We seem to have leaders in Fayette County and its towns who think that a different group of people pay for new schools, in order to eliminate trailers, than the group who eventually pay for a new police station or jail.

Believe me, if Peachtree City builds a police station and Fayette County builds a jail and new schools to eliminate trailers, I help pay for all of them. I don't mind helping paying for all of them. It's just that I think the schools come first — I don't care who has responsibility for each group! That is selfish thinking to get the money you are responsible to get first.

What is wrong with Peachtree City saying publicly that they think the school board ought to build schools first, then a jail or police station? Maybe one vote for all?

Of course, that would not pass unless all the leaders said they wanted it that way, and they won't, because of politics and individual budgets. Unless they work together.

It was known 20 years ago that schools would be needed for 40,000 people in Peachtree City. Who was responsible to bring this up in time to build as we went, the city or the county? Same with other infrastructure.

If we were able to plan as well as the developers do over many years in order to run our government, I think we could avoid all the needs hitting us at one time.

There is simply no way around it now — we will have Riverdale intersections, poor schools, and underpaid teachers and policemen.

I doubt any individual person or group could have avoided where we are, and are going to be, and still have made the progress we have made. What we can do is prioritize, with zero-based budgeting, and know what the taxes and bonds will be for 10 years at a whack.

Some selling job would be needed, but right now no one is being fooled by one group manipulating their needs in earlier than another and then the other group contending that now they must also have their share. Selling bonds without voter permission will be eventually killed if it is over-used! Atlanta's situation ought to show us what to avoid.

Don Jones
Peachtree City

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