Most Important Thing on the Ballot!

What's the most important thing you'll put your "X" beside when you go to the polls in Covington on November 4^th?

The name of the next President?  We hear more about the Presidential race than anything else.  In fact, we've been bombarded for months with positives and negatives about each candidate, what they allegedly stand for and what they'll do for us if elected.  That's pretty important stuff.  But, most important?

The name of your next Senator or Congressman?  Heck, if elected, they'll be part of the 535 people who really run this country.  That makes their election or rejection pretty important too.  But, most important?

Equally important as either of those races is whether you put your "X" beside the "YES" or "NO" on three Georgia Constitutional amendments on the ballot this year.  These three amendments will be instrumental in directing the continued intelligent growth and quality of life in our State and local communities for years to come. 

The Georgia Association of Realtors Board of Directors has voted to support each of the three.  And my inclination, even before that endorsement, was that they would benefit our State and community too.  As the amendments are stated on the ballot, however, may cause some not to vote for the initiatives because of the confusing and even misleading way they are presented.  So, if there is anyone out there who hasn't investigated what the three amendment questions are all about or hasn't taken advantage of early voting, here's a quick tutorial...

Amendment 1: "Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended so as to provide that the General Assembly by general law shall encourage the preservation, conservation, and protection of the state's forests through the special assessment and taxation of certain forest lands and assistance grants to local government?"

The primary things this amendment does is to allow property owners with 200 acres or more of forested land to voluntarily enter into a "covenant" with their local governing authority to preserve their land for a period of 15 years, and get a reduction in their property tax on that land by entering the covenant.  It costs the general taxpayer nothing, preserves some of the state's natural beauty, is environmentally friendly, and can be bought out of at any time by paying back taxes along with some penalties.  It's the same deal that farmers have today with Agricultural Conservation Use Covenants which are about the only thing keeping their property taxes low enough to make farming a viable profession.

Amendment 2: "Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended so as to authorize community redevelopment and authorize counties, municipalities, and local boards of education to use tax funds for redevelopment purposes and programs?"

At first blush, this sounds like we may be taking school funds to redevelop and cure slums and blighted areas.  Not true!  If this amendment passes, school systems will not lose any tax dollars, but in the long term will gain.  This amendment would authorize the use of school tax funds for the redevelopment and revitalization of blighted areas within "Tax Allocation Districts (TADs)" with out raising our taxes.  Once the redevelopment is complete and property taxes within the TAD increase, the increased tax revenue would pay off development bonds.  Once the bonds are paid off, the local government and school systems continues to reap the benefits of the higher tax base and associated revenues.

Amendment 3: "Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended so as to authorize the General Assembly to provide by general law for the creation and comprehensive regulation of infrastructure development districts for the provision of infrastructure as authorized by local government?"

This could be the greatest thing for intelligent, controlled growth within our state and local communities since the hard hat.  The establishment of Infrastructure Development Districts (IDDs) within a particular area offer an essential means of financing and building new infrastructure - roads, bridges, sewer, parks, street lights, schools, municipal services, etc. - by taking the burden off the taxpayer and shifting it to the private sector.

Through bond sales by a private board overseeing the IDD, growth is financed and paid off by the renters or purchasers of the new development, resulting in tax growth, greater job opportunities, planned growth, environmental safeguards, and greater quality of life without higher taxes for anyone.

There's no most important on the ballot this year.  Everything there is important.  But, isn't that the way it always is?  Make your voice heard on all the important stuff on November 4^th.  Vote!