Twice a year tax bills? Voters could decide

GAINESVILLE - Hall County taxpayers could decide on election day in November if they want county bills sent to them twice a year instead of once a year.

There's a 1970s law on the books for twice a year tax bills, called to the commission's attention at their last regular meeting, but according to that law it appears semi-annual bills are an option.

Commission Vice Chairman Steve Gailey Monday suggested putting it to a vote on Nov. 2.

"Hall County is allowed to do a non-binding referendum," Gailey said. "Why not just put the question on the ballot and let the people decide how they want it?"

Chairman Tom Oliver wants the commission to review the law before a decision at the July 21 meeting.

USE INMATES INSTEAD


Commissioners agreed to postpone approval of the county's landscaping contract.

Gailey estimated a $30,000 annual savings if Corrections Institute inmates took over 70 percent of the work.

"I'd like us to come back and look at what maybe we could have prison labor doing versus what we need to contract out," Gailey said.

Gailey added it appeared the contractor was not doing all the work and wanted closer monitoring to make sure all of it was getting done.


LOOKING FOR BETTER INTEREST RATES

Commissioners heard a hospital authority request to guarantee the $250 million in new construction bonds issued for Northeast Georgia Medical Center's expansion.

Attorney Tred Syfan said the new bond issue was brought on by the original bond insurer's rating loss because of the sub prime lending crisis.

"Essentially they're issuing new bonds to pay off the old bonds so they can get a lower interest rate," Syfan said.

Syfan said the authority hopes to reclaim a 2-3 percent interest rate on the bonds.

For the same reason last year commissioners approved a similar bond re-issue and guarantee on construction bonds for the Spout Springs wastewater treatment plant.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2008/7/211349