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

Zoning and Land Use 
I support strong zoning laws that protect the integrity of our neighborhoods.  I believe the purpose of zoning should be to provide orderly development and protect existing development, infrastructure, natural resources and property rights of citizens.  When a citizen invests in a home, they should have a reasonable assurance that existing zoning laws will protect them from inappropriate land uses that disrupt their lives.

Zoning laws are inherently restrictive, but should have mechanisms to allow reasonable, appropriate deviations.  Citizen concern and involvement in land use is paramount, and I encourage participation in the process.

My door will always be open to the homeowner and developer alike.  I promise to listen to both sides and make recommendations to the commission as an informed mayor.

Quality of Life
When we live in close proximity of one another, we must be considerate of our neighbors.  Inconsiderate homeowners or landlords, who flaunt laws by not maintaining their properties to reasonable standards prompted ACC to develop community maintenance standards which are enforced by community protection enforcement officials.  I have heard some criticisms of requirements such as the requirement that garbage cans be taken back off the street after pick up.  This may seem petty, but imagine your street with garbage cans permanently stored on the curb.  This was happening in some areas forcing the Mayor and Commission to act by adopting an ordinance prohibiting such activity. I support quality of life laws and want our enforcement officers to have adequate support and resources to insure that our established communities are not degraded and/or devalued. I also want those code officers screened and trained to administer laws in a fair and consistent manner with consideration for effected citizens.

Safety
As the daughter and sister of law enforcement officers, I know how important moral is in the public safety sector of the government.  Our fire fighters and police will always know they have my admiration and support.  I have ultimate respect and appreciation for what they do every day. As I attended the Citizens Police Academy last year, I became even more proud of the professional, caring officers in our department and will try to be sure they have the tools they need to keep our neighborhoods and all ACC safe.

Infill Development
Infill development is when homes are built on vacant lots in existing areas.  Done properly, this is a win-win for our community.  It is much more cost efficient for the government to deliver services where they are already available, such as water and sewer, to these homes. Often unsightly vacant areas are replaced by good development and neighbors.  Good infill development should be compatible with the existing built development in footprint, placement, architectural design and lot size. Infill standards should be part of our permitting process and insure compatible and quality construction and protection of adjoining properties.

Homestead Exemptions
Owner occupied properties are a stabilizing factor in a community.  Areas of high home ownership are generally better maintained and require less police intervention and other government services. Citizens with a financial stake in the community are more involved in volunteer and community support activities.  I believe homes should be treated differently for taxation.  Even though in most cases they are a family’s greatest financial asset, they are first and foremost a home, not an investment.  Increases in home values do not add income unless the home is sold on the open market. Any net gain from the sale is eradicated if the homeowner is replacing it in the same market.  Investment property, whether rental or retail, brings in regular income which can be adjusted with the economy. 

Homestead exemptions were created after the depression, and were designed to protect homes from being lost in tax sales.  When the basic $2,000 state exemption was established, it protected a modest home ($5,000 value) from all state and local tax liabilities.  This benefit became almost meaningless over time as it was eroded by inflation. In 1988, I proposed and worked for passage to increase this homestead exemption in Clarke County to $10,000, which protects $25,000 of value from taxation, resulting in $335 annual tax reduction to begin to address this issue.  I also wanted to level the field of home taxation between Clarke and surrounding counties, which had much lower mill rates at the time.  We were losing potential home buyers to surrounding counties, so I wanted to take property tax out of the equation for home buyers.  The increased exemption leveled the playing field for potential homeowners in our community.

During my term as Tax Commissioner, I saw more and more senior homeowners, on fixed incomes, struggling to meet their tax obligations because of the inflationary growth in their homes values.  I did not think these citizens, who had contributed for a lifetime, should have to make decisions to leave their homes prematurely, because of the tax burden. I proposed freezing valuations for tax purposes, which the school board accepted and the voters approved.  The average saving for senior citizens receiving this benefit for 2010 is about $300.  We need to extend the valuation freeze to the county portion of the tax as well.  It is the right thing to do, and now is the time to do it.