Tax

[pugs]

Most companies have rules in place where you can't hire family members... conflict of interest... in a public job it seems to me that conflict of interest would be even more of an issue.

Who besides the school board has to approve the school budget does the commissioner have any authority ?

[eddie]

pugs said:

Thank you Eddie....

Does the commissioner have any control over the spending, salaries etc... or our school system?

Who does our superintendent answer to?

Does the comm................ No, not directly to the best of my knowledge. I would think that indirectly he has influence. I say this because if you look back over the years at all the property tax increases we have seen, you will note that the county and school system seem to alternate back and forth with all of the really huge tax increases. That is one hits us real hard and then the other. So it seems obvious that they cooperate with each other in raising taxes.

Who does.......... In theory he answers to his School Board. Key word here is his.

[shortcircuit]

pugs said:

Most companies have rules in place where you can't hire family members... conflict of interest... in a public job it seems to me that conflict of interest would be even more of an issue.

Who besides the school board has to approve the school budget does the commissioner have any authority ?

Exactly right pugs. I think there are state laws against what our school board does but for some reason nothing has been said. The commish has no say so over the school budget. The school superintendent used to be accountable to voters but some smart feller down in atlanta decided to take the power away from the voters and make the superintendent an appointed position.

[pugs]

Thank you for your time and answers Eddie, I'm sorry if I come across as a pain in the you know what... but I want to elect the person with the best interest of my community at heart someone that will bring change to all areas of government not just one area I don't feel eliminating the property tax will solve all our problems I think every service paid for by my tax dollars should be held accountable to me when they present their budget I have tightened my belt they are going to have to do the same.

Good night sir.

[eddie]

pugs said:

Most companies have rules in place where you can't hire family members... conflict of interest... in a public job it seems to me that conflict of interest would be even more of an issue.

Who besides the school board has to approve the school budget does the commissioner have any authority ?

Right Pugs, it definitely is more important because its' not their (school or county) money, its' ours. This is call a "Nepotism Policy". There is another term called "Public Trust". Niether are seemed to be highly regarded here.

Does the Comm.................. I doubt it.

[bubbadebubba]

pugs said:

where does all the permit money go short, who gets it and for what?
Also since the splost pays for buildings, books, buses etc like Eddie said in the splost thread what does the huge 2/3 % of my property taxes pay for?

All this applies to local government::
permit money goes into the general fund for local government consumption. property taxes make up appox 35-40% of the local budget. The rest comes from permits, a portion from 1% LOST, fees,
a portion from hotel taxes, a big portion from State rebates for specific use, business tax, etc.

The below from Dept Community Affairs (DCA).
Historically, the top three expenditure categories for counties are public safety, administration, and health and human services. In 2004, Union County spent $2.5 million or 19.6% of total county spending on public safety which includes law enforcement, fire services and jails. Expenditures for administration totaled $1.9 million, amounting to 15.3% of total expenditures. The county expended $1.8 million or 14.2% of total expenditures on health and human services.
That's 50% of the budget, where did the rest go???

According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Union County's assessed property value amounted to $719.8 million in 2004, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $37,555. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 2004 equaled $31,373.
This number will increase dramatically for Union County once the 2007 figures come out.

[pugs]

I admit I have tunnel vision when something doesn't set well with me I beat it to death I have spent the day talking to a few people that are of the opinion the administrators of the school have ridiculous salaries of $100,000 plus others on the payroll aren't far behind those figures...
If this is true doesn't it bother anyone out there in cyberspace besides me?

[sometimeman]

It bothers me Pugs

[shortcircuit]

Me too.

[summerose]

It bothers me too Pugs! What can we do about it?

[pugs]

summerose said:

It bothers me too Pugs! What can we do about it?

we should put bubba on the job he's good at digging up facts and figures maybe he can tell us if there is anything we can do I bet that 50% he was talking about not knowing where the money went might be found in the administration salaries for the school if anyone can find out he can Rose !!


How about it Bubba will you take leave from the Lamar link and get us some info on our pet peeve please!! ;D

[bubbadebubba]

me three pugs- as for the 50%, that's the county budget, not school budget.
Also I'm not gonna leave the Lamar link as he is my pet peeve. Th super at the schools and both of his vice-supers make well over $100,000 I believe. I think they are the highest paid tax-supported officials in the county other than maybe the tax commissioner.

[pugs]

You don't have to totally leave the Lamar link bubba... just find out one little bitty thing.
Is the salaries of our administrators in the Union County School system standard pay for counties the size of ours or is it excessive I can see Atlanta administrators making 6 figures but this county isn't part of atlanta... what do you say bubba pleeezzz can't you get someone in the know to answer our question?

[bubbadebubba]

Pugs-hope this info helps.

Anti-Nepotism Policies

* Local boards of education may not employ or promote any person who is a member of the immediate family of any board member, unless a public, recorded vote is taken on such employment or promotion as a separate matter from any other personnel matter. The board member whose family member is being considered may not vote.

The link below is for School Supers year ending June 2005. I believe our Super makes around $165,000 now but I could be wrong but not too wrong. For our school size I believe he's over paid and for sure he don't need 2 assistant Supers making an average of over $100,000. Most Supers used to be paid by size of school system back in the 70's and 80's when they were elected. Now that they are appointed by Boards their salaries have escalated, it's the same problem with the Boards being informed about the financial affairs of the system, most of them don't have a clue what's going on, they follow whatever the Super tells them.

techservices.doe.k12.ga.us/admin/datacollect/financial/fin_pack_05%20supt_salaries.htm


The below link is for teacher's salaries . Go to this link and you'll see a box with teachers salaries for different years. click on which year you wanna see.

public.doe.k12.ga.us/fbo_budget.aspx

[pugs]

Thanks Bubba it does help I have several friends that teach at the school I'm sure they will be really happy to see how much their shining example of a community leader boss makes over their own meager salaries.