The Election Notice recently mailed to “All Registered Voters” in Elbert County doesn’t add up.
Here’s the relevant section:
Consider:
Over the last 4 years spending grew by 92% from 2003. If you extrapolate the historical rate of growth on a straight line to 5 years, (4 x rate = 5 x .92; rate = 1.15), you get estimated 2008 spending without the sales tax, of $29,380,195. After adding in the sales tax impact, the new total is actually $31,349,745.
This comes to a 19% total budget increase in one year! (Not subject to Elbert County’s fiscal year spending limits of course.)
If we assume that county revenues continue to grow at the average rate of yearly increase, the county will see an increase in 2008 close to the amount they seek under the new sales tax. So, why can’t the county allocate increased revenues from the general fund to road and bridge instead of going to the voters for more tax money?