Tom Barton Gets It Right & Why Doesn't Pete Liakakis Support Black Candidates In County Elections?

Editorial Page Editor from the Savannah Morning News, Tom Barton, was the guest speaker this past Saturday at the Chatham County Republican Party second Saturday breakfast. Tom was dressed comfortably, shorts, sandals, and red UGA golf shirt. Part of his message was chilling though clear... with this years dramatic decline in housing value across Chatham County, next year's county budget is going to be rough going. I hope Commissioner's Gellatly and Farrell were listening. Their Republican (sic) loyalty is with Democrat Pete Liakakis who raised property taxes in 2005 and then failed in 06, and 07 to roll the millage back 100% after revalue was calculated. (BTW that's called a backdoor property tax). Essentially, Dave, Pat, and Helen are all supporting a democrat in Pete Liakakis.

Well, I guess my support for Obama makes me a democrat in the wings but since Pete I hear is not supporting Obama, maybe that's the reason Dave, Pat, and Helen are supporting Pete? So if Pete is a closet Republican, that would explain why he is not supporting Larry Chislom, Mike Jones or Gewn Fortson Waring. Pete claims to be a man beloved by the black community and maybe he is but why doesn't he support black candidates? Pete you really need to explain this.

Declining Sales Prices

If anyone doubts that next year's tax digest will be down, read on. This year the tax digest went up 8% in value while many people believed Savannah Chatham was basically flat in value . Let's remember 2 things: First, the tax digest accounts for around 75% of all revenue coming into the county treasury, and secondly, that the value of any digest must be built on sales information from the PRIOR year.

Thus, this years 2008 tax digest was based on sales activity from 2007. The 2009 tax digest will be based on 2008 sales. Now let's take a look at some recent sales from today's Savannah Morning News "Property Transfers" keeping in mind that these sales and others like them will be what is used to figure next year's tax digest.

144 Rommell Avenue 2008 tax value = $161,500

Sales price = $135,000

Decline in value = 16.4%

152 Lewis Ave 2008 tax value = $382,000

Sales price = $259,000

Decline in value = 32%

116 Longwood Drive 2008 tax value $244,500

Sales price = $237,500

Decline in value = 3%

312 E Hall Street 2008 Tax value = $227,500

Sales price = $219,600

Decline in value = 3.5%

1601 E 51st Street 2008 tax value = $255,500

Sale price = $246,000

Decline in value = 3.7%

I have not cherry picked low sales, this is what you too will find should you look. Bill Dawers has written about this in his City columns and the sales numbers confirm his theory.

Essentially, what this means is that the next commission term, 09-012 will be facing declining revenue and since Pete Liakakis raised your property taxes in 2005, you can pretty well expect him to do it again. This of course would not be necessary if Pete would take a position and lead on Impact Fees on new construction.

I don't know about you, but if on one hand I have to choose between major property tax increases, or, my government could choose to assess a one time fee on new home construction paid for by the buyer who wanted to move here, I choose Impact Fees.