Questions answered by Lamar Paris, County Commissioner
Q. Why do our property taxes have to come due in December just before Christmas? Why can’t they come due in the summer?
A. This is always a tough issue and I have had three people ask me that this week. Every effort is made to have the tax bills printed and out to the public in August or early September, which usually gives you ninety days to pay your taxes prior to the end of the year. The State kind of sets the due date by suggesting they are to be paid by December 20th . We would hope that people could budget some money each month to put back for property taxes just as your mortgage company does for you with financed homes. This prevents you having to take such a hit at the end of the year.
The reason we are unable to change this process is that our county along with many others in the state, have a calendar year budget cycle, which means that our expense money runs out from the previous year’s taxes at the end of December. So in order for the county not to have to borrow money (which we sometimes have to do anyway), we must collect property taxes by the end of the year.
Also remember that property taxes only make up 28% of our total budget. The rest of the revenue comes in throughout the year from sales taxes, fines and fees. So if we do not collect most of our property taxes by the end of the year, it could put the county in a real financial strain as we begin the new year.
Q. Don’t you think we have had enough rain and someone should turn off the water?
A. That “someone” does not take orders from us. Yes, it is plenty wet and along with slow economic times, this has really given our construction people a tough situation to deal with. However, we have all found out in the last three years how critical rainfall is to our livelihood. Many who have lived here their entire lives have never known of a drought this severe. Since we seem to have recovered now, we should really be thankful. We can generally handle too much rain easier than too little.
Q. What are the rainfall totals for this year compared to last year?
A. The rainfall total for January 1, 2008 through December 31, 2008 was 41.83 inches with 112 rainy days. The total for Jan. 1 through December 8 of 2009 is 61.02 inches with 148 rainy days so far this year.
Q. Where do you get your rainfall data?
A. From two sources. The main one is on the internet at the (Mountain Research and Education Center (Experiment Station located on Gainesville Highway) You can access this information from the county web site at www.unioncountyga.gov. Then click on the photos and then the “green local weather” button.
There are other sources of weather data, but the Tennessee Valley Authority also maintains data for all parts of the Tennessee Valley. The latest information from them is very comforting and I quote,
“For the calendar year to date (Jan 1-Dec 4), the Tennessee Valley has received a total of 50.55 inches of rainfall and 22.12 inches of runoff. Rainfall is 108% of normal and hydro generation is 106 % of normal.” …”indicating that ground water is recharged after several years of drought conditions.”
Due to the improved weather conditions, TVA is going to discontinue the weekly updates of the drought conditions. This is very good news, especially that our groundwater has been recharged. Now one year of above average rainfall does not clear up all of our problems, but it certainly is a good start that our rainfall conditions are once again at or above normal and lets hope that “someone” sees fit to continue our good fortunes with another normal year of rainfall in 2010.
Q. How important is the census to Union County?
A. The census, as I have stated before, is critical to the future of Union County. Acquiring state and federal money over the next 10 years for highways, grants, and countless other dollar awards is based on the census. Union County, Blairsville, and the Union County School System can not afford to mess up as regards to an accurate 2010 census count. If we are not counted accurately, we will not get another chance to do it again for 10 years.
Please fill out your census form accurately when it comes out in April. An accurate count will save us all in tax money for years to come.