VALDOSTA —
The county and the city of Valdosta say they want to get along, but two separate meetings this week still demonstrate the schism between the two governments. Since the HB 489 Service Delivery Agreement act passed, the two have been at odds over who pays for what. And even though the agreement in the 1990s and again in the mid-2000s is very specific, the tug of war over county vs. city services and county vs. city population has continued unabated, and it all comes down to money. Who gets how much from SPLOST and LOST.
The city leaders met with county officials again Wednesday to discuss the LOST tax which is up for its 10 year renewal this year. The county said it had already made its position clear, and has no intention of spending hours in meetings with attorneys just to end up in court, which happened in 2002. They said if the entities can’t reach a consensus, the issue will go straight to court and not waste everyone’s time and money.
SPLOST VII has to also be renegotiated this year, but the city was hoping to delay the process until the end of the year or the beginning of 2013 when a new county chairman will replace current chairman Ashley Paulk, who is retiring. The county has informed the city previously and reiterated Wednesday that they intend to hold the SPLOST vote in November to avoid having to pay for a special election in the spring.
At the LOST meeting, Paulk told the city that they will have to pay for the city auditorium and the improvements to Five Points, and the county will pay for the services they are responsible for under HB 489. As the county fully funds the library system and is responsible for building the new main branch, he said unless the city will finally issue a formal written agreement or a deed for the property at Five Points that’s been promised to the library, the library has no choice but to locate somewhere else.
After nearly 20 years of contentious behavior which usually leads to a court mandated settlement, it’s a shame that the two governments are still at such odds.
Both insist they are just representing their citizens, but most citizens say they want the two to stop fighting and going to court.
What We Think
Why can’t they all just get along
- What We Think
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Charity never tasted so good
For one night, you can indulge your sweet tooth while contributing to a worthy cause at the same time.
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Historic day celebrated
On January 1, 1863, Pres. Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, announcing that all persons held as slaves within the rebellious areas are and henceforth shall be free.
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How this garden grew
A special-needs couple wanted a garden. A teacher not only wanted to teach gardening skills but she also wanted to instill a sense of community purpose within her young students.
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Happy Father’s Day
He beamed with pride on our birth. He understood worry upon our birth. He is the giant by which we would judge all men. He protected us. He provided for us. He often sacrificed time with us to provide for us. He spent time with us.
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Thumbs up
THUMBS UP: To Stevie Young of Valdosta. The owner of Artistic Taxidermy, Young won Best in the World, Turkey, in the 2013 World Taxidermy Championship. His eastern wild turkey display dominated the competition, earning him the distinction of best in the world. Another title for TitleTown!
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Canning preserves food, way of life
When the going gets tough, the tough getting canning. Valdosta-Lowndes County residents have this opportunity.
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PSST!: Round Two!
With tonight’s opening of “The Marvelous Wonderettes,” Peach State Summer Theatre presents its second show of the 2013 season.
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A responsible fix for pets
The photo and story in Sunday’s paper about the dog whose owners had left him tied up with an electrical cord elicited a tremendous response from readers, outraged at the dog’s treatment.
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A band-aid in a crisis?
The announcement Monday by the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities that a crisis stabilization center will be built in Lowndes County is good news for some, not so great for others.
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Slowing down for summer
Twenty-some years ago, it seemed Valdosta and South Georgia slowed down for the summer. School was out. Controversies seemed to dwindle. People seemed to work shorter hours despite the longer days.
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Charity never tasted so good
