Updated July 30, 2012 to add February receipt

Most purchases in Georgia are subjected to a 4% sales (“sales & usage”) tax. With three additional local taxes (LOST, SPLOST, and ESPLOST) the total sales tax paid on purchases in Walker County is 7%. In Tennessee, where residents don’t pay income tax, base state sales tax is 7% on most items. Hamilton County’s local tax brings the total there up to 9.25%.

As a benefit to particular people or industries, Georgia and Tennessee both exempt certain items, like medical supplies or groceries, from all or most sales tax. Purchases meant for resale are exempt too since they’ll be taxed again when the buyer resells them. This is, for the most part, fair and appropriate.

Both states also allow particular organizations to exempt themselves from paying the tax; Schools, nonprofits, churches, and government agencies – among others considered beneficial to the community – can skip paying state and local sales tax in Tennessee. Georgia (excepting churches) does the same thing. Organizations wishing to be tax exempt must file appropriate papers with each retailer they do business with, and often sign a form stating that the purchase will only be used for charitable purposes.

This, too, is for the most part fair and appropriate.

What isn’t fair or appropriate is when items purchased tax-free are bought to benefit an individual person instead of the public. And Walker County’s legitimate tax ID number has been used for that very thing: to help one person avoid paying her fare share of sales tax.

During Saturday’s six-hour-long candidate forum at the Civic Center, Commissioner Bebe didn’t do well compared to Dr. Shaw and seems to have hurt her campaign. The sheriff contenders didn’t have enough time, one candidate was asked if he’s LU, and a surprisingly high number of candidates didn’t show up.

Jay Neal (GA House 2) was absent due to a vacation his family paid for before the forum was scheduled. Steve Tarvin, his opponent, came and waxed eloquently about issues that have nothing to do with the Georgia legislature. He’s still running for congress and has to make a state legislature stop along the way.

Bebe lost her cool, interrupted Shaw (and got called out for it), came off as fake and incompetent. Shaw brought one of the nasty mailers she paid to send about him, showed it to the audience. He also showed evidence that prove the county is deeper into debt than Heiskell will admit. She should have skipped the forum and went on vacation with the Neals.

Kellie Maples (Clerk of Court) was involved in a car accident and couldn’t make it. Her opponent Carter Brown was asked by the Mayor of Rossville if he’s LU. He isn’t, for the record. None of us are running for office or we’d say so.

Mike Nowlin and John Deffenbaugh (GA House 1) didn’t bother coming but Alan Painter and Tom McMahan did. They won’t face each other on the July ballot because Tom is running under the D banner – they’ll face off in November. Painter is increasingly sure to win because his Republican opponents don’t seem to be serious candidates.

Also not a serious candidate, Ronald Cabero (School Board 4) didn’t show up. That’s probably why his opponent Dale Wilson, who has no chance of not winning, also didn’t make an appearance. Ronald Cabero wouldn’t win school board against Dale Wilson if he promised to pay people $100 for voting for him.

Current Sheriff Steve Wilson got points from the crowd for being the only candidate for Sheriff who knew the details of a new law about prison sentences. There’s little doubt that he knows the law well. But his willingness to fairly and equally enforce the law is another issue entirely. It’s easy to look up and read a law, but fixing broken character is a lot more difficult.

Sheriff candidate Tim Westbrook, also a non-factor in the race, didn’t show up either. The only democrat present at the TEA Party-sponsored forum (without Cabero or Westbrook) was Tom McMahon. So Tom gets points for showing up knowing he would face a hostile crowd.

There will be more information, maybe some quotes or video available later today; we’ll share whatever we find in tomorrow’s Daily Update and on the LU Facebook.

State officials have been bragging about statistics showing the state added jobs last month. But most of those jobs were in a select handful of cities – the rest of the state (including Walker County) is still shrinking economically.

The forum for local political candidates will be at the Walker County Civic Center today from 10 AM to 4 PM. We’re told Jay Neal is one of the candidates who won’t be showing up, due to existing vacation plans that couldn’t be cancelled. Not sure who else isn’t coming, we know Wilson, Roden, Shaw, Heiskell, McMahon, and Painter have all announced intentions to be there.

We’re told audience questions will be submitted to moderators and “screened” so there are no personal attacks made against candidates. How that’s defined will determine how effective this forum is to educate the people of Walker County. Some of the incumbent candidates seem to think any legitimate question or challenge is a “personal attack.” Fortunately at least one moderator isn’t from Walker County and doesn’t have a stake in how the elections come out.

And don’t forget to read over the LU rundown of this year’s candidates.

Speaking of questioning or challenging candidates..

Is Commissioner Heiskell REALLY open to criticism and questions? If you think she is, try asking a hard question or posting a complaint or concern on her campaign Facebook page. If it’s not pro-Heiskell, it doesn’t last long. She can’t handle any criticism because she has no coherent answers, and with a little public scrutiny her reputation and campaign for reelection fade faster than a July snow.

As before, this poster has no connection to the campaign of Heiskell’s opponent, Dr. Paul Shaw, but does serve as a citizen response to her second round of nasty attack mailers. We expect to post a scan of the latest one here next week. In the meanwhile, try to attend the candidate forum and watch Heiskell melt down when she has to answer a question not on a script without David Ashburn feeding her the answer.

More about the fire and police leadership split at LaFayette Public Safety. The search for new leadership continues, but we understand they already know who the job is going to.. Expecting an announcement sometime next week.

According to event organizers, last night’s rally for Austin Whitten’s family raised some $18,000.

Channel 3 WRCB, 06/13/2012: “while Austin couldn’t be there to see the support, his dad is sure of what he would say if he was. ‘You’re not promised tomorrow. Take what God gives you today. Really, I think that’s what he’d say.'”

It’s good to see businesses, schools, and (especially) churches all come together in support of something, and good to see people generously give to help the Whittens.

Businesses show support for Austin on their signs, and some are taking donations for the family. LHS let them use the football field for this rally, on short notice while school is closed. And a lot of churches were represented on the field, many others cancelled Wednesday night services or youth meetings so people would go to this rally.

But it shouldn’t take a tragedy for that to happen. Imagine the impact on LaFayette if the churches (and businesses and schools) regularly got together for something like this.. Most of the churches in LaFayette have beliefs and teachings that are 95% identical to each other. Should we have to wait for this poor kid to break his neck before they can set those differences aside for a night and worship together in public?

Everyone should consider making this a regular thing, not just once a year or during a tragedy but monthly, or quarterly. Doesn’t mean we have to all agree on everything, but the small things where we disagree don’t have to keep us from worshiping together or supporting bigger goals in the same place at the same time.

Jillian Pavlica of Channel 12 is going to moderate a candidate debate Saturday at Walker County Civic Center. The debate will be six hours long, with each contested position getting thirty minutes time. It could be a significant event this go-round, and we strongly encourage you to attend at least part of it if you can.

Here’s the schedule, courtesy Tom McMahan:

Board of Education 10:00 10:30 Post 1 & 4
Judge, Probate Court 10:30 11:00
Judge, Magistrate Court 11:00 11:30
State Court Judge 11:30 12:00
Tsplost Presentation 12:00 1:00 (Pro & Con)
Sole County Commissioner 1:00 1:30
Sheriff 1:30 2:00
State Rep. District 1 2:00 2:30
State Rep. District 2 2:30 2:45
Tax Commissioner 2:45 3:00
District Attorney 3:00 3:30

According to reports, the TSPLOST presentation will be delivered by a TEA Party director, which should keep it from being a pro-tax talk.

We’re told that 22 of the 26 candidates for local election are expected to appear. We will try to have some quotes and/or video from the meeting next week.

During its retreat earlier this month, the LaFayette council made some long-term plans. Those plans include cleaning up the city’s “convoluted” codes, making every department do a five-year financial plan, market the airport and golf course to outsiders, improve customer service, and build a new City Hall with SPLOST.

A new City Hall is needed, the existing building is ugly and small. But it shouldn’t take SPLOST priority over streets and sidewalks. Get your infrastructure right first.

“The LaFayette golf course has long been a necessary drain on the local coffers, the council members agreed, as it rarely makes money but is necessary in order to attract new businesses from outside.”

At least they admit it’s a black hole for money but is it REALLY necessary for business? There are golf courses everywhere and not every business depends on golf even if the old guard of the city think they do. Seems like better streets and infrastructure, a properly run police department, some nice signage, and decent outside marketing would be more important than golf.

We’ll give credit for having some vision, if nothing else. They never even had retreats before. These plans aren’t exactly what we want, some things we can argue about, but you don’t leave meetings feeling like the whole of city government hates you.. That’s how it was with Johnnie Arnold and Tommy Freeman. There are still some elements who don’t care (the mayor being a good example) but it’s not as bad as it was and they’re trying to have some vision. Better a new city hall than a new $980,000 softball field.

That said, this does nothing to encourage us to support the 2013 SPLOST. They could do wonders for LaFayette streets and sidewalks with all the SPLOST money if it was used for them.. The last cycle it seems they didn’t spend a cent of SPLOST on the streets.

Fix streets, build sidewalks, buy up some blighted properties in town. Do some landscaping, put up some signs. THEN build a new City Hall.

There will be a community prayer service and rally for Austin Whitten tonight at 6 PM on the football field at LHS. Looking like half the town will be there. They’ll be taking up a collection for the family afterwards.

Whitten broke his neck in a swimming pool accident last Saturday and has been paralyzed from the chest down. He has had several surgeries to repair damage and take pressure off his spine, and is still in the hospital as this is written.

According to Channel 3, the family has been told that Austin has less than a 1% chance of walking again. He was put on a ventilator yesterday for breathing issues related to a cold he had before the accident.

CatWalkChatt, 06/11/2012: “The ceremony, which will be held at Jack King Stadium on the school’s campus, will include guest speakers and singers. Donations will be taken at the conclusion of the night with all the money raised going directly to the Whitten family.”

An account for the Whitten family has been set up at the Bank of LaFayette. The account is to “help offset the costs of medical expenses, travel money, and other needs.”

Donations can be sent to the Bank of LaFayette at PO Box 1149, LaFayette, in care of Austin Whitten. Prayers can be sent in the usual way.

Update on the Cagle’s robbery arrests. The Sheriff’s Office says four guys stole two vehicles, then went back for four more – and walked home after? The numbers still don’t make sense.

WQCH Radio, 06/12/2012:

“LAFAYETTE’S CITY COUNCIL VOTED TO DROP THE POSITION OF PUBLIC SAFETY DIRECTOR IN FAVOR OF NAMING SEPARATE CHIEFS FOR THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS. ALSO MONDAY NIGHT, THE DECISION WAS MADE TO RETURN TO ONCE-PER-WEEK GARBAGE PICKUP, NEXT MONTH. BOTH OF THOSE MOVES WILL SAVE TAX DOLLARS, ACCORDING TO THE CITY MANAGER.”

“IN THE PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENT THE NEW MANAGEMENT WILL ELIMINATE THE POSITION OF ASSISTANT PUBLIC SAFETY DIRECTOR, SAVING THAT SALARY. NEITHER THE POLICE NOR FIRE CHIEF WILL MAKE AS MUCH AS THE FORMER PUBLIC SAFETY DIRECTOR, FOR A NET SAVING IN DEPARTMENT SALARIES.

“CITY MANAGER FRANK ETHRIDGE WILL HIRE THE TWO NEW CHIEFS, AFTER POSTING THE POSITIONS FOR THE REQUIRED THREE DAYS. IN THE MEAN TIME, HE SAID, BENJIE CLIFT WILL SERVE AS INTERIM POLICE CHIEF AND CAPTAIN ROBERT BUSBEE WILL BE INTERIM FIRE CHIEF. THE NEW LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE WILL TAKE EFFECT NEXT MONDAY, JUNE 18th. AS TO THE PERMANENT CHOICES FOR THE TWO CHIEFS, MAYOR NEAL FLORENCE SAID ‘WE WOULD PREFER PROMOTION FROM WITHIN.’

“IN ADDITION TO THE SAVINGS, COUNCIL MEMBERS COMMENTED THAT THEY LIKED EACH DEPARTMENT HAVING IT’S OWN CHIEF, REASONING THAT IT WILL BE BETTER FOR MORALE IN BOTH PUBLIC SAFETY BRANCHES.”

Eliminated the assistant Public Safety job, and the Mayor wants an insider.. We’re told by people close to LPD that the City Manager would have appointed Clift this week if Skipper Dunn hadn’t threatened a lawsuit if the job wasn’t posted as the law requires. That’s why they’re posting it for the legal minimum three days so people can waste their time putting in applications, just to see Clift named Chief next week. Robert Busbee is already a shoe-in for the new fire chief job, as well.

If they appoint Clift to be the new permanent chief it will be a real disappointment on many levels.

Clift offered to be an LU source, off the record, if we’d filter everything about the department through him. This is after he threatened our “outed” contributor with a trespassing charge unless LU buried those letters about Freeman abusing employees. Those reasons alone are enough to reject him as the chief.