Letter in an ad to Oconee residents from COF
Water at any cost?
A letter to Oconee County Citizens
Oconee County has recently received wide recognition as a good place to live. If you stop 10 citizens on the street and ask them what they like about Oconee somewhere in the conversation you will hear comments such as “it’s a good place to raise children, with a sense of community, and small town atmosphere, and even rural atmosphere, with good schools.” Most of our families came to Oconee during periods of slow, steady, sustainable growth. A few came as early as 1790 but most in the past 30 years. This slow, steady growth gave us an environment with safe streets, manageable expenses, good schools and a strong community spirit. Now I ask you, why would anyone want to change that?
Your County Board of Commissioners is about to rush into a decision setting us on a course that will make Oconee something other than what is described above. It is probable that during a Feb. 20 Called Meeting the Commission will vote to join with Walton County in an already troubled water reservoir project estimated to cost in excess of $352,000,000. This would obligate Oconee County to borrow and spend in excess of $104,000,000 in the next 30 years, $45,600,000 of which will be borrowed and spent in the first phase. By way of comparison Oconee County’s share of the entire Bear Creek project cost was less than $10,000,000 and produced 6.36 million gallons per day. The first phase of the Walton project is estimated to cost Oconee at least $45,600,000 and produce only 3.4 million gallons per day.
Borrowing at 5% for 30 years the amount to be repaid will be $88,124,638 for the first phase and $200,986,016 for the total. The Board claims this will be paid with water revenue but that will require the county to issue thousands of residential and commercial building permits just to pay the debt service. This will threaten Oconee with runaway growth, and pose a real risk to all those good things which make this county a good place to live. To make matters worse in most bond issues borrowers pledge full faith and credit which means the bonds will be paid with property tax and/or local option sales tax in the event the County cannot raise enough revenue from water users.
The Walton County project has been plagued by rising costs and allegations of insider profiteering from land speculation. Rising land prices account for a substantial portion of the increasing costs. All other city and county governments who began the project have pulled out because of these problems, yet the Oconee Board of Commissioners appears poised to rush into this troubled project. The Board’s assertion that they must move now to join Walton or be left out is highly questionable. First, the Georgia Environmental Protection Division will not issue Walton a withdrawal permit for a regional reservoir unless Oconee joins. Second, Walton is already carrying a heavy debt load and needs Oconee County’s good bond rating to sell such a huge bond issue. There is no need to rush into this.
Your County Commissioners need to know you care about the future of Oconee County and that you want it to continue to be a good place to live. You can be sure that all who stand to gain from this project such as the consultants, engineering firms, bond lawyers, mortgage bankers, Walton land speculators, and Walton and Oconee development interests all have been or will be heard. There are several alternatives that have not been adequately explored. If you are concerned about these issues please call, write, or email the Commissioners and plan to attend the called meeting on Feb. 20 7:00 PM. They need to hear from and see the people who expect them to make the sound fiscal decisions that will protect those things we hold dear. Board of Commissioners telephone number is 706-769-5120. Email addresses may be obtained from the county web site at WWW. OconeeCounty.Com.
Charles Baugh
Citizens for Oconee’s Future
706-310-1580
A letter to Oconee County Citizens
Oconee County has recently received wide recognition as a good place to live. If you stop 10 citizens on the street and ask them what they like about Oconee somewhere in the conversation you will hear comments such as “it’s a good place to raise children, with a sense of community, and small town atmosphere, and even rural atmosphere, with good schools.” Most of our families came to Oconee during periods of slow, steady, sustainable growth. A few came as early as 1790 but most in the past 30 years. This slow, steady growth gave us an environment with safe streets, manageable expenses, good schools and a strong community spirit. Now I ask you, why would anyone want to change that?
Your County Board of Commissioners is about to rush into a decision setting us on a course that will make Oconee something other than what is described above. It is probable that during a Feb. 20 Called Meeting the Commission will vote to join with Walton County in an already troubled water reservoir project estimated to cost in excess of $352,000,000. This would obligate Oconee County to borrow and spend in excess of $104,000,000 in the next 30 years, $45,600,000 of which will be borrowed and spent in the first phase. By way of comparison Oconee County’s share of the entire Bear Creek project cost was less than $10,000,000 and produced 6.36 million gallons per day. The first phase of the Walton project is estimated to cost Oconee at least $45,600,000 and produce only 3.4 million gallons per day.
Borrowing at 5% for 30 years the amount to be repaid will be $88,124,638 for the first phase and $200,986,016 for the total. The Board claims this will be paid with water revenue but that will require the county to issue thousands of residential and commercial building permits just to pay the debt service. This will threaten Oconee with runaway growth, and pose a real risk to all those good things which make this county a good place to live. To make matters worse in most bond issues borrowers pledge full faith and credit which means the bonds will be paid with property tax and/or local option sales tax in the event the County cannot raise enough revenue from water users.
The Walton County project has been plagued by rising costs and allegations of insider profiteering from land speculation. Rising land prices account for a substantial portion of the increasing costs. All other city and county governments who began the project have pulled out because of these problems, yet the Oconee Board of Commissioners appears poised to rush into this troubled project. The Board’s assertion that they must move now to join Walton or be left out is highly questionable. First, the Georgia Environmental Protection Division will not issue Walton a withdrawal permit for a regional reservoir unless Oconee joins. Second, Walton is already carrying a heavy debt load and needs Oconee County’s good bond rating to sell such a huge bond issue. There is no need to rush into this.
Your County Commissioners need to know you care about the future of Oconee County and that you want it to continue to be a good place to live. You can be sure that all who stand to gain from this project such as the consultants, engineering firms, bond lawyers, mortgage bankers, Walton land speculators, and Walton and Oconee development interests all have been or will be heard. There are several alternatives that have not been adequately explored. If you are concerned about these issues please call, write, or email the Commissioners and plan to attend the called meeting on Feb. 20 7:00 PM. They need to hear from and see the people who expect them to make the sound fiscal decisions that will protect those things we hold dear. Board of Commissioners telephone number is 706-769-5120. Email addresses may be obtained from the county web site at WWW. OconeeCounty.Com.
Charles Baugh
Citizens for Oconee’s Future
706-310-1580
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