Last week I stated my extensive qualifications to be your Fayette County commissioner. This week I address issues and positions.

1. County employees — Newspaper articles refer to high turnover rates in county employees, 20 percent and higher in public safety. Some commissioners believe turnover is “good” because it keeps the county payroll lower. Training costs, up to five years at some positions, are being ignored. We cannot afford to treat employees as readily expendable. They are the county’s most important asset.

2. The “Sheriff” controversy — As a 30-plus-year CPA with extensive governmental training, I ask: Has any county auditor ever refused to issue an opinion, or issued an adverse opinion on the county’s financial report because of improprieties in any department, sheriff or otherwise?

I am told the answer is “no,” so one would assume the sheriff’s procedures are reasonably adequate to safeguard the resources entrusted to his care. Rational discussion should achieve a solution acceptable to all, as it should have prior to expensive lawsuits. The true losers are the taxpayers who, with increased taxes, pay the legal bills for both sides.

3. Higher education — Approximately one-third of the students at Gordon College are from Fayette County. Approximately [sic] of the students at Griffin Tech are from Fayette County. Fayette Countians attending Clayton University are in the thousands.

Common sense, supported by an “official” study, indicates support for a university center in Fayette County. The only hurdle is the land to put it on. Our community should seize the opportunity to make this dream a reality. It is possible to have healthcare training in conjunction with our hospital and help alleviate the shortage of healthcare professionals while providing “teaching” class care to our citizens.

4. Double taxation – The state requires our cities and the county to identify primary responsibility for services each provides and grants only the provider the taxing authority to provide the service. Fayette County and its cities have established primary responsibility for about 60-70 percent of the services provided by them and that was done before the year 2000.

These items should be revisited and it is high time the remaining items were also addressed. The duplication of tax for EMS services may be the tip of the iceberg with regards to double tax. The county should settle this matter at once.

I ask for your vote and support in the July 18 primary.

Jack R. Smith, CPA

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