The letters stand for special purpose.

I yam what I yam....Popeye

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Why would you ask Mr. Salvatore in your posting about a school with no students? Dimwit, he is the Peachtree City Finance Manager, and has absolutly nothing to do with Fayette County Schools, or their spending on the School SPLOST. Just the typical dripple as so many other posters in this forum tend to have.
PS it's 2010, not 2001

thanks for the dimwit shout out,,,

you must get along well in this world. If you don't like the dripple of others that post here - go somewhere else.

Both SPLOSTS were county wide and money is then spent as decided. No politician education, public safety, city manager or finance director should be counting on a budget that has a voter approved tax continuation in it.

The 1st SPLOST 5 or 6 years ago was for dire need of our school system - sold on the fear that we could not turn down the kids.

Now this is being sold we might not be able to repave your streets, whether they need it or not.

I don't budget my business on the basis that all my customers may agree to a $0.01 increase on every transaction I will do for them for the next 6 years. In a profit and loss world the goal of government should be to break even or have a small surplus.

with answers and you send us your own e-mail address to boot--not the council e-mail. Well, just a little late--where was all this availability for answers during your term when I sent many e-mails that you never once bothered to answer? And it is worst than disgraceful that you would stoop so low to employ the tactics you are now using, the mud-slinging, is that the H O N O R you mentioned you learned from your military father?--I think and hope not. So Mr. Haddix will single handedly destroy Peachtree City if he is elected---the Gathering Place will disappear--recreation facilities will close--but wait a second--I just might consider voting for you if you will not beat around the bush and tell me just how you can guarantee YOU will not vote to increase taxes--read a lot of promises but no definite methods--just rhetoric---as for keeping Peachtree the place we want to call home-it seems this is what your opponent has been fighting for these past few years--while you were giving the developers everything they wanted--and then some. Pretty words---but very hollow---Let's hope people have long enough memories to remember how you voted and ignore those pretty meaningless phrases you and your handlers are now throwing out.

It appears that Mrs. Plunkett is paying about $500.00/blogger to support her campaign.

Last week they were complaining that they couldn't get accounts to logon.

But all of the sudden there are 5, count em, five Cyndi supporters.

Interesting that Mrs. Plunkett's campaign has paid $2,500.00 to her consulting firm just last month.

What's the matter Mrs. Plunkett, couldn't you get five 'real people' to blog for you?

Cyndi, collect our $500.--vote for Haddix and throw a big party with the money we made--or we can just keep it to pay toward those taxes that are just going to have to increase no matter what.

Tell me what you think of my blog, Re: plunkett letter to the editor, The real "Mistress Plunkett"

I, too, thought your blog was dead on. Please have it posted in the paper edition of The Citizen. Great research.

should also go into the regular Citizen letter to editor so those who do not blog here can see it. Good work.

First, let's start with the "I grew up in the military."

No, Cyndi, you did not grow up IN the the military, you were a military brat. You lived the privileged childhood of a military officer who had a very large guaranteed income and benefits galore.

Money and budgeting was NEVER an issue for you growing up. This is so obvious from every idyllic catchphrase you use in your campaign literature. At what point did you ever have to learn how to budget money? Really budget, as in, we don't have enough money to pay the bills, and I need to learn to live with less. It is so evident from what you NEVER SAY, EVER, about how you will make decisions about what PTC is going to have to do without OR how YOU will ensure that we raise income for PTC.

Your second paragraph above is exactly why you cannot lead this city. You don't want this, you don't want that. You live in a world where if you say you don't want it, then it will never happen. You give no thought as to HOW it won't happen or the work involved so it won't happen, you just say it won't be so and, presto, it won't.

Your vote history shows no leadership, you only think of how to follow others (how many 3-2 votes were there?) or to take the path where you just send it out to "be studied" by staff.

And will you stop with the recreation falsities? Tell us, were YOU at the Rec. Committee mtg. in October, of which you have about a 50-60% attendance record this year? You know, the one where you all were in agreement to proceed with going forward on putting cell towers in our parks? Is that what you call "not wanting to lose facilities", Cyndi? Not to mention your opportunity at Council meeting last week, when asked flat out to come out publicly and say NO, you do not want to sell our public parks to cell towers, and you wouldn't do it.

Finally, the phrase from above, "I do not want developments like.....Kohl's....to be built in our city."

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA......

Well would you look at that, Cyndi is spreading more lies. Do you think her nose grows like Pinnocchio everytime she lies?

Cyndi Plunkett=Logsdon in a skirt!!!!!!

Save Fayette suggested combining the PTC and county fire departments.

It gets to the heart of the jobs VS services issue. It also opens up a possible discussion about expensive duplication of services.

1.What are the real benefits of separate fire services?

2.Are there other services that can be combined.

We use to be part of the County system and it failed us miserably. Splitting off was a real battle. They didn't want to give up our tax resources but refused to give us better service.

As is now the main focus of the County was Fayetteville. All the main services are centered there.

Our EMS and Fire response times were deplorable.

It has actually been looked into. We have better equipment than the County, as a whole. Our equipment would be redistributed throughout the County downgrading us here.

The number of stations we have here would decrease as well.

Fact is there are both Fayetteville and County stations in Fayetteville. They could put a County facility here near PTC now, but they don't.

Same with Rec. They want our facilities treated like part of the County but don't want to pay for them. We have 74.86% of the facilities in the County with 35% of the population and they say it is equitable to only give us $150,000 a year to allow the other 65% to be treated like PTC residents.

If there were any way to arrive at solution where we didn't loose out on the deal that would be something to get serious about. But in all the years, Councils and Commissions we have seen it has always been the County wanting to get more than they give.

I honestly will try to change those dynamics. But they have to stop approaching us like we are not a significant portion of the County. Stop prioritizing Fayetteville over the rest of the County.

That is why Fayetteville's taxes are so low. EMS, 911 and Rec are all provided by the County. Even part of the Fire service.

Don Haddix
Candidate for Mayor
DonHaddix.com

Thanks for the detailed response. I just wasn't thinking of the county/city tug of war. To bad PTC can't have its own school system

Those who live here most often shop here..
In an average week, I buy groceries, hardware, garden items, books,clothes all in ptc.
I have my oil changed here, but tires and gasoline here.
I dine out here and buy take out here.

Is someone passing through stopping to shop here? Don't Newnan and Fayette have Home Depot ? Walmart ? Target ?

Unless your erecting toll gates most passing through are doing just that not coming here to shop.

in the stores you mention in PTC....LOTS of tags that don't say Fayette. Our stores are closer to many of the residents of Coweta etc than the stores in Newnan. Throw in that they are generally easier to get to (from my experience in dealing with the 34/I-85 interchange) than the stores in Newnan and you have LOT of money being spent here by our of County folks. But hey, do a cursory tag check yourself, and you'll see the impact we left on the table.

I was going to chime in with the same. On any given day it's amazing haw many Coweta tags I see in PTC shopping centers, obviously Sharpsburg and Senoia residents, based on their proximity to PTC shop often here. Same goes for the last couple times my wife or I have ventured to Fayetteville, finding many Clayton County tags on the vehicles at those shopping centers. It's amazing how many Clayton tags are found in the Pavillion at any given time. Too bad we won't be reaping additional taxes from these out of county shoppers anymore.

And to those whom think having a lower tax (by a penny) will drive consumer traffic to Fayette, that's just nuts. Having been in business in Fayette for many years, before when neighboring counties had higher taxes, I never found this factor to drive traffic to my business in Fayette, as it's a negligible amount to most consumers.

I am happy now, maybe we can get some fiscal responsibilty in our government. We need talented people in government that spend our money wisely not simply because it is easy to get.

Let's get our governments to represent our interests by controlling the purse.

Let's demand better accountablity and better services for less money. They can do it if they try and if we elect some really talented people.

Unfortunately, the candidates all supported keeping the SPLOST because they are not likely able to deliver on the above.

how much out of county people vs in county people actually paid you have no argument.

All you can show me is how much pork county and city governments added to their budgets.

Just look at the FCBoE.

Could you just say plainly that even after you consider all options you will not spend more than is collected without a tax increase?

I don't see "options" in the budget! I see people, materials, and dollars.

Do not cut out much needed projects in order to save all city jobs.
That is what Reagan did---he destroyed OSHA, EPA, and many other needed things in order to have war materials and people in the defense department.

Simply cut a percentage of personnel that equals the budget cuts.
I'll just bet you are talking about cutting money for projects and not personnel! You know those left can pick up most of the work if supervised properly--providing the best are kept.

last year..I knew this was coming...What will you propose we cut now?

I'll say this, PTC isn't what is is today because of what we DON'T have.

Ask Plunkett. She was part of the majority that kept projecting economic turn around and that we needed to do nothing.

I campaigned on the fact we were already in trouble in 2007.

Don Haddix
Candidate for Mayor
DonHaddix.com

you were for raising taxes last year?

I'm not asking Plunkett, I'm asking you. Not fair to throw it in her face, you're the one on here, and I'm seriously asking....did you propose we raise taxes last year, along with the cuts?

The vote on the tax increase was 3-2 for no tax increase. I supported the .238 to get us through to the 2011 Budget where were we would know the status of the SPLOST, who was on Council and how badly the economy would have declined by then. That is what the survey indicated 75% of the respondents wanted.

The survey was my idea that had to be fought for to make it happen. The majority didn't want to see what the citizens said. They were basically embarrassed into allowing it. Plunkett asked why send out a survey they were not going to abide by? Logsdon and Boone said he didn't believe the results.

Don Haddix
Candidate for Mayor
DonHaddix.com

Yes, I will be the one ultimately casting my vote on the issue.

Feeling pretty confident in your chance in the runoff?

Are you saying use only reserves to cover the deficits or a combination of a millage increase + reserves? Or, whatever the citizens respon with on a survey?

I'd agree that solely using a very dramatic millage rate increase is a big no-go, but I don't see using only reserve funds as being fiscally prudent either. There's got to be a combination of both, but that's just my opinion obviously.

ONe last bit: did Staff "recommend" a tax increase or did they simply present for Council consideration the options and what the budget is looking like in the near future?

I see a suspension of path and road projects except for critical needs, doing some more efficiencies that can save us a few hundred thousand more, but was resisted under the current majority, and a slow use of the reserves as a baseline that is going to be unavoidable barring a miracle.

Going by the last survey I expect to see a small tax increase of .250 mil at most, maybe none, plus some service cuts as where the majority want to go.

Any way we go at it I see no escaping using the Reserves and service cuts. The path and road maintenance alone is about $2.25 million a year.

I repeat here, I do not want to cut Rec services, just make them more efficient.

We have some rough years ahead. Smart decisions that most of the citizens can live with is where we need to be.

As for feeling confident I can only speak for how I will act if elected. One must always be hopeful.

And yes, Staff has recommended tax increases every year. They recommend levels of over 8 mils by 2013.

Don Haddix
Candidate for Mayor
DonHaddix.com

1. Airport Authority

All I can say to all Airport Authority supporters is, "SHOW ME THE MONEY".

If you're going to attempt to tell me that the Airport Authority brings money into PTC, above what is poured into it, than SHOW IT TO ME.

If you can't then shut up.

P.S. While you’re at it tell us why Falcon Aviation just moved to Newnan?

2. Recreation

On this issue I totally agree with Scott. This town provides more recreation facilities and opportunities than anywhere I've ever seen.

Was it a 'draw' item when people moved here in the past, maybe yes, maybe no. From what my neighbors have expressed to me they moved here primarily for the schools.

Are people still moving to PTC by the bus load as in the past, no.

For the short term, the next two or three years, the recreation expenditures can reduced by 10% to 20% with no discernable effect. For all twenty something parents that think their kids are Olympic hopefuls or future tennis stars, get ready to really pay for it.

Just for the record, I moved here over 20 years ago and have two children that went from kindergarten thru high school now on to collage.

Face it people, it's going to take two to three years for the housing and job markets to heal themselves. The commercial market is just now starting too slid off into the abyss.

3. Tourism Authority

See number 2 above.

While the economy is in the tank the tourism industry is on life support. There is no Disney World or Sea World next door to PTC. No body comes here from Japan, Europe or California just to play golf.

I suggest starting with these three and let’s see where we end up.

It seems everyone attacks recreation as the source of our tax consumption, but you could completely eliminate REC and just barely cover the projected shortfall. Essentially 50% of our budget is consumed by Public Safety. While this is not uncommon, Public Safety is also the only group with the 2010 budget that saw an increase, nearly 500K, over 2009 budget. Two votes this year, one to allow budget growth within Public Safety and the other to allow the addition of 6 in Fire has created an additional 3.7 million in our 6 year tax consumption without even considering the annual increase that will surely be requested. The amount that is being pulled from reserves is essentially the increase demanded by Public Safety. I am not saying let's eliminate Public Safety, but rather we need to apply the same rationale to these departments that we have to rest of the city. Zero budget increase in something that consumes 50% of the budget has a much greater impact than zero growth in something that consumes 13% of the taxes as does REC. Oh, but I forgot - Public Safety is taboo. After all we do live in such a violent, crime ridden fire zone. Silly me! Oh yeah, the change in our fire classification saved me.....$0. My tax increase is what?

Of course, no candidate is going to say that during their campaigns, but now that we are about to have several councilmembers and a Mayor who have 4 years to go before relection, I'd expect some political backbone to be shown. When you have a multimillion dollar shortfall forecast and have already been having to raid reserves and eliminate staff + reduce services, nothing can be sacred, even fire and police.

I agree, I don't know much about our level of fire protection but in my opinion the excessive policing of Peachtree City has become a nuisance. I mean, teens getting busted for fishing after dark - what nonsense! And cart-path roadblocks just to check for drivers permits? Too many times I've found myself having to defend the rude treatment non-resident friends get from our cops - I've not seen it first-hand but I've now been convinced that we really have some jerks on the force. So perhaps cutting at least the police budget could be a win-win.

Public safety employees have FELT THE PAIN....we have given up thousands in reduced pay and increased cost in our benefits. I as a taxpayer haven't payed a thing....WE have to raise taxes to maintain quality of life here in the city. The failed splost was a simple tax that everyone from outside of this county that shops here would pay, THUS spreading the cost from just us Fayette Co. folks.

Airport and Tourism Authorities have their own budgets and are technically separate from the city. They get hotel/motel tax to operate with and the use of that tax is very restrictive on what it can and cannot be used for. No savings here.

Why is there a line item under the Hotel/Motel Tax Fund, FY 2010 Proposed Budget of $500,000+ for the Peachtree City Tourism Association and nothing listed for the Airport Authority?

Under Hotel/Motel Law you have to designate a 501C3 corporation as the recipient of the 60% required to be spent on tourism related usage. For us that is Tourism at this time.

Part of the agreement with Tourism is a portion goes to the Airport.

They can give it to the Airport but PTC cannot directly.

Please do not ask me to make sense of the Hotel/Motel Tax Law. I have never figured out the basis for its logic.

I have done some work at State level to try to allow us to make better use of it. If elected I will move forward on it again.

Don Haddix
Candidate for Mayor
DonHaddix.com

and let the hotels and motels use that money for advertising PTC?

Entities such as the Airport and Tourism Authorities can't prove to anyone that they actually generate revenue for the city that foots their bills.

The Airport Authority is one of the greatest examples of a "Good ole Boys Club" I've ever come across.

They can say just about anything because there's no way to prove it one way or the other.

If we're going to funnel money, any money, into such 'Authorities' than an accounting system needs to be implemented that can prove they are an economic boost to the community.

I'm done taking someones word for it.

The Airport Authority is an Authority, meaning it is legally separate from PTC government. They get some Hotel/Motel funding that we cannot spend elsewhere by State Law. They own the Airport, not us. Just as WASA owns the sewer system, not us.

On Falcon Aviation ask them. Once they are appointed the only way to remove anyone is if the fall below 80% attendance or they are not reappointed.

Same with Tourism. But I am looking at getting more bang for the buck there.

Plus I will move forward on the new Hotel/Motel Tax law that will allow us to use about an additional $250,000 in the General Budget. It will also allow a portion to be spent on paths.

The rest must go to what is defined as tourism by State Law. No option.

It isn't as simple as you think. They get no Property Tax, Sales Tax, fees etc, only Hotel/Motel. That means Hotel/Motel is like SPLOST, a special use account, not General Budget.

On Rec we have 249% the Rec of comparable sized cities. We will see what the citizens say at the Town Hall on that issue.

Don Haddix
Candidate for Mayor
DonHaddix.com

Too much recreation for teenagers?

You know dollars used mowing ball fields isn't a good guide to how good of a recreational program we have!

Then there is one swimming thingee, a beat up small Glenloch rec shed, and as is always mentioned for kids, scores of churches!

Athletics for kids where the parents must participate means many will not go. Everyone doesn't care for athletics!

Where is there a place where teenagers can socialize with their peers?
Maybe the sludge island in lake Peachtree? Or maybe the paths?

I know PTC government has a disdain for teenage socializing due to the fact that much of it is at night and requires close supervision, which no employees want to work, but nothing good is easy.

They could gather in the Amphitheater if it isn't raining--or is that allowed? NO.

Maybe the old folks building?

That wonderful old shack at shake rag hill might do?

Get off the dollars spent for grass and get onto something useful for our kids who are in danger! Mr. Mayor!

The same old folks that said the Amphitheater needed "older acts", and then didn't show up to watch the older acts will be at the Town Hall Meetings....I got the latest mailout from "The Fred" and it made me sad...it's the beginning of the end...

You can bet these "same old folks" will say we have too much REC...bank on it...they could care less...as long as the Gathering Place is kept open...

Show me where the Amphitheater has shown a profit.

Show me where the Rec. Dept. has shown a profit.

Show me where the Airport Authority has shown a profit.

Show me where the Gathering Place has shown a profit.

We're in a recession and/or depression depending on your point of view or current income.

It's time to take all of the niceties, which show no profit, and park them for the foreseeable future.

It would be great if we could afford all of the niceties we want but now is not the time to spend money like the Fed. will give us grants to cover everything.

This city needs to act in a fiscally responsible manner like most of us try to do. If you can't pay cash for it, you don't buy it. It’s that simple.

The attitude of, "I'll pay for it with next month check", is what got us here in the first place.

Cash is king and if you ain't got it then don't spend it!

Is that what government is supposed to be doing with our tax dollars, funding enterprises to make a profit? I think NOT. That's why you have separate authorities like WASA, Tourism, DPAC, etc.

Airport Authority isn't part of city expenditures and neither is Tourism. While the hotel/motel tax that funds them can be debated, total elimination of these authorities has a zero savings effect on the city's bottom line.

The Gathering Place uses such a tiny part of city resources that I question what the point is in saving the little money by eliminating it. The expansion of the building has been budgeted and then put off year after year for about a decade now, so it's hardly been much of a financial drain. I think it has staffed with one FT city employee and a part-timer. I don't see the advantage of closing it or giving it to the county.

I don't think too many will argue that REC is going to have to see some cuts. The city financial condition right now dictates that and I think the citizens may growl and grumble but know it's coming. The elected leaders are going to have to explain to the voters the tough realities the city is facing.

not a part of the budget, you say?

Didn't the old Tennis Authority have it's debts paid (or paying yet) for them by the tax money of the City?
How can one trust such shenanigans?
Couldn't the City just keep the hotel tax money if they didn't give it to whatever?

You say "cut recreation!
What recreation? The Pool..isn't that sub contracted now?
You could quit mowing and maintaining the ball fields!
The Tennis Center is subbed, is it not?
Want to close the Glenloch and Shakerag shacks?

What recreation? Employees maybe?

We take about as good of care of our old as we do our teenagers!
Isn't anyone going to get old here? Weren't they young once?

Who will volunteer to be first to cut city employees by about 10-15%?
Maybe hire new ones for those over 75,000 per year at 50,000?

I've seen in this very paper that the Fred has turned a profit. It is usually bunched in with the Tennis Center in the past, and even then, it was showing a small profit. With the recent pressure from Council, the acts were downgraded, I would be surprised that last year showed a profit....folks didn't like the acts in general. The crowds were down and with that, profits go down. I attended a meeting about "the Fred" and it was a JOKE. Now see what has happened.

But is that what is all about? How do the cart paths show a profit? How does having so many parks show a profit? What about the Library? How about the Gathering Place? Are these amenities net profits to the city or a loss? How do you quantify what PTC is? I'm not trying to be argumentative, I'm being serious...

I didn't choose to move my Family here for what PTC does not have. Many feel the same way. Not saying everyone does, but at some point, we are going to kill the golden goose with CUTS.

If the economy is as bad as everyone seems to think, who then has all this free time to engage in recreation (adult and child) or to visit the Amphitheater for a performance?

The attitude of, "I'll pay for it with next month check", is what got us here in the first place.

Exactly.

"I cannot pay my credit card bill, but I'll pay for the kid to play soccer/basketball/tennis"

"I know the city doesn't have enough money to pay all its bills, but I want them to help pay (subsidize) for my kid to play soccer/basketball/tennis. AND DON'T RAISE MY TAXES!"

We're in a recession and/or depression depending on your point of view or current income.

This is an astute observation. Often those only claiming a recession, can afford for it to only be a recession.

I just hate seeing good money chasing after bad.

As far as I'm concerned both 'Authorities' are unneeded resource expenditures.