Tax Reform

The Hall County Democrats held a very informative meeting on tax reform on January 14, 2008 on the Brenau University campus. Brenau has a very beautiful campus but the topic of tax reform has never been more ugly than during this election cycle. The elected Speaker of the House, Glen Richardson would have all voters believe that government taxation, especially the property tax, is a bad deal. However, property taxes are one of the best deals for taxpayers, especially the school tax portion. But, voters will never understand this if we don’t school ourselves in the ABC’s of local taxation.

Our local property taxes, especially the Board of Education-School Tax, provide a greater financial windfall for the average family of five than any other life event.

During the life of the average 30-year mortgage, a family of five will send three children through at least 13 years of Hall County public schools, The Hall County School system will spend at least $6,911.85 per year for each child during those 13 years. Those 13 years for three children costs $269,562.20, without any interest.

Not including any interest, if the average family of five had to fully repay Hall County just for the public education, they would have to pay $748.78 per month during the life of their 30-year mortgage.

Honestly, my house payment isn’t that much each month.

My property tax records are public information, stored by the local government, and accessible online. So, I’m not disclosing any private information about myself. My School Tax for all of 2007 was only $1,126.82.

And, my three children have gotten an excellent education through the Hall County Schools. With only that humble public school education my children understand that in my lifetime I will never pay $269,562.20 in property taxes. Not at $1,126.82 a year. Not even if I live in my home for three lifetimes.

For the math challenged, and that would include the Speaker of the House, it would take me 239 years to repay Hall County.

The Republican Speaker of the House, Glenn Richardson, is a man so lacking in vision, that his most ambitious desire has become fathering an idea, even an illegitimate idea.

Republicans have given us enough illegitimate ideas and bastardized reforms. Reforming property taxes will not improve education, schools, or reduce the rewarding burdens of family life. If all taxes were cut in half, someone would still complain. And, some Republican would promise, in an election year, to solve problems that don’t exist.

Charging me a thousand dollars a years for a quarter million dollars worth of education isn’t a problem. Don’t let it become one.