Local Populist Issues

State laws have been passed in the past few years to encourage voter abuse by local governments.  These include local government’s legal rights to act without voter approval to raise debt, taxes, fees, fines and restrictions on their private property. This local government activism has been prescribed by Agenda 21 enabling grants, required Master Plans, cookie-cutter Land Use Plans, Zoning Codes and ordinances most cities and counties have adopted.

Examples of unpopular actions taken by local governments include:

Cobb’s Braves Stadium stunt. This left taxpayers on the hook for a $400 million Bond without getting to take a vote. Cobb’s continuing quest for tax increases including the 2014 SPLOST and the promise of more tax increases for the unnecessary bus rapid transit system in 2015. It never ends.

Hall County’s increase in property taxes for Lanier lake-front lots that were 100%to 300% and for other property owners up to 50%, because they outsourced appraisals to an out-of-town company.

Fulton County’s 17% increase in property taxes with no attempt to cut expenses.

Dunwoody’s new 2014 Charter allows the city to create more borrowing power in “special districts” that allows bond sales without voter approval.

Examples of voter’s rejection of local government initiatives include:

Brookhaven’s No Vote stopped the dreaded Redevelopment Powers Referendum from hitting voters with bond costs.

The 2012 T-SPLOST No Vote stopped a MARTA bail-out and a lot of overpriced, unnecessary projects from being done.

Dunwoody’s No Vote on Park Bonds saved voters from a $128 million debt for underutilized parks.

Populist State Laws that need to be passed include:

Limiting borrowing to 100% of local government’s assets.  Current law limits borrowing to 10% of the value of the tax registry that includes all property. Why should residents be on the hook for government mistakes and excesses.

Agenda 21 enabling laws HR 1216 and HR 277 creating appointed regional commissions with tax allocation powers needs to be repealed.  It usurps elected local governments and breeds corruption.

Repealing of the Convention of States application is critical. This endangers the U.S. Constitution (as written)

State Sovereignty Law needs to be passed restating state’s 10^th Amendment rights to nullify unconstitutional federal laws and regulations.

Nullification of EPA clean air and water rules should be passed.

Nullification of Obamacare is necessary to remove job-killing costs.

Common Core implementation should be stopped.

State laws that allow for abuse by local government should be repealed.

Unsustainable Practices should be identified

Economic development, public transit, passenger rail, government wildlife preserves, excessive government land holdings and support of anything that can be provided by the private sector should be identified as economically unsustainable.

These are all Populist issues.

Norb Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader