By Fulton County Commissioner Lynne Riley

Once again, my colleagues on the Fulton County Board of Commissioners have engaged in deficit spending practices by adopting unbalanced budgets at our meeting on Jan. 20. Not only that, but the proposals presented to us at this meeting had been revised without notice or communication to the taxpayers we represent. My colleagues also added spending items during the meeting: the net result is that $27 million more is to be spent than will be collected in 2010. This action further erodes our reserve funds, and provides for little to no capital investment in our crumbling buildings and infrastructure. I cannot and will not support deficit spending. Nor will I support the lack of full public disclosure of proposals presented to the Commission for consideration.

Citizens in unincorporated South Fulton will no longer be provided with enhanced ambulance services due to last minute changes in the budget. This action may result in increased response times to emergencies. This amendment to the South Fulton budget should have been fully disclosed to residents well before action was taken. Funds from other county budgets were transferred to the South Fulton Special Services District to provide for service delivery in 2010. Accordingly, I voted against approval of deficit spending in this fund.

I remain skeptical of the revenue projections for 2010, just as I questioned revenue projections last year. It turned out that revenues came in more than $60 million less than projected in 2009, and I fear similar results in 2010. The 2009 budget over-promised and under-delivered services to the citizens of Fulton County. The adoption of the 2010 budgets may be a case of history repeating itself.

The value of residential, office and commercial property remains unstable. We can expect another large volume of property value appeals to be filed this year.  When the 2010 property tax digest is presented in a few months, the Board of Commissioners may be faced with an unpleasant decision: make drastic spending cuts or raise taxes to provide funds for promised service delivery.

I will provide updated information on revenue and spending trends and projections during the next months. I urge the taxpayers to stay engaged in this process, as it will directly affect your service delivery, or your wallet.

 
My call to action: Do not let yourself be overtaxed!

A copy of the final 2010 General Fund Budget is posted at www.LynneRiley.com.