Tax flak felt by Council
July 2, 2009 at 1:05 pm by Scott Henry in News
Ivory Young
One says she’s had trouble sleeping because of anonymous threats. Another received a nasty phone message described as “the most disgusting, vulgar thing I’ve ever heard.” Others have gotten e-mails labeling them the “Hate Eight.”
Yes, the eight Atlanta City Council members who voted Monday to approve a 3-mill property tax increase have been reminded over the past few days that, no matter how sincere your intentions, you can’t please everybody.
For weeks now, most of the folks who voted for the tax hike — Carla Smith, Ivory Lee Young, Jr., Natalyn Archibong, Anne Fauver, Felicia Moore, C.T. Martin, Joyce Sheperd and Ceasar Mitchell — have said most constituents indicated a willingness to pay more in taxes in return for an end to police furloughs.
With the city bean-counters expecting only $490 million in annual revenues — down from nearly $650 million a couple years back — the alternatives to a tax increase, according to Mitchell, would’ve been cutting back on weekly trash pick-up, eliminating the recycling program, closing more rec centers and parks or, perhaps, additional employee furloughs.
But now the Eight are catching hell from people whose top concern was higher taxes.
Once the dust settles on the vote and the hate mail subsides, Council members agree, the newly un-furloughed city workers are going to need to step up their game in order to meet heightened taxpayer expectations.
“There can be no excuses now for poor service delivery,” says Young. “From here on, it’s zero tolerance for mediocrity.”
July 2nd, 2009 at 1:20 pm
How about zero tolerance for developer tax breaks and massive unpaid tax bills? Otherwise there will have to be another tax hike next year.
July 2nd, 2009 at 2:33 pm
“From here on, it’s zero tolerance for mediocrity” – as a native of Atlanta and city taxpayer, I don’t find this comment to be too reassuring.
July 2nd, 2009 at 4:54 pm
The council folk who voted for the tax hike should be under NO illusions that silence against a tax hike indicates approval (we just know how bought off most of Council is – besides it’s easier than finally learning how to actually read the budget). They dang well know better, esp. Miss Fauver who’s got a real right-wing contingent in Dist 6 – but since she’s on her way out, she can leave it to her annointed successor Liz Coyle, who can posture then all she wants that she doesn’t support the Administration’s tax hike and its lousy management job, hoping all the while her track record of an Administration lackey isn’t noticed….