10% really...I don't even have kids in school anymore. What projects are needed to that extent that warrant that kind of increase. Thanks for the heads up, plan on being there.

There's an article in (I think) yesterday's print Courier which announces the meetings and has a discussion of the need for the increase. I seem to remember "9.9% increase in the millage rate," but not much more. I suspect they need the money due to the failure of TSPLOST and the desire to continue "business as usual" in other areas without having to make (more) tough cuts. Unless you're "in the weeds" on the budget, it's hard to tell them where to cut, but there is undoubtely some "fat" that can be further trimmed. It may involve jobs or "sacred cow" projects that they don't want to lose. Unfortunately, the taxpayer always gets another log added to the load when that is the case.

sebekm, you are right. unless you attend these meetings taxpayers are kept in the dark and business continues as usual. I try to attend these meetings on regular basis and try to keep the public abreast.
Fact is, due to outrages spending such as the New City Hall Palace, Liberty Transit, too many to mention.... the City is running out of money. Grants are harder to come by these days, so where else to go for more money? The individual person.
This Town Needs a Citizen Watch Group. People that have and will make the time to attend meetings and hold elected and appointed accountable

Unfortuantely they make sure those meetings are during the time most people are at work and getting off work to attend is not an option for many.

I believe this is the cities portion of the property taxes. So this will affect Hinesville residents.

This could have been avoided.

Mayor and council felt they deserved a pay raise.

Mayor and council built themselves a grand city hall.

Mayor and council gave us a bus line that only a scant number of people used.

Mayor and council embraced a joint planning commission and allowed it to grow financially far beyound the city and county's ability to finance and support.

If we abolish the joint planning commission how many mills will that reduce in tax assessments to residents???????????????????????????????

Timeontarget, you are on target!!! There are numerous newly created departments that need to go as well as created non-essential high paying jobs.
We now have two options. Sit back and do nothing about it ergo allowing them to keep stealing money out of our pockets to finance their elaborate spending habits OR SpEAK UP

watchfuleye, Let's speak up on this forum right now.

Almost half of all government jobs are non esential.

There are many of our friends who are drawing nice paychecks for non or near non essential jobs in the courthouse, city hall, and State and Federal positions.

Just saying there is more than one way to skin a cat...
http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php...

"Just saying there is more than one way to skin a cat...
http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php...

Normally this may work, but if you will recall, ALL of them were re-elected. So basically the voice of Hinesville gave them the green light.

The main problem is that many ran unopposed, so there was no real choice. The mayor didn't, and his opponent got more votes this time than last. He's limited to two terms, which means we get somebody "new" next time, but that doesn't necessarily mean there will be any change.

how much is the new library going to cost?

I hate to get tooooo pessimistic on this, but I feel like a member of the band playing on the deck of the Titanic.

But....we CANNOT STOP THESE GUYS!!! They are going to cram it down our throats.

A little read for your Thanksgiving Day "digesting", funnily enough it is about a great city wishing to raise taxes ;) some of the comments are excellent;

http://pjmedia.com/blog/los-angeles-f...

Hardley any of our elected officials are entrepreneaurs

Therin lies the problem.

These people did not get their Splost, Esplost and will now place the burden on the taxpayers backs. And, they will do it with impunity because they know that they can get away with it. NOBODY VOTES THEM OUT. Until on or more of them become losers at the polls we will be their whippin boy.

This blog site could have an impact on local elections and therefore on local taxes etc.

If those participating in discussion on this site would dwell on the positives rather than the negatives.

"This blog site could have an impact on local elections and therefore on local taxes ets."

Would that it be true, Tot, Would that it be true. But alas..this group enjoys total IMPUNITY. In my 63 years I have never seen this degree of voter be damned by our elected officials. Kinda makes you wonder how they got in office in the first place.

The bottom line tho is: unless we obtain an energized and motivated electorate THEY will continue to jam all their mis-judgements and over taxation policies down our collective throat. And....sadly...they KNOW that.

Both of us being locals, could enable us to lead this site to meaningful purpose.

However although you and I agree on many points you don't seem to be able to resist foul mouthed comments directed to some of us who surf this site.

If you and I were speaking face to face there already would have been physical moments between you and I.

If I were younger I'd already have called you out into the yard.

"These people did not get their Splost, Esplost and will now place the burden on the taxpayers backs. And, they will do it with impunity because they know that they can get away with it. NOBODY VOTES THEM OUT. Until on or more of them become losers at the polls we will be their whippin boy."

There has not been a clearer truth spoken.

I have often wondered what they would do if a significant portion of the population said, "Hell no, we won't pay." It's not going to happen but I still wonder how they would react if it did.

We can launch an assualt on the "goings on" in city hall and the court house right here on this site, if we can work together and avoid attacking each other because we arn't alligned on all points.

Ugh, I think they do still have their splost, their esplost and they also still have their lost.

I could be wrong but I think I'm right.

You guys check it out.

Lets join together and reveal just what is going on downtown.

up2, I am with you.

It could be done.

Would take a lot of organization and work on the part of a number of dedicated individuals.

IMHO, Up2, it would take a sincere commitment from a whole lot of people to NOT pay their taxes. And they would have to be ready to face the machine that gobbles up our tax dollars, which means perhaps being incarcerated, having their property seized, etc.

Of course, this is how the United States became the United States: taxation without representation and a failure by the Brits to govern. Same thing here. Are any of us prepared for this kind of fight?

No,Jimmy. People complain but they don't want to be inconvenienced.

"Are any of us prepared for this kind of fight?"

We haven't really been pushed far enough, yet. They know this, and will continue - like some people who post on this site - to test the boundaries of tolerance until the tipping point is reached.

Right know, it's just getting started. My sense is that they'd have to raise taxes a whole lot more in order to do all they want to do. So they have to inch taxes up and cut back some.

If the people were REALLY fired up, so many of the "ins" wouldn't be running unopposed in the local election. Right now, you do have the "sheep" being herded along, and as long as that remains the status quo, nothing will change.

I'm working on a reaction story to the tax increases for a coming edition of the paper.

If either of you (or anyone reading) is willing to share their thoughts with me, please email dhipps@coastalcourier.com.

Thank you!

The people had their chance but most could not be bothered to vote. Silence equates approval. Very few of them attend any of the city or county meetings and are grossly unaware what their public servants are doing with their money. I have to agree with my fellow blogger, the people have gotten exactly what they deserve.

Hinesville was once a comfortable community which was a wonderful place to grow up.

That has gradually gone away primarily due to the expansion of nearby Ft. Stewart.

After the war (WWII) the local soldiers came home and went back to work wherever they could.

Some returned to the farms and family owned businesses or went to work in the sawmills of which there were many.

Outlying communities within the county were prosperous and there was a substantial shrimp fishing fleet which operated out of Sunbury.

We had separate but equal segregated schools.

Liberty County was known throughout south Ga. for having excellent schools for both black and white citizens.

If our tax commissioner would do his job and either collect property taxes due or foreclose on people who are 12 months or more late on paying their taxes it might not be necessary to raise taxes on those of us who do pay. It is staggering to see the number of people who are 2-3 or more years behind and nothing has been done other than charge a late fee, which of course has not been payed either. Their needs to be more tax sales on the courthouse door steps and our commissioner needs to do his job.