Published reports indicate that Walker County Sole Commissioner Bebe Heiskell will raise property taxes for 2016 by 13 percent. This increase is on top of last year's increase of 64 percent. What does the new increase mean for Walker County citizens? It means Walker County doesn't have two nickels to rub together.
Over the last several years, Heiskell has taken out taken out loans based on expected property tax receipts. These loans have increased as the years have gone by. This year, Heiskell borrowed $10 million from a sub-prime lender which has to be paid back by the end of the year or the interest rate increases. Part of this loan was used to pay debts related to Hutcheson Medical Center and part has paid county operating expenses. The realization is starting to set in that Walker County may not be able to pay this loan back by the end of the year.
Last week, Heiskell announced that she was "giving" the Walker County EMS Service to Hutcheson Medical Center. This is the same hospital hospital that has over $80 million in debt and an inpatient census of a couple of dozen patients. A hospital that is in bankruptcy court and is on the verge of closing. Supposedly, Hutcheson will float a bond issue and give the proceeds to Walker County, which will help cover some of the county's debt. The catch is that the county will use anticipated tax receipts to back the bonds if Hutcheson can't pay them. Rumor is that Catoosa County may take this matter to court to keep Walker County from doing this. They should. There is no way Hutcheson should take on anymore debt because they can't pay what they currently have. The real shame is that Walker EMS employees are caught in the middle. Men and women who are great employees and do stellar work helping county residents.
Commissioner Heiskell has told the press that she hasn't wasted taxpayer money. The facts, however tell a different story. First, the county has spent almost a half million dollars on Lookout Mountain building a bridge at Rock Creek. The county damaged the creek and fish habitat and the Georgia Environmental Protection Department fined the county $76,000. To my knowledge, the county has not paid that fine and it may soon become delinquent. Second, Heiskell spent several million taxpayer dollars purchasing and renovating Mountain Cove Farms. At Mountain Cove, the county has operated a restaurant, convenience store, archery range, a frisbee golf course and a wedding business. Reports indicate that the restaurant lost over $800,000 last year alone. Last, the Georgia Department of Revenue has reviewed the Walker County tax digest of 2012 and found numerous deficiencies. Last year, Heiskell signed a consent order promising to fix the deficiencies. To date, the county has not satisfied the requirements of the consent order and could face a fine of over $100,000.
Walker County is a beautiful place with unlimited potential. Unfortunately, that potential has not been realized. My fear is that young people now will not have opportunities for good paying jobs in the future and will be forced to move away or work elsewhere. On my walk every morning, I see hundreds of cars headed out of the county going either to Catoosa or Hamilton counties for work. That should not be. What are the solutions?
First, the state of Georgia should do a complete audit of county books and determine the financial solvency of Walker County. Citizens should be informed of all debts the county has including bonds that have been moved to development authorities, etc. It may be that that state of Georgia needs to temporarily appoint someone to oversee the county's operations. An action plan should be developed to reduce the county's debt and put it back on solid financial footing. Second, the county should do an inventory of all properties they own. Properties like Mountain Cove Farms should be sold and the proceeds placed in the county treasury to pay county expenses. The county lacks the business expertise to operate the businesses at the Cove, which compete with locally private owned businesses. If the Cove is worthy of development, let a private developer take their money and do the developing.
Also, county citizens should be able to determine what form of government they wish the county to operate under. To do this, the legislators who represent Walker County will have to pass a Local Act in the Georgia General Assembly to allow a referendum. To date, they have not been willing to do this. Citizens of Walker County may have to use their power at the ballot box next May in order to get the legislators to act.
In 2012, Commissioner Heiskell used the mantra the "Walker County Miracle" in her campaign literature. The only miracle in our county is that we aren't insolvent under her leadership. It's time for citizens to come together and identify the problems facing our county and develop solutions so that future generations will enjoy the same opportunities my generation has experienced. We owe young people that.
Mike Cameron
Rossville