Incumbents, Challengers Debate Hot Topics

More than 250 people gathered inside the commissioner's meeting room at the Forsyth County Administration Building Monday night to listen to two of the three incumbents and their challengers running for Forsyth's three county commission seats.

The seats up for election this year include, District 5, which covers much of east Forsyth, between and challenger .

In District 4, which covers a good area of north Forsyth, the candidates vying for that seat are , opponents , , Tim Hubbard and Charles Meagher, both who announced their bids recently.

And in District 2, which covers a portion of south Forsyth, the race is between , who was the only candidate that did not attend, and challenger

Tam told Cumming Patch Tuesday that he was absent due to a conflict, but that he would participate in any upcoming debates.

"I have participated in debates during my last two election cycles and I welcome the opportunity to debate," he said. "I'll make every effort to be there, but I can't break commitments that I have with my constituents, they come first."

The evening's hot topics included the , the millage rate and the financial health of the county.

Bell, who is serving in his fourth year on the finance committee, said Forsyth County is in great financial health and it is not all "gloom and doom."

He said when he took office the budget was short $5 million in one fund and $13 million in another, but that it has been restored.

"We have earned a AAA bond rating, we have reduced expenses by some $20 million," Bell said. "Currently the county has about $270 million in bonds."

Boff agreed with the figures and added that last week the commissioners refloated a bond that saved the county a gross of $5 million, but in net present values it was about $3.5 million to $3.7 million.

While Brown agreed with the financial stability of the county he was bothered about the debt load and whether it was increasing, the trend of "more tax and spend."

"I think the $270 million in bond debt has tripled over the past few years, mostly spent for good causes, but anytime you spend money that you don't have, it's still debt," he said.

Derucki said the debt service of the county is out of control and has been for the last couple of years.

"I think it's time that government take a little more of a business approach and start reinventing [itself]," he said. "Just because we tax it doesn't mean that we need to spend it. Why are we not building up a reserve to pay for some of these things that we are going to need – infrastructure improvements, transportation?"

Hubbard said the budget has to be reduced across the board not increased.

"We've been in a rainy day but the fund is depleting," he said. "I believe we lack a lot of common sense."

Meagher said while the current financial health of the county "is sound" and the "AAA rating is an excellent deal for all citizens," planning for the future is needed using the resources the county does have.

"We don't really have a taxing problem in the county, or in the state, or the nation, we've got a spending problem and that's what we need to control," he said.

Mills said tough decisions would have to be made where the budget is concern.

"We've got to raise revenue, we've got to take in more money and we've got to cut back on the operation of things," she said. "And if we can't do that then we all are going to be in trouble. Because I for one will never support raising taxes and the only way you can keep things the same and not raise taxes is by cutting your budget."

Mulrooney's stand was simple, "debt is bad, if you have cash you pay for it, if you don't have cash you can't afford it."

"We need to let revenues come in before we pay for things," he said.

The millage rate [the amount per $1000 that is used to calculate taxes on property] was another hot topic that all if not most agreed should not increase and at best remain where it is.

Boff and Mulrooney agreed if the millage could not be lowered then it should remain steady, while Hubbard and Mills said it needed to be lower, but operation costs would have to be cut to make this happen.

Brown and Derucki would do what they could to keep the rate at its lowest.

Meagher said while it could possibly be lower, what was needed was government transparency on spending, and that people need to know where the money is going, where the mills are actually attached.

Bell said no matter how low it is people are going to want it lower, and since he has been in office, he has made a point of cutting the rate.

The brewing issue was another hot topic Monday night and all candidates weighed in their opinion on current negotiations.

Mulrooney said the demographics of the county have changed, the people in charge of the city have remained the same.

"The city has gotten very use to the revenues generated," he said. "They buy everything in cash and they carry no debt. They need to be weaned off of the Forsyth taxpayers, they need to be weaned off of the county."

Bell said the bottom line was that the county needs a safe, secure and reliable source of water. "That's the job I'm trying to do."

Value is important to Boff.

"I have no reason to believe there's anything whatsoever wrong with the quality of the water we get, but that's not the issue" said Boff. "The question is why should we pay more than we have to and again I haven't heard a good explanation of why we should pay more than we have to."

Brown believes Forsyth County needs water independence and the way to achieve the challenge is by "sitting down in good faith negotiations with the mayor, and our state elected officials, go to the EPD (Environmental Protection Agency), go to the Corps of Engineers" and work on it collectively.

"We don't need to keep this a political football at odds with special interests working against the citizens efforts," Brown said. "We need to deal with it and we need to deal with it before this election."

Derucki said time is running out and a short-term plan is needed "quick." The deal with the city will be done whether people like it or not.

"I personally, I don't like it," he said. "Part of my plan would include not paying the $11.4 million invoice that the mayor sent over to the county, I think that is a negotiating ploy."

Hubbard's take on the water issue? He said the county has to look northward for another water solution.

"I don't know how to go about that, but I know it's not coming out of Lake Lanier or the Chattahoochee because of the stuff that's up with the tri-state water wars," he said.

Meagher agreed with Derucki that a short-term solution is needed as well as a long-term solution. He said, "As I understand it there are several plans on the table right now being reviewed."

"I hope that we can find something that gets us through during the short-term," he said. "But we need to work on the water intake, we need to have our own straw and I think that will come as soon as some of these lawsuits go away."

Mills pointed out that the county invested about $20 million on a finishing plant so the county can process its own water. She questions why would the county continue buying finished water from the city when it has its own facility. She also mentioned the raw water contract and varying prices that are being offered from different commissioners.

"We want water independence and I know that that's something we've all been wishful for a long time," she said. "Why would we want to get into another long term contract if we have hopes of being independent? I don't understand that."

The county commission debate was the second of the political season, moderated by Steve Voshall, chair of the Forsyth County Tea Party.

The next sponsored tea party debate is set for May 21 and will be on the state level when voters hear from the candidates running for House Representative.

Voters head to the polls to cast their ballots for the candidates in the primary July 31.