Please click the links below to read my thoughts on the issues facing Athens-Clarke County voters.

Accomplishments

Friend of the Tax Payer

-Proposed and worked to increase our standard homestead exemption from $2,000 to $10,000, in 1988. This change increased savings to homeowners from under $70 to $335 per year

-In 2001, I proposed freezing the home tax valuation for senior citizens, which was supported by our school board and passed in a referendum by our citizens.  Average savings for senior citizens receiving this benefit was $300 in 2010.

- First Tax Commissioner in Georgia to create and implement a system that allows taxpayers to make agreements to settle their tax obligations in incremental payments. At the time, I was challenged by both our county commissioners and the Georgia Department of Revenue. The original contract I created twenty-five years ago is now used by the Georgia Department of Revenue in its Delinquent Tax Collection Manual, its training classes and is used by Tax Commissioners state wide.  This common sense solution, to a very real problem, has saved countless numbers of homes not only in Athens but across the State of Georgia.

-During my twenty-five year tenure as Tax Commissioner, I only had to levy and sell one owner occupied home for non-payment of taxes.

- In 2008, when we were seeing dramatic increases in energy cost, I changed the operating hours of the Motor Vehicle Office on Lexington road to a ten hour, four day a week operation, Tuesday through Friday from 7:30 am to 6:30 pm.  This not only lowered our carbon footprint and cut heating and cooling cost by 17%, but gave our employees an extra day with their families and one less commute per week. This small common sense change was not only good for the environment and saved tax dollars, but gave citizens the convenience of being able to handle motor vehicle transactions outside the normal eight to five work hours. 

An Effective Executive

-Increased the average tax collection rate from 94% to routinely around 99%. Each percentage point is equal to over $1 million in local tax revenues, adding an additional $6 to $7 million a year for Athens-Clarke County and the Clarke County School System.

Education, Awards and Recognition

- First Woman elected to Athens City Council in 1980

- Bachelors in Business from the University of Georgia Terry School of Business

- Public Management Certificate from the Carl Vinson Institute.

- Peer Mediation training by the Georgia Commission on Dispute Resolution

- Awarded the “Lifetime Achievement Award” by the Athens Junior League for volunteer work in Athens

- Named the “Senior Employer of the Year” by the Athens Council on Aging

- Received the “Athena Award” from the Athens Chamber of Commerce for professional excellence and community service.

- “Community Service Award” from the Historic Cobbham Foundation

- Recognized by Leadership Athens “For Outstanding Service” in 1992

- Served as the District First Vice President of the Georgia Municipal Association in 1982

- 2008 Graduate of the Clarke County Citizen Police Academy

- Charter Class Leadership Athens

- Voted Athens Banner Herald Readers Choice Political Figure for 2010

-Georgia Commission on Women