Gwinnett votes down proposed tax hike

Gwinnett County commissioners Tuesday voted unanimously to deny a measure to raise the property tax rate to fund its $1.7 billion 2009 budget.

The vote followed almost an hour of public comments at a morning hearing in which more than 425 people flooded the commission chambers. The proposal would have increased county property taxes by 25 percent to 30 percent, or about $180 a year on a $200,000 home.

“If you keep increasing the taxes, the growth is going to slow down even more,” said Jerry Hawkins of Lawrenceville. “We are tired of government’s only answer to a budget crisis being to raise taxes.”

Carl Newell of Loganville accused Commission Chairman Charles Bannister of being a politician rather than a public servant and alleged that the County Commission had made a series of bad decisions, from a failed garbage-collection plan to paying exorbitant prices for parkland.

Many of the almost 20 speakers objected to the county’s conduct during the first two public hearings held May 26 in the first-floor atrium. Several speakers called it disrespectful to force participants — many elderly — to stand through the hearing. Others complained they were herded around the atrium like sheep.

Public disclosure was another point raised.

Heather Koffman of Lilburn accused the county of coercion by floating a plan to expand full police services into cities. Although the county has maintained it is not trying to dissolve municipal police departments, the implication, she said, is that residents will eventually disband local police rather than pay double taxes to support two services.

After more than a week of public hearings and rallies to stop the tax hike, the commission weighed in on some of the criticism they and county staff have shouldered.

“I’ve been in politics for 14 years,” said Commissioner Shirley Lasseter. “Before I came here, I was mayor of Duluth, and for the life of me, I have tried to figure out what the difference is in the hostility and the nastiness of the tone of e-mails and phone messages … and I can’t do it.”

Commissioners Bert Nasuti, Kevin Kennerly and Mike Beaudreau said they were reassured to see widespread public participation, but they stressed that the commission — not the county staff — was responsible for the budget. They asked that dialogue on the budget be directed at them and not at personnel.

Beaudreau remarked that the county is only responsible for one-third of residents’ tax bills. He said he would work to get more detailed budget information on the county’s Web site and provide better opportunities for the public to weigh in.

Bannister said the public outcry had been heard. At the same time, he said, Gwinnett has established itself as a national leader in planning and parks. Sustaining these efforts at current levels, he said, is not realistic with the same funding.

“We will cut. We will cut,” he said. “And then we’ll hear from those who got cut. [It’s] not a winning situation for any of us.”