Democracy is alive and well at the county level

Those who say that democracy is dead need only to look to Coweta County, Ga., to see that active citizen participation and a responsive governing body can still work well together.

A number of weeks ago, The Coweta County Commission began holding hearings on the imposition of “impact fees.” Impact fees are, of course, another name for a tax on new construction that may place a strain on the existing infrastructure.

Impact fees are collected prior to any new building project and used, the theory goes, to provide needed facilities and services. Most of the citizens in the county seem to have little problem with the enactment of an impact fee.

However, when it became knowledge that a hefty fee — specifically over $4,500 per 1,000 square feet — would, possibly, be imposed on new church construction and the construction of private religious schools and other non-profit organizations, a mighty roar was heard from the religious and non-profit community.

If, for example, the impact fee had been in effect when Sharpsburg’s Trinity Christian School constructed its new gym, the tax alone would have been in excess of $150,000! Such a fee would have crippled churches, most of whom have less than 70 people in attendance on any given Sunday morning (the national average).

Pastors and priests were quick to meet and discuss the situation and the religious community began to be mobilized to speak against this proposed tax on churches.

As one pastor said, “The County Commission did something that Jesus has been trying to do for 2,000 years! They got us all together in one place in agreement on something!”

Catholics, Baptists, Methodists, Assemblies of God, Church of God, Presbyterians, Episcopalians, and more all came together to oppose the impact fee on churches and religious schools.

Within a short time commissioners began to receive telephone calls and e-mails. One commissioner reported having received 1,500 emails in the span of a few days.

Over 200 people gathered for the second hearing on the impact fee but, prior to anyone speaking, one commissioner moved to exclude religious institutions and schools from the impact fee, citing the positive economic impact that churches have on the county.

A positive economic impact is, it seems, grounds for exclusion under state law. The move was seconded and passed unanimously.

Just like that, the issue was settled and those who came to speak against the impact tax spoke, instead, in glowing terms of a commission that chose to be responsive to the voters.

A number of pastors had privately discussed the possibility of litigation and some were committed to pursuing that course of action should the impact tax be imposed, but, thanks to a responsive commission, that unpleasant option could be laid aside.

So, kudos to the five Coweta commissioners who allowed the democratic way to work the way it is supposed to work. Hats off to Tim Higgins, Paul Poole, Greg Tarbutton, Larry DeMoss, and Leigh Schlumper who have the difficult task of serving as members of the commission.

So, what about other non-profit entities such as Habitat for Humanity, Angel House, The Community Welcome House, and other organizations that positively benefit the community?

The members of the commission have given assurance that, while other non-profits are not included in the blanket exemption of religious institutions and schools, these organizations may, on a case-by-case basis, make application for exemption from impact fees.

It appears that the Commission is also ready to exempt libraries and 911 communications from the impact fee, so there is no reason to suspect that other non-profits will not receive fair consideration.

Religious institution, schools, and other non-profits have long been widely recognized for the positive contributions they make in the life of a community and nation. The members of the Coweta County Commission should be appreciated and congratulated for recognizing and continuing this historic tradition.