Speak now on merger proposal

Editorials

Discussion

June 10, 2012

Speak now on merger proposal

Anonymous Dalton Daily Citizen The Dalton Daily Citizen Sun Jun 10, 2012, 05:52 AM EDT

Whitfield County and the city of Dalton governments won’t merge into one unified metro government this year. The measure won’t even be put on the ballot.

The 15-person commission created by the General Assembly to study such a merger has concluded that there are just too many issues that can’t be easily resolved to put the matter up to a vote by residents.

The commission’s final report, issued last week, cited several obstacles to merging the two governments. They include the different freeport inventory exemption rates, the fate of Dalton Utilities, and whether the city and county could maintain different Insurance Services Office (ISO) ratings if they merged. The city currently has an ISO rating of 2, and the county has an ISO rating of 5. The lower the rating the better, and property owners pay less for fire insurance in lower-rated districts.

“These challenges are not insurmountable, but they require time, possible legislation and collaboration from elected officials to overcome,” the report said.

But the report also found that unifying the two governments could benefit residents by “increasing efficiency, enhancing communication, supporting economic development, slowing the rate of government growth, improving levels of service and providing strategic, unified, visionary leadership for Dalton-Whitfield.”

The report recommends merging the two governments’ public works, parks and recreation, and law enforcement patrol. The sheriff is required by the state Constitution to provide jail services, courthouse security and warrants, so those can not be merged.

The report is available online at www.whitfieldcountyga.com by clicking on “Proposed Charter Commission Final Report” under the “Board of Commissioners” header.

Commission members approved the report by a vote of 11-3, with all of the dissenting votes coming from the members appointed by the county’s three small cities. They say they don’t see the benefits of merging public works, parks and recreation, and law enforcement patrol, and they don’t believe that will save taxpayers money.

And that’s going to be the key to whether the Dalton City Council and the Board of Commissioners should go forward with the commission’s proposals.

The Whitfield County Board of Education has proposed a 2013 budget with a 5-mill tax increase. The county Board of Commissioners is talking about a similar increase in its property tax rate. Voters will be asked to approve two separate Special Purpose Local Option Sales Taxes (SPLOSTs) on the July 31 general primary ballot. One, a regional transportation SPLOST, could pass even if Whitfield County voters turn it down if the 15-county northwest Georgia region as a whole approves it.

In other words, Whitfield County taxes will go up, maybe by a great deal. So residents will welcome any move that could save them money while maintaining services. But they’ll want some assurance that any government mergers will do that. If those mergers simply shuffle money and people around, or if they somehow increase spending, Whitfield County residents will get very upset.

The merger commission will hold a public hearing on the report Thursday, July 12, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Dalton Community Center. Commission members have spoken. Now, it’s time for county and city residents to speak. Don’t miss this opportunity.

Text Only

Editorials

Search Results

Discussion

Speak now on merger proposal

Site Map

Contact Us