I was in my car that morning, on the way to my job when I heard on the radio of the first plane hitting. The announcers thought at first that it must be a small plane and likely an accident. Seventeen minutes later all doubt vanished as the second hit. I called Mrs. GaPundit at home. Over the next hour, a third plane hit the Pentagon and a fourth went down in a field in Pennsylvania. We watched on television as the towers burned, then collapsed.
Shortly afterwards, the Family Room opened in a nearby tower to provide a place for loved ones to grieve out of the public eye.
The Family Room opened in April 2002 in space donated by Brookfield Office Properties, the owners of 1 Liberty Plaza, across Church Street from the trade center site. By presenting what was known as a medical examiner’s family identification card, victims’ relatives were admitted during regular workdays and at night, on weekends and on holidays.
On the 20th floor, behind a door marked “The Family Room,” relatives could settle into ample leather couches or stand at windows 15 and 20 feet wide. The room was intended for “quiet contemplation,” said a 2002 notice from the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation, which created and maintained the space, just a few doors down from its own headquarters and those of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum at the World Trade Center Foundation.
When the Family Room at 1 Liberty Plaza was replaced this summer by a new private gathering space in the National September 11 Memorial Museum pavilion, the [New York] State Museum and the memorial museum painstakingly documented the older room, and the State Museum acquired what contents family members themselves did not choose to reclaim.
There are materials in the Family Room collection related to about 1,000 victims, Mr. Schaming said, or roughly one-third of all casualties that day. “It is the most singular collection of the faces of people who were killed on 9/11,” he said.
A monument on Long Island to victims of 9-11 will include the names of 582 people who later died of conditions related to the aftermath of the attacks.
A separate plaque will have the names of 582 police officers, firefighters, construction workers, cleanup volunteers and others who spent time in the rubble of the World Trade Center in the days or months after the attacks and, years later, died of a variety of causes that they, their families or their doctors suspected were linked to toxic ash and smoke at the site. There will be room to add more names.
“I think what the town of Hempstead is doing is nothing short of honorable,” said John Feal, a longtime advocate for 9/11 responders with health problems. “People who lost a loved one to illness suffer just like someone lost on that day. Hopefully this will offer some ease and comfort to them.”
In May, officials at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum announced plans to set aside a commemorative space at the World Trade Center to honor rescue and recovery workers.
New York’s police and fire departments also have memorials for personnel who have died of illnesses since Sept. 11. A 9/11 memorial in Staten Island recently added a plaque with the names of residents there who have died of illnesses.
Feal’s charitable organization also maintains a memorial wall to 9/11 responders in Nesconset, New York.
James Oglethorpe arrived at Augusta on September 12, 1739, 285 years ago Thursday.
French troops arrived near Savannah to prepare for a siege against British forces there on September 12, 1779.
One day after Perry’s victory in the Battle of Lake Erie, American Master Commandant Thomas Macdonough led American forces in the Battle of Plattsburg at Lake Champlain, New York on September 11, 1813.
The Union Army began evacuating civilians from Atlanta via Lovejoy’s Station on September 11, 1864.
Georgia-born Ty Cobb took his last at-bat on September 11, 1928.
After a week-long Presidential campaign swing through ten states, former Governor Jimmy Carter returned to Plains on September 11, 1976.
On September 11, 1985, Pete Rose broke Ty Cobb’s career hit record, notching number 4,192 against the San Diego Padres.
Georgia Politics, Campaigns, and Elections
McIntosh County voters continue early voting on a referendum to undo a zoning ordinance passed by County Commissioner, according to The Current GA.
Early voting began Monday in McIntosh County on a referendum about zoning for Sapelo Island’s Hogg Hummock. Election Supervisor Elenore “Doll” Gale reported that 52 people voted on the first day.
Using the “Home Rule” provision of the state constitution, the “Keep Sapelo Geechee” coalition launched a petition that resulted in the referendum being put to voters.
Voters are asked to vote yes or no on the question “Shall the Action of the Board of Commissioners of McIntosh County, Georgia, amending the McIntosh County Code of Ordinances Appendix C Sec. 219 HH Hog Hammock District of the McIntosh County Ordinance be repealed?”
The same week Probate Judge Harold Webster approved the petition and set the election date, the McIntosh County Commission challenged the validity of the referendum in McIntosh County Superior Court. The local circuit of judges recused themselves, and Superior Court Senior Judge Gary C. McCorvey was assigned the case. Last week McCorvey ordered a hearing on the issue at 9 a.m. Sept. 20 at the McIntosh County Superior Court, 310 North Way, Darien.
McIntosh is not the first county to wrestle with a voter challenge to a county commission decision. A petition-driven single issue referendum in Camden County in 2022 was similarly challenged by its county commission. Voters overwhelmingly cast “Yes” ballots to repeal a decision to move forward with the county’s spaceport plans. The Georgia Supreme Court ultimately upheld the public’s veto.
In the November 5, 2024 General Election, voters will choose whether to pass a Constitutional Amendment, according to WTVM.
On the ballot, voters will decide on a floating homestead measure, which could result in higher property taxes but also increase property values.
“This floating homestead would allow for a base value and then allow the property to increase by an inflation index as determined by the department of revenue,” said Muscogee County Chief Appraiser Suzanne Widenhouse.
The chief appraiser says the upcoming November ballot will include a vote on a floating homestead exemption. This measure, if approved, would result in higher property taxes for residents but could also increase their property values.
The topic was discussed during Tuesday’s City Council meeting at the City Services Center. Chief Appraiser Widenhouse explained that the new legislation, set to be voted on in November, aims to adjust property values in line with inflation. This means homeowners could see an increase in their property’s market value, potentially allowing them to sell at a higher price in the future.
Currently, Muscogee County has a property tax freeze in place, which helps homeowners save money on their taxes without increasing their property values. Widenhouse highlighted that this existing homestead exemption has been beneficial for residents, especially during periods of fluctuating property values.
When asked for her opinion on whether the council should opt out of the new legislation, Widenhouse stated that her role was to present the pros and cons of the current tax freeze, not to make a decision. District 5 Councilwoman Charmaine Crabb noted that the current freeze has been advantageous for residents regardless of market conditions.
“When values go down and we still pay a higher tax on our property,” said District 5 Councilwoman Charmaine Crabb. “We have benefitted much more during the time when the prices were high and we benefitted during the time when the prices were lower.”
Given that Muscogee County already has local legislation in place for homeowners, the Columbus City Council may choose to opt out of the floating homestead policy, even if it is approved by voters.
Voters will decide on two proposed amendments to the Georgia Constitution during this year’s election, one that would limit homeowners’ property assessment increases and the other to create a tax court.
The amendments are the only two statewide questions on the Georgia ballot, along with races for president, Congress and the General Assembly.
The first measure is designed to slow property tax hikes that occur when home values rise. Most property tax money goes toward public schools.
If voters approve, home property assessments would be capped at the inflation rate for the previous year. By holding down assessment increases, property tax increases would also be limited. Property taxes are based on the assessed value of a home and the property tax rate.In addition, the proposal would also allow local government to use revenue from a 1% sales tax increase to lower property taxes. Some counties and cities already have similar taxes.
The second proposed constitutional amendment would create a state tax court responsible for handling cases concerning complaints involving the state Department of Revenue.
The Georgia Tax Court would replace the Georgia Tax Tribunal and move it to the judiciary branch. The tax court would have a chief judge appointed by the governor, and the chief judge would appoint up to three assistant court judges.
Constitutional Amendment 1
“Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended so as to authorize the General Assembly to provide by general law for a state-wide homestead exemption that serves to limit increases in the assessed value of homesteads, but which any county, consolidated government, municipality, or local school system may opt out of upon the completion of certain procedures?”
Constitutional Amendment 2
“Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended so as to provide for the Georgia Tax Court to be vested with the judicial power of the state and to have venue, judges, and jurisdiction concurrent with superior courts?”
Former President Donald Trump leads Vice President Kamala Harris in Georgia polling, according to the Capitol Beat News Service via the Gwinnett Daily Post.
The survey of 969 likely voters conducted Sept. 4-Sept. 8 by Quinnipiac College showed Republican Trump with 49% of the vote to 45% for Democrat Harris, and 1% each for independent Cornel West and socialist Claudia De la Cruz. Trump’s lead is slightly above the poll’s margin of error of plus-or-minus 3.2%.
Not surprisingly, Trump and Harris held huge leads among self-identified members of their respective parties. Independents were divided equally, with Trump and Harris tied at 46%.
Men and white voters overwhelmingly favored Trump, with the former president leading Harris among men 56% to 37%, and holding an advantage of 68% to 28% among white voters.
Harris held a slightly smaller lead among women voters, leading Trump 52% to 43%. Black voters overwhelmingly supported Harris, with 82% of the vote to just 8% for Trump.
Georgia is considered one of a handful of battleground states in this year’s race for president. Four years ago saw Democrat Joe Biden carry the Peach State by a razor-thin majority of fewer than 12,000 votes over then-incumbent Trump, the first Democrat to win Georgia’s electoral votes since Bill Clinton in 1992.
Governor Brian Kemp issued Executive Order #09.10.24.01, ordering flags to half-staff on state properties today in observance of Patriot Day.
Governor Kemp issued Executive Order #09.10.24.02, suspending Rabun County Sheriff Chad Nichols from office until his indictment for alleged violation of his oath of office is finally disposed or the end of his term.
Governor Brian Kemp’s office announced that August net tax revenues were up 2.4% over August 2023, according to a press release.
The State of Georgia’s net tax collections during the month of August totaled nearly $2.34 billion, an increase of $54.3 million or 2.4 percent compared to August 2023 (FY 2024), when net tax collections totaled $2.28 billion. Year to date, net tax revenue collections totaled $4.90 billion, for an increase of $120.6 million or 2.5 percent compared to FY 2024 when net tax collections totaled $4.78 billion after two months.
The changes within the following tax categories account for August’s overall net tax revenue increase:
Individual Income Tax: Individual Income Tax collections during the month totaled nearly $1.14 billion, which was a decrease of $114.5 million or 9.1 percent from $1.25 billion in August of FY 2024.
The following notable components within Individual Income Tax combine for the net decrease:
- Individual Income Tax refunds issued (net of voided checks) decreased by $15 million or 17.3 percent
- Income Tax Withholding payments in August decreased by $125 million, or 10.1 percent, from FY 2024
- Individual Income Tax Estimated payments decreased by $2.5 million, or 11.5 percent, compared to FY 2024
- All other Individual Tax categories, including Return Tax payments, were down a combined $2 million
Sales and Use Tax: Gross Sales and Use Tax collections for August totaled nearly $1.58 billion, an increase of $57.7 million or 3.8 percent over FY 2024. Net Sales and Use Tax increased by $97.2 million or 14.7 percent compared to August 2023, when net Sales Tax revenue totaled $662.4 million. The adjusted Sales Tax distribution to local governments totaled $811.8 million, a decrease of roughly $4 million or 0.5 percent from the previous fiscal year, while Sales Tax refunds declined by $35.6 million compared to FY 2024.
Corporate Income Tax: Corporate Income Tax collections for August totaled $44.3 million, an increase of $46.1 million compared to last year, when refunds outstripped tax revenue collections by $1.85 million.
The following notable components within Corporate Income Tax make up the net increase:
- Corporate Income Tax refunds issued (net of voids) were down $30.3 million or 52.7 percent from FY 2024
- Corporate Income Tax Estimated payments increased by $7.2 million or 31.2 percent from August 2023
- All other Corporate Tax payments, including Corporate Return payments, were up a combined $8.6 million
Motor Fuel Taxes: Motor Fuel Tax collections for August were $193.2 million, an increase of $10.9 million or 6 percent compared to FY 2024, when motor fuel excise taxes totaled $182.3 million for the month.
Motor Vehicle – Tag & Title Fees: Motor Vehicle Tag & Title Fee collections for August decreased by nearly $7.5 million or 17.6 percent while Title ad Valorem Tax (TAVT) collections increased by $12.8 million or 20.8 percent over the previous fiscal year.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation executed search warrants in Long County, according to WTOC.
The GBI is investigating criminal allegations of misappropriation of county funds by the Long County Commissioner’s Office.
The Long County Sheriff’s Office asked the GBI to investigate on August 30.
On Tuesday, GBI special agents, digital forensic investigators, and forensic auditors executed a search warrant at the Long County Commissioner’s Office in relation to the investigation. The GBI says agents seized several items for further analysis.
The investigation remains active and ongoing. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is assisting the GBI in this investigation.
WTOC reached out to the Long County Sheriff’s Office and received the following statement, “Sheriff Nobles would like to simply acknowledge that this matter involving the County Commissioners is an active/ongoing investigation. As such, we cannot provide additional details.”
An Oconee County student is in custody for alleged threats, according to the Athens Banner Herald via the Savannah Morning News.
For the third time in five days a student in the Oconee County School System has been detained and transferred to the Department of Juvenile Justice following an investigation into threats toward a local school.
“We will not tolerate any misconduct and will continue to thoroughly investigate all threats of school violence,” Oconee County Sheriff James Hale said in a statement released Monday after the arrest of a student attending North Oconee High School.
Jackson County Sheriff Janis Mangum said Tuesday that her investigators have charged three students with making terroristic threats and a fourth student was charged with disruption of school. Those facing the terroristic threats charges were transferred to the Regional Youth Detention Center in Gainesville, which is where the suspected Apalachee High shooter, Colt Gray, is also incarcerated.
“They said they were joking, but I told them I didn’t care if they were joking or not,” Mangum said about the juvenile suspects. “You don’t joke about this. We have four dead people at a school and nine (injured). We’re trying to get a message out.”
The most recent case on Monday in Jackson County occurred at Legacy Knoll Middle School in Hoschton. The 12-year-old girl was taken before a judge, who sent the youth to the YDC, according to Mangum.
Bryan County schools received a threat, according to the Savannah Morning News.
Parents began receiving text alerts at 10:15 a.m. saying local law enforcement and the Bryan County Sheriff’s Department were investigating the threats and attempting to determine who made them.
The text message reads in part, “Although these threats have not been deemed credible, the safety and wellbeing of our students and staff remain our utmost priority. As a precautionary measure, there will be an increased law enforcement presence at all Bryan County Schools campuses throughout this week.”
Then at 3 p.m., Bryan County Schools sent a message to parents that reads in part, “We are aware of a specific rumor circulating at Richmond Hill Middle School regarding a potential threat for tomorrow. Please rest assured that the source of the rumor has been identified, and we have promptly notified law enforcement.”
It is unclear whether the two incidents are related. Bryan County Schools nor the Richmond Hill Police Department have responded to our request for comment.
What is clear is that parents are on edge as there has been an uptick in the number of threats being made at various schools throughout the state. The Georgia Bureau of Investigations has been transparent about an increase in school threats following the shooting at Apalachee High on Sept. 5, but noted information regarding this type of threat should not be spread online without validation.
Missy Parker, who has three children in the Bryan County School System, said one of her children attends Richmond Hill Middle School, and is calling on state legislators to push for “stricter gun laws.”
“To be a mother in 2024 is terrifying,” said Parker. “I kiss my babies everyday before they leave for school and tell them I love them, because unfortunately, I’m sending them into an unsafe world. I’m so sick of reading ‘thoughts and prayers’ posts on social media. Lawmakers need to make bipartisan changes for stricter gun laws. Schools need better security. We pay enough taxes to live in Richmond Hill. Protect our kids at any cost – metal detectors – whatever it takes. The problem with school shootings isn’t somebody getting into the building, it’s who’s already in there, and what they brought in undetected. Enough is enough.”
The Effingham County School District sent a message to parents as well addressing concerns regarding potential threats. Superintendent Yancy Ford said although no one made a threat to a specific person or school, the school district took precautionary measures to ensure the safety of staff and students after learning about messages posted on social media.
Telfair County public schools were closed Tuesday after a threat, according to 13WMAZ.
Classes were canceled on Tuesday at Telfair County Schools after a TikTok video threatening a school shooting at the high school circulated online, and a person has been taken into custody in connection to the post, Telfair County Sheriff Sim Davidson said in a Facebook post.
The sheriff’s office said in a Monday update at 10:30 p.m. that the person who made “the threatening post” was taken into custody, but they did not share more on the suspect.
Starting Wednesday when school resumes, the Telfair County Sheriff’s Office says that they will have increased deputies and officers in their school district “for as long as ended“ to keep their students safe.
An elementary school student in Bleckley County was taken into custody after making “a verbal threat.” Their high school was also placed on a soft lockdown Tuesday morning after a potential threat that was actually intended for a separate district.
There was also an arrest after a threatening post was made towards the Bibb County Schools on Monday, Superintendent Dan Sims said on Facebook.
The week before, a person was arrested in Laurens County and another person was arrested in Monroe County over a threat.
Numerous other school districts have dealt with the school threats. Law enforcement across the county have reaffirmed that these threats will be taken seriously, and in many cases, lead to charges as well.
Toombs, Jeff Davis, Appling, Evans, and Liberty County are places where someone has either posted online or called in a threat about a school shooting.
A 13-year-old in Liberty County had been arrested for, police say, threatening to take a gun to school after the Apalachee school shooting the child has been charged with Terroristic Threats and Acts which is a felony.
A 17-year-old in Toombs county has been arrested and charged with terroristic threats and criminal attempt to disrupt operations after police say he made two separate threats on social media talking about a shooter at school.
We spoke to a counselor with Evans County Schools where a 4th grader has been arrested for making threats- who says children today face stressors and struggles that many never had to years ago starting with social media and access to a wide range of media.
“It’s a part of our existence so it’s okay to have the conversation and know that this incident took place are you okay are you worried let’s talk about that I mean generation Z today they suffer differently than any other generation that we have seen,” said certified child’s counselor, Gina Smith.
Myers Middle School in Savannah-Chatham County was locked down, according to WTOC.
Savannah-Chatham County Public School System officials confirm Myers Middle School is on a delayed dismissal Tuesday after being placed on a precautionary lockdown.
SCCPSS says the was put on the precautionary lockdown due to a social media threat.
They say they have no indications that the threat is credible, but all are taken seriously.
Glynn County Board of Education members heard about school security protocols, according to the Savannah Morning News.
In light of a vague threat made toward schools in Glynn County, Schools Police Chief Johnny Davis gave the school board a rundown of the district’s security measures and response procedures to such threats.
He thanked Glynn County Police Chief Scott Ebner, Brunswick Police Chief Kevin Jones, Glynn County Sheriff Neal Jump and the local GBI office for the help they provide on a day-to-day basis.
Every school has at least one officer stationed there, most have more than one, and each one is trained in active-shooter response. They patrol the schools and monitor security cameras every day, including during extracurricular activities and athletics games.
“We also have a full-time dispatcher. She monitors all those cameras every single day, so if I have an officer out walking the campus, and she sees something suspicious, she’s checking and letting them know what’s going on,” he said.
Further, each staff member has a device with a button they can push a certain number of times to trigger a lockdown, Davis said.
Hall County public schools continue to address threats, according to AccessWDUN.
Three of the investigations involve threats made while one involves a weapon on school property.
At North Hall Middle School (NHMS), a 7th-grade girl is being investigated after the 12-year-old allegedly threatened to shoot students and teachers at NHMS and North Hall High School (NHHS).
The threats were reportedly made on a school bus on Monday.
She was charged as a juvenile with felony terroristic threats and was released to the custody of her parents from juvenile intake.
At Cherokee Bluff Middle School, an 11-year-old male student allegedly made verbal threats to classmates on Tuesday.
The threats reportedly referenced the 6th-grader bringing a gun to school grounds so he could “shoot up the school” so he would not have to get up early to go to class.
He was also charged as a juvenile with felony terroristic threats and released to his parents from juvenile intake.
A 10-year-old male student at Chicopee Woods Elementary School reportedly said he would “shoot up the school” on Tuesday.
He allegedly said the shooting would take place on Wednesday.
The District Attorney’s Office was contacted about the incident but decided not to press charges due to his age.
A 14-year-old male student at Chestatee High School (CHS) was being searched for suspicion of drug possession on Tuesday.
School administrators reportedly found a knife with a 4-inch blade.
A White County Middle School student faces allegations of threats, according to AccessWDUN.
White County Sheriff Rick Kelley’s office announced on Monday evening that they were alerted to a threat made toward White County Middle School that day, less than one week following the tragic results at Barrow County’s Apalachee High School.
Sheriff Kelley said in a press release that their investigators were alerted to the threat made against White County Middle School, and as a result of their probe they apprehended a 13-year old, 8th grade student with the school. That student has been arrested on two counts of Disrupting Operation of a Public School, and has been turned over to the Department of Juvenile Justice.
The Columbia County School District emailed parents about online threats, according to the Augusta Chronicle.
The Columbia County School District said it is aware of a post circulating on social media containing a list of schools across the state, according to the email.
“[The list] appears to be the same list on the Georgia Department of Education’s Title I ‘Targeted Assistance Program’ website,” according to the district. “The post has been perceived by some to be a threat and has been reported to the proper authorities. Safety of students and staff is a top priority and we take matters such as these extremely seriously and will investigate fully.
On Tuesday, the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office received a false call about a threat to Richmond Hill Middle School, according to school officials.
n a letter sent home to families, the school was placed under lockdown for less than 30 minutes while deputies responded.
After finding no evidence of a threat, school resumed as normal.
On Friday, three other Richmond County Schools sent letters home to families regarding separate, unrelated incidents.
Georgia State Senate Democrats called for more restrictive gun laws, according to the Capitol Beat News Service.
Georgia Senate Democrats called on their Republican colleagues Tuesday to pass gun safety legislation in the wake of last week’s school shooting in Barrow County.
“We really don’t have to live this way,” Senate Minority Leader Gloria Butler, D-Stone Mountain, said during a news conference at the state Capitol. “We don’t have to accept that Republicans from Washington to the Governor’s Mansion to here under the Gold Dome will sit on their hands and shut their mouths about gun safety.”
The Senate Democrats’ news conference followed a similar public call for action on gun safety state House Democrats made last week, two days after two teachers and two students at Apalachee High School near Winder were shot and killed. A 14-year-old student, Colt Gray, was arrested at the scene and charged with felony murder.
On Tuesday, Senate Democrats posted a sign informing those who attended the news conference that an average of 1,927 Georgians are being killed by guns every year, while the Republican-controlled General Assembly hasn’t passed any gun safety laws since 2018.
“They offer thoughts and prayers, then turn their backs on the victims when they plead for action,” said Sen. Elena Parent, D-Atlanta, who chairs the Senate Democratic Caucus.
Parent, other legislative Democrats, and some Republicans have introduced various gun safety bills in recent years, including measures either encouraging or requiring Georgians to lock their firearms and store them in a secure location, offering tax credits for Georgians who buy firearm storage devices such as trigger locks or gun safes, and a “red flag” law allowing the temporary seizure of firearms from a person deemed a danger to themselves or others. But none have made it through the General Assembly to Gov. Brian Kemp’s desk.
“We call on all of those in the majority to take meaningful action,” Parent said. “Our children deserve to be safe in their schools and in their community.”
House Democrats called on Kemp last week to call a special legislative session to take up gun safety legislation.
The governor has included money in the state budget for school districts to use in safety efforts and signed legislation requiring schools to conduct “intruder alert drills” and submit school safety plans. But he has not been receptive to calling a special session.
Chatham County District Attorney Shalena Cook Jones filed an ethics complaint against her opponent, according to the Savannah Morning News.
On Sept. 3, Chatham County District Attorney Shalena Cook Jones emailed a letter to Chatham County Attorney Jonathan Hart alleging that Chatham County District Attorney Republican Candidate, Andre Pretorius, “unlawfully represented himself as an employee of this office and inserted himself in a confidential [Chatham-Savannah Counter Narcotics Team] wiretap investigation and asset forfeiture case.”
According to the Chatham County Government employee handbook, highlighted in Jones’ letter, “no employee shall…be a candidate for elective public office in a partisan election while on active pay status (except an incumbent candidate for the office of Tax Commissioner, Clerk of Superior court, Judge, Coroner, Sheriff or District Attorney).”
After qualifying for the DA race in March 2024, Pretorius was put on unpaid leave by the county, he said in a text message. He is currently a part-time City of Tybee Solicitor and a part-time solicitor and part-time assistant district attorney in Effingham County State and Superior Court, he added.
Jones also alleged that Pretorius’ conduct violated a request Jones sent to Hart in August 2022. In the letter, Jones requested Pretorius be disqualified and sequestered from all legal matters concerning the Chatham DA’s Office until a pending lawsuit was resolved. In April 2022, former Chatham County Assistant District Attorney Skye Musson filed a federal lawsuit alleging gender discrimination in the DA’s office, according to previous reporting by the Savannah Morning News. Pretorius was included on a text thread with Musson and several current and former employees of this office who were discussing confidential personnel matters, according to Jones.
“In closing, I would point out that his continued employment after qualifying as the opposing candidate for this very seat not only violates the County’s written policy about such matters, but also constitutes a breach of the County’s fiduciary duty to represent the sitting District Attorney,” wrote Jones. “It stands to reason that the political use of information obtained during the course and scope of his employment with the County would constitute a further violation of that duty. I would ask that you address this matter immediately and look forward to hearing from you or County leadership soon.”
“I don’t want to rush to judgment because I’m not a lawyer,” District 6 Commissioner Aaron “Adot” Whitely said in a phone call. “I think that we should refer this to some disinterested third party, such as [the Georgia Bureau of Investigation] or the Attorney General, to just kind of take a look at it to make sure that all of our ducks are in a row. And I look forward to hearing what comes of it. But it don’t smell good and I’m very concerned.”
In a phone call, Ellis also said the letter should be sent to the Georgia Attorney General or the State Bar of Georgia, but otherwise declined comment.
Former Governor Nathan Deal will visit Ogeechee Technical College in Statesboro, according to the Statesboro Herald.
At the request of his late wife and to honor her commitment to children’s literacy, Deal recently published “Veto, The Governor’s Cat,” which tells the story of the Deals’ two rescue cats, Veto and Bill. He will be in the atrium of the Jack Hill Building at OTC at 3 p.m. Wednesday to sign copies of the book and the public is invited.
As first lady between 2011 and 2019, Sandra Deal came to Statesboro on several occasions to read to young children. During that time, Deal read to children in more than 1,000 schools and pre-K programs across each of the state’s 159 counties.
“She told me, ‘You know, I’ve read all the good books that I (own). I want you to write me one,’” Deal said in an interview with Mercer University. “So, I said, ‘OK.’ You know, you’ll promise anything if you don’t have a deadline.”
“Veto, The Governor’s Cat” is based on the lives of Veto and Bill, who were brought to the Governor’s Mansion to protect the garden from chipmunks and later moved with the Deals to Habersham County after they left office.
In sharing the story of Veto and Bill, Deal told Mercer that it is a continuation of his wife’s advocacy work. A portion of the proceeds from the book will support literacy projects and other educational initiatives through The Deal Foundation.
The League of Women Voters of Coastal Georgia will host a forum for candidates for Chatham County District Attorney, according to the Savannah Morning News.
At 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 16 at 305 Fahm St, Democratic incumbent Shalena Cook Jones and Republican candidate Andre Pretorius will participate in the Q&A session. Doors open at 6 p.m., when candidates will greet voters as they arrive. The event will be moderated by WJCL reporter, Shannon Royster.
The purpose of the forum is to encourage voters to get to know the candidates for Chatham County District Attorney prior to the General Election on Nov. 5. Questions that will be directed to the candidates were submitted from news outlets and the public by Sept. 8.
The Georgia Municipal Association awarded State Rep. John LaHood (R-Valdosta) with their Champion of Georgia Cities Award, according to the Valdosta Daily Times.
The award was presented by GMA CEO and Executive Director Larry Hanson and GMA Director of Governmental Relations Jim Thornton. LaHood was honored for his unwavering support of Georgia’s cities throughout his tenure in the Georgia General Assembly, particularly in his role as chairman of the House Governmental Affairs Committee during the 2023 and 2024 legislative sessions, according to a press release from the City of Valdosta.
The Champion of Georgia Cities Award is given at the end of each two-year legislative term to state legislators who actively support major municipal initiatives and goals. As chairman of the House Governmental Affairs Committee, LaHood played a key role in overseeing proposed legislation affecting Georgia’s cities. He worked closely with GMA and city officials to improve the service delivery negotiation process through House Bill 1407 and addressed concerns about bills that preempted local zoning and planning authority.
LaHood, who was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives through a special election in 2018, represents District 175 and continues to advocate for issues important to Georgia’s cities.
“As a city, we are incredibly proud to see state Rep. John LaHood recognized with the Champion of Georgia Cities Award,” said Mayor Scott James Matheson. “His leadership and unwavering commitment to advocating for the needs of our cities have made a lasting impact, not just in Valdosta, but across the entire state of Georgia. This recognition is well-deserved.”
Dalton City Council adopted a resolution seeking a court order to collect property taxes based on the 2023 Tax Digest, according to the Dalton Daily Citizen News.
At a special called meeting Tuesday morning, the Dalton mayor and council passed a resolution calling on a court to issue a temporary tax collection order that would allow collections based on the 2023 Whitfield County tax digest value plus 10%. The resolution, which was passed by a unanimous vote of the council, comes after months of concern and confusion regarding anomalies in the 2024 property tax assessments in the county.
While the city of Dalton has no role to play in the assessment of property, city leaders shared taxpayers’ concerns regarding the discrepancies and have worked with their Whitfield County counterparts and the Board of Assessors to encourage them to correct any known errors or issues. Tuesday’s resolution from the City Council comes after the Whitfield County Board of Commissioners passed a similar resolution Monday night. The resolutions will create a petition for a judge to issue a temporary tax collection order.
“It is unprecedented to see … 800 parcels had declines in values of greater than $50,000 and some of those in the millions. That doesn’t happen, particularly in a thriving community like Dalton, Georgia, we don’t have values going down multimillion dollars,” Mayor Annalee Sams said after Tuesday morning’s meeting was adjourned.
“Some of these are very well-known commercial parcels that have large retailers on them and how can it be explained that they went down in value several million? So, we have a responsibility to all of our citizens, to property owners, that we get this right and if there’s going to be a delay in the acceptance of the 2024 digest — and it cannot and should not be accepted until it’s correct — we need to take this action to ask for this temporary collection order.”
If a temporary tax collection order is issued, taxing authorities like the city of Dalton will be allowed to prepare property tax bills based on the 2023 assessed values of properties with a 10% increase. This would allow the process for the final acceptance of the 2024 tax digest to play out without impacting tax collections.
“We’re doing that to ensure that we can have timely tax collections this year,” Sams said. “And we’re doing that in an effort to make sure that we have an accurate digest to tax on and we have a lot of concerns about the accuracy of the 2024 proposed digest as it stands uncorrected today.”
The state of Georgia requires counties to assess the fair market value of properties each year. To test whether property assessments are accurate, the state reviews the assessed value of properties that have been sold in the prior year against the sale price of those properties. State law requires that properties be assessed within 40% of actual sales prices. In recent years, the assessed values of Whitfield County properties have been too low, according to the test, which requires increasing the assessed values. City leaders issued a statement last month detailing the city’s concerns about the way in which the new digest reassessment had been carried out.
Whitfield County Commissioners also seek a court order on the property tax digest, according to the Dalton Daily Citizen News.
Members of the Whitfield County Board of Commissioners voted 5-0 Monday to authorize County Attorney Robert Smalley to file petition for a temporary collection order with Whitfield County Superior Court this week.
“I assume that like me the other commissioners have received a number of calls regarding the property tax assessments,” said Commissioner Barry Robbins.
He said the commissioners have been discussing “anomalies” in the 2024 tax digest for a couple of weeks.
The commissioners asked Smalley to file an emergency collection petition in Superior Court to allow local governments to collect property taxes based on the 2023 digest plus a 10% increase in all assessments. They also voted to ask the Georgia Department of Revenue to conduct an audit of the 2024 digest and the county’s assessment procedures.
In a called meeting Tuesday morning, the members of the Dalton City Council voted to join the county in its emergency collection petition.
Robbins said the 10% increase was added “after consultation with the Department of Revenue and to give our local school boards more flexibility.” The commissioners and Dalton council members will set their government’s budget later this year but the school boards have already set the school system budgets.
Robbins said a 10% increase in the digest does not mean there will be a 10% increase in property taxes.
“Based on prior actions of the Whitfield County commissioners and the Dalton City Council it is highly likely that both will roll back the 10%,” he said.
Commissioner Robby Staten said that “If we don’t go up at all, we are setting ourselves up for 30%, 40% increases next year.”
Smalley said state law allows an emergency collection order when the tax digest has not been finalized. He said there will be a hearing in which the city and county can present their position before the judge rules.
Last week, Judge Walter J. Matthews, a senior judge from the Superior Court of Floyd County, filed an order granting a writ of mandamus requested by the Whitfield County Board of Assessors to require county Tax Commissioner Danny Sane to sign the 2024 tax digest. Sane had previously sent a letter to the members of the Board of Assessors and other officials explaining concerns about the proposed digest.
Sane has until the end of the month to sign it. Matthews presided over a hearing on the request because the judges of Whitfield County Superior Court were presiding over trials.
Hancock County Commissioners proposed a 28% property tax increase, according to 13WMAZ.
Hancock County commissioners are holding three public hearings on a five-mill tax increase. They already held a series of millage rate hearings.
These meetings come after they raised the property tax by 28.47%.
County commissioner Ted Reid says they had to raise property taxes to balance their budget. He blames inflation and millions in unbudgeted spending.
Della Smith says when she heard about the increase, she thought it was a dream. She says she’s not pleased.
“I’m not as concerned about paying this increase in taxes, even though I don’t like the fact that my money is being misused,” Smith said. “I’m more concerned about the people that are trying to pay their taxes and hold on to their homes. But they’re trying to do this with a fixed income of $580 or $630. And this is gonna hurt them.”
County records last year’s budget was around $11 million and this year’s is almost $15 million. That’s a $4 million increase.
Reid says inflation and other expenses are the cause. He says this shouldn’t happen again.
“We have looked at the budget closely. We looked at spending that was in this year’s budget that would not be in next year’s budget. And the new administration coming in in January will also have ample opportunities to make budget cuts,” Reid said.
A 5 mill increase would raise the tax bill on a $100,000 house by $200. The commissioners plan to raise the mill rate from 17.16 to 22.62. Hancock County manager Broderick Foster says they haven’t raised the mill rate since 2013.
Smith says the county needs to rework where they spend their money and make cuts. With new commissioners coming to the county in January and some expenses not renewed, Reid says this increase is temporary.
“Health insurance for the county will definitely decrease. There won’t be an election in Hancock County next year, so we won’t have election expenses. There were some renovations in the recreation department where we had matching funds that we won’t have next year. So it’s quite a substantial amount. So, we’re looking forward to a mill rate decrease in the next year,” Reid said.
Commissioner Sistie Hudson says the tax commissioner will look at a payment plan for those who may not be able to pay the new amount, but Smith says that may not be enough.
“[I]f you can’t pay that budget, then how are you gonna spend this money that you say you need? So to me, that just doesn’t make any kind of sense. So, she needs to come up with a different plan,” Smith said.
Long County Commissioners adopted a 27% increase in their property tax millage rate, according to WTOC.
After weeks of heated debate about property taxes, the Long County Commission voted to pass the nearly 27-percent property tax increase on Sept. 6.
There have been three meetings packed with residents who opposed the increase.
Previously, County Commissioners told people they did not intend to vote in favor of the tax. But Friday they did, saying they had no choice.
It all boils down to money, or lack there of.
According to the Commission, the increase was not something they wanted, as nearly all of them stated in last week’s meeting, but after speaking with advisers from Georgia’s Counties Association about their current financial state, they said they didn’t have much of a choice.
In a 4-1 vote, the millage rate increase pushing property taxes up nearly 27 percent. The commission chose not to increase any tax for sanitation, but did add a $150 fire fee.
In a Facebook post by Commissioner James Craft, he writes, “I hate that it had to happen, and it turns my stomach knowing I had to go back on my word. Ultimately, our hands were tied to pull the county out of a hole it had been tossed into.”
During last week’s meeting, Sheriff Nobles called for the GBI to investigate the county and to provide a forensic audit. We spoke to his office Friday, who confirmed the GBI has been called and there is currently an open investigation.
The commission will look different as they voted to remove Robert Parker as their chairman, replacing him with Commissioner James Craft. According to Craft’s Facebook post, he claims that moving forward there will be strict budgeting in hopes they could reduce the millage rate next year.
Bryan County Commissioners rolled back the millage rate, making their property tax rate the lowest in the state, according to WSAV.
It’s being decreased from 6.655 mills to 5.939 mills. A tax rate of one mill represents a tax liability of one dollar per $1,000 of assessed value.
The decision comes as a relief for residents whose property assessments notices were sent out in June by the Board of Assessors, showing an increase in estimated property taxes. Those property assessments were based on last year’s millage rate.
Chairman Carter Infinger says he is proud they have continued to adopt of rollback rate.
“This is huge for our community,” Infinger said. “We also have the school board. But I want to say this, that this board as a whole as a staff and as administrators, done a great job watching what we spend and keeping a close tab, so we’re able to do these type things in our community to roll that millage rate back.”
The commissioners acknowledged a 15.075 millage rate for the board of education and 1.50 For the school bond debt service.
Dougherty County Commissioners named Deron King as their new County Administrator, according to WALB.
According to the county, the decision came after a 4-2 vote, with one abstention, during the board’s regular meeting.
King brings over 17 years of distinguished local government experience to the role. Most recently, he served as city manager for East Point, Georgia.
Renowned for his background in urban planning, his leadership was instrumental in establishing the Office of Equity, Inclusion & Empowerment, a department dedicated to addressing homelessness and providing housing and utility payment assistance to residents in need.
King is expected to assume his new role September 16, 2024.
The Glynn County Board of Elections voted to set the dates and times for early voting, according to The Brunswick News.
The Glynn County Board of Elections and Registration Board voted to approve adding an additional hour for the last week of early voting, which begins Oct. 15 and ends Nov. 1.
Hours for early voting are weekdays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. the week of Oct. 28 to Nov. 1. Two Saturdays are also scheduled, Oct. 19 and 26.
Absentee ballots for military personnel for the November general election are being prepared for mailing next week, said Christina Redden, deputy elections supervisors for Glynn County.
Elections officials expect anywhere from 30 to 60 applications for absentee voting for the upcoming election.
Early voting ballots will be counted before the election to make the process smoother on Election Day.
A vote to have early voting on Sundays died for the lack of a second.
Board member Sue Lane said she opposed Sunday voting.
“Traditionally, it has been a special day set aside to honor God,” she said. “I want to keep Sunday that special day. I think voters have adequate time already.”
Board chair Sandy Dean said there are low turnout numbers for early voting and questioned if it was worth the expense when only a handful of voters turn out.
“We’ve given it a shot and it didn’t work out,” she said. “You have plenty of time to get your ballot. I can’t vote for Sunday voting while I’m on the board.”
The Dougherty County Republican Party hosted an event for their candidates in the November 5, 2024 General Elections, according to the Albany Herald.
Four Republican candidates who will be on Dougherty County ballots in November got a chance to speak with Republican constituents at an event hosted by the Dougherty County Republican Party Tuesday.
Wayne Johnson, who is running for U.S. Congress in Georgia’s 2nd District; Brenda Battle, who is running for Georgia House District 153; David Maschke, who is running for Dougherty County School Board District 1, and Ed Newsome, who is seeking re-election for his County Commission District 1 seat, each took several minutes to share their views and pieces of their platform to the crowd.
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