that time.
#23 Anonymous on 11/30/09 at 04:31 PM [Reply]
For those of you that are concerned and would like to know the real truth about these rumors it is time you hear from me.


1.) Our home that we sold WAS NOT IN FORECLOSURE!

2.) Randy and I have PAID OUR TAXES EACH YEAR. If you are still concerned please go to the tax office and check the records.

3.) I AM NOT A COUNTY EMPLOYEE. I am contracted through a State Family Connection Grant. I have a board that sets the budget and oversees the operations of the 3-Year plan. The 3-Year plan is based on the needs that are identified in a community assessment of the county. A collaborative networking group of different agencies and representatives come together on a monthly basis to work on the strategies and goals of the 3-Year plan.

4.) For all of the other positions that you have questions about those are volunteer. I volunteer my time to be the Director of the Banks County Community Resource Association, Inc. (which includes the food bank, clothes closet, Christmas program), volunteer on the Med-Link board, volunteer EMA Coordinator, volunteer Housing Authority board, etc. The key word here is VOLUNTEER - NO MONEY. I didn't take these positions for money. I took the position to serve the families and children here in the community and I have done that for the past 9 years.

5.) I have also heard about the rumors that I am against poultry farmers and conservation land use. I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO HEAR IT FROM ME - I AM NOT AGAINST POULTRY FARMERS OR CONSERVATION LAND USE.


I hope this will put these rumors to rest but if you still have concerns please give me a call at 678-316-7187.
#23.1 Dave on 11/30/09 at 10:31 PM [Reply]
No complaints from me about your position and I hope you are elected.

My complaints are with the morons running the county now. Dalton, has no clue but then again he is a native of Banks - Barefoot a double dipper couldn't get out of a wet paper bag and Cain, please nuff said.

Government is going to keep taking, and taking until it reaches a point that people will stand up - Dalton and his huge salary while I must leave the county for a simple job. Candidates have spewed their job crap for years, only to get into office and forget about those jobs. What will you do if elected? The same thing everyone else has done, not a crapping thing. Martin Bridge road will be a desolate intersection 10 years from now because the leaders of Banks County can't stay out of La Hacienda long enough to make a crapping decision.
#23.2 To anonymous: on 12/01/09 at 09:07 AM [Reply]
Why did you put your name as anonymous? Everyone knows its Robin Trotter! This has gone overboard. It seems now its not about our taxes, its about getting a vote!!!!
#23.2.1 Robin Trotter on 12/01/09 at 03:19 PM [Reply]
Yes, it is Robin Trotter. I put my name on the other one and I just left it off of this one because I included my name and number in the comment.

Not a big deal. Sorry!!
#24 Hank Taylor on 12/01/09 at 08:18 PM [Reply]
As I have stated before, I cannot find " anonymous" in any phone book, tax record book, or anywhere else for that matter. If you don't have the guts to sign your name, then shut the hell up.
#25 Dave on 12/01/09 at 11:15 PM [Reply]
I've said it for a very long time - PEOPLE ARE FED UP WITH THE GOVERNMENT TAKING TAKING TAKING and their going to reach a point where they will have had enough! Take Take Take, Board of Education you better open your ears!!!!! Or better yet, get ready for the unemployement line, because the members that voted to raise taxes last year will see the results come election time - that is if the voters have a brain - which appears to be true since they've elected one Rogers who was already years ago a commissioner and what did he accomplish? We still have no jobs, and we still have Martin Bridge a wasteland. And Turk, a good ole boy Banks Countian who loves Homer as it is, a dead town. Sorry Robin, I just saw the election results - I voted for you.
#26 Darion Lawrence on 12/07/09 at 12:05 PM [Reply]
I understand we're in a financial crisis. My number 1 point is if the people are being forced to balance their budget with less money then the government must do the same. At what point do you stop raising taxes?? And please stop it with the creative inventions of permits and fees to generate revenue. I can only imagine that 50 years from now that people will be working for the government because what percentage will taxes, permits, and fees, take from our checks.
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