HONK AGAINST THE WHEEL TAX
On Monday morning 16 May 2011 at 9:00 AM the County Legislative Body will come into session and on the agenda for that meeting is the issue of circumventing the voters of Giles County by passing a Private Act to implement a Wheel Tax of $50.00 per vehicle on the citizens of the county. If this passes it will be given to Representative Eddie Bass to take before the state legislature for approval. My understanding, at this time, is that Rep. Bass has agreed to do this. Understand that there is nothing that legally requires Rep. Bass to do this. It is merely an act of courtesy to the County Legislative Body.
While a Private Act usually applies to such things as a state recognition of an individual, event or place it seldom is used for such an odious deed as imposing an unwanted and unneeded tax on citizens.
Because this Private Act, if approved, will not allow the people to vote on it our only opportunity to express our opposition will be in the form of a "Honkathon" around the square. While we will be limited to only four sign holders on the corners of county property we are asking that everyone who is opposed to this abusive action come to the square and honk your horns as you travel past the courthouse.
We plan to begin around 8:30 and continue throughout the meeting.
Understand there are a number of Commissioners who have committed to vote against this sleazy maneuver and are just as disgusted as anyone about it, they need our support. Call your commissioner and the County Executive ask where they stand on this issue politely express your objection to the wheel tax then on Monday come to the Courthouse Square and "honk" your opposition.
While a Private Act usually applies to such things as a state recognition of an individual, event or place it seldom is used for such an odious deed as imposing an unwanted and unneeded tax on citizens.
Because this Private Act, if approved, will not allow the people to vote on it our only opportunity to express our opposition will be in the form of a "Honkathon" around the square. While we will be limited to only four sign holders on the corners of county property we are asking that everyone who is opposed to this abusive action come to the square and honk your horns as you travel past the courthouse.
We plan to begin around 8:30 and continue throughout the meeting.
Understand there are a number of Commissioners who have committed to vote against this sleazy maneuver and are just as disgusted as anyone about it, they need our support. Call your commissioner and the County Executive ask where they stand on this issue politely express your objection to the wheel tax then on Monday come to the Courthouse Square and "honk" your opposition.
posted by Allen Barrett | 1:17 PM
16 Comments:
Wonderful! I will be there to lend my support against a wheel tax. Will also call as many commissioners as piossible and voice my objection.
Bring your air-horns -those compressed-air can type that folks use at football games to stir up the crowd . They'll be good as you walk around the courthouse .
Remember to stay on COUNTY property ONLY .....which is the grassy areas directly up against the courthouse building . The County has NO 'meeting-permit ' requirements , the CITY does.
Key P M Straight
Is this tax going to be applied to ALL vehicles ? ATV's? Motorcycles ? farm tractors ?trailers ?
Can bicycles be far behind ?
My grandson has a Big Wheel -obviously needs to be taxed just to get him used to the system in Giles Co.before he moves away
Really, folks you complain about your property taxes going up. It is time that the non property owners pay their share too. I am tired of watching these folks with 4 or five cars that rent or get public assistance not paying their share. Don't they use the same roads and facilities that we do. What do we get that they don't except property tax bills. I have called my commissioner but for some reason they never answer, no answering machine either. Could that be caller ID and they don't know me?
7:16 thanks for telling how your commissioners didn't answer. If they had caller ID they should of called back.
Will these people on public assistance not get the same help to pay for their wheel tax?
Does property owners that rent out their property not go up on rent to help pay the tax?
That's just questions it don't mean I'm against the wheel tax, I've thought the same thing you do about some of these people not paying their share.
I'm afraid we will get an increase in property tax and the wheel tax.
If wheel tax passes when do we start paying, next year when we buy tags?
I agree there is an unfairness when a person owns four cars and gets subsidized housing and food stamps and free money from the state but shouldn't those things be criticized instead of trying to put a wheel tax on everyone just to make some bum pay?
Somewhere I read the question "How does someone living in apartment paying a wheel tax make your life better if you pay the wheel tax to"?
I have to think that kind of logic is what my momma referred to as cutting off your nose to spite your face.
Seems like to me that the best idea is to make the county do like every person has to do when they run out of money, stop spending so much.
Does Roger Strickland really need a truck and gas at our expense to travel all over the state doing his personal business in? Does the Highway Dept really need top of the line luxury trucks?
If all the people in Vanzant's office really worked a full 40 hours a week would so many be needed?
Does an assistant director who ain't a CPA really deserve the pay of a CPA?
Does a ambulance department that loses a million dollars a year really deserve to stay under the same leadership?
11:06 I agree with everything you say except about the ambulance service. Just have a question about it, Why is it loosing money? Could it be because they pick up so many that never pay? Just wondering.
I don't live in Minor Hill, but is it fair they don't have an ambulance station and some places do?
Just so everyone knows, the Vanzants are for a wheel tax. I understand Ms. Vanzant smarted off to one of the protestors. Wonder how many people she told she was against a wheel tax when she was running for the Executive's office. One of these days she's gonna run that smart mouth off to someone she'll wish she hadn't.
Smarted off or just defending herself against some smart aleck?
The "Wheel Tax" is dead for the moment but is by no means buried.
Mrs Vanzant and Commissioner Campbell played on the people's emotions with their whine about the desperate need in the Highway Department look for the same tactic in their next efforts. Look for cutting out such emotion laden programs as the Boys and Girls Club and other charities unless they get a wheel tax or property tax increase or both. There is no end to the underhanded way some will seek to get their way.
If the charities aren't enough to strum our emotions look for a threat to do away with ambulance services and fire and police protection.
Barrett
You are again making some serious accusations. Exactly who is being underhanded? Please expound and give specifics.
You are absolutely unbelievable.
It is very underhanded for a commissioner and County Executive to meet in violation of the state open meetings law. It is very underhanded to try and force a wheel tax via a private act that is primarily for non controversial issues. It is underhanded to try and scare people into supporting a tax increase. It is underhanded to raise taxes to cover the incompetence of those who approved the last few budgets. I could go on and on about this but it's bedtime and while I don't really need any beauty sleep I am sort of tired.
Did any of you see the very "sleazy" letter to the editor in this week's paper? The attack centered around some of the usual victims (Tommy Campbell, Bill Holt, and Mrs. Vanzant). Talk about sleazy!
4:25 All the 'smart aleck' said to Ms Vanzant was Good Morning before her serpent's tongue protruded.
Just remember them in the next election. Campbell, Holt, Vanzant.
5:42 What was a lie in the letter to the paper?
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