"A people that values its privileges above its principles will soon lose both."

At Least Republicans Save On Gas ...

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Taxpayers Have Already Paid For Them Once

by J. Smith

At the July 2011 County Council meeting, I expressed my views about the School Board selling Liberty Middle and Pickens Middle to the County after the taxpayers have already paid for them. It is ridiculous to pay for properties twice: just to fatten the reputations of some Board members.

I recommend that the County and all political subdivisions institute a policy that allow for all property, both real and otherwise to be circulated among themselves to determine if there is a need anywhere else.  Those items may be claimed off this list for free and simply transferred with the proper paperwork to the accepting agency or council.

This would save untold money and utilize the property that the taxpayers have at such great cost acquired.

If you agree with this, send it on to your Board Member or County Council person.

Junius Smith

Editor's note: I'm not 100% sure but the taxpayers may not own the school properties after all. It's complicated to explain or understand, but ALL SCHOOLS in the county were mortgaged by a dummy corporation called SCAGO a few years ago in order to pay for the massive building plan that taxpayers unanimously turned down in a 75/25 vote. In order to go through with the building plan anyway - the school board hatched a devious plan to mortgage each school in the district. Technically, this dummy corporation (SCAGO) owns the schools and technically the monies collected should go directly to paying off some of the massive $375 million+ debt that taxpayers in Pickens County now owe on all the new buildings.


[UPDATE] Correction by a School Board member that the votes for turning down the School Building Plan were 62/38 1st vote & 64/36 2nd vote and not 75/25 as mentioned above. It's worthy to point out that the Conservative or Republican vote is most likely higher than the original 75/25 vote stated. Voting figures are sometimes like statistics ~ each side can make them say what they want them to - even though the stats are concrete.

Homeowner Overcharged Property Taxes For More Than 20 Years ...

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From The Consumerist:

An 84 year old widow recently found out she's been paying too much property tax on her home for more than two decades because of an error by the original assessor. But the city has only offered to pay her back for one year of the overcharge.

The small, one story Racine, WI, home has a pair of windows that look out from the attic. And when the original tax assessor came by to look at the property in 1987, he didn't go inside and assumed that the attic was actually another bedroom, which meant another 500 square feet.

It wasn't until 2008, after her husband passed away, that the woman went to the city looking for some way to bring down her tax burden, when someone noticed the error.

The city, which has offered to repay her the most recent overcharge of around $450, acknowledged the error but says it's a homeowner's responsibility to notice these sorts of mistakes.

To see the full story:

http://consumerist.com/2011/07/homeowner-overcharged-on-property-taxes-for-two-decades-how-much-should-city-repay.html

Jailed Because Of Your Garden?

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Julie Bass' vegetable garden in her front yard. (WJBK/myFOXDetroit.com)

Fox News reports on a Michigan woman that was recently sentenced to 93 days in jail for growing a garden in her front yard.
From pictures, the yard isn't particularly untidy. At least no moreso than than cold pavement at an apartment complex or the average government housing.
Any of you have gardens in your front yard?
For the full story, read:
Michigan Resident Faces 93 Days in Jail For Vegetable Garden