republican they are not Libertarians,they are fiscal conservative.
+2
permalink
The latest result news has the sales tax going down by a wide margin! Wahoo!!!!!
-nomadron
This is a shame...really. We had an opportunity to do the right thing, take control of our future and show the politicians that the citizens actually care about the future of the county. If the sales tax fails, then the politicians get the wrong message; that the people don't care about the future, they just care about what's in it for them.
If it's not their road, not their fire station, not their water system, not their bridge, then screw it.
+0
permalink
string I respectfully disagree. I think it shows that people will not vote to support "spread the wealth - feel good projects" just because some good projects are thrown in the mix.
I also think it is a rebuff to the entrenched politicos that expect the voters to blindly accept a plan because they "know what is best" for us. I for one will be happy to see new blood in local government and hopefully not the same old tax and spend without better accountability.
+0
permalink
string I respectfully disagree. I think it shows that people will not vote to support "spread the wealth - feel good projects" just because some good projects are thrown in the mix.I also think it is a rebuff to the entrenched politicos that expect the voters to blindly accept a plan because they "know what is best" for us. I for one will be happy to see new blood in local government and hopefully not the same old tax and spend without better accountability.
-nomadron
The so-called "new blood" is coming into office with a lot of "bad blood."
If their conduct in the elections is any indication, there will be political blood shed. None of which will be good for us. Get real folks, it's all about power and control, regardless who's in conservative, libertarian or liberal.
+0
permalink
It seems to me the voters spoke. You may not like it. But the wishes of the majority of voters is very evident. I just hope that when the ones voted out leave they take their "straphangers" with them!
The so-called "new blood" is coming into office with a lot of "bad blood."
If their conduct in the elections is any indication, there will be political blood shed. None of which will be good for us. Get real folks, it's all about power and control, regardless who's in conservative, libertarian or liberal.-republikin
+0
permalink
The so-called "new blood" is coming into office with a lot of "bad blood."
If their conduct in the elections is any indication, there will be political blood shed. None of which will be good for us. Get real folks, it's all about power and control, regardless who's in conservative, libertarian or liberal.-republikin
It is always about power and control. You and Bill have lost your perceived "power and Control". Bad blood is leaving. New blood is yet to prove themselves, other than they can beat tax and spend liberals who call themselves Republicans.
Let's not forget who really has the power and control. It is the voters. Not you, not Bill McAbee, Not Larry Greer or Michael Thompson. Oh yeah, and not Joey Preston. They voters have taken control and now is the time for those elected to stand up and do what is being asked of them.
I hope they do it.
+1
permalink
The in-coming Council will be far less acrimonious and far more concerned with overseeing the position of Administrator. They also promise to be interested in how the tax money is being spent and having an open government. These are positives.
The unexpected meeting of the "personnel committee" yesterday makes me very uncomfortable. Preston's contract does not need to be bought out but it seems that is the goal of the committee. They need take no action at all. The in coming Council has legal advise as to what would and would not be considered a breech of contract on their part. They can proceed with the audit and not violate the contract. No where does the contract say being put on administrative leave constitutes a violation of that employment agreement.
+1
permalink
The in-coming Council will be far less acrimonious and far more concerned with overseeing the position of Administrator. They also promise to be interested in how the tax money is being spent and having an open government. These are positives.The unexpected meeting of the "personnel committee" yesterday makes me very uncomfortable. Preston's contract does not need to be bought out but it seems that is the goal of the committee. They need take no action at all. The in coming Council has legal advise as to what would and would not be considered a breech of contract on their part. They can proceed with the audit and not violate the contract. No where does the contract say being put on administrative leave constitutes a violation of that employment agreement.
-1-opinion
So you say. We'll see.
+1
permalink
That is the beauty of this; we will see.-1-opinion
Nope, it is the ugliness of this we'll see.
+1
permalink
That is the beauty of this; we will see.
-1-opinion
That is so true and so long overdue. As the old song goes "Let the sunshine in..."
+0
permalink
*sigh*
Congratulations to Berkeley County:
Voters back tax for roads
From the article:
Must be a low-country thing, taking responsibility.
Congratulations to Berkeley County:
Voters back tax for roads
From the article:
One supporter, state Sen. Paul Campbell, R-Goose Creek, praised voters for stepping up and approving the [Capital Projects] sales tax.
"The folks in Berkeley County have realized that we need to take responsibility for our roads," he said.
Must be a low-country thing, taking responsibility.
+2
permalink
It seems Berkley County worked it right.
I believe their tax increase was all to go to road repair, if I read the artical correctly.
+1
permalink
It seems Berkley County worked it right.I believe their tax increase was all to go to road repair, if I read the artical correctly.
-a-venter
They are on to something. I feel that had Anderson County kept the projects list to roads and bridges it would have passed. Unfortunatley, to get all the council to vote to put it to referendum they had to add non-infrastructure projects. Sadly, it will be awhile before we'll get another opportunity. Also, our credibility in Columbia is in the tank, and that is NOT Preston's fault. Yes, some will try to lay the blame on him, but it is WAIM and the (original) Tax Payers Association that killed this for the second time. Worse, they are proud of what they've done. Sic
+0
permalink
I voted NO and I'm proud of that vote! Stop crying about it. The next time, I hope the new council will insure all the projects are worthwhile. I also hope the trust of the voters has been restored so they will know that tax dollars that are supposed to go to infrastructure go there.
+0
permalink
I voted NO and I'm proud of that vote!-nomadron
Yes, yes you are.
I also hope the trust of the voters has been restored so they will know that tax dollars that are supposed to go to infrastructure go there.-nomadron
Well, it will be two years before we can do this again....and likely all the candidates will be running on the standard "no taxes" promise, so none of them will publicly support a sales tax just before an election, so it won't pass again, if it even gets re-introduced.
So now we're stuck with whatever the council is willing to give the county transportation department to fix existing roads (about $2 million/year, if I read the budget reports right), and we will be stuck with having to issue a bond for each and every new road project that needs to be done....and of course each one of those will set off great wailing and gnashing of teeth and rending of clothing from the anti-tax folks.
I just don't know what it will take to get the voters to wake up and smell the asphalt, perhaps a bridge or two being closed because they are unsafe....
I'm sure businesses thinking about locating here will be impressed with our fiscal conservatism.
I'm sure you're sincere when you say "so they will know that tax dollars that are supposed to go to infrastructure go there", but in this thread we couldn't even agree on whether paving projects were appropriate because they weren't in high-traffic areas, much less what constitutes infrastructure.
Well, we get what we pay for, and now the taxpayers will be paying 100% of the cost of whatever projects do survive the anti-tax gauntlet, instead of 62%.
+0
permalink
String, you seem to know everything there is to know about this form of raising money for projects. I have some questions.
If this referendum had passed I was told that bond would be issued for the first ten projects. Would the County taxpayers secure these bonds and pay additional taxes if the sales tax did not cover expenses? There was some question whether grants could have been obtained if this referendum had passed. At this point Anderson County will have to show that they can spend money wisely on the most needed projects and search out grants to defray the costs. I believe that this referendum was a good idea that became an elitists dream. All projects could have been completed (if the economy did not effect the amount collected) and everyone would have been pleased with the results. Pay as you go is the fiscally responsible way. To have agreed to the referendum as the final project list stated would have been a betrayal of the tax payers trust.
+0
permalink
I voted NO and I'm proud of that vote! Stop crying about it. The next time, I hope the new council will insure all the projects are worthwhile. I also hope the trust of the voters has been restored so they will know that tax dollars that are supposed to go to infrastructure go there.-nomadron
Every tax dollar designated for infrastructure was used for that purpose. Show some proof otherwise. If you are suggesting that "other" tax dollars should have been used for infrastructure, that's a different point.
+3
permalink
Every tax dollar designated for infrastructure was used for that purpose. Show some proof otherwise. If you are suggesting that "other" tax dollars should have been used for infrastructure, that's a different point.
-republikin
Just curious... Where did the Council's PAVING ACCOUNT MONEY go? Did it go for paving (a part of infrastructure)? Yes, I do think tax dollars from any source should be used for infrastructure when legal and possible!
-2
permalink
non-seqJust curious... Where did the Council's PAVING ACCOUNT MONEY go? Did it go for paving (a part of infrastructure)? Yes, I do think tax dollars from any source should be used for infrastructure when legal and possible!
-non-sequitur
County paving funds are delegated by individual council members. They are used to address serious needs in the district and also, to varying degrees.to curry favor and win votes. But if they were five fold what they are and always used otthe best effect,without political consideration, they wouldn't even keep up with the maintenance paving that needs to be done each year. I've heard all the arguments about how the percentage spent on paving has remained flat over the last ten years, and that's largely accurate. But the point is what is the point? That factoid is a sign of mismanagement - thatis conceded. But it has nothing whatever to do with getting back on track withthe current and future infrastructure needs. To address the infrastructure needs in Anderson County through property tax revenues, instead of a sales tax,would easily quadruple property taxes and never generate enough revenue to meet the need. It simply can't be done. The burden on property owners would be immense. But, what the heck,who cares about roads as long as a fifty cent candy bar doesn't cost fifty one cent.
This Topic Is Locked To Guest Posts
It's been a while since this topic was active, if you'd like to get it going again, please post as a registered member
