Local official mocks and insults citizens of Paulding County

Re: Tommie Graham mocks and insults citizens of Paulding County

I've listened to this a few times and the only thought that keeps popping in my head is that if there are that many naysayers and no one is patting him on the back, maybe he needs to listen to the naysayers....

He's very unprofessional and demeaning - the princess usually gets a time out when she whines like that. He didn't get my vote last time and he won't get it next time.
 
Title changed. When dealing with local people, businesses, etc; I'd rather not use their names in the subject line.

Thanks
 
I can sense the frustration in his statement. He has people telling him to cut spending but not their pet project every day. That has to be frustrating. "Cut the fat" must be getting old by now.

I agree that it was an unprofessional way to convey the point, but I understand that point. Tommie is my commissioner, and so far, I still support him. I wouldn't want his job, particularly in this day and time.
 
lotstodo said:
I can sense the frustration in his statement. He has people telling him to cut spending but not their pet project every day. That has to be frustrating. "Cut the fat" must be getting old by now.

I agree that it was an unprofessional way to convey the point, but I understand that point. Tommie is my commissioner, and so far, I still support him. I wouldn't want his job, particularly in this day and time.
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Amen
 
I was going to stay out of this for a few personal reasons but there are a few things people are just not getting. I have known Tommy and David for many years, long before they decided to run for office. Tommy was a client of mine when I had the computer business and we have had the chance to talk one on one many times, even after he got into office. Trust me, there may never been another person sitting on the BOC that does more behind the scenes for this County then Tommy Graham does.

He understands issues this County faces more then anyone I have met and has stepped up more then once to get things done. I'm sure that having to cut budgets and fire County employees just tears him up. It's not an easy job and he didn't take it for the praise! He saw a job that needed to be done and he did it.

We can all sit back and bad talk him all we want, but unless you are willing to step up and do his job, you have NO place to complain!

It's been known for many years that this County was headed in this direction. Even when I did Leadership Paulding with the Chamber of Commerce back in 2000, it was a hot topic. This County for almost 40 years fought against any type of commercial development. Jerry Shearin was the first to start the process and David Austin picked it up from there with new projects in the works. But these things takes years to get going..... in a good economy. It can take decades in the economy we have now! Tommy Graham is been right in the middle of all this for many years, long before he run for office.

Now, as far a property taxes? You are paying less now then you were 2 or 3 years ago because your values have dropped. Property taxes are based on values. So the money the County collects is way down, even if millage rates went up, actual collections are down. Sales tax collections are down because people are spending less, but the bills coming into the County, just like you and me, have not gone down. The law says that the County MUST have a balance budget and that they must maintain a certain balance for emergency funds. The County MUST get the money somewhere, they have no choice! The "fat" was cut from the budget 2 or 3 years ago. There is no more fat to cut without cutting services, that is where we are now. Your choice, pay a few dollars a year in property tax or loose County services? That is what Tommy and David want to know!

It does not matter which direction they go, they all know it will make people mad. It's a no win situation, plain and simple. They do not need to hear everyone whining about this or that but they do want to hear people coming up with a solution to this situation!

I doubt anyone read this, so I'll stop for now. But if anyone has some solutions to fix the County's budget problems, I'll be glad to take it directly to David Austin or Tommy Graham.
 
As a citizen of Paulding County my only issue on this current topic of conversation is that an elected official from my county made an a$$ of himself when he briefly forgot himself and his position and lowered himself to such behavior. The immature voice nonsense is not acceptable of an elected official. I don't care how hard he works, I don't care if he is Jesus himself. He screwed up by acting like that. Period. Of course it isn't enough to condemn the man but I would like to think even his biggest supporter(s) could acknowledge it as a moment of weakness.

Yes, he's human like the rest of us but a mistake is a mistake. Own it and move on.

I appreciate anyone that is willing to try to do the job, particularly in economic times like we are currently in. It is a no win for any/everyone in politics.
 
Winchester said:
I was going to stay out of this for a few personal reasons but there are a few things people are just not getting. I have known Tommy and David for many years, long before they decided to run for office. Tommy was a client of mine when I had the computer business and we have had the chance to talk one on one many times, even after he got into office. Trust me, there may never been another person sitting on the BOC that does more behind the scenes for this County then Tommy Graham does.

He understands issues this County faces more then anyone I have met and has stepped up more then once to get things done. I'm sure that having to cut budgets and fire County employees just tears him up. It's not an easy job and he didn't take it for the praise! He saw a job that needed to be done and he did it.

We can all sit back and bad talk him all we want, but unless you are willing to step up and do his job, you have NO place to complain!

It's been known for many years that this County was headed in this direction. Even when I did Leadership Paulding with the Chamber of Commerce back in 2000, it was a hot topic. This County for almost 40 years fought against any type of commercial development. Jerry Shearin was the first to start the process and David Austin picked it up from there with new projects in the works. But these things takes years to get going..... in a good economy. It can take decades in the economy we have now! Tommy Graham is been right in the middle of all this for many years, long before he run for office.

Now, as far a property taxes? You are paying less now then you were 2 or 3 years ago because your values have dropped. Property taxes are based on values. So the money the County collects is way down, even if millage rates went up, actual collections are down. Sales tax collections are down because people are spending less, but the bills coming into the County, just like you and me, have not gone down. The law says that the County MUST have a balance budget and that they must maintain a certain balance for emergency funds. The County MUST get the money somewhere, they have no choice! The "fat" was cut from the budget 2 or 3 years ago. There is no more fat to cut without cutting services, that is where we are now. Your choice, pay a few dollars a year in property tax or loose County services? That is what Tommy and David want to know!

It does not matter which direction they go, they all know it will make people mad. It's a no win situation, plain and simple. They do not need to hear everyone whining about this or that but they do want to hear people coming up with a solution to this situation!

I doubt anyone read this, so I'll stop for now. But if anyone has some solutions to fix the County's budget problems, I'll be glad to take it directly to David Austin or Tommy Graham.
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I agree with you. It's a thankless job and there is no more fat to trim. it has to be frustrating.

How about we settle the Morrison case though and spend that million or so contingency earmarked for legal council and in return PAC's on roads, cops, and parks. Not being a smart ass, but that just stands out like a sore thumb.
 
Foxmeister said:
I myself would prefer to see the BoC meetings held in the evening. While I lived in MI, the BoC there would hold them in the afternoon as well. Most people do work during the day.
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There was one at 7:00 pm yesterday. I was at both the Monday Special Called Meeting and the Tuesday meeting at 10:00 am (work session). The one on Monday was a real eye opener. I think folks should look for the video at the Dallas/Hiram Patch.
 
Winchester said:
We can all sit back and bad talk him all we want, but unless you are willing to step up and do his job, you have NO place to complain!
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I "strenously object" to this statement. (Maybe someone will get the quote.) We each have our calling and Mr. Graham chose his (or it chose him). Do you object to Obama's performance? Do you feel compelled to give your opinion on how it's done? Are you willing to take his job?

It's our responsibility as citizens of this county to make our voices heard to our elected officials. I'll give my opinion on this issue. And, no, I don't give an opinion on every issue.

Quite frankly, Cobb has survived with MORE furlough days than Paulding appears to be asking. Even Cobb judges have been given furlough days. And, no, their caseload isn't lighter. Teachers were given furlough days. What makes a county clerk, or commissioner for that matter, immune?

Trust me, my family has given up a LOT more than 7 days the past couple of years.
 
The county is faced with either raising the millage or putting in place 7 furlough days. I myself, favor the 7 furlough days. I've been to the county offices in the new government complex and quite frankly, each one I've been in wasn't very busy. The only significant impact I see additional furlough days having an impact are in the courts as I'm told are pretty busy.

Quite frankly, I don't trust the BoC to lower the millage rate if the local economy improves. I would prefer any millage increase to go before the voters. If they want people to participate in the decision making process, then make it a ballot issue.
 
Oh, and another thing! My proposed 2011 taxes are NOT less than my 2010 taxes even though the value of my home has dropped TREMENDOUSLY! (And, yes, I know it includes all the bond stuff.)
 
They were smoking the good stuff when they determined the current value of my home. So add their over-valuation to a higher millage rate ... where does it end? And I'd bet everything I own and ever will own that there is still fat to be cut. It may not add up to the entire shortfall and it may not be popular with everyone but it's there so to say that there's no fat left to cut isn't being honest.
 
Re: Tommie Graham mocks and insults citizens of Paulding County

Foxmeister said:
My takeaway on this was he was trying to get people to encourage others to attend the BoC meetings so they would have more input from the public. It didn't sound to me as if he was much in favor of enacting 7 furlough days for county employees because it would close county offices and courts an additional 7 days in the year. He said the only way to prevent that and give deputies a 2% raise was a millage increase, which he didn't sound like he supported either.

I think what he was doing was voicing his frustration that no matter what the BoC decides, they are going to take a lot of heat from it because all they hear from are those who are disgruntled with whatever decision they make. I can appreciate his concern and his desire to hear ideas from more of the public on what they would support. Remember, they took a lot of heat the last time they increased the millage rate, which wasn't all that long ago.
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That's my thoughts as well.........
 
Madea said:
Winchester said:
We can all sit back and bad talk him all we want, but unless you are willing to step up and do his job, you have NO place to complain!
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I "strenously object" to this statement. (Maybe someone will get the quote.) We each have our calling and Mr. Graham chose his (or it chose him). Do you object to Obama's performance? Do you feel compelled to give your opinion on how it's done? Are you willing to take his job?

It's our responsibility as citizens of this county to make our voices heard to our elected officials. I'll give my opinion on this issue. And, no, I don't give an opinion on every issue.

Quite frankly, Cobb has survived with MORE furlough days than Paulding appears to be asking. Even Cobb judges have been given furlough days. And, no, their caseload isn't lighter. Teachers were given furlough days. What makes a county clerk, or commissioner for that matter, immune?

Trust me, my family has given up a LOT more than 7 days the past couple of years.
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AMEN, SISTER!!!!!!! I really don't think county employees want to get into a p*ssing match with those of us in the private sector as to whose jobs have been cut more. Oh, and my taxes aren't down, either. ;)
 
unionmom said:
They were smoking the good stuff when they determined the current value of my home. So add their over-valuation to a higher millage rate ... where does it end? And I'd bet everything I own and ever will own that there is still fat to be cut. It may not add up to the entire shortfall and it may not be popular with everyone but it's there so to say that there's no fat left to cut isn't being honest.
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Again - AMEN, SISTER!!!
 
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