Commissioner's Debate Pinpoints Trending County Issues

Tuesday's debate packed a full house at Forsyth County's Administration Building. Commissioners were given one minute per question to augment their positions on topics ranging from their ethics to their plans for reducing the county's budget.

The debate, hosted by the Forsyth County Republican Party was broken down by district, allowing voters a more focused study of the candidates running for office in their district.

District 5 incumbent, Jim Boff and challenger John Derucki both answered a question on when they feel it's appropriate for the commission to use the county's power of condemnation (exercising eminent domain).

Derucki said he's a big advocate of owner's properties and their rights that go with that.

"You're talking about coming in and taking someone's property away from them, for the benefit of their (other party) use. To me, there would have to be some overwhelming fact-based problem that we would need to solve as a county to do that. Then to talk about the compensation for that, that's just not fair market value, that's just compensation. How do you put a figure on that and treat everybody fairly? I would exercise that with great caution," said Derucki.

Boff said he agrees that great caution does need to be used because private property is extremely important to everyone.

"However, there are times for the good of all that condemnations have been used and will be used when there's situations like a road that otherwise might not be resolvable. Condemnation will happen whether I'm commissioner or not. I didn't invent it, I use it as lightly as I can, but it's a reality of the nature of government. Imagine if we didn't have , and yet that's a man made lake," said Boff.

Boff and Derucki were also asked to explain when they feel it's appropriate to accept or not accept the recommendations of staff regarding vendors and what criteria they'd use in considering whether or to support a recommendation.

Boff said he generally agrees with the staff insofar as he can understand what their points are.

"You will find me disagreeing with staff in situations where I can see a clear advantage to something that they are not able to describe as an advantage, but I would expect it to be rare that it happens and as far as I know, it hasn't happened so far."

Derucki said it's important for elected officials to listen to county staff, as they are more than likely the experts on the issue, but that those circumstances are not always the case.

"Obviously I think an elected official has to step in if they feel there are some special interest groups or people trying to inappropriately influence the decision." 

Concerning the question of Forsyth County's greatest need the candidates intend to address as commissioner, Derucki sited an approximation of three hundred million dollars in long-term debt that the county needs to pay.

"I just know how I live my life and that by no way means I'm stretching myself beyond my own means. What I'd like to do is focus on setting up a reserve because folks, with the growth coming, we're going to need it."

Boff explained that most of that debt is due to helping out developers by which in turn helps out all of us. 

"But the debt comes by and large for water and sewer. There's always risk of debt, but I would say one the least risky things to think about is whether or not everybody here is going to continue to use water and sewer. As long as you do, you'll be paying a bill that will be paying off most of that debt. I plan to enjoy the county as it is, and pay down debt to the degree that we can. I would also say that if we're in such bad shape, it's hard to enjoy our triple-A rating."

District 4 incumbent Patrick Bell and challengers Cindy Mills, , Bill Mulrooney and Tim Hubbard were also asked about their beliefs on when to accept or not accept county recommendations. Additionally, they were asked about their intentions to bring businesses to Forsyth County and the incentives they used to do so.

Charles Meagher said he has a long history of hiring the best people to work in areas that he was responsible for. "I believe in hiring the best staff in the county and I believe in following their recommendations unless there's someone who has specific knowledge that is superior to what the staff has and in that case, I need to have that person put on the staff."  

On bringing businesses to the county, Meagher said we need to promote our education and recreation systems. "There is already a litany of plans and tax breaks to encourage businesses to come to the county. We need to encourage businesses to see the amenities that the county offers."

Bill Mulrooney said that on the subject of taking county recommendations, he's had more than one commissioner tell him that Forsyth County staff makes them look good. "If you feel the need to constantly question or second guess, or micro-manage them then one of you is in the wrong job." 

On providing incentives for businesses to come to the county, Mulrooney said he doesn't believe in offering too many incentives. "I do think that we need to get a referendum on the ballot as fast as possible to eliminate inventory taxes for businesses." 

Patrick Bell commended Forsyth County staff members and cited his great respect for them. "Out of the number of decisions that we have to make, you will see maybe one or two a year that a commissioner may not agree with."   

On the county's business front, Bell pointed out the opportunities he created for businesses in District 4 when his fellow commissioners said it couldn't be done because the county is too wealthy. "Folks, it's about results and I have performed and I will continue to perform, and yes I fully intend to bring businesses to this county."

Tim Hubbard also talked about his knowledge that the Forsyth County staff is very good. "If there's something I don't understand, I need to have the staff inform me about it, that way I can make a decision for myself. It might take a little more time, but I trust my own decisions." 

On bringing business to Forsyth County, Hubbard explained that by doing away with inventory tax, companies who want come to Forsyth County will increase the county's revenue. "We'll have folks working, folks buying home, gas and groceries and I believe that would be good for the county."

Cindy Mills also expressed faith in the county's staff in making good recommendations to commissioners. "I think we have county staff in place who are supposed to be experts in their field and that most of us are not born to be experts in all fields and I think our county employees deserve to have the respect of their commissioners."

Mills further spoke about bringing more businesses to Forsyth County. "I understand our tax base is not what it should be. In talking to our planning department, I was somewhat surprised that District 4 has had no new zoning in the last four years. I would like to see that changed. I'm looking into a Fast Forward Forsyth program where I'd like to try to entice businesses to come."

District 2 incumbent Brian Tam faced off with Dennis Brown who was recently officially endorsed by the .

Both were asked to describe the county's greatest need.

Dennis Brown said he feels the county's greatest need is manageable growth. "To manage this growth, we're going to have to really watch these special interest groups which have a control over the county right now," he said.

"A lot of times, things are not in the best interest of the homeowners to protect your values, but it's based on donations and contributions to campaigns that influence the big money managers from outside Forsyth County. I think the citizens deserve better than all this money that's coming in." 

Brian Tam responded to Brown's statement by defending his special interest group as the people of south Forsyth County. Tam additionally cited the greatest need of the county is living within its means and not raising taxes.

"I think that we need to continue to build on our master transportation plan. We have funding until 2019, identified through our most recent SPLOST referendum. We need to get some of these transportation projects rolling."

On the subject of reducing the county's budget, Dennis Brown explained his plan for ending wasteful spending on causes that are great, such as a seven hundred thousand dollar ambulance. Brown made the point that not all great causes align with the county's budget. "I think the tax payer has just about had all the new taxes we can handle, so we need to look at new ways to fund these things. They're all great causes; the world is full of great causes. We see sixteen trillion dollars worth of national debt and it starts right here in Forsyth County."

"Another example is the banking. Why would we (county employees) spend 50 thousand dollars for banking services when we could have gotten it free? I'm no math maker but that's 50 thousand dollars we could have put toward something else."

"In austere times, you balance the budget by spending less," said Brown.

Brian Tam responded by saying that the budget is already balanced.

"The best way to balance the budget is to continue to encourage quality commercial development. I'll have to correct my opponent. We didn't spend 50 thousand dollars for a banking service; they matched the (current) price. We have been able to maintain a balanced budget year after year."

Dennis Brown additionally emphasized the need for term limits and a change by way of a newly elected commissioner rather than a career politician.

Brian Tam said term limits already exist by virtue of the fact that voters reelected him.

(A term limit is technically defined as a statutory restriction on the number of terms an official or officeholder may serve.)

Tuesday's debate drew a large crowd, and commissioners encouraged community members to stay involved and informed in the county's efforts to provide commissioners who put the taxpayer's interests first. 

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