County Commissioner's Office

County Talk
By
Lamar Paris - Commissioner

Q. Why do people continue to throw out garbage and dump deer carcasses along Old Smokey Rd?  It is a disgrace.
A. Unfortunately, very few people live on this section of roadway, plus it is near town, which has made it convenient for some people to utilize it as a dumping area. However, law enforcement has agreed to start watching it more closely. We have already sent warning letters to two people that we have found evidence of their trash being dumped there.  We will be closely watching for others.  I can assure you that the $1,000 fine for dumping a deer carcass or garbage there will make the small fee for taking the animal or trash in a bag to the transfer station look very reasonable.

Q.  Why do you set the mil (tax) rate before you adopt the budget?
A.  That is an excellent question and one I could never understand prior to taking office.  However, the tax digest (which includes setting our mil rate), must be sent to the Georgia Dept. of Revenue by October 20th, so that tax bills can be due on Dec. 20th.  (State law requires a minimum of 60 days from the date the bills are sent out until they are due.)  It is very difficult to have our budget totally completed that early.  However, we usually know by then the amount that will be required to operate each department and it is just a matter of assigning the correct amounts to the individual line items. 

Q. When will the budget be completed?
A. State law requires that it be adopted prior to the end of the year.  We usually wait until pretty close to that date so that we are able to make any last minute adjustments if certain expenditures or revenues unexpectedly change in the last three months of the year. State law requires that we have a public hearing which will be advertised in this paper at the appropriate time.

Q. We have seen public notices for a meeting of the Union County Governmental Finance Corporation.  Could you explain what that is and why it is necessary?
A. The Union County Governmental Finance Corporation was set up to obtain financing for the commercial property known as the Elliott Property on the Gooch By-Pass adjacent to the Road Dept.  Soon after I took office, I knew that the county would need additional real estate in order to have property available for future government facility expansion and this property happened to be available at a good price.  On advice of our county attorney, the Finance Corporation was set up to allow the funds to be borrowed to purchase this property without having to go to the tremendous expense and cost of holding a special election and setting up a bond referendum.   

Q. How much did this Governmental Finance Corporation pay for the property?
A.  They paid $932,200 for the property, or $100,000 per acre. (9.392 acres). Two appraisals at the time valued the property well over that amount. The property was already graded level with water and sewer installed.  The Corporation in turn holds title to the property until the debt is paid in full.  The title is then transferred to Union County.   This has proven to be a very valuable purchase as the 9.3 acres across from the new Union County High School now has an estimated value nearly double the price paid for it just six years ago. 

Q. What has the Gooch By-Pass property been used for?
A.  This purchase has made it possible for Union County to have property available for the new driver’s license facility as well as the new health department.  We still have six acres remaining for future expansion and currently are allowing the school system to use part of the property for a practice football field.   The property was financed for ten years and we are paying $119,780 per year out of our budget and the property will be paid for in full on 8/1/2011.  We currently owe $430,000.

Q.  Is the Governmental Finance Corporation included in the audit every year?
A.  Any debt the county incurs, either directly or indirectly is included in our audit.  This is the only transaction involved with the Finance Corporation and it is covered by the auditors.

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