Politics shared the spotlight with business Friday morning, November 21, when the Fannin County Chamber of Commerce & CVB hosted its annual Eggs & Issues breakfast.
A trio of elected leaders discussed local and state issues before keynote speaker Chris Clark presented business projections for 2050.
Fannin County Commission Chairman Jamie Hensley continued to stress “unity in the community...if we come together as one there is nothing we can’t do,” he said, repeating a message he has stood behind for the last five years.
An example of this is, “We have such a great partnership” between the county and the Chamber, he said. Specifically, he spoke about upgrades at county parks that serve visitors and residents alike.
He also talked of the huge roles volunteers play all over the county. The many organizations they support are especially noticeable during the holiday season. “The volunteers in this county, they’re amazing,” he said.
“We ought to be thankful every day,” Hensley said of the opportunity to live and work in Fannin County.
State Representative Johnny Chastain, who is about to enter his fourth session under the Gold Dome, talked about several subjects including the state income tax. Doing away with the tax is a hot topic in several political races this year and has been a legislative subject for years.
While Chastain is in favor of getting rid of the tax, he urged caution in the way it should be done, explaining the tax accounts for about half of the state revenue, $17 to $18 billion dollars. He referred to the state’s funding of education, noting that is where 54% of the state budget is spent.
Chastain also urged taxpayers to take advantage of the tax credits for Georgia Heart and schools. These credits give taxpayers the option of determining where their dollars are spent.
Specifically addressing the Georgia Heart Tax Credit and its importance to rural hospitals, Chastain said a committee recently found that eight rural hospitals in South Georgia were “keeping their doors open” solely because of the credit.
State Senator Steve Gooch, who is running for lieutenant governor, echoed the importance of a cautious approach to eliminating the state income tax.
He pointed out how one plan to fund the money that would be lost was to do away with all tax exemptions. This would include eliminating the sales tax exemption on food – restoring the tax that was removed years ago. He opposes eliminating this tax exemption as well as several tax credits farmers receive. Any plan “impacts everybody,” Gooch said.
Gooch said that the state income tax could be reduced to around two-and-a-half percent over the next several years with sound fiscal management. He also expects the governor to propose another small percentage reduction this year.
But the state can’t get rid of the state income tax “on the backs of our local communities,” Gooch said.
He also praised how Fannin County administers property taxes. “Fannin County should be a model for the state,” he said.
However, this is not the case in most Georgia counties and the reason the legislature passed tax reform measures last year. Elderly citizens are being run out of their homes by increased property tax burdens, Gooch said.
“We have to protect peoples’ American dream of owning their own home,” Gooch said.
He also talked about the importance of the tort reform legislation passed last year. “Our judicial system has gotten way out of kilter,” he said, explaining the new laws are designed to eliminate frivolous lawsuits. “There’s more to be done, but not this year,” Gooch said.