State Rep. Jim Cole Meets With Citizens
Eighth District State Representative Jim Cole conducted a Town Hall Meeting at the Community House in Hillsboro Tuesday evening.
After enjoying refreshments and conversation for 30 minutes, the crowd of approximately 75 citizens took their seats to hear what Mr. Cole had to say and pose their own questions.
Before taking questions Mr. Cole discussed the differences between the federal budget and the state budget.
“We’re cutting and cutting, and then I turn on the TV and see the Federal Government is spending and spending. They can deficit spend, but our state constitution doesn’t allow us to do that. We have cut $3.3 billion out of the state budget, which is what you have to do when what you take in is less than what you owe.
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“Our April state revenue was down 20 percent from last year. If it continues, we might have to go back and cut some more. However, it seems to be leveling off, but I think it’ll be three years before the state recovers.”
When the questions began, Vickie Bailey enquired about the very unpopular decision to cut the agriculture program from the high school.
Mr. Cole said, “I know this is a passionate issue. I spoke with two school board members and I intend to speak to the others. I also spoke to the Director of the State Board of Education. About 56 percent of the state’s budget is tied to education. We only cut that budget by three percent, but that represented a lot of money.
“The ultimate decision to make budget cuts lies with your local school board. I ask that you allow me some time, a few weeks, to keep talking to people and gather information.”
Sam Goolsby asked Mr. Cole if he could expound on the new laws on how to get property values lowered.
Mr. Cole responded, “We passed House Bill 233 which freezes the value of property for two years and if you appeal it could go down. We realize this is only a two year decision, but we’ll try again when it runs out. In the meantime we do have a temporary solution.”
A question was asked if there are any counties in Georgia which do not require people over 65 to pay school tax? Mr. Cole said, “Yes, there are some, but we have to remind ourselves there has to be a tax base to take that from. In those cases someone younger has to pick up the slack.”
Mr. Cole was asked to explain Zero Based budgeting. “That’s when you cut out funding for programs just because it has been funded in the past. There is still dialog going on about it, but it never came to a vote.”
The last question was, is the state taking any stimulus money? “Yes. The stimulus money was going to be spent whether we take it or not. If we didn’t take it, it would be transferred to another state and we would still have to be part of paying it back.”
County Commissioner Ronnie Payne volunteered, “Parts of Hwys. 16 and 83 will be paved with stimulus money, and Jackson Lake Road and some others are still in the system and we should know something on them by the end of the month.”
With no more questions, Mr. Cole led the gathering in prayer, after which he said he would be available if anyone wanted to talk privately with him. His mother, Ruth Cole, accompanied him to the meeting. She has campaigned in Jasper County for her son, and knows many of the Jasperites.
