August 1, 2007- Douglas County GA: Douglas County Taxpayers Coalition (DCTC) commends the Douglas County Board of Commissioners (BOC) for holding the line on property tax millage rates. But, the group says it’s disappointed in the Douglas County Board of Education (BOE) and the city of Douglasville for not rolling back rates and called the move “greedy".

James Bell director of DCTC said he is pleased the BOC saw fit NOT to raise the millage rate but was disappointed more wasn’t done to cut spending and government waste.

“With good leadership, this county can find ways to cut a minimum of 5% from the budget. Chairman Worthan should require departments heads to review their budgets and find ways to save tax dollars”, said James Bell

“The 2007 property revaluation raised the tax digest above 2006 revenues. The BOE should have given taxpayers a substantial tax cut based on the increased revenues”, Bell stated.

DCTC applauds Douglasville’s Mayor Mickey Thompson’s veto of the city’s budget for lack of specificity.

“We concur with the Mayor; officials must show where our tax dollars will be spent. Increasing taxes when they are receiving record amounts of revenue is simple irresponsible and a slap in the face of taxpayers”, Bell continued.

Bell said the BOC was forced to keep the millage rate flat since the school board and the City of Douglasville chose not to give taxpayers any relief this year.

“It was a wise move by the county commissioners to keep rates flat just weeks before they are seeking to increase sales tax to collect around $200 million in the 2007 Special Local Option Sales Tax Referendum (SPLOST - September 18, 2007)”, Bell said.

“We are concerned over Chairman Tom Worthan’s recent threats to raise property taxes if the SPLOST is not approved. We contend that, if approved, SPLOST projects WILL increase property tax to cover the operation and maintenance costs of these projects”. Bell continued, “Property owners don’t like to be threatened when it come to taxes. It can cause a back lash.”

DCTC believes the property tax increases in the past few years has been the result of funding most of the 2002 SPLOST projects like the Aquatic Center and refers to a quote from Chairman Worthan; "You can build these capitol projects with SPLOST dollars but you have to maintain and operate those projects with general fund dollars." Tom Worthan 08/01/06…

SPLOST projects resulted in a 12.4% millage rate increase above the roll back rate in 2006.

“SPLOST tax is one of the few taxes voters have a say in. We can vote no!” Bell said.

DCTC provides tax information to the public at the website: www.DouglasTaxes.com

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