A TPC Check-in: Taxes Going UP; News on the State House & Senate Races; Odds & Ends

 Howdy, Folks! Hope it's all good out there. 

Well, TPC enjoyed its annual summer vacation (forgot to put up the Gone Fishin' sign again ), but we're ready to get back at it. 

Property Taxes Going Up 

After the summer tradition of the budget process, we've now seen everything become official in terms of the setting of the millage rates. 

Quick aside. You may be wondering - "what the hell is mill?!" A mill is one-tenth of one percent, or, in decimal format: .001. So, ten mills would be .01 (or 1%).

Why still use this archaic form of math to quote ad valorem tax rates? Good question.

It's either because of the famous 6-word motto of most governments & large institutions: "We've always done it this way,"; or, it's because they know most folks have no idea what a mill or millage is & that's exactly how they like it, folks not knowing what's going on. 

Here's some real estate Dad-type humor for you. You know the old saying - that's just the old 2 cents. You could start to say - "That's just the ole 20 mills!" Hardy hardy har. 

So, the home county's tax rate went up 10%. The City of Covington? 11%. Hell, at least we're not Walton Co. They went up 20%! 

Something's gotta give soon. We're going to really have to rethink the proper size & scope of local government. Property taxes are out of control. We're pricing the lower & middle class folks as well as seniors on fixed incomes out of our beloved home. We need to get some serious people elected willing to make serious decisions leading to serous cuts of government spending. 

We'll see... 

State House 

Right now it's still a two-way race between Wendell McNeal & Brett Mauldin though apparently a certain former Newton Co Constitutional Officer is still mulling a run. 

As many have said it would be nice to have a Newtonian representing us in the lower chamber of the Gold Dome for the first time in a decade. 

With that said, if this person were to run then naturally I would be 100% behind him. If not, I'll definitely be supporting Brett in this one. 

State Senate 

I'm going to take this opportunity to make the rare, official MBM/TPC endorsement. 

I hereby fully endorse & support Bret Dunn for this race. I've known Bret for right at 10 years & have always thought a lot of him. I've been talking w/ him a good bit lately & I'm very excited about his vision for the 42nd Senate District of the Great State of Georgia. 

Newton BOE Member Trey Bailey also endorses Dunn 

More to follow down the road...


Odds & Ends 

- Looking like they're about done getting Floyd St repaved. That's been a long time coming; however, as many have noted, they're going to have to do something about those traffic islands. 

- This upcoming Wednesday. August 13th. 9am. Morgan Co Courthouse. A battle against government overreach & the Kemp/Carr/DCA/JDA/Economic-Development leviathan. A fight for freedom & basic constitutional rights. Be there! 

- 23 days until we have UGA football! 

Okay for now, scamps, 'til next time. 

- MBM 

[TPC Guest Post] --TWG/TaxDogs: [Jasper Co] BOC DECLINES TO SUPPORT RESOLUTION FOR FEAR OF STATE RETALIATION [in re Rivian]

*originally posted at TaxDogs 

 July 13, 2025

At their meeting on July 7, Commissioners were presented a Resolution Opposing the Pursuit of Legal Fees by the State of Georgia and the Joint Development Authority against Concerned Citizens.  Commissioner Asher Gray (District 4) added this Resolution as the last item on the agenda.   (See copy of the Resolution below.)

When this item came up Commissioner Gray started the conversation saying that it was wrong to sue citizens fighting the Rivian plant with their own money.  He also made the point that the BOC had been lied to with emails they had received about this issue.  He wanted the Jasper County BOC to condemn the action and support the citizens’ rights to do so.

Commissioner Steven Ledford (District 5) said if this resolution was passed they would bite the hand that gave out LMIG (road) funds. 

Commissioner Rob Alexander (District 3) said this action by the JDA and State was wrong, wrong, wrong.  He added that Rivian was never vetted and he questioned if it would be a viable company.  Commissioner Alexander also asked what would happen if the JDA decided that Jasper County would be the host county for a hazardous waste landfill for the Rivian plant.  Would the BOC let that happen if citizens here in Jasper County fought it?

Commissioner Gray asked if anyone had any trouble with the wording of the Resolution.

Commissioner Ledford said he personally felt the same way as Commissioners Gray and Alexander, but was hesitant to sign a resolution that could possibly result in the county being adversely affected when it comes to money from the State.

Commissioner Gray read the resolution out loud, and then he made a motion to have the commissioners sign it. That motion failed 2-3. Gray and Alexander voted for it, with the other three voting no.

For more information on this case refer to a previous post—Pure Citizen Intimidation
https://taxdogs.wordpress.com/2025/06/21/pure-citizen-intimidation/

This court hearing will be August 13 at 9am in the Morgan County Courthouse.

“If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.”—Desmond Tutu

Resolution by the Jasper County, Georgia Board of Commissioners

Opposing the Pursuit of Legal Fees by the State of Georgia and the Joint Development Authority Against Concerned Citizens

WHEREAS, six citizens of Morgan County—Edward Clay, Candance Beam, Alan D. Jenkins, Felton Jenkins III, Deborah Crowe, and James Gunn—filed lawsuits seeking judicial clarity on the legality of zoning exemptions and land use decisions related to the $5 billion Rivian Electric Vehicle (EV) factory slated for development on a 2,000-acre site between Rutledge and Social Circle; and

WHEREAS, these citizens—known collectively as the No2Rivian plaintiffs—acted in good faith out of concern for the environmental health, rural character, and lawful governance of their communities, particularly as it relates to potential impacts on groundwater, creeks, wells, and other shared natural resources; and

WHEREAS, the State of Georgia and the Joint Development Authority (JDA) of Jasper, Morgan, Walton, and Newton counties have initiated legal action to recover nearly $1 million in attorney’s fees from these plaintiffs, including $600,000 tied to the Morgan County case and $365,000 related to a near-identical case in Fulton County; and

WHEREAS, the pursuit of legal fees from private citizens—who were exercising their constitutional right to petition their government and seek judicial oversight—represents a troubling escalation that could deter future civic engagement and public accountability across the State of Georgia; and

WHEREAS, such action may create a chilling effect, sending a message that ordinary citizens who challenge powerful state-backed projects may face financial ruin for asserting their legal rights and raising community-based environmental and land use concerns; and

WHEREAS, this tactic sets a dangerous and undemocratic precedent, undermining trust in government institutions, discouraging public participation, and compromising the fundamental American principle that access to the courts must be available to all, regardless of income or political influence; and

WHEREAS, the Jasper County Board of Commissioners believes that citizens must be free to question, challenge, and participate in government decisions without fear of retaliation;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Jasper County, Georgia Board of Commissioners formally opposes the continued pursuit of legal fees by the State of Georgia and the Joint Development Authority against the No2Rivian plaintiffs;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board respectfully urges the State and the JDA to withdraw all petitions for reimbursement of legal expenses from the plaintiffs and to refrain from using public resources to pursue punitive legal actions against private citizens engaged in lawful democratic processes;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Jasper County Board of Commissioners affirms the right of all Georgians to seek judicial review of governmental decisions—particularly those that affect environmental health, public resources, and community planning—without fear of reprisal or financial intimidation;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this Board encourages civic and legal advocacy organizations across Georgia to stand in defense of the citizens’ right to petition the government.

Denied  this _7th__ day of ___July______, 2025, by the Jasper County Board of Commissioners.

Citizens, be informed and stay informed!  Only by being informed, can the citizens understand what is being done and talked about, and then press our officials to make good decisions for everyone in Jasper County. 

 TWG    
www.taxdogs.wordpress.com
www.facebook.com/taxdogs

### 

This, to me, notwithstanding all of the other stuff going on at the national, state & local level, might be the single, most important issue right now in the GA Piedmont. My sincere thanks to Mary for being on the front lines of fighting this good fight. 

To Hell w/ Kemp, the DCA & the JDA & the all the rest of them no account bastards! 

'Til next time, 

- MBM 

An Update on Things, including Yours Truly; Local REAL Politick; Odds & Ends

 Peteetong, Fearless Readers! 

Hope it's at least okay out there. 

And these days, okay ain't half bad. 

So, after a flurry activity, the ole site's gone a little quiet the last week or so. As longtime, regular readers can no doubt attest to, that is nothing new for TPC; however, this latest break in the action was a little different. 

I won't be going into much detail but I'll just tell you that I've been dealing w/ that thing known as life. Specifically, what many have to deal w/ once you've reached a certain age & when those most closest to you are older than you are. 

For the last week most all of my time has been dedicated to familial responsibilities & that seems to probably be the case for a good while moving forward. I will try to do my best to do some pieces here & there but am certainly not promising anything. 

Appreciate your understanding. 

Local REAL Politick 

Fleeta. 

I'm tempted to just leave it at that. 

So apparently she's been telling folks for quite some time that she never has voted for or been involved w/ any of the approvals of the plethora of multi-family developments we've seen over the "last six years." Interesting timeline as that's when she was first elected to the Covington City Council. 

However, this is obviously a falsehood as she did vote for the rezoning of the Billy Fortson property to facilitate the apartments behind the west-side Ingles/Five O'Clock shopping center (along w/ ole "Dirty" Don Floyd). Furthermore, she voted for the apartments next to the east-side Ingles across from the old Newton Package Shop (it obviously ain't NPS anymore, is it?) naturally as it benefitted one of the old money families. 

So, by all accounts, a misrepresentation. 

And even though we're TWO years away, Sista Mayor has already announced she's running again for Mayor because she has to.

I've been seeing some very interesting screenshots from some who've communicated w/ the ole gal. Some late night (alcohol-induced?) rants & screeds. 

Sad. 


Movin' & Shakin' 

As some have known for months, Tim Fleming has officially announced for the Custodian of the Great Seal of Georgia - the Georgia Secretary of State. Apparently he's got Trump's endorsement as well as the GA GOP power elites. We'll see. But most likely it's a slam dunk for him. 


State Senate 

As previously reported, Newton BOE member & righteous dude Trey Bailey has decided that his passions remain w/ the Board & he is not running for this seat. With that development, I think Bret Dunn is a lock. 


HD 114 

As previously reported, Newton BOE member & righteous dude Trey Bailey is not running so for now we have Wendell McNeal & Brett Mauldin who've officially announced. I know both of these gentlemen & I like both of them. Wendell is a big mover w/ the state GOP. Brett seems like a really good man. The wild card for this one would be a certain former constitutional officer of the home county that is seriously considering a run. 

It'd be nice that have Newton Co folks representing us in the GA General Assembly again for the first time in years. 

Was planning to get into the July 3rd celebration & a couple of other things but I've changed my mind. 

Best, 

MBM 

[TPC] - Around Town & REAL Politick, 6/30/25: Talkin' 3rd of July, Apparently Georgia Hates Its Citizens, Fleeta, Odds & Ends, etc

 

 

Hello, friends, and welcome back. 

So, apparently in order to placate Fleeta (more on her in just a bit), the City of Covington has decided to hold its 4th of July celebration on the 3rd of July. 

More on her later. 

Georgia Hates Its Citizens, as well as Free Speech, Apparently 

When the news broke a few weeks ago that the State of Georgia was actually going to do this - to try to harass, punish & silent those citizens of the GA Piedmont who rightfully tried to redress their grievances against our state government for this egregious violation of home rule - so many were so appalled. 

Surely, given the context & the optics, Chris Carr - especially since he's running for Governor - would NOT actually do this?

UPDATE: Apparently Carr the AG is not involved at all. Mainly, as I'm told, this is Kemp along w/ possibly the DCA & GA Director of Economic Development. 

We're going to be researching this further & will report more later.  

Sad. 

Madam Mayor Fleeta 

So, as maybe a few of you already know, that gal was the guest of the latest rendition of a local podcast. 

It was everything Fleeta wanted, apparently, while her hosts, by all accounts, fully facilitated it. 

She was in full-on "bad ass, bad momma, boss mayor mode." 

Allegedly.

I sure as hell didn't waste my time listening to it. 

Per the word, she basically told the entirety of the home city to suck it.

Either recall her, run against her, or just simply STFU. 

Quick sidebar. 

For the life of me, I can not figure out why some of our fellow citizens bow down to this woman. 

I mean, I can get that she's a natural politician, but I just don't get how some of the people in our orbit - decent, seemingly smart folks that I have respect for - are so enamored w/ her. 
I really don't.

It all seems to be a cult of personality.



 




Also, as I've been told by multiple sources for some time, she's allegedly still bragging about how she still has me blocked on social media (what a bad, weak look for her. Not to mention the fact that she's using her personal FB page in her official capacity of Mayor [LAWSUIT potential, anyone?]). 

To that point. 

Fleeta is a magnet for lawsuits.

As has been reported by the other local news outlets, -- allegedly Fleeta was the main reason for a lawsuit brought by a former Fire Battalion Chief against the home city a few months back. 


Allegedly a gal pal of Fleeta's got an inappropriate picture from someone. Purportedly, she then shared it w/ Fleeta.

Fleeta, being Fleeta, naturally, shared it w/ half of Covington, supposedly. 

Just a profound lack of judgement. 

And, people - as some of you know - that's simply Fleeta. She just can't seem to help herself, or get out of her own way.  

I know it.
You know it.
Everybody knows it. 

Sad. 

At least she's not browbeating city employees as much these days as I understand it.  

Also, I'm hearing that Fleeta has told folks that she's had nothing to do w/ any of the multi-family development we've seen over the last six years (interesting timing considering six years ago was when she was first elected to the council). Well, I know for sure there's one that she did vote for. Will be doing a dedicated piece on that soon. 

Odds & Ends

Well, the news recently hit that Trey Bailey bailed on running for either State House or State Senate. 

Sad, but not all surprising. I don't think his heart was fully into it. The BOE is where he wants to be. 

Regardless, he would've had a tough row to hoe taking on Bret Dunn in the Senate race, but I believe he could've. Now, barring a big name jumping in, It's looking as if Bret's going to be a lock for the upper chamber of the Georgia General Assembly. 

And, considering this news, this writer is assuming that there's a former county constitutional officer of the home county who is running for the State House seat. 

We'll keep an eye on it. 

###


Until next time, 

- MBM 

20 June 2025: 15 Years of The Piedmont Chronicles

 

Friends, welcome back to The Chronicles, and - as always - it's so good to be back w/ you. 

15 years. Wow.

Man!

Hard to believe. 

Going back all the way to the very beginning, here's this oldie: 

From Salem to Buckhead 

(and yes, this was first published to Blogger on June 28th, but June 20th was when I first made TPC officially official, which, not necessarily coincidentally, coincided w/ my birthday)

Back then, I'd set up a Blogger website in order to share my pieces from About Covington to Madison magazine on the World Wide Web. 

In the first five years of the site's existence, I only had 47 posts, ranging from local history to local people. 

It was 2015 when TPC would really truly become TPC. 

The Top 5 most read pieces from TPC all time: 

#1 - John Williams Saga (Peonage Murders) 

#2 - A Primer on Driving Around The Square &  in Covington 

#3 - Brunswick Stew: What Is & What Should Never Be 

#4 - [Ellis Millsaps] - The Russians Are Coming & Kansas City Shitweed 

#5 - Tommy Craig Continues Ridin' the  Newton County Taxpayer Gravy Train 

Acknowledgments


There are so many I wish to thank. 

First & foremost would be my better half - my wife. Always understanding, always accommodating.  Right from the start, she always knew how important & vital, for me, what I was doing was. 

Thank you, Babe. I'm such a lucky man. I love you so much. 

*****

Next, it is YOU - The Reader. 

None of this happens w/out you.; you mean everything! 

Thank You! 

Moving on... 

### 

- Ellis "Da" Millsaps. Editor Emeritus of TPC 

Da was key to TPC truly becoming TPC. 

----------

My Sista from another Mista 

- Kayla Leasure 

Author of dozens & dozens of great pieces at TPC. An amazing & beautiful soul - inside & out - I think so much of her & am so grateful for her contributions over the years. 

******* 

And, of course, my old Terry College of Business (UGA) classmate & former CF Floyd Feature Writer of National Affairs, Mr Perrin Lovett. 

And to all other former & inactive contributors: 

Ryan Ralston
Bess Tuggle 
Melissa Parker 
Alisa Johnson Brown 

And all Guest Writers: 

- Fred Wheeler 
- Sam Hay 

Etc & Et Al 

15 years. Wow. Here's to 15 more! 

- MBM 

For The Home City! 

GMD 462! 

Odds & Ends, 6/19/25: Revised Budget, Cigar Bars, Running Man & local REAL Politick Heatin' Up

 Welcome back, friends. 

So Tuesday night the home county adopted a budget. It was the better, more beautiful revised budget that we discussed a few days back. 

There were major concerns due to the apparent disdain that the Hays/Ezell?(WTC?) faction had for the revised budget that included around $4 million in cuts to both the Sheriff's Office & also for Jail Operations. 

The big concern, as I had mentioned previously, was that if there were only a 3-vote consensus for the slightly better, revised budget, then the Chair would hold veto power. 

However, those fears were unfounded as the newbie on the Board - the interim BOC 3 Rep - voted along w/ Edwards, Long & Mason. 

Not the budget that many of us wanted, and we're still seeing a tax increase, but it was way better than the initial proposal. A small victory, but a victory nonetheless. Further, this is a pretty big deal as it shows that the other side doesn't have the consensus that some were afraid they might've had. 

We'll take it! 

Cigar Bar Coming to the Home City? 

A couple of months ago & the Covington City Council went full-on Nanny State & banned smoking for the two spots - Five O' Clock & The Depot - that still allowed it. 

My intel says that they did this mainly because they believed that smoking cigarettes is why The Depot had been wildin' ever since they reopened a while back (apparently nothing to do w/ the distilled spirits or the clientele they serve).

Fast-forward to this week & now Covington is wanting to add a new license type. A Cigar Bar. Where they will be pouring distilled spirits but unlike everyone else has been having to do forever, won't have to meet the 50% food requirement AND!!! they can have smoking in their establishment! 

Make it make sense, somebody, please. 

Sad.


The Running Man Goes Down 

That fella that runs around town in the short shorts got arrested Tuesday evening. I'll share my FB post: 

- Confirmed & Verified -

Per multiple sources.

It is true that the infamous Covington "Running Man" was arrested yesterday for indecent exposure.

Apparently one can do that around town for years & years in front of the regular Citizenry w/ no consequences but if you do it in front of a Hollywood film crew then that's when the CPD - The Boys in Blue - will quickly & firmly spring into action.

DEVELOPING...

As predicted, the comment thread on that one was quite at least mildly entertaining. You can check it for yourself. 


REAL Politick 

As I understand it a well known & well regarded gentleman will be officially announcing his candidacy for the East Ward of the City of Covington Council tomorrow. So far only one other has stated his intent to run. There's speculation that a multi-time candidate will also throw her hat into the ring (why? Why would anyone want to get obliterated for a third time?). 

Regardless, this is a Good Fella. Believe he'll win comfortably. 


State House & State Senate 

These aren't until next year but there's been a lot activity already. Bret Dunn has already declared for State Senate. He may or may not have a challenger in the primary depending on whether or not a certain Covingtonian may or may not declare for State House. If he does, Bret will have a formidable challenger because the 3rd party wouldn't run for the House seat if that other fella runs & would then instead run for the Senate seat; however, if o'er fella doesn't it, then Bret would most likely be a lock for the primary & would be guaranteed a victory in the General. 

For the record - Bret better be careful of "The Erickson Curse."

Js. 

Okay for now, scamps. 'Til next time. 

- MBM 

P.S. Been taking a deep dive into the Covington budget. Not impressed. And a link showing all of the top salaries for city employees have been making the rounds lately. Ungodly. 

P.P.S. Georgia suing the plaintiffs in the Rivian court action is literally one of the worst examples of government overreach I've ever seen. Kemp's a bastard; Carr is worse. Just awful! 

The Monday Edition, 16 June 2025: Talkin' Ezell, Madam Chair, WTC, the Newton Co Budget & More!

 Greetings, Fearless Piedmonteers, and welcome back to Your Source For The Real Story! 

Hope all the Dads out there had a great Father's Day. 

So, here's a Sunday Monday edition for your reading pleasure. 

Celebrating 15 years of The Chronicles
June 20th, 2025

Sheriff Ezell Brown 

Last week, the Newton Co BOC revised the proposed budget & found about $4 million to cut. A majority of these cuts came from two of the biggest line-items - Sheriff's Office & Jail Operations, both under the purview of Newton Co Sheriff Ezell Brown. 

Well, by all accounts, Ezell was not impressed & made his displeasure known to interim BOC Chair Linda Hays who made her displeasure known to the members of the BOC along w/ several others on an late night email she sent out. 


Madam Chair Linda Hays

In that email, the main thing that Hays was complaining about was how the County Manager's office had been separated out from the BOC as its own line-item. This was done, apparently, for accounting purposes & seems to many to be the way it should be done; however, the Chair, in her "own"* words, certainly didn't think so. But this change had already been discussed for quite some time & was that way in the initial proposed budget. 

And remember. This went out late Tuesday night after the budget meeting had ended when it seemed as if a consensus had been reached & everyone seemed to be on the same page. 

However, some are thinking that the real problem were to cuts to the Sheriff & that's what ultimately caused the pushback.

To me, that seems fairly obvious. 

*many who've read the email are certain that Madam Chair did NOT write it


The Budget Situation 

The initial proposed budget, as it usually is every year, was basically a joke. We see this every time. 

Regardless, those numbers are always whittled down & additional cuts made, and they're almost always heavy on the biggest line items.

Plus, as I understand it, there were unspent funds that the Sheriff still had on hand. 

If we're trying to get serious about taxpayer relief, we've got to have responsible  & disciplined spending. 

To that point...

Good Work If You Can Get It: WTC still Ridin' the NCSO Gravy Train


And not to bury the lede here, but, yeah, okay maybe a little (I will be doing a dedicated piece on this later), as TPC has written about a few times & as recently as last year, Sheriff Ezell Brown is sending a lot of money to former caustic county attorney William Thomas "Tommy" Craig, Esq (WTC) every single year. 

Ezell has paid Tommy Craig over
$2.5 million
 over the last 9 years on record going back to when Craig was first fired as the County Attorney. 

Here the last several years, that annual amount has been growing to now over $350K per year. 

After FY 2025 is officially official, it'll be right at $3 million.

It has been documented by several that this amount of spending for legal services by a Sheriff of the county the size of Newton, is absolutely OUT OF CONTROL!

Talking about irresponsible spending, let's look at money spent on overtime by the Sheriff. 

An amount that used to always be a few hundred thousand dollars per year has completely exploded the last several years due to the fact that - as I understand it - the NCSO hasn't been properly staffed in years. Not because they don't have the funds (they do). Not because they're not paying competitive wages (they are). As I've been told on very good authority, it's because folks don't want to work at the NCSO. That, presumably, they don't want to work for Ezell. That there is "a culture problem." 

Let's look at the numbers for overtime the last few years: 

FY2024: $2.7 million 
FY2023: $2.1 million
FY 2022: $1.5 million 

Just crazy... 

And a quick add-on: 

Former Tax Commish Marcus Jordan's LLC is now receiving $5,500 per month from Ezell for, *checks notes*, data analysis. 

And who did Marcus Jordan utilize as legal counsel when he was Tax Commissioner?

If you said WTC, you're a winner! 


The Rub


While we know that spending is irresponsible throughout the entirety of Newton County's government, we know it is especially so for the Sheriff's Office & Jail Operations w/ a combined proposed budget of over $35 million. 

That's the behemoth. That's where the money has got to be saved. 

We know there's going to be tax increase. That's obvious. What The People are wanting is to get that increase decreased as much as possible. 

But now, it's time for the sobering reality. 

As many have surmised, there does certainly seem to be an alliance between our Interim Char, the Sheriff & WTC. 

Unless the revised budget has 4 of the 5 members of the BOC on board, then that means Linda holds the veto power on any 3-2 vote. 

Best, 

- MBM 

A Look at the Revised Numbers for Newton Co; Proposed Budget Now Slightly Less

 Greetings, Readers, and welcome back to TPC. 

Your Source for the REAL Story! 

So a few days ago I delved into the initial proposed budget for FY (fiscal year) 2026 which was going to be a 13.4% increase over FY 2025. Naturally, many - this writer included - were not impressed. 

After a bonafide push spearheaded by BOC Reps LeAnne Long & Edwards to really get serious about making some cuts I'm happy to report that the revised proposed budget is certainly better than the initial. More are needed, naturally, but it's definitely a start. 

Current Proposed FY 2026 Newton Co Budget 

Overall: approx $108.7 million representing a 9.3% increase year-over-year (initial budget was $112.8 million representing a 13.4% increase).

So they found $4.1 million to cut. 

Time for a quick aside. There's some confusion to what number, exactly, we're talking about when we are discussing the "budget." There's a larger number that includes things beyond the BOC's control & appropriations, as well as other revenue sources not under the purview of the governing body. So for the purposes of our discussion, the $108.7 million number is what we're looking at. 

Let's take a closer look at the two departments/offices which saw the majority of the reductions of the increases:  

• *The Big One* Sheriff's Office. Overall budget: $19.36 million (5.36% increase over FY 2025); Original proposed budget was $21.5 million representing a 16.92% increase). Obviously one cannot overstate how big this was! Over $2 million less in spending. That was right at 1/2 of the overall decrease. 
  
  
• **The Other Big One** Jail Operations (under the purview of the Sheriff). Overall budget: $15.84 million (1.79% over previous year). Original proposed budget: $17.25 million representing a 10.8% increase. Approx $1.4 million was shaved off. A quick check of the math will tell you that these two line items were most all of the cuts. 
  
  
  

And another aside. Word on the street is that Ezell is PISSED! And apparently he's reached out to interim Madam Chair about it (birds of a feather & all). WTC, anyone? 

Stay tuned for more on this developing situation...

A few departments & offices saw no reductions from the original proposed budget such as Tax Commissioner & Tax Assessor. Both of those line items are still set to increase over 12% (that's way too high!).

Fire Services' rate of increase was tamped down just a bit but is still over 8% higher than the previous year w/ an overall budget of over $15 million. 

Fleet Maintenance is still at over a 20% increase from FY 2025. 

And finally, why is Public Works budgeted for a 46% increase of $2.6 million? What's up w/ that? I'm going to reach out to some folks about that one to see if there's a specific reason for it. 

And one more quick thing. Retirement benefits. They're killing us! Up over 30% in many departments. 

Sad. 

I appreciate the Board's work so far, but they've still got a ways to go in my estimation.

Remember to reach out to your representation. 

Stay Tuned. DEVELOPING... 

- MBM 

A Closer Look into the Newton Co FY 2026 Budget

In re the FY 2026 Newton Co GA budget:

Overall proposed budget of $112.8 million (13.4% increase over previous year)

- 20.74% increase for Fleet Maintenance (overall budget: $2.15 million) - 13.29% increase for Tax Commissioner’s office

- 12.94% increase for Tax Assessor’s office (overall budget: $1.54 million)

- 12.02% increase for Facilities Management

- 10.8% increase for Jail Operations (overall budget: $17.25 million)

- 17.53% increase for Cornish Creek

- 16.92% increase for Sheriff’s office (total proposed budget: $21.5 million) - 9.31 % increase for DA - 8.81% increase for Fire Services (overall budget: $15.05 million). There are several other department, most all of which are also seeing increases.

To be fair, we did see a handful of decreases. The Clerk of Superior Court & the Landfill have proposed budgets lower than last year. So, good on them, for sure. Though, regarding the Clerk's office, that's only because Linda Hays is no longer in that position. W/ her 40+ yr tenure, she was making way more than Finney currently is.

The BOC did as well but not really. They’ve separated out the County Manager’s office as its own line item. Factoring for that, the BOC’s budget will actually be increasing. By the way, the County Manager proposed budget is approx $525K. That's for the salary of the manager, his assistant & the county PR guy, as well as their benefits, and other expenses (sounds a little high) The biggest thing, for me, are the crazy increases in retirement benefits across the board. Most departments I've looked at are increasing that line item by from anywhere from 10-30%. Insane.

Remember, all of this is “proposed.” But it’s crunch time now. Let your BOC representation hear about it. Any good news? Yes, actually. LeAnn Long & Stan Edwards, BOC Reps 5 & 1, respectively, have stated that major cuts have already been made & that there is a consensus on the Board to get those done. The numbers will change & get better (thank God for small favors, eh?); however, I'm still expecting a net increase on property taxes. We'll know a lot more after Tuesday evening when they have the next budget meeting. DEVELOPING... #staytuned - MBM

[Past Piedmont Chronicles] -- Three Musicians: Remembering Jazz Pianist & Friend, Paul Mitchell

 *originally published 2/29/2020

By Ellis Millsaps 

For some reason, or maybe no reason, serendipity perhaps, I've been good friends with three outstanding musicians. Faithful readers know about Bruce Hampton and Marshall McCart. Today I am moved to write about the third.

 Paul Mitchell was a brilliant jazz pianist. I worked for years alongside the Paul Mitchell Trio at Dante's Down the Hatch in Underground Atlanta. Paul died in 2000-- he graduated from Morehouse College with a degree in music when I was 6 months old-- but if he were alive today and met me on the street I'm sure he would peer deeply into my eyes and say ”Is that you Ellis?” He wouldn't mean he wasn't sure who I was; He’d mean as he always did when he put that question to me,” Are you in there Ellis? Is this who you want to be? I believe you have gifts you haven't yet displayed.”

Often he’d ask me this question when he, Bo Newton, John Thacker (managers at Dante’s) and I would be smoking marijuana after hours (and Dante gone home) at Dante's or sometimes in the parking lot while it was crazy busy inside. How did the pretty boy hillbilly from Jacks River and the black genius from Decatur find themselves so situated?

After college Paul enlisted in the Army where he played trumpet in the US Army Band for three years. After the Army he taught himself to play the piano. In the 1950s Pascal’s, the famous gathering place for civil rights leaders, opened a nightclub, The Carousel, where Paul played. Dante first heard Paul’s trio at the Playboy club in the sixties and when he opened the Hatch in 1970 he hired that trio as his house band, a gig they held for decades.

 I came to Dante's in 1971 because my then roommate, Owen Meislin, who worked there, told another of my housemates, Tom Gallo, ( now a partner in an Atlanta law firm) that Dante had an opening for a busboy. Tom made $35 a week cleaning his father's office supply store. He asked if he could make that much at Dante’s. Owen told him he would make more than that in one night. Tom, a cautious individual, declined but I, a financially strapped Emory student, said I’d take it. Pretty soon I was rolling in money, buying a half dozen rock and roll albums at a time,( I still have a vast collection from that era) taking beautiful young women to expensive restaurants and giving away money and drugs to my friends in need.

 Dante Stephensen, a former Navy SEAL, somehow after a divorce found himself in the restaurant business as a maitre d at a busy Atlanta restaurant where he charmed guests into investing in his envisioned Dante's Down the Hatch. That done, he enlisted Paul Mitchell and his trio as the house band and set upon a remarkable run of success.

 Dante had a genius concept. He installed the city's finest wine list with a variety of cheese trays and fondue in a brilliantly conceived and executed setting, this at a time when Underground Atlanta was entering its heyday as a tourist attraction.

 Dante's would have been a success in those early days in underground regardless. but when other venues developed comparable wine lists and underground became known as too dangerous for tourists, Dante's not only survived but was able to rebuild  the ship in prestigious Buckhead digs. He would not have been able to do that without Paul Mitchell. It was Paul who established Dante's as an Atlanta institution with a faithful following, tourists be damned.

 Paul wrote successful original compositions (not only for himself but others) which drummer Alan Murphy sang in a beautiful rich baritone, but it’s the covers I most often remember, particularly the Eagles’ “Desperado”. Paul told me that the first time he heard that song he cried because those California boys so poignantly described the state of his life at the time.

(Years later I saw Alan Murphy playing drums and singing with a lesser band on the square in Covington at one of those Thursday lunch concerts. We warmly acknowledged each other but with an undertone of embarrassment. We both knew our glory days were behind us. Being a busboy at Dante's was a much richer life than being a successful small town lawyer.)

 I know very little of Paul's private life. He was a proud and dignified man but in many ways very private. I do know  obliquely that at one time he thought his life a prison where he was” walking through this world all alone.” For most if not all the time I knew him Paul taught music in the Atlanta school system, this in addition to playing jazz six nights a week until the morning hours. He was later adjunct professor of music at both Emory and Morehouse.

 He rubbed shoulders with leaders of the civil rights movement. I once heard him say,( and although I intuitively already knew it  I had never heard anyone say it ) that things began to really change for the better in the civil rights movement when young white people started smoking marijuana. 

- Ellis Millsaps

Home County Tax Assessments Are In - Major Increases Once Again; Budget Time is Here

[State of Georgia]
[Newton Co., GA ]

 It's that time of year again. When the tax assessments hit everyone's mailboxes in the latter part of May (most of the time) & then all local governments (BOC, BOE & various municipalities) finalize their budgets for the upcoming fiscal year beginning July 1. 

There's been much discussion about the BOE not opting in to HB 581, meaning there's no cap on the percentage of increase of assessed value vs the Newton BOC which did. 

First off, this is a bit of a misleading thing.

For the BOC M & O (maintenance & operations)/Budget, while there is a cap on the increase to valuation (meaning they'll be applying their millage based on a lower tax base), they can simply bump up the millage to where we'll most likely be seeing a tax increase regardless. 

On the flip side, theoretically, even w/ higher assessments & therefore a higher tax base, the school tax could theoretically drop if they dropped the millage rate enough (yeah, LOL. I know, not going to happen...). 

What I'm getting at is that the whole HB 581 thing is somewhat irrelevant. 

At this point the big things obviously are: 

- having reasonable fair market values calculated by the Tax Assessor's office leading to reasonable tax assessments

- (the big one) all local governments getting serious about getting lean & efficient in order to sharply reduce their budgets in order to get overall ad valorem taxation down

It's the second thing that is key, naturally, and it's not currently happening. 

As Citizens for A Better Newton pointed out last week, Newton taxpayer will be seeing the BOE tax going up considerably due to adopted $265 million budget for a school district w/ flat enrollment & poor performance. An approx increase of of 7.5%. 

Some of this is beyond the control of the elected members of the BOE, but a good amount is not. 

And as many know, that's the lion's share of any property's tax bill -- the school tax. 

Shifting gears, 

The Newton Co BOC has their FY2026 Budget Presentation meeting tonight at 6pm before their regular meeting starting at 7pm at the Historic Covington Courthouse. 

We'll know a lot more once all of this information is gotten. 

Later in the month, they'll be adopting the millage. Folks really need to put some pressure on their Commissioners to see if all departments can cut some more so the millage can get as low as possible so as to get those tax bills as low as possible.  

Click here to get the contact info for all members of the Newton Co BOC. 

I'll be delving into the all the numbers once everything is live later this evening (will probably take me a day or two to get a piece out). 

I'm also going to be looking further at the BOE budget & eventually the City of Covington once they have a proposed budget. 

On a final note, right now it's looking as if the value of the entire tax base (tax digest) will be increasing, depending on various estimates, in the range 6-12%. Frankly, I'd be shocked if it's as low as 6% based on numbers I've been hearing from numerous property owners. I'm thinking it's probably going to be around 10% which, as many know, is ridiculous. The days of 10% per annum increases in market value is no longer occurring in the REAL Real Estate world. 

'til next time, 

MBM