County should have the 'guts' to end unfair property tax system

Editor:

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With property valuation and taxes up again this year in Columbia County, politicians need to be reminded that our obsolete ad valorem tax policy needs to be changed to a fairer system. Taxing real property should be based on its current use and reflecting the value of county services provided to this property.

I had a piece of land with nothing but grass and trees, no county services required - the county jacked up my tax 100 percent last year. This piece is not for sale. Fair? Do our politicians have the guts to change to a consumption "Fair Tax" system? The county leaders should be happy to see private green spaces to absorb some of the carbon dioxide from their excessive urbanization.

Should new commercial and home developments participate in financing the new infrastructure required from the county? Impact fees? Real conservatives are for lower and fairer taxes and smaller government. Yes, U.S. Rep. Paul Broun and Brett McGuire for state House District 117 are the right choices. They are highly qualified and unbiased.

S.G. Von Schweinitz

Appling