To the Editor:

While I understand the premise behind the desire to eliminate the school taxes on the county’s seniors, there are a number of reasons why that proposal is unfair and illogical.  This proposal would be shifting a substantial tax burden to the rest of the community.  I don’t think cutting $787,000 from the BOE budget is a realistic possibility.  The amount currently paid by seniors would likely be passed along to the county’s others residents. Why revamp a well-established system in order to raise taxes on 75 percent of the county’s residents?

While it’s true that some seniors struggle financially while living on a “fixed income,” the same can be said for many or the county’s citizens that are of working age.  Most employed people are also on a “fixed income” and don’t necessarily have the ability to earn more money than they currently do.  Additionally, many of the county’s senior citizens are among our communities most affluent residents. Many seniors have accumulated substantial wealth and have healthy incomes.  If there is to be a tax break given, should the only criteria be age?

Another unfair component of this proposal is the fact that when today’s seniors were of working age, they enjoyed a lighter tax burden because seniors paid school taxes.  To revamp the current system gives seniors an unfair advantage;  lower taxes when they worked (because seniors paid) and no taxes as seniors.  That’s a “win-win” for seniors and a “lose-lose” for the rest of us.

Aubie Knight
Madison
Via e-mail

Printed in the July 5, 2012 edition

To the Editor:

The Morgan County Humane Society is celebrating its “fur-st” birthday in their new Fairgrounds Road facility. It has been a busy year with nearly 400 animals rescued and 350 adoptions completed. Animal healthcare programs have also been expanded. The Atlanta Humane Society Mobile Surgical Unit has performed 150 spay/neuter surgeries and will visit twice more in 2012. PetSmart has funded similar services for an additional 270 pets. The Adoption Center holds rabies/distemper/microchip clinics with volunteer veterinarians vaccinating over 200 pets so far this year. These programs reduce the number of unwanted/feral animals and improve animal health throughout the county.
In addition to health services, the Adoption Center distributes pet food through The Caring Place and Meals on Wheels, conducts educational programs for Morgan County Schools and groups like the Girl Scouts and 4H and (assisted by volunteers) takes pets to visit the local nursing home and senior center.

The local economy benefits from Humane Society activities. Six new jobs have been created and thousands of dollars are spent each month with local merchants and suppliers. Who pays for this? Not taxpayers. Neither government agencies nor national Humane Society or ASPCA organizations provide funding. Support comes from local donors. Proper use of donations is assured by annual audits conducted by an independent CPA.
What has made this program successful? Three things: visionary leadership by an engaged Board of Directors, professional management and ongoing community involvement.

A birthday “paw-ty” will be held July 14th from 11:00–3:00 with food, drinks, tours, demonstrations, etc. Everyone is invited. The animals love having visitors.

Donna and Ralph Blanchard
Rutledge
Via e-mail

Printed in the July 5, 2012 edition

To the Editor:

Rutledge Mayor,
It is very obvious to your residents that you Mayor and your council have been doing a great job these past years.
But we’re always here to criticize when something is wrong. You really pulled a boner this time. Not only once have you screwed up with your speed humps but now you have done it again. You hired some fly by night contractor with a wheel barrow and a shovel and at your posted speed limit of 25 mph you cannot go over your humps at a comfortable speed of 25 mph, you are going to damage your car.

You have a speed limit posted on Main St. of 15 mph, our school zones aren’t even posted that slow. Driving into Rutledge is miserable; vehicles are already driving up on yards to bypass these hazardous humps. The few businesses that you have in town that are just making it must be seeing the difference in their cash registers now, because of your excessive speed humps. I know myself I have been taking 278 into Madison just so I don’t have to drive through town and bang up my vehicle.

If you would have taken the time and looked at Bostwick you would have seen a professional job done. Those speed humps are no problem taking them at their 25 mph.

Do the right thing here and have a professional contractor fix or replace before somebody gets hurt and sues the city for damages.

Don Anderson
Social Circle
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Printed in the July 5, 2012 edition

To the Editor:

I’m writing in response to Jeanette Pinson’s claim that the expenditure of money for the speed bumps in Rutledge was a “blatant misuse of taxpayer’s money.” Ms. Pinson gave no reason for her opinion nor did she make any suggestions for what would have been a better use of the money. It would have been enlightening to have heard both.
These speed humps (not bumps) are necessary. There has been a significant problem with vehicles speeding through the city limits on every feeder road and thoroughfare, including the immediate downtown historic district. Sheriff Markley has offered to help with the problem but even the presence of the sheriff has not reduced the speeding. Rutledge has a lot of youngsters who ride their bikes or walk to town to get to the park. Many of us have feared that one of the speeders on Fairplay or Main Street would hit these kids. There are many out-of-towners who ride their bikes through Rutledge and patronize the downtown businesses. We have tens of thousands of visitors to the State Park who use our streets and walk around downtown. Since the residents of Rutledge and all the other people who pass through have not been able to show self-restraint and follow the speed limits the speed humps are assisting them with this discipline. Now, if we could just find a way to get drivers to actually stop at the “stop barrel” and to drive the speed limit on the outer stretches of Dixie and Fairplay we would really be accomplishing something!

Joellen Artz
Rutledge
Via e-mail

Printed in the June 28, 2012 edition

To the Editor:

    Mr. Knight is right, there are food stamp recipients that are abusing the program.  Where he is wrong is assuming that every person on the program is an abuser.  The vast majority of recipients do not have spinner hub caps, Bluetooth or iPhones.
    Of the total on the program, 49 percent are white, 26 percent are black  and the rest are Native American or other.  I doubt that Mr. Knight and  friends want to deprive the  honest recipients  of being able to feed their families. Rightfully, they are mad at the ones that they see as abusers.  The program needs changes, and you can go back many administrations that have let abuse happen.  I AM VERY MAD about the many  WEALTHY AMERICANS  who  CHEAT  ON INCOME TAXES or keep their money in foreign countries so that they do not have to pay  U.S. taxes. That is costing all of us a lot of money because we have to make up what is needed to operate the country.
    What concerns me is this  condescending attitude about the LESS FORTUNATE.  Mr. Romney and his followers DON'T UNDERSTAND that there are many Americans who CANNOT RISE ABOVE THEIR STATION IN LIFE.
    Mr. Romney and many of his party want President Obama to send American troops to Syria, NOT AN AMERICAN ALLY, at a huge cost of American lives and money.  They also want to CUT PROGRAMS FOR NEEDY AMERICANS.  WHY AREN'T THEY CONCERNED ABOUT THE AMERICANS DYING BECAUSE THEY CANNOT AFFORD HEALTH CARE, FOOD OR SHELTER?

Barry Lurey
Madison
Via e-mail

Printed in the June 21, 2012 edition

To the Editor:

Re: Speed Bumps in Rutledge

    When the sales tax was voted on and passed there were a number of things on the ballot that the money was to be used for. Among them were things Rutledge wanted to do.
    It seems to me if they have the money to “throw in the streets,” they should not be entitled to any of the new tax money.
    I have never seen a more blatant misuse of taxpayer’s money.
    Thank you,

Jeanette Pinson
Rutledge
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Printed in the June 21, 2012 edition