Voters will be quizzed on ballots

Republican ballot questions | 

Democratic ballot questions

From a constitutional amendment banning same sex marriage to foreign language in local elementary schools, Columbia County voters will be able to weigh in their opinions on a host of topics July 20.

During the primary elections, the county's Republican and Democratic parties will ask residents 19 questions - nine for Republicans and 10 for Democrats.

In 2000, only Republican voters were able to answer the nonbinding referendum questions, which were largely drawn up by then Republican Chairman Alvin Starks.

This time, both county Republican and Democratic party leaders set up committees to come up with the questions.

The result are two very different polls that include both national and county topics. Only one issue about the presence of foreign language classes in elementary classrooms crossed over to both.

But the actual question varies, with Democratic officials going with wording approved by the Board of Education.

While education issues are heavily represented, they were not the only ones where officials wanted to gauge public opinion.

Construction of a civic center in Columbia County should Richmond County's plan for one falls through made an appearance on the Republican's slate of questions.

"We had some individuals approach us about it," Columbia County Republican Party Chairman Lee Muns said. "They basically wanted to see what the community thought about the idea."

He also said a question about the privatization and development of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' property around Thurmond Lake is an important one to prompt discussion.

"A lot of the people up there (near the lake) were very reluctant to see that happen," he said. "That's a lot of land that's not on the county's tax book. If we could come up with a firm, controlled and structured process in getting those lands off the federal register and back onto the county's tax rolls and allowing some good development that could take place up there, would everybody want to consider that?"

The county's Democratic party also chose questions dealing with development issues, including whether members of the Planning Commission should be elected and if builders should pay impact fees.

"It's something that came up during the forum discussions when Lee Anderson was running (for office last year)," the county's Democratic Party Chairman Terry Holley said about the impact fees. "We feel it's one of the most important questions on this year."

Here are the yes/no questions Columbia County voters will see on their primary election ballots July 20:

Republican ballot questions | 

Democratic ballot questions

1. Are you in favor of a United States constitutional amendment to ban same sex marriages?

2. Are you in favor of the Columbia County Board of Education moving forward with implementation of foreign language instruction in elementary grades K-5?

3. Are you in favor of abolishing the current internal revenue service tax code and replace it with a national sales tax?

4. Do you feel that controlled private purchase and development of United States Army Corps of Engineers' property around Lake Thurmond should be allowed?

5. Would you support a change in the Georgia constitution to allow for a discount to be offered for early payment on property taxes?

6. Are you satisfied with the current school calendar being used by the Columbia County Board of Education?

7. In the event that Richmond County does not build a new civic center. Would you be in favor of building a civic center in Columbia County funded by a combination of money from special purpose local option sales tax, the issuance of bonds, and/or financial participation by private investors?

8. Would you like to see restriction of zip codes within county lines?

9. Do you believe there should be term limits for United States congressmen and senators?

Columbia County Democratic ballots:

1. Are you in favor of an approximate 1.5 mill increase in your ad valorem property tax for the purpose of adding foreign language instruction in the public elementary schools of Columbia County?

2. To lessen the burden on property owners, should development impact fees be imposed on builders and developers?

3. Should seats on the Planning and Zoning Board be filled by general election?

4. The Georgia Legislature has not given educators a raise within the last two years. Should Columbia County add at least a cost of living raise to the supplement already paid in those years in which there is no increase paid?

5. Should Columbia County institute a residential recycling plan?

6. Should the mayors of Harlem and Grovetown be seated, non-voting members of the County Commission?

7. Should public safety services, in particular fire protection, be provided for residents without an increase in the tax millage rate?

8. Are you in favor of changing the Georgia State Constitution to allow for empowering an at large elected chairman of the Columbia County Board of Education?

9. Should all appointed members of the Georgia Professional Standards Commission which regulates the standards of certified teaching personnel have at least a four year degree?

10. Should all monies received from confiscated items during drug arrests go into the sheriff's general fund rather than into the sheriff's discretionary account?-->