Government & Politics Blog

East Cobb’s Carson gets first bill signed by Gov. Deal

April 25, 2012 Leave a Comment

John Carson (R-east Cobb)

John Carson (R-east Cobb), who is in his first term in the Georgia House, said it was a great feeling seeing Gov. Nathan Deal sign his first bill into law on Thursday, a deregulation bill Carson said will save Cobb taxpayers money.

House Bill 1089 strikes a section of the Georgia code that requires counties with large populations to go through extra zoning review procedures.

Carson said he carried the bill at the request of Virgil Moon, the county’s director of support services.

“It was one of those population bills created close to 30 years ago by Fulton and DeKalb County, and basically it inserted a stipulation in the zoning requirements that if you are looking at any kind of commercial rezoning that you had to hire a consultant and do a best-use analysis of the property, which could cost a lot of money every time you consider the rezoning on commercial,” Moon said.

Carson said the law would have subjected counties with populations of 625,000 or greater to the extra requirements. That would have caught Cobb, because the latest census numbers have Cobb’s population at 688,000, Moon said.

“We’re very pleased about it,” Moon said. “Rep. Carson was able to get the law completely taken off the books.”

Back when the economy was booming and Cobb was undergoing many rezoning hearings, the extra zoning requirement could have cost the county about $100,000 a year, Moon said.

As for those counties that want to continue performing the extra zoning steps, they’re free to do so, it’s just that counties that don’t want to incur the extra expense don’t have to, Carson said.

Carson said he received a nice letter from a Gwinnett County official thanking him for the bill, since Gwinnett would have been subject to the extra steps as well.

“It’s a fantastic feeling of accomplishment that I’m doing what people elected me to do,” Carson said of his first bill being signed into law. “That’s what I wanted to run on is to be conservative but also effective.”

(Reprinted from the MDJ, April 25, 2012. Written by Jon Gillooly)

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Expense reports show lobbyists’ generosity with Cobb lawmakers

April 19, 2012 Leave a Comment

Cobb lawmakers enjoyed expensive dinners, tickets to the circus and other perks courtesy of lobbyists during this year’s session of the General Assembly.

Cobb school board member David Morgan, a lobbyist with American Federation for Children, spent quite a bit on advertising with state Reps. Stacey Evans (D-Smyrna) and Sheila Jones (D-South Cobb).

On Jones, Morgan is listed spending $960 on March 26 for “grassroots outreach lobbying efforts” and $1,751.55 for “advertising in support of charter schools” on March 28.

Jones, though, said she has no idea what those expenditures were for.

For Evans, Morgan reported spending $972 on “grassroots outreach lobbying efforts” on March 26 and $2,303.90 for “advertising encouraging support of charter schools.”

Evans said an aide told her about a robo-call in support of the charter school constitutional amendment and speculated that perhaps that could have been the source of the expense, but like Jones, she didn’t know why Morgan reported spending money on her, either.

Morgan did not respond to a request for comment.

Including the money listed by Morgan, lobbyists spent a total of $3,344.19 on Evans and $2,729.24 on Jones this session.

Lobbyists’ expense reports are filed through the state ethics commission, and these figures come from those reports.

According to those filings, state Rep. Don Parsons (R-east Cobb) garnered $1,249 in lobbyist spending since January. Parsons chairs the Energy, Utilities & Telecommunications Committee.

His gifts included $200 for a hotel room and $122 for dinner at the annual Electric Cities of Georgia meeting on March 24, courtesy of Walter Cuyler West of Electric Cities of Georgia, Inc.

Lobbyist Richard Moore of AGL Resources paid $146.03 for Parsons’ dinner on Jan. 18 and $76.92 for dinner on Feb. 28, and Stephen Loftin, representing the Cable Television Association of Georgia, bought Parsons a $104.55 dinner on Feb. 29. Chevron Corp. lobbyist Cynthia Garst paid $56 for Parsons’ dinner on March 28.

New state Rep. John Carson (R-east Cobb) was another favorite target, receiving meals and goods worth more than $1,200 during the session. Among those buying him meals were Jerry Keen of Kut Kwick, who spent $66.33, and Haydon Stanley of Fiveash-Stanley Inc., who spent $50.56.

State Rep. Matt Dollar (R-east Cobb) received just over $1,000 worth of food and other items from lobbyists. Among his meal-ticket purchasers were Patricia Page Chastain of the University System of Georgia, who spent $111.57 for dinner, and Raymon White of the National Rifle Association, who spent $77.26.

“It does not influence my vote,” Dollar said of the gifts. “My vote is not for sale for a dinner or for any amount of money. A lot of times it’s considered an extension of the work day because we’re so busy between floor session and meetings — it’s a way of continuing to do business with legislators.”

Senate Majority Leader Chip Rogers, a Woodstock Republican, repaid all of the $1,304 in lobbyist meals and other goods filed under his name, according to the website.

Sen. Judson Hill, an east Cobb Republican, took in the most among Cobb’s five state senators at $992.82. Hill received $320 worth of NCAA basketball tournament tickets from William Miller Jr. of the Georgia World Congress Center Authority and at least two $95 dinners, one each courtesy of lobbyists working for Select Management Resources.

Here are other lobbyist disclosures, by state lawmaker:

State Sen. Steve Thompson (D-Marietta): Total of all meals and goods received was $261. Keith Hatcher of the Georgia Association of Realtors spent $100 on Thompson (D-Marietta) for “lunch for a school group” on March 27 and $68 on dinner on March 14.

State Sen. Lindsey Tippins (R-West Cobb): Total received was about $262. Kevin Curtin of AT&T paid $72.98 for Tippins’ dinner in January.

State Rep. Ed Setzler (R-Acworth): Total received was $92, including lunch worth $38 paid by Russell N. Sewell, representing the state bar of Georgia.

State Rep. Alisha Thomas Morgan (D-Austell): Total received was about $278. Don Barbour of AT&T paid $100 for dinner for Rep. Morgan and her mother. Benny Frank Forehand of Georgia Power spent $106.80 on dinner for Rep. Morgan and two staff members.

State Rep. David Wilkerson (D-South Cobb): Michael Wall of Comcast shelled out $150 for Wilkerson and his wife to attend the Center for Family Resources’ annual Oscar party on Feb. 26. That was the only lobbyist expense reported for Wilkerson.

State Rep. Earl Ehrhart (R-Powder Springs): Total received is $262. Joshua James Mackey of Brock Clay Government and Public Affairs spent $65.69 on Ehrhart to sponsor prizes for Boy Scouts Day at the Capitol. Chandler Carter Haydon and Raymon White, both working for Select Management Resources, spent $55 each on food and beverages for Ehrhart on Feb. 23.

State Sen. Doug Stoner (D-Smyrna): Total received is $200. Scott Maxwell of Mathews & Maxwell, Inc. paid $200.18 for Stoner and a staff member’s dinner on Feb. 15.

State Rep. Judy Manning (R-Marietta): Total received was $820. Curtis Hart of Georgia Power spent $62.38 on Manning’s dinner on Jan. 31. Thomas Carlton Lewis of the University System of Georgia spent $87.75 on Manning’s dinner on Feb. 28. John “Trip” Martin of Georgialink Public Affairs Group spent $130 on dinner for Manning and her husband on March 5. Boyd Pettit of Feld Entertainment spent $105 on Manning’s circus tickets on Feb 15. And Brandon Reese of WellStar Health System spent $300 for Manning and her spouse to attend the Cobb Chamber’s annual dinner on Jan. 28.

State Rep. Sharon Cooper (R-east Cobb): Total received was $184, including a $25 lunch courtesy of Donald Palmisano Jr., representing the Medical Association of Georgia.

State Rep. Rich Golick (R-Smyrna): Total received was just over $100. Lobbyist Boyd Pettit of Feld Entertainment bought $60 worth of circus tickets for Golick.

State Rep. Terry Johnson (D-Marietta): Total received was $226. Don Barbour of AT&T spent $150 on Johnson and his wife for dinner on Feb. 2. Pettit also bought $60 worth of circus tickets for Johnson.

State Rep. Sam Teasley (R-Marietta): Total received was just over $400. Raymond White of Select Management Resources spent $99.52 on Teasley.

Teasley said he has made it a point not to accept any “extravagant” gifts from lobbyists.

“In some cases, it has been an unexpected experience where gifts have been given with little to no personal interaction between the lobbyist and me,” Teasley said. “For example, a group representing the dental profession may leave a bag of toothpaste, a toothbrush, and dental floss, or a south Georgia Chamber of Commerce may leave a basket featuring items promoted in their county.”

(Reprinted from the MDJ, April 18, 2012. Written by Jon Gillooly.)

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Meet The New Chief Clerk for Cobb County Tax Commissioner’s Office

April 15, 2012 Leave a Comment

Cobb County Tax Commissioner Gail Downing recently appointed Carla Jackson as chief clerk to replace Tori Steele who had retired. Jackson was sworn-in by Judge Kelli Wolk, Monday, April 2, in the Cobb County Superior Court building in a public ceremony.

Jackson joined the Cobb County Tax Commissioner’s Office in 2003. As business services manager, she was responsible for the day-to-day functions of property tax billing and collections, electronic payments and document imaging applications and the cobbtax.org Web site. She also assisted the tax commissioner in establishing policy and strategies to ensure efficient workflow and responsive customer service delivery.

Prior to joining the tax commissioner’s staff, Jackson was a technology consultant. Her corporate experience includes management team roles in the enterprise applications group at Turner Broadcasting System from 1996 to 2001 and various senior staff positions in the accounting and financial systems departments at The Home Depot from 1987 to 1996. She began her professional career as an auditor with Broniec and Associates from 1984 to 1987.

Jackson earned Bachelor of Arts degrees in both Accounting and Business Management from North Carolina State University in 1984. She obtained her CPA license from the State of Georgia in 1996 and her certificate in information technology management from Georgia Tech in 1998. She is involved in the Tax Commissioner’s Technology Council and in the Georgia Association of Tax Officials organizations.

Jackson’s community involvement includes the 2012 Honorary Commanders Class, 2009-2010 co-chair of Cobb Youth Leadership, member of Cobb Executive Women and a 2008 graduate of Leadership Cobb. She is a current member and past executive board member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and has volunteered with various civic organizations including The Fortitude Foundation, A Light of Hope Outreach, the Atlanta Business League and the United Way.

The Tax Commissioner’s Office is responsible for every phase of collecting and disbursing ad valorem property taxes, titling and registering motor vehicles and mobile homes, administering homestead exemptions and levying on property for delinquent taxes. The Tax Commissioner’s Office consists of a Motor Vehicle Division and a Property Tax Division, which are located in separate facilities. The Property Tax Division prepares the tax digest, calculates and issues property tax bills, collects and disburses taxes, audits disbursements and exemption eligibility, maintains financial records, creates collection and disbursement reports, processes homestead exemptionapplications and levies on property for delinquent taxes. The Motor Vehicle Division serves as an agent of the Department of Revenue. It performs titling and registration functions, and collects taxes, fees and penalties applicable under Georgia Code. For more information, visit cobbtax.org.

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Savage calls out CIDs over TIA ‘education’

April 13, 2012 Leave a Comment

Larry Savage wants county commissioners to stop the county’s two community improvement districts from funneling money into what he believes is a campaign promoting this summer’s transportation-tax vote. But the attorney for Cobb’s two CIDs insists: “In no way are the CIDs operating outside of their authority.”

Savage, who lives in east Cobb and is a candidate for county chairman in the Republican primary, wrote to the commissioners on Sunday.

“The issues cannot wait, as the CIDs from around metro Atlanta, with leadership from the ARC and Cumberland CID, are fueling a massive effort to bend public opinion in favor of the TIA referendum to be voted on July 31,” he said. “The entire TIA is massively corrupt and it would be intolerable to allow this process to be influenced further by CID money. I believe the CID funding is illegal and that you have the authority and the responsibility to stop it now.”

On July 31, voters across metro Atlanta will decide whether to increase the sales tax by 1 percent for 10 years to pay for transportation projects.

Cobb’s two CIDs have together given more than half a million dollars to the Metro Atlanta Voter Education Network for education purposes ahead of the referendum.

Savage is not alone in believing that MAVEN’s efforts are more advocacy than pure education. State Rep. Earl Ehrhart, a Powder Springs Republican, has also ridiculed the idea and accused Tad Leithead, who chairs both the Cumberland CID and the Atlanta Regional Commission, of playing word games.

“No matter what lipstick you want to put on a pig, it’s still taxpayer money for a ballot deal and that’s wrong,” Ehrhart said.

But attorney J. Lynn Rainey, who represents both the Cumberland and Town Center Area CIDs as well as 11 other CIDs in metro Atlanta, countered “Mr. Savage’s erroneous assertions and requests” in a letter sent to commissioners on Tuesday and defended the contributions to MAVEN.

“Mr. Savage has the right to free speech, but he does not have the right to have you place a muzzle on the free speech of others,” Rainey writes. “The activities of MAVEN are no different than the traditional role governments play in informing the public about bond issues or SPLOSTs. … It would be irresponsible for the voters to be asked to consider a tax but not be informed of the reason it is on the ballot.”

Rainey also defended the CID board members, who he says, “… are now being castigated for faithfully discharging their obligations to improve the district, by contributing to the education of the public so it can make an informed choice whether to support or oppose a complicated ballot question. Surely an informed electorate is preferable to one that doesn’t have a clue, as is only too common when the voters consider down-ballot referendums.”

Savage said he is trying to effect change without going to court.

“It really disturbs me to think that a private citizen has to hire a lawyer and go to court to get people in responsible positions to do the right thing, particularly when those positions are close to or inside government,” Savage said. The commissioners, he said, approved creation of the CIDs, and “if they’ve got the power to create them then they have the responsibility to make sure they behave.”

He is also disturbed that no county commissioner has responded to his letter themselves, and he characterized Rainey’s response as “kind of stern.”

“It’s probably expected to intimate me a little bit,” Savage said.

He’s also well aware that his stance may appear as a campaign publicity stunt, but denied that is his motive.

“I started composing this letter months ago and sat on it for that very reason. I thought, well surely somebody else is going to get into this. People talked about it but nobody acted,” Savage said.

He believes the transportation tax discussion is so one-sided “that it doesn’t matter if you’re one little guy or 5,000 little guys, unless you want to try to raise enough money to try to compete with them dollar for dollar you have no chance.”

“There’s all kind of people running around and complaining, but there’s no rallying point, and I keep coming back to the idea that the organization that is supposed to represent the people is the government.”

Community improvement districts are formed when commercial property owners inside a geographic area agree to tax themselves. They then “leverage” that revenue to win larger grants of state and federal tax dollars for their projects.

“It is a property tax,” Rainey said. “It’s just placed upon the commercial properties (in the district).”

In both the Town Center and Cumberland CIDs, commercial properties are taxed the maximum five mills, Rainey said. The tax brings in about $5.5 million a year in the Cumberland district, and about $3 million each year in the Town Center district.

Rainey, the attorney, believes CIDs have the right to advocate, but he advises them to be more cautious since the question has never been litigated.

“My opinion is that it could probably be used for advocacy, but my advice is that you stick to the conservative end,” Rainey said. “You inform the public of what is on the ballot and let the public make the decision.”

Ehrhart, the state lawmaker who believes CIDs do a lot of good, said Rainey “is an excellent lawyer.”

“Every politician in the world will call their advocacy ads or their mail or anything else ‘education.’ That’s a nice out. ‘I’m just educating the voter. I’m not asking them to vote for me as long as I don’t say please vote for me in it.’ That’s dancing on the head of a pin. As I’ve said, it is spectacularly inappropriate to spend tax money, no matter if it’s CID money.”

In a separate letter to the commissioners also dated Sunday, Savage objects to the Atlanta Regional Commission’s role in the transportation referendum. The ARC is governed by a 39-member board that steers the planning and development for the 10-county Atlanta region.

(Reprinted from the MDJ, April 6, 2012. Written by Jon Gillooly.)

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Cobb tax digest likely to fall by about 4 percent, Lee says no property tax increase for residents

April 11, 2012 Leave a Comment

County Chairman Tim Lee

Officials are expecting Cobb’s 2012 tax digest to decline about 4 percent, but County Chairman Tim Lee vowed that such a decline would not result in another property-tax increase this year.

Meanwhile, Chief Appraiser Phil Hogsed is preparing to send assessment notices in coming weeks for each of the nearly 250,000 parcels in the county. The vast majority of those, about 230,000, are residential properties.

The tax digest is the value of all property in Cobb County, and city and county leaders use it to determine how much tax revenue to expect and to set their budgets.

County Chairman Tim Lee said the county had expected another year of reduced values.

“We planned for it last year in our budgeting, and as a result it won’t have any impact on our operations,” Lee said. “There absolutely will not be a tax increase this summer.”

Lee also insisted there would be no furloughs or layoffs of county employees in the 2013 budget year.

Cobb County’s budget year begins Oct. 1, but county taxes are not collected until after the budget year has ended.

Tax assessors are now required to send assessment notices to all property owners by July 1. Hogsed said Cobb will be mailing notices for commercial properties by April 20, and residential notices around May 18.

Hogsed said he won’t know for about another month how many of those residential properties will see their values lowered. In the last two years, assessors have lowered the values on most — but not all — homes in Cobb.

“Some properties have not been lowered because they have continued to be undervalued as determined by comparable sales,” Hogsed said.

A state-mandated moratorium on increased valuations ended last year, and so a small percentage of Cobb’s homeowners will see higher assessments this year, he said.

Assessment notices will include an estimate of the taxes that will be due in the fall, but Hogsed stressed that it’s only an estimate, not a bill.

His office is making every effort to include city homestead exemptions in the tax estimate, Hogsed said, but the notices may not include exemptions filed close to the April 1 deadline.

“The key point here is that it is only an estimate,” he said.

Cobb’s gross tax digest has declined every year since 2008, when it was $33.82 billion. The gross digest encompasses all property, including vehicles, motor homes and utilities.

The gross digest first fell only 0.2 percent in 2009, to $33.75 billion.

The biggest drop came in 2010, when the gross digest fell almost 7 percent, to $31.42 billion.

Last year, the gross digest dropped 5 percent, to $29.71 billion.

In July, county commissioners narrowly approved a 16 percent hike in property taxes.

(Reprinted from the MDJ, April 5, 2012. Written by Kim Isaza)

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