Recent media reports highlight the absolute mess that local county tax assessments are in. Both residential and commercial property assessments remain at inflated levels, while assessors are loathe to provide any relief, lest the county and city coffers suffer. As an owner of investment property, commercial property and raw land, as well as my own residence, I have seen values slide to unprecedented levels, and still property tax assessments remain at previous years values, thus forcing many if not most property owners to unfairly pay tax on values that are way off the mark.

If county and city revenue is derived from the collection of property taxes, then these same entities should suffer the downside as well as the upside. They can’t have it both ways. Governments tend to bloat when times are good. They should trim costs and practice the same belt-tightening that the rest of us are forced to do, painful though it may be. It is not the responsibility of property owning taxpayers to fund the “jobs program” that many local governments have become.

Hopefully the Georgia Legislature will address this issue in the upcoming session. Meanwhile, here in Roswell, both re-elected Mayor Jere Wood and new council member Nancy Diamond have alluded to a possible need to raise commercial property taxes. I ask both: Have you seen the vast amount of vacant commercial space in our fair city? Commercial space is (or should be) valued based on the revenue it produces. No tenants = no rent revenue = drastic decline in values.You can’t get blood from a stone.

Chris Watford,
Roswell

We enjoyed reading your sagacious commentary on the Mayoral election, well done. Your wrap up sets the stage for continuing tension and conflict on virtually every key issue confronting the new Roswell City Council. We look forward to The Beacon as our source for enlightening revealtions on City Council issues that will shape the future of Roswell.

The Beacon strips away the veneer and tells it like it is. Your refreshing approach to the news keeps us looking for your next issue to find out what is really going on in Roswell, and North Fulton politics, plus a little sports action too.

As newcomers to politics, our inspiration is drawn from our admiration for Lori Henry and your talent for keen observation and compelling stories that informed and educated us throughout the campaign. We look forward to your next enlightening revelation.

The Beacon truly shines a light into the dim corridors of North Fulton politics. Your opinion and insight give meaning and color to events that are otherwise just one-dimensional news items.

Ken and Betty Kavanaugh,
Roswell