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‘Keeping PTC green while lowering your taxes’Tue, 11/01/2005 - 6:28pm
By: Letters to the ...
Mr. Rothley, thank you very much for your letter to the editor, “Thompson plans to tax every PTC home sale,” which was posted in The Citizen on Wednesday Oct. 12, 2005. First, I’ll address your closing paragraph where you state, “Doubt we’ll see many Realtors for Dar signs in this election cycle,” and “Note to Dar Thompson, Peachtree City is not an island.” The fact is that over 30 percent of my campaign contributions have come from those who are involved in residential real estate. Why? Because they are smart enough to see the long term benefits of a “Real Estate Transfer Fee” to be paid by those who move into Peachtree City. They know and understand that charging such a fee will offer much greater assurance that Peachtree City will remain Peachtree City, with its parks, recreation, greenbelts, and golf cart paths, thus retaining home values. Real estate agents know and understand that future increases in taxes are a much greater deterrent for buying a home versus a one-time fee. Increased taxes are an ongoing burden, year after year, whereas your return on investment of a one-time fee is paid back to the homeowner in approximately the first 30 months after which point the homeowner is now making money as there is no increase in taxes which relate to the specific areas for which this fee is designed: parks, recreation, green belts, and golf cart paths. Mr. Rothley, you are correct, “Peachtree City is not an island,” but it is one of the only places on this planet that is a planned community which has a pre-determined plan for limiting its population. With the city’s population creeping ever closer to reaching this projected number, it will become more and more evident that only one of two things can and will happen: an increase in tax to our citizens or a decrease in our amenities as a city, which in turn will mean a decrease in property values. Anyone who can add and subtract can easily figure this one out; it’s a matter of simple economics. Mr. Rothley, furthermore your letter states that my tax plan will impact current residents who are moving within the city by either upgrading or downgrading. That is not what my plan states. I am the only candidate who has come up with a variety of thoughts, ideas, and tax plans. I also have proposed a “Deferred Tax Plan for Seniors” which would allow the deferral of city property taxes to seniors that are 65 years and older with an annual income of $20,000 or less. Dar Thompson, mayoral candidate ![]() |