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On Friday, a terrific crowd turned out, even in the cold, drizzly weather, to see the topping out of the SGMC Dasher Heart Center and Patient Tower. It’s the largest project SGMC has ever done, and it will be the last for some time. It also may be the last for this community.
Seeing the dozens and dozens of construction workers, electricians, plumbers, technicians, contractors, architects, etc. who are working long hours to finish the project is wonderful, but the knowledge that there is little to nothing that follows is depressing, especially at this time of year.
While voters, who were certainly within their rights in voting down SPLOST VII, are patting themselves on the back for sending a message to government that you don’t approve of how tax dollars are being spent, consider how happy you are going to be when your friends, neighbors and family members are out of a job in the next year.
Without SPLOST, all plans for projects are on hold. No auditorium, no library, no roads being paved, no renovation on the historic courthouse, no water/sewer upgrades, no soccer fields, etc. No contracts being awarded to local companies. No money to keep the local economy going.
The best thing about SPLOST, other than the fact that it only costs $1 for every $100 you spend, is that the tax was spread around and paid by those who live here and those who don’t. And the bulk of those dollars collected stay right here in this community, paying those electricians, contractors, pavers, plumbers, steel workers, painters, and the companies that supply the lights, the wood, the steel, the concrete, and so on. Or rather, the salaries of hundreds of local citizens.
So while those who are happy that the economic wheels of this community are virtually coming to a stop, and that the government has been given the message to live on a leaner budget, be sure that you pass that word along to those who will be out of work as a result.
If you don’t like something in your government, get involved, run for office, go to meetings, talk to your representatives, etc. but you have to wonder at some point if that $5 or $10 a month raise you may see in January 2014 was worth watching the local economy and the community’s infrastructure erode.
What We Think
Ramifications of the loss of SPLOST
- What We Think
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Thoughts on graduation
Graduation ceremonies reflect how life marches on. For the students receiving their diplomas and degrees, graduation is a culmination of the majority of their lives’ work.
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Thumbs up, thumbs down
THUMBS UP: To Dr. John Gaston, retiring dean of Valdosta State University’s College of the Arts. For the past 10-plus years, Gaston has worked to build a more interconnected program with various artistic and communications departments working together. Given that you are likely to see one College of the Arts department collaborating with another during events is proof of Gaston’s success.
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On the go this weekend
Take a breath.
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Sharing the roads with motorcycles
With the recent pleasant temperatures and sunny skies, the number of motorcycles on area roads has increased.
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Thank your local law enforcement today
Today, May 15, was designated Peace Officers Memorial Day back in 1962 when President John F. Kennedy was in office.
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Visit musical roots this weekend
Beginning Saturday, May 18, Nashville, Ga., will be hosting a special Smithsonian exhibit, “New Harmonies: Celebrating American Roots Music.” The exhibit will continue through the end of June and Nashville has done a tremendous job in promoting and planning for the exhibit.
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Happy Mother’s Day!
A few years ago, a television commercial asked, Who first believed in you? Many folks may have instinctively answered by simply saying, Mom.
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Thumbs up
THUMBS UP: To mail workers, volunteers and food bank staff for gathering food for the annual Stamp Out Hunger postal food drive today. A plastic bag designated for canned goods and other non-perishable food items should have arrived in your mailbox earlier this week. If you haven’t already, take a few moments to fill the bag with food and hang from your mailbox. If you didn’t receive the special Stamp Out Hunger bag, any plastic bag filled with food will do. This food drive helps feed thousands of South Georgians annually. Valdosta-Lowndes County often donates more food than nearly all other cities and counties in Georgia.
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Celebrating nurses
She is considered the founder of modern nursing so it seems only natural that National Nurses Week would include Florence Nightingale’s birthday.
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Helping the hungry: Mail it in!
Valdosta-Lowndes County continues revealing its generous spirit.
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Thoughts on graduation
