Georgia Ballot Measures

Here are the 3 ballot measures for Georgia to vote on tomorrow as well:

This is for your information and also I have given my opinion :) but this is for you to decide.

#1) “Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended so as to provide that the General Assembly by general law shall encourage the preservation, conservation, and protection of the state's forests through the special assessment and taxation of certain forest lands and assistance grants to local government?"

Jeff's understanding is that people or businesses that own undeveloped or forest areas (over 200 acres) would get a tax break on that property if left undeveloped (at least for 15 years). People against the measure say that It would mean less tax money coming from that area and it would have to be made up by all Georgia taxpayers. People for it say that it helps to preserve the forest land and that those owners are not charged the high rate of taxes for preserving forests and undeveloped land.

I would say I am for this in order to not punish big land owners (people or businesses) for forest and undeveloped land and to preserve some of the green forests in GA. If they want to still develop it, they can as before with normal taxation. So it doesn't hurt development either.

#2) “Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended so as to authorize community redevelopment and authorize counties, municipalities, and local boards of education to use tax funds for redevelopment purposes and programs?"

Jeff's understanding is that local government would get to use school taxes to fund development projects in the community. People against it say that school funds should be used on school needs only and not for the community or development. And that it gives the school board to much power to fund things not part of education. People for it say that that money from city and county are sometimes not enough to support massive projects and it gives a choice to the school board to help in the community or not. They say that when they improve the community and area it therefore improves schools.

I am against this one. If the local government wants to improve an area or for development then use the money from state and county and city taxes and not from school funds. If they can't support it with those alone then save up or find something else that will help. School board members should focus on direct help in education and not on things that indirectly might help.

#3) “Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended so as to authorize the General Assembly to provide by general law for the creation and comprehensive regulation of infrastructure development districts for the provision of infrastructure as authorized by local governments?"

Jeff's understanding is that local government could approve of "infrastructure districts" or "private cities" basically an "area of land" meant for a developer to borrow money from the local government to develop that area and pay it off from people who buy that area after it is developed. People against it say that it makes it so that the local government can give tax payer money to a Developer to promote development in an area that might not occur or not needed. And if that area fails (doesn't sell) then the taxpayers are left to pay for it. People for it say that it is a new tool that will be used to pay for badly needed projects in some areas to increase development and that developers will pay back to taxpayers after it is bought up. Also it makes it so that these developments have a 20 Percent greenspace for parks and better water conservation.

I am against this measure because I want developers to build where they want and how they want and not the local government telling them where and how.