Wednesday, December 20, 2000

As the mayor of one of the first consolidated governments in the United States and the first in Georgia, your article concerning the dispute between the city and the county over tax equity and the local option sales tax compelled me write.

The statement in your excellent article attributed to city leaders, "many of the county's services are duplicated in the cities," really sums up what the focal point of discussions should be between cities and counties.

Instead of vote on doing away with the sales tax, residents should have a vote on combining services and streamlining government. I have been working on a book entitled "Don't Duplicate, Consolidate" and can attest to the documented inefficiencies all governments have in trying to protect individual turfs and convincing the electorate we are all "separate but equal."

Does it make sense to have two or more sets of elected officials, a city manager and a county manager, a city maintenance shop for vehicles and a county shop, a city police department and county police, a city hall and a county seat...in essence, two of everything?

Consolidation has worked well in Columbus. The discussion is never "us" against "them", but is always "we." We feel our unbelievable growth and progress is a direct result of combining all governments within the county into one governing authority, one city with one voice and one direction. Efficiency, accountability and expedited decision-making are by-products of such a consolidated governmental system.

I don't have a personal agenda for writing. It just disappoints me to see situations where things could be better when the personal interests of a few can be replaced by the best interest of all. There is so much duplication and waste in government with limited resources with which to provide services. It just makes sense to find ways to maximize those resources and do more with less. Some say things are fine, "If it ain't broke, then don't fix it." We say, "If it ain't broke, make it better."

Well, I best get to work and earn my pay. We certainly don't have all the answers in our wonderful city, so please don't interpret my comments as a greater-than-thou attitude, because that is not the case. And I do have plenty to do here without sticking my nose in the business of another jurisdiction, which is not my intention. We certainly have our share of challenges in Columbus.

I am just a tremendous proponent of consolidation and know firsthand how well it works. Besides, with one government, you know exactly which official to blame for everything, your one mayor!

Thanks for allowing me provide you with some comments to add a different perspective on the issue you wrote about.

Bobby Peters

Mayor of Columbus

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