BoC-Questions

Questions to be posed to candidates for Chairman
of the Henry County Board of Commissioners

The following questions are divided into sections designed to reveal to voters the mindset of the candidate. Candidates are asked for honest, considered responses so that voters will have fair notice of the intentions of our county’s next chief executive.

Candidates are asked to provide as much or as little information and opinion as they desire. Candidate responses for any listed topic are not limited to the stated questions. Candidates are free to express additional ideas and opinions on any topic not listed. It is hoped the candidates will demonstrate a willingness and ability to effectively communicate their positions and goals for the county.

Responses will not be edited or shared among the candidates prior to publication. The questions and responses will be published via the Internet and/or other media outlets.

Introduction

A. Why do you want to serve as Chairman?
B. What personal or professional traits, experiences or abilities distinguish you?
C. What specific existing policies would you work to change?
D. What specific new policies would you work to implement?

1. Fiscal Responsibility

A. Do you call yourself a fiscal conservative? Why or why not?
B. Do you believe economic studies should be performed as part of growth
management policies?
C. As a countywide priority, what is your position on project creep (growing
expenditures beyond the originally announced costs or project description)
at parks, athletic venues and other facilities? Specific references would be
Heritage Park, Moseley Park and Holder Park.
D. Is it appropriate for the county to spend tax dollars to provide venues or
facilities that could be provided by private enterprise?
E. What specific actions or programs would you implement toward enticing a
broader base of businesses to the county?

2. Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax

A. Have you read the state laws (OCGA Title 48) or relevant cases (i.e., Dickey
v. Storey) pertaining to a Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax
(SPLOST)?
B. What is your position on whether the county should impose a SPLOST?
C. Should SPLOST revenues be considered as a supplement the county’s general
fund?
D. Should SPLOST revenues be used to offset property taxes?
E. Should SPLOST revenues be dedicated solely to projects specifically named
on the referendum ballot?
F. Should SPLOST revenues be used at the commissioners’ discretion as priorities change over time?
G. Has the county fulfilled citizens’ expectations through the last two SPLOST
programs?
H. As Chairman are there any changes you would make regarding management
of SPLOST revenues?
I. Should a ballot question used for a SPLOST referendum be intentionally
vague, depriving voters realistic fair notice of the projects for which
revenues may be used?

3. Zoning & Development

A. Do you agree with the statements of current and past commissioners that “We
cannot legally consider impact to infrastructure like schools or roads when
making zoning or development decisions?”
B. Would you support incorporation and adoption of OCGA § 36-67-3 as local
legislation or local ordinance, thereby reinforcing infrastructure as a
required (as opposed to optional) consideration in zoning decisions?
C. Do you believe that existing school enrollment numbers should be a restricting
factor in approving residential development in that school zone?
D. Do you believe that existing road designations (artery, connector, etc.) are
correctly or effectively assigned?
E. Do you believe existing road infrastructure and traffic congestion should be a
determining factor in zoning and development decisions?
F. Do you believe that retail development brings sufficient overall benefit to
allow it before requiring road improvements?
G. What is your position on modifying zoning approvals with conditions or
variances that tangibly allow, for example, an R-1 to be developed as R-2?
H. Do you believe a land owner’s “Constitutional rights” require approval of a
desired development or use, if it is not consistent with county ordinances?
I. What is your position concerning our county’s history of granting higher
density development because of sewer availability? Do you believe our
county ordinances “allow” higher density, or “require” it?

4. Transportation Issues

A. Describe Henry County’s greatest transportation needs today.
B. What policies would you work to implement toward resolving Henry’s
transportation needs?
C. Do you believe intersection improvements, road widening and new roads
should be a higher priority than parks or other facilities?
D. Do you support adding lanes to I-75?
E. Do you believe that development of all types should be held financially
responsible for road and intersection improvements adjacent to the
developed property?
F. Do you agree that transportation impact fees should be imposed and
designated for use in the specific area of impact?
G. What is your position on whether or how the county has used transportation
dollars to promote development?

5. Economic Development

A. What do you see as Henry County’s greatest economic base today?
B. What do you see as Henry County’s greatest economic liability today?
C. Would you propose changing our trend toward retail malls in favor of more
technology, financial or manufacturing companies?
D. What policies, if any, would you work to implement that would raise
median family income in Henry?
E. Do you believe Henry is well served by retail development that offers low-
paying jobs and entices low-cost workforce housing?
F. There is an argument that commercial development eventually brings
sufficient tax revenues for infrastructure improvement. Do you believe
Henry is well served by retail malls even when exiting roads will not
accommodate the increased traffic?

6. Grants and Local Projects

A. What emphasis is currently placed on securing grants from private industry,
state or federal agencies toward financing local projects?
B. Does the county currently have a grant department or specifically educated,
certified or experienced grant administrator?
C. What policies would you work to implement toward securing more grant funding?
D. What policies would you work to implement toward insuring that grant funds
are considered an integral part of financing all local projects?

7. Ethics in Government

A. Do you believe a commissioner should recuse and exclude himself from influence,
discussion and votes on any matter before the board if he received campaign funds from a
concerned party?
B. Would you support a County Ethics Commission with authority and resources
to investigate and possibly indict public officers and employees under
Georgia’s Code of Ethics?
C. What is your position on appointing members to boards and authorities, such as the water
authority or development authority, when those appointees will be in a position to use
otherwise privileged information to enhance their own business pursuits?

D. What is your position regarding an elected official or county employee who
maintains a private business relationship with another official or
employee, their spouse or other close relative?
E. Regarding Question D, should such relationship prohibit a business or
partner from being awarded contracts or other compensation from the
county?

8. Taxes (from all sources)

A. Henry County has the fourth highest taxes in the metro area. What, if
anything, would you propose to lower property taxes?
B. Property taxes are disproportionately increased based on assessments, which
are called a “backdoor tax increase.” In the current housing market downturn with
a 3 to 4 year housing inventory, how would you explain current increases in
assessments and therefore taxes?
C. In your opinion, what are the primary functions of government and what are
the top priorities for spending tax dollars?
D. Define and discuss Health, Safety and Welfare as each pertains to
expenditures of tax revenues.
E. We are told almost annually that “the county budget is tight.” Since the board
of commissioners sets the budget, how would you respond to that
statement? What official actions would alleviate the impression or belief
that revenue is too low?
F. The president of Henry County’s Chamber of Commerce was once quoted in
the press as saying, “We grow houses.” What is your position on
residential tax revenues as opposed to costs of needed services?
G. What, if any, actions could have been taken by the board of commissioners so
that the Board of Education tax millage would not be at its highest legal
limit?
H. What public benefit is derived from the one-mil annual tax given to Henry
Medical Center? Is the cost justified or acceptable while there is no
representation on the HMC board and no voting authority within the HMC
Foundation?
I. Regarding public/private development projects, how is it justifiable to provide
tax revenues to a private business venture? What, if any, safeguards can
citizens be guaranteed regarding public ownership or return on
investment?
J. What public benefit is derived from giving the Convention & Visitors Bureau
(Henry Chamber of Commerce) tax monies when that private organization
is under no obligation or accountability to make public any information
regarding income, expenditures or members? As a follow-up, what is the
justification for giving tax monies to a private organization whose stated
purpose is to lobby state and local governments?