"This newspaper is published under the First Amendment of the Constitution and protected by the citizens and the Second Amendent"

ARE THE CITIZENS OF STEPHEN'S COUNTY GA. GETTING THEIR MONEYS WORTH? by R. W. Moore, publisher

PROPERTY tax has gone up almost 50% over last year plus the commissioners has backed up paying deadline one month. The commissioners can change the month that the dead line for paying taxes but they MUST do it the year before, not in the same year that the taxes are due. The citizens are being clipped out of a month.

The County commissioners hired a tax consultant to advise the commissioners how to get over the 2.5 million that the commissioners (citizens) are in the hole. The Commissioners paid to the tune of almost $18,000.00 for his services. Two of the things that was recommended was the "pay to throw" garbage, . the other was a new SPLOSH. If this writer was that person I properly would recommend the new SPLOSH where I would get up to 2% of the SPLOSH money plus the almost $18,000.00 already paid to him.

Are we getting our moneys worth? Back when Charles Whitworth was county Administrator he was paid $36.000.00 the current administrator Lamar Smith is paid $59,300.00, Mr. Smith has a "helper" Allen Smith (not related) @ $32,900.00 for a total cost to the tax payers of Stephen's County $91,900.00. for a difference of $55.900.00. The commissioners has spoke about hiring a "full" time Financial advisor. I guess the going rate for this person will be in the $50's. That would make the citizens of Stephen's County pay over $100.000.00 more than what was paid to Charles Whitworth. These numbers do not include the benefits package.

When Charles Whitworth went to work for the citizens of this county the county was 1.5 million in the hole, when he resigned the county was 2.5 million to the good. For you that do not know Mr. Whitworth, he did not need to go to work for the county, he had just retired from the state hiway department. He did not need the money but took on the project to do something good for the citizens of Stephen's County.

For almost two years I have attended most of the commissioners meetings, and the more of the meetings that I attend the more that I an convinced that the current batch of commissioners and others does not have a clue as to how to get the citizens out of the mess we are in. I do not believe they know how to manage the 10 million dollar budget that they spend each year. We cannot have good government unless you the citizen attend the meetings.

Please attend, the meetings are at 5:30 the first Tuesday of each month at the Stephen's county court annex. The commissioners do not seem to be able to help us, I pray God will. Here are one half of the salaries of your employees working for you in Stephen's county The next half will be published next month.