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Health & Fitness

Roswell City Council Now Giving Away Your Property Tax Dollars

Roswell Gift Tax

How many ways can Roswell city government think of to spend your money? 

Well, they have just added a new one. Roswell City Council is now giving away your property tax dollars! 

In just one week, Roswell city government begged, borrowed, and gave away over $30 million dollars of taxpayer money.

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Let me share a few facts with you - During the week of Oct. 21, Roswell city government:

  • Rammed through a $16 million bond to pay for an unnecessary water plant that will enslave the citizens of southwest Roswell to debt and higher water prices for the next 20 years.
  • Publicly begged the citizens of Roswell to approve $14.7 million of new debt and taxes to pay for a list of projects that Councilmember Betty Price said is filled with “wants and not needs.”
  • Gave away $25,000 of your property tax dollars to private non-profit organizations. 

All of this in just one week!  During just one week, mayor and city council took $16 million, begged for $14.7 million and gave away $25,000 of your tax dollars!

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So which is it? Is Roswell broke and in need of a loan? Or does Roswell City Council have so much of our money that they can afford to give away our tax dollars?

Is Giving a Bad thing?

Of course not! So long as it is your money that you are giving! This may be where the politicians lose their way. You see, after a while, politicians seem to forget that it is your money and they start to believe that it is their money. 

  • Who paid the taxes? You did!
  • Who gave away your property tax dollars?  Roswell City Council did.

If an individual gives to a non-profit, he gets a tax break. If a government official gives tax dollars to a non-profit, he buys a vote for re-election.

Why all the fuss? $25k is Small Potatoes!

Now let’s not pretend that $25k can rebuild a water plant or fix all of the leaky water pipes in Roswell. But the decision by Roswell City Council to give public tax dollars to privately held non-profit organizations does force the taxpayers to call into question the legitimate role of government and its use of our taxes. You see, “what the government gives, it must first take away.” – John S. Coleman.  And in doing so, the government robs the individual of a choice he might have otherwise made with that dollar.

What’s the big deal? My Church Gives to Charity & Non-Profits!

There is no virtue in compulsory government charity. And after all, that’s exactly what this is. Charitable acts, carried out by the government are compulsory to the tax payer. If you don’t give to your church, your pastor can’t put a lien upon your house! The government is acting like a self-righteous version of Santa Claus who sneaks down your chimney, takes your stuff and drops it off at his favorite non-profit, just down the street.

To give voluntarily and of a person’s own accord is a noble and gracious act.  Using the power of taxation to take from one group of people to give to another is theft and an abuse of power.

Does RFFR Oppose the Organizations that Received the Money? 

Of course not! The organizations that received this money are filled with many wonderful people who play an important role in the community. RFFR is and will continue to be pro-giving and pro-philanthropy. But RFFR believes that acts of charity should be carried out by private individuals making private decisions using private dollars. 

Who Voted for These Issues?

$16 MILLION Bond for Water Plant

  1. Councilmember Jerry Orlans:  For
  2. Councilmember Betty Price:  For
  3. Councilmember Kent Igleheart:  For
  4. Councilmember Becky Wynn:  For
  5. Councilmember Rich Dippolito:  For
  6. Councilmember Nancy Diamond:  For
  7. **Mayor Jere Wood:  For

$14.7 Million Bond for Unnecessary* Projects

  1. Councilmember Jerry Orlans:  For
  2. Councilmember Betty Price:  For
  3. Councilmember Kent Igleheart:  For
  4. Councilmember Becky Wynn:  For
  5. Councilmember Rich Dippolito:  For
  6. Councilmember Nancy Diamond:  For
  7. **Mayor Jere Wood:  For

$25,000 in Gifts to Private Non-Profit Organizations

  1. Councilmember Jerry Orlans:  For
  2. Councilmember Betty Price:  Abstained
  3. Councilmember Kent Igleheart:  For
  4. Councilmember Becky Wynn:  For
  5. Councilmember Rich Dippolito:  For
  6. Councilmember Nancy Diamond:  For
  7. **Mayor Jere Wood:  For

*Per quote from Councilmember Betty Price: project list was filled with "wants rather than needs."

**Mayor is not required to vote but has made statements on public record for or against the issue, as noted.

Roswell for Fiscal Responsibility is committed to fighting government waste, bringing truth and transparency to the voters of Roswell and fiscal accountability to Roswell City Government. 

Tom Cork
President
Roswell for Fiscal Responsibility
RFFR.org
facebook.com/RoswellForFiscalResponsibility
404-586-4815 (Call/Text)

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