“Where there is no vision, the people perish” (Proverbs 29:18).

Next Tuesday, Nov. 6, the citizens of Peachtree City will go to the polls and vote for two new council members to represent Peachtree City for the next four years.

The questions that should come to every voters mind is who is best qualified, who has a proven record, and most importantly who has the “vision” to become an asset to the citizens of Peachtree City.

Which candidate has the vision and ideas to cut cost and generate new revenue? Which candidate has come up with a plan on how to accomplish these ideas? There has been only one candidate, Dar Thompson.

Yes, all the candidates for Post 2 have agreed on almost every single issue thus far in the race. Currently a moot point, but contrary to what the paper said, I did not say I was in favor of the Kohl’s being built.

What I did say was there needed to be further studies and research done before I would make a decision. What I did say was that there were many determining factors that would ultimately dictate the best choice for Peachtree City.

I also said that you just can’t vote no automatically because of the word “Big Box” and that in reality a 100,000-square-foot building could be built with four stores (under one roof), 25,000 square feet each. Therefore, from an aesthetic point of view, there is no difference.

So, for the record, I never said I would vote yes for the Kohl’s coming into Peachtree City.

So, out of the candidates, who is most qualified and has a proven record? Yes, I’ve heard the rhetoric: “Dar is a great guy and he does a great job running health clubs, but what does that have to do with being on city council?”

Health clubs are second on the list, behind restaurants, for failing and going out of business.

In 1998, with very little money, I opened my first health club in a small 10,000-square-foot facility. I started with five employees, and no members.

In nine years, with the help of a great staff, we have succeeded with three large clubs, have bought six other clubs, currently employ over 140 people, and have over 10,700 members.

Health clubs have changed in many ways over the years. They have become very complex and detailed in their business model. These clubs require multi-millions of dollars in annual revenue just to keep the doors open. Currently, our clubs ROI (return on investment) rate in the top 5 percent of health clubs in the country.

I’ve been fortunate and blessed in my businesses, but I have to believe it’s because we run the clubs like a business, paying attention to every detail, addressing every issue, and by never having the mentality, it’s okay to lose money.

I think a city council member needs to have that same mentality and motivation when dealing with the taxpayers’ money — it’s not okay to lose money or spend more.

The biggest problem I have with government is that it thinks like a government, thus operates like a government. Many of the candidates are no different, we should do this, and we shouldn’t do that.

My question is who’s going to pay for the things we should do, and at the end of the day who will pay for the things we don’t do? Is it you, the citizen? When does it become a slippery slope?

Rhetoric is easy. Where are the ideas? Where are the plans? Where are the solutions? Where is the vision?

If the government operated more with a business mentality, with a vision we wouldn’t have the useless and wasted spending. What’s worse, government seems to often time take the approach, “Well, those areas always lose money anyway.”

So I’m asking, as a taxpaying citizen, should we just accept that mentality? Could you imagine those words coming from a successful business owner? Would you run your household finances this way?

That’s like saying it costs money to run the air conditioning in the summer so we might as well just keep it at 64 degrees — if we spend some, might as well spend more. Where’s the logic?

Just one example, out of many, would be the aquatic center here in Peachtree City. I would be willing to bet that most citizens have no idea that the aquatic center here in Peachtree City operates at a net loss (cost to the taxpayer) of approximately $900,000 a year, which equals $75,000 per month, or $2,500 per day.

And we allow people outside of Peachtree City to use this facility, a facility in which they pay no tax dollars to support.

Don’t get me wrong; I am a huge advocate of recreation, especially when it comes to our children. I think that we should continue to grow and enhance our recreation as much as possible. However, and more importantly, we need to find ways to offset these losses or at least re-think our attitude. I have found ways and have ideas on how to accomplish this without spending the taxpayer’s dollar.

My first thought, in regards to the aquatic center, would be to sale this facility to the YMCA? Currently the YMCA is looking to build a large aquatic center in Fayette County. They could purchase this facility and obviously expand on it to meet their own criteria.

Would it not make sense to at least contact those in charge of that project and see if there may be an interest? The citizens would still have the benefit of an aquatic center and the taxpayer is no longer throwing the party. Makes sense to me.

Another plan I have is a “Real Estate Transfer Fee.”

To maintain the recreational path system, the city has to spend money. To improve our parks and get them back to the condition we all expect, the city has to spend money. To acquire more green space, the city has to spend money.

No one wants to have the government raise their property taxes, nor to have their property value reassessed simply to achieve a higher tax base. Neither do I.

So I looked at other cities with amenities similar to ours to see if they had figured out a way to pay for such needed improvements without placing an additional burden on the current citizens and taxpayers.

This plan could raise an additional $300,000 to $400,000 a year into our revenue without costing you, the current resident, one penny. These funds would go to maintain our recreational paths, keep our green space beautiful, improve our parks and recreational fields, and purchase additional green space to preserve our unique lifestyle. The money cannot be used for anything else.

That fund will serve three purposes. First, it gives Peachtree City a much-needed source of revenue to maintain the green spaces which define our town.

Second, it relieves the burden placed on the general operating fund so that taxes can be lowered or stabilized.

Third, it pays for the maintenance and improvement of our public green spaces and path system, which will help retain the quality of our lifestyle and value of our town.

I have an idea of a “Deferred Tax Plan for Seniors.”

This program would allow the deferral of city property taxes for senior citizens that are 65 years and older with an annual income of $20,000 or less. The city would file a lien against the property in the amount of taxes owed, plus 5 percent interest. At the transfer of title of the property, the taxes plus interest earned would have to be paid within 90 days. Taxes can be deferred up to 80 percent of the value of the property.

As an example: Property has a fair market value (FMV) of $200,000. Non-discounted city taxes would be roughly $725 per year. Discounted city taxes would be roughly $392 per year. Property is held for 10 years before title changes. $392 x 10 years = $3,920 in property taxes due to the city. 10 years of interest at 5 percent = $1,150.56 of interest due to the city.

This would allow the senior citizen who lives on a fixed income to increase their income by $392 per year, with the taxes and interest being paid out of the sale of their home.

Town Hall meetings is yet another idea. The format would be simple. I have broken Peachtree City down into five quadrants; these would be the same quadrants which are found on the Peachtree City golf cart path map.

Once every 30 days a specific quadrant will meet with me, and possibly staff, to ask questions and voice concerns about their specific neighborhood(s). “Town Hall meetings” would afford the citizens that opportunity to discuss concerns that most affect them where they live.

What also makes this unique is that this will be an open forum, unlike city council meetings where the agenda is strictly the business of the city.

“Town Hall meetings” will give us a chance to get a closer look at what is needed in each and every neighborhood.

We need to continue to search to find new ideas and think outside the box. It is imperative that we work hard on finding solutions, developing ideas and plans that will generate revenue to offset the increasing tax burden to our citizens. To do so, one must have vision, for “Without vision, the people perish.”

I respectfully ask for your vote on Nov. 6.

Dar Thompson

Candidate, City Council Post 2

Peachtree City, Ga.

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