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Election 2020
Three candidates have qualified for the Republican primary for the District 4 seat on the Habersham County Commission.
They include incumbent Natalie Crawford and challengers Trent Davis and Bruce Harkness.
Their answers to five questions provided by The Northeast Georgian are listed with candidates’ answers in alphabetical order.
1. How will the COVID-19 crisis affect the county’s business going forward and what steps will need to be
taken to ensure financial stability?
2. What in your view is the most financially responsible method for providing Habersham County the new jail facility it so desperately needs?
3. What do you see as the county commission’s role in supporting Habersham Medical Center financially through this time of difficulty?
4. What is, in your view, the best allocation method for SPLOST funds to the municipalities and why?
5. Habersham County’s tax base is upside down with property owners paying more of the tax base than business and industry. How will you work with existing business/industry and economic development leaders to reduce the heavy burden of taxes for property owners?
NATALIE CRAWFORD
1. The question seems premature because we’re still experiencing disruption in our local economy, which didn’t start for us until early March. We don’t expect to see our peak until late May or early June. Understanding the impact to the county’s businesses will largely depend on many factors, like how much the county will be reimbursed for COVID-19 expenses from state and federal relief, how quickly/strongly the economy recovers, and the effect on sales tax revenue, it’s hard to say. The full impact likely won’t be known for a while. Habersham’s fiscal year ends June 30 and the County Commission must have our finalized FY2021 budget by then. On a positive note, I don’t expect that we will see a significant effect on property taxes, which are the largest source of revenue for the General Fund. We must remain conservative during the budgeting process and we must be diligent in documenting COVID-19 related expenses.
2. As the old adage goes, the best way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time. With regard to construction, the plans presented for the new jail facility lend well to a modular approach. I believe we need to work with the Sheriff’s office to explore this and to outline a plan using this approach. Building the new jail facility in this way will allow us to take on construction in manageable phases.
3. According to the Georgia Hospital Association, Habersham Medical Center’s economic impact on the local and state economy is $86 million, employing 424 people full time. HMC is the county’s largest healthcare provider, and closure of the hospital would be a catalyst for economic decline. It is incumbent on the Commission to judiciously support the hospital through this time. This is why the Commission recently discussed the resolution establishing guidelines for Hospital Bond draw downs and disbursements. I called for language which requires the hospital to present written rationale for requests and to include documentation to establish need. The amended language also preserves the ability for the Commission to reject draw down requests. While the County is not in the hospital administration business, this does encourage HMC’s senior staff and the Hospital Authority to work closely with the County and allows the Commission to make more informed decisions as it pertains to financial support of the hospital.
4. It is my opinion that the composite or hybrid option is the most equitable allocation method for SPLOST funds to the cities. The population distribution method is straight forward, but as noted in numerous SPLOST meetings and County Commission meetings, in SPLOST 2021 projections Cornelia, Clarkesville, and Tallulah Falls would actually experience a decrease in revenue compared to the current SPLOST. Under the Composite method, none of the municipalities would see a reduction in projected SPLOST funds, but rather the County agreed to allocate a portion of their projected SPLOST revenue to Cornelia, Clarkesville, and Tallulah Falls in an effort to make those cities whole. This was determined by reviewing a number of factors including for example daytime & residential population, commercial/retail business concentration, and road miles.
5. Since my election in 2012, I’ve been committed to job creation and economic development. I served on the Archway Executive committee, which led the charge to create the county’s Economic Development Council. I worked to ensure the county’s first ever corridor overlay study (2015) to understand the nature of economic growth opportunities we could realize along our corridors and to provide for land-use ordinances to encourage commercial development while protecting Habersham’s character areas. I’ve supported the build-out of the industrial park and expansion of the airport largely funded by state and federal grants. Additionally, I’ve served four years on the Georgia Mountain Regional Commission, which locally promotes development of human, natural, physical, social and economic resources. During this four-year period, the county has seen a drastic increase in grant funding. I will continue this focus to ensure we are well positioned for our existing businesses to expand and attract new development and jobs to our community.
TRENT DAVIS
1. With the current economic condition we are faced with, it is more important now than ever that we as a county run a strict budget. As a fiscal conservative, I believe that tax dollars should be spent in a responsible manner with full accountability to the taxpayer. With the state cutting budgets, and dismissing state-funded grants, we must be fiscally conservative with our spending. I will bring a new set of eyes and ideas to ensure that every penny counts, and we reduce unnecessary spending.
2. I feel that we as a county should reach out to several different contractors who have experience with this type of structure. This will determine if a new facility is our best option. The longevity needs to outweigh the cost. If a new facility is needed, I would then seek to have the jail placed into the SPLOST as a Tier 1 project. If passed, this will ease the burden on home and property owners and will allow everyone who does commerce in Habersham County to share the cost of the jail.
3. The current Board of Commissioners recently approved a $5.2 million dollar bond for the hospital. This will allow the hospital to maintain payroll and keep the doors open until Northeast Georgia Medical Center assumes control. I believe that since the hospital bond is being paid with taxpayer dollars, there does need to be oversight by county officials as to how this money is being spent. This will allow transparency between the hospital, the county and the taxpayers. Furthermore, the only way to relieve some of the debt we owe on the hospital bond is for our county residents to use its facilities. My daughter was delivered at Habersham Medical Center. We couldn’t have asked for a better experience. The staff were very attentive and went above and beyond to make sure our needs were met. My family will continue to use Habersham Medical Center for our future medical needs.
4. The SPLOST funding for the cities should be allocated based on the greater good and safety of our citizens. For example, if a city fire department is using outdated, unsafe equipment then items such as this should take priority. If a public servant is injured or killed in the performance of his or her duties, we injured or lost a life over insufficient funding. I also think the oversight committee that was appointed to watch over the current SPLOST should be reviewing the spending that has been done by the cities and county thus far. SPLOST funds have very specific uses and we need to ensure that all funds are being used appropriately and timely.
5. If elected, I plan to do everything possible to grow our current small businesses as well as open doors for those planning to start new business. I can achieve this goal by providing small businesses, new and old, access to programs such as UGA’s Small Business Development Center. I will also work closely with the EDC and the Chamber to ensure that Habersham remains a profitable place to reside and raise a family. While growing our small businesses, we increase the availability of jobs and therefore increase the number of people employed and contributing to our tax base. I will also work with our education systems so that we have the appropriate work force for those expanding businesses. In addition, I will work with the cities to improve infrastructure to our 365 corridor and industrial park.
BRUCE HARKNESS
1. The COVID-19 crisis can cause seriously harm or ruin our small businesses in our county if not controlled soon. If elected I will work with State and Federal officials to get grants and loans available to our small businesses. Harvard got $8.6 million and 300 large corporations got $349 billion with their executives making millions. 80% of small businesses have received no help at all. We need to make our government aware that those that need help are not receiving any help at all. These loans and grants will ensure financial stability for our small businesses and farms who are the backbone of our country.
2. It is true that our county needs a new jail. But I would like to see more studies done to give us more options concerning a new jail. The problem is the taxpayers are overburdened now and will revolt if the government keeps taxing the property owners to the point that they cannot afford to keep their homes or farms. Our elected officials have been on a taxing and building spree for the last 20 years and taxpayers have had enough. I cannot go along with new property taxes on our citizens. We may have to look into a sales tax possibility for a new jail as a possible option. If elected, I will ask the hard questions that nobody wants to ask for fear of upsetting the powerful and get answers for our citizens.
3. The commissioners recently gave the hospital a $1 million line of credit and the hospital is issuing millions in bonds that will have to be paid back. The hospital just posted a $750,000 loss. We all love our local hospital but something has to be done to stop the huge loss of money. Somebody has to ask some hard questions and get some real answers to correct the issues. In 2019, the commissioners signed a five-year deal with the Northeast Georgia Medical Center to give them our hospital in 5 years. This troubles a lot of citizens. We have a couple hundred local citizens that work at the hospital that need their jobs. Last year’s hospital revenue was $113,035,493 with 1,640 discharges and 137 beds. If elected I will work with the hospital and board to help our hospital become financially sound.
4. I believe the best allocation of SPLOST funds is by population which would seem to be the fairest way to distribute those sales tax funds. As an example, Tallulah Falls has very few businesses but their citizens drive to Clarkesville or Cornelia to shop and spend their money so their city of residence deserves some of those funds. This would help the smaller cities survive and maybe they could then use some of these funds to help bring in some business to their cities to employ our local people.
5. I have been the most vocal candidate running for office about our high property taxes. As I said before anyone else in this race, if elected I will pump the brakes on the taxing and spending. I will work with state and federal agencies to try to get grants for industry to come to our county. I have never said the county needs to build a new water or sewer system but we need to drought proof our county and do everything we can to make sure water and sewer is available to families and industry in the future. A few years ago the state gave away $300 million for county’s to use for water systems or lakes. We got $0. Growth is coming whether we like it or not. I want to work to manage future growth and stop taxing our property owners to death.
Coming Wednesday, May 13: District 5 county commission candidates.
Coming Friday, May 15: Habersham County Sheriff candidates.