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Home > Clayton.Talk > Archives > 2008 > January > 28 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USWill promises be kept this time?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
On Super Tuesday, Clayton will vote whether or not to continue the one-cent tax for another six years, which is expected to raise an additional $305 million dollars.
The current SPLOST collection ends in October, 2008.
Three out of the six promised recreation centers (Virginia Gray Recreation Center in Riverdale, Carl Rhodenizer Recreation Center in Rex, and Jim Huie Recreation Center in Jonesboro) are completed. One center was supposed to be built in each commission district.
According to news reports, Commission Chair Eldrin Bell stated the remainder of that money is collecting interest in a bank account, and promises to begin construction on two more recreation centers by the end of February.
If approved, the next SPLOST will also fund several new projects for Clayton cities, as well as many public safety necessities, including: new police precincts and vehicles, a new Juvenile Justice Center, a $23 million countywide Public Safety Digital Network, a multipurpose fire department building, additional fire engines, ambulances, transportation and road improvements, among many other things.
However, some residents would first like to see promises made in 2003 kept before handing over more money.
According to a Clayton NAACP press release, “Neither the cities nor the county have prioritized these projects with dates.” There were no completion dates given for 2003 SPLOST projects, either.
“Most people in the community feel the Clayton County Commissioners have not properly spent the [2003] $240 million SPLOST,” says Dexter Matthews, president of the Clayton NAACP. “So the taxpayers would be foolish to give these same people $305 million and trust them to spend it properly.”
A brochure promoting the February 5 SPLOST warns that “Without SPLOST funds, Clayton County may find it necessary to discontinue county services or increase property taxes.”
This penny tax is collected from anyone who spends money here, instead of Clayton’s property owners possibly bearing the financial burden alone.
Yet if the monies collected are insufficient to fund all of these projects, taxpayers will have to pick up the rest of the tab anyway. Or vote yes to another SPLOST in the future. Should we trust that if we vote “Yes”, promises will be kept this time?
Can we afford to vote “no” in order to hold our elected officials accountable for past unfulfilled promises?
Go to www.claytonsplost.com to learn more.
P.S. - Thanks to members of the Clayton County Wide Homeowners Association, we can now go online to complete and submit a Leadership Profile Assessment Form, which allows Clayton residents to voice opinions about what We would like to see in our next School Superintendent! Please complete by Thursday, January 31, 2008 at www.clayton.k12.ga.us/administration/boardofeducation/news.asp
Permalink | Comments (35) | Post your comment | Categories: Kimberly Allen
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By Kimberly Allen
January 28, 2008 9:06 AM | Link to this
*The link for the *Leadership Profile Assessment Form above got cut off - here is the full link:
http://www.clayton.k12.ga.us/administration/boardofeducation/news.asp**
Have a good day Clayton!
By Kimberly Allen
January 28, 2008 9:09 AM | Link to this
Sorry, hopefully it will take this time:
www.clayton.k12.ga.us/administration/boardofeducation/news.asp
By Kimberly Allen
January 28, 2008 9:18 AM | Link to this
At the very end of the link where it reads “.a” - if you change that to* .asp *you will be able to access and submit the Leadership Profile Assessment Form online.
By getyourown
January 28, 2008 9:21 AM | Link to this
I plan to vote “YES” today during this advanced voting period. I can understand some resident’s concerns with the commission not spending the moneys already collected through the SPLOST. However, I can also appreciate that, in light of past mistakes, the commission is trying to do the right thing when it comes to spending these funds.
By WTF?
January 28, 2008 9:42 AM | Link to this
Plain and simple - we can not afford to vote no to this SPLOST.
There aren’t enough taxpayers in this county who can pick up the slack. We just have to pray that the Commissioners do what they say they will do with the money collected.
By Laverne
January 28, 2008 10:57 AM | Link to this
Um, why so many recreation centers? Has it been shown that your county needs these more than other things?
Curious
By TA@aol.com
January 28, 2008 10:58 AM | Link to this
Will promises be kept?
Not until residents hold them accountable. Don’t pray that they’ll do the right thing - DEMAND IT! I see the majority of people in this county sitting back doing nothing while our local leadership play us like fools knowing full well that they can do what they want because nothing will happen. We need more to be involved.
Hopefully, times are beginning to change for us in this County and more of those who care will unite and act. A good example is Bob Hartley and other residents of District 9. Bye-bye Sandra Scott. You should’ve known better and been a better steward of your District.
By Drakes Landing
January 28, 2008 11:18 AM | Link to this
I have to say that I am planning to vote NO. I hesitated with this decision, but feel that it is the best one to make.
First I feel that maybe a year between the two splost would have been great to give tax payers a little break and county time to complete previous splost project.
Also I don’t feel that many non-county residents are making that big of a contribution to the county’s tax base (I shop outside the county a lot myself).
Third, I feel the property tax would increase anyway. The county is always looking for more money and will get it any way they can; Inflated property values, and all those new redlight cameras.
Finally projects on the new list I thought were covered on the old list such as road widening projects such as SR85@Clark Howell, Valley Hill Rd, Mt. Zion Blvd, and Battle Creek Rd.
By frustrated with Bell
January 28, 2008 12:22 PM | Link to this
Chairman Bell keeps lying to us about the SPLOST. He is now using scare tactics to get his hands on more dollars to help his friends. This is the same model employed by George Bush to get us into the Iraq war. While Bush’s tactics were based on “terroists”. Bell’s tactics are based on increased taxes. Bell should complete the projects on the list from 2003…when he is done ask us for more money to complete new projects. We don’t mind paying taxes, but Chairman Bell has to prove he can be a good steward.
By Joe
January 28, 2008 1:13 PM | Link to this
You know when Eldrin Bell is lying? His lips be moving.
By Joe
January 28, 2008 1:13 PM | Link to this
You know when Eldrin Bell is lying? His lips be moving.
By concerned
January 28, 2008 4:35 PM | Link to this
Keep in mind..the current SPLOST was voted on when we had entirely different people running the county. Roads had not been repaved in years and equipment was outdated. The county then had to get new equipment and start all over with routine maintences of the inferstructure. Still much has not been done, but like everthing else the cost has gone up. I think the current BOC has tried to manage the money as best they could, improving roads and building community and senior centers. There are people who use these centers who do not live in the county and they pay to do so. I trust promises can be keep, though maybe not at the pace we expected them.
By ra
January 28, 2008 6:43 PM | Link to this
I’m happy with the results of the last one. I could could care less about rec centers! Repair of roads, infastructure, etc, is much more important. The poeople yelling the loadest are the ones who don’t pay taxes, or buy things anyway. http://www.give-em-the-boot.com/
By Milt Johnson, JD
January 29, 2008 9:54 AM | Link to this
Raise Property taxes - are you kidding??
I recently moved from Clayton County, mainly because of the high property taxes. I bought another house in a different county, that cost twice as much and the taxes only went up slightly. I don’t have clue what they are doing with the money down there - but when it is uncovered it will make the school fiasco look like child’s play.
By Joyce
January 29, 2008 11:07 AM | Link to this
If you take a look at the results of SPLOST in other counties, particularly the northern Metro counties, you will see that we all have been HAD. You are right, we should have seen results of the first SPLOST and now they are conveniently saying things will start at the end of February (after the vote).
Give me a break. The northern counties have award winning park systems, aquatic centers and their road are repaved on a regular basis. What do we have? A ghetto full of abandon buildings.
By Old Timer
January 29, 2008 3:46 PM | Link to this
Rev. Rod Johnson, the Vice Chairman of the Clayton County School Board is the reason why the school board is fixin to to lose accreditation Again! Now this misfit wants to be the Clerk of Court! Tell everyone you know we don’t want our court system to be administered like the dysfunctional school board! Rev. Rod for Clayton County Dog Cather!
www.give-em-the-boot.com
By Rod 4 Grocery Clerk
January 29, 2008 5:03 PM | Link to this
‘nuff said.
By Lady Bi
January 29, 2008 5:13 PM | Link to this
I got a Rod Johnson Refrigerator magnet in the mail asking for our vote for him and his wife, State Representative Johnson in the mail. My girlfriend and I started laughing when we opened it up. They make great frizzbees! This guy is a moron! He is the reason why our school system is under investigation by the GBI and SACs. He has the nerve to campaign for higher office. We threw our magnets away. I’m telling everyone I know to not vote for Rev. Rod or his wife. Clayton County is fed up with losers like him.
By Maysie
January 29, 2008 5:28 PM | Link to this
I was leaning towards voting “No” but after reading this & the web site I might have to change my mind. I think our property taxes will go up regardless (don’t they always?) but at least this way monies can come in from those who don’t live here. Although I don’t think it is a whole lot.
By Concerned parent
January 29, 2008 5:48 PM | Link to this
Vote yes….shop in Henrt county!
By Clayton resident
January 29, 2008 7:11 PM | Link to this
I will vote yes. Recreation centers don’t concern me and unfortunately the delinquents who commits crimes probably don’t care about them either and will not use them. But I do care about getting more police stations & equiment, FD equipment & especially that juvenille justice center to process the delinquents. We definitely need that here.
By Gloria
January 30, 2008 8:08 AM | Link to this
Clayton Resident and all who do not grasp the need for recreational centers for all of Clayton County:
You did not get what you were supposed to get in the last SPLOST. Perhaps if you had gotten all of the Recreation Centers for young people in this county, you would not need so many police stations and juvenile centers.
By George Peterson
January 30, 2008 8:18 AM | Link to this
Splish, Splash went the SPLOST.
I am voting NO! My 18 and 21 year old sons are voting NO!
By concerned
January 30, 2008 9:11 AM | Link to this
it’s not about rec centers it’s about the fact that you cannot believe Bell, and you cannot trust BELL to complete what you vote for. The last SPLOST was vote on by the past Chairman and he funded 1 rec center and 1 senior center in 1 year. Bell has taken 3.5 years and has funded 2 rec centers and voted 3 times against funding anymore. You can trust BELL to collect your money on time, but you cannot trust Bell to complete the projects upon which you vote…I don’t trust Bell, so I’m voting against the SPLOST!!!
By WTF?
January 30, 2008 10:02 AM | Link to this
For all of those who say it is not about recreation centers. Normally I would agree and do think a lot of other great things can come from this splost, especially public saftey stuff we need badly.
But let’s not forget, Atlanta is about to shut down more projects and ship all their rejects HERE to Clayton AGAIN. I’d rather they go to recreation centers than be lingering in my neighborhood causing more problems.
By TA
January 30, 2008 10:15 AM | Link to this
Gloria,
Recreation Centers do not keep young people out of police stations and juvenile centers. Loving, consistent, responsible parents who discipline and look out for the welfare of their children do. You can give young people everything in the world and they will still look for trouble if they do not have the above.
Things must change at the core and at the foundation - the family. The problem is not that we don’t have enough things for our children to do when they are idle. The problem is the tolerated mentality of our communities in accepting the behaviors of absent parents and then ensuring these behaviors aren’t passed down to their children. It will be a very sad and disappointing day in Clayton County when residents look to Recreation Centers to take the place of these parents and their responsibilities.
By posterchild
January 30, 2008 12:36 PM | Link to this
TA,
Amen. I grew up in Riverdale, and all we had was the Riverdale Rec (now known as Trevon Wilson Park). Last time I checked, my friends are I didn’t go around shooting, stealing, or taking part in other unsavory activities. I don’t want to hear about money, working parents… I spent plenty of time unsupervised after school, but there was a little thing called parenting and expectations that kept me on the straight and narrow.
Can the SPLOST funds be used for parenting classes?
By Gloria
January 30, 2008 1:41 PM | Link to this
TA and others!
Recreation Centers ARE ASSETS IN THE COMMUNITY. THEY PROVIDE A CENTRAL POINT FOR BUILDING COMMUNITY. THEY GIVE YOUNG PEOPLE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP SOCIAL SKILLS. WHY DO YOU THINK THERE ARE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS, YMCAS,BOY SCOUTS, GIRL SCOUTS AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THAT SHAPE AND MOLD YOUNG LIVES. RECREATION CENTERS DO MORE FOR THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY THAN GIVE YOUTH A PLACE TO PLAY.
By TA
January 30, 2008 2:32 PM | Link to this
Gloria,
I agree with your 2nd post if the Recreation Centers are managed, operated, and evaluated appropriately. But that wasn’t your initial point. You indicated that “Perhaps if you had gotten all of the Recreation Centers for young people in this county, you would not need so many police stations and juvenile centers.”
These places and the other organizations you mention are NOT a substitute for responsible parenting. They are complimentary to it and only should be a positive secondary influence.
By Gloria
January 30, 2008 5:56 PM | Link to this
My initial point is vote No for the SPLOST!
By GL
January 31, 2008 7:38 AM | Link to this
Rec centers are nothing but another “entitlement”. NO to SPLOST. And what business is it of the NAACP anyway? Do rec centers have anything to do with civil rights? http://www.give-em-the-boot.com/
By Clayco
January 31, 2008 9:06 AM | Link to this
I’m thankful to the NAACP for holding a meeting last week about the Feb. 5 SPLOST. Our elected officials had some type of kickoff about it and didn’t even advertise it. Something like that should’ve been in all the newspapers & on the tv news. If some crime had happened here, it would have been ALL over the news but stuff like this gets no coverage? Why? I would have liked to attend that kickoff to hear directly from the commissioners what this is all about.
I read about that in the newspaper AFTER it was over. At least the NAACP provided information to those who needed it since apparently our elected officials don’t want to.
And the fact that it hasn’t been very well advertised makes me wonder if our fine board of commissioners is on the up and up about this splost and what they plan on doing with this money. I’m voting NO.
By Clayton Citizen
January 31, 2008 10:55 AM | Link to this
Splost money had not been handled properly in the past. I feel it is wrong to put more money in the pot to be handed out to friends of Bell. We need to rethink all of our problems in Clayton County after we replace the Chairman with a new one who is interested in cleaning up Clayton County, taking care of all the abandoned buildings, making business keep their parking lots clean instead of eye sores. We have been covered by a moving ghetto which I do not want. We in Clayton County have worked many years to have a good place to live. I think we should reclaim it. We need a new chairman and break up the time for three tea party that never listens.
Clayton Citizen
By dumb-masses
January 31, 2008 11:44 AM | Link to this
Never listens…..are you kidding me? My commissioner, Wole Ralph has not returned any of my calls what so ever. When we attempted to meet with him, he shrugged at us when we asked for a specific date to sit down with him with concerns. But if that home owners assoc thing in morrow calls him, he goes a runnin. So much for looking out for me and us.
By Hampton resident
January 31, 2008 12:20 PM | Link to this
I can only speak for myself, but the 3 times I’ve emailed my commissioner Wole Ralph, he always responds and always got the problem solved even if he had to reach out to someone else in county administration to make it happen.
What homeowners association thing in morrow are you talking about?