Category Archives: Candidates

Taxpayers’ Report Card for Mike Boyce, Cobb Commission Chairman

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Spending YOUR Money

red-x-hi-20x20 Voted to increase county spending to $881 MILLION1
red-x-hi-20x20 Voted to increase county spending to $966 MILLION2,3
red-x-hi-20x20 Voted to increase county spending to $999 MILLION4,5

Raising YOUR Taxes

red-x-hi-20x20 Voted to increase property taxes to $201 MILLION6,7,8
red-x-hi-20x20 Voted to increase property taxes to $265 MILLION9,10
red-x-hi-20x20 Voted to increase property taxes to $277 MILLION11,12
red-x-hi-20x20 Voted for $130 MILLION per year ‘OLOST’ sales tax hike13,14

Braves Stadium Boondoggle

red-x-hi-20x20 Voted to give the Braves an additional $14 MILLION for their road work near the stadium15,16

BROKEN Promises

red-x-hi-20x20 “We also won’t be mirroring [Tim Lee’s] support of new and higher taxes, actions which do not reflect Republican values.”17
red-x-hi-20x20 “What I am committed to though is lower taxes, and when you have lower taxes that means you have leaner government.”18
red-x-hi-20x20 “No, there will not be a tax increase.”19

Tell Commission Chairman Mike Boyce what you think about his performance!

>>>>> SIGN UP TO LEARN MORE <<<<<

Footnotes

  1. Board of Commissioners meeting minutes, Sept 22, 2017
  2. Board of Commissioners meeting minutes, July 25, 2018
  3. FY 2020 Proposed Budget presentation, July 8, 2019
  4. Cobb County FY 2020 Amended Biennial Budget, July 11, 2019
  5. Board of Commissioners meeting minutes, July 23, 2019
  6. Notice of Property Tax Increase and 5 Year History of Levy, 2017
  7. Board of Commissioners meeting minutes, July 25, 2017
  8. Note: Boyce’s tax hike motion failed and the Board adopted a slightly smaller tax increase.
  9. Notice of Property Tax Increase and 5 Year History of Levy, 2018
  10. Board of Commissioners meeting minutes, July 25, 2018
  11. Notice of Property Tax Increase and 5 Year History of Levy, 2019
  12. Board of Commissioners meeting minutes, July 23, 2019
  13. Jon Gargis, “Cobb commissioners to consider public safety referendum call,” Marietta Daily Journal, 19 Jan 2018
  14. Board of Commissioners meeting minutes, March 14, 2017, County-wide Item 10A
  15. Liz Roscher, “Braves say Cobb County owes $14 million for new stadium transportation,” Yahoo! Sports, 25 Jan 2017
  16. Board of Commissioners meeting minutes, March 14 2017, County-wide Item 10A
  17. Jessica Szilagyi, “Mike Boyce: What It Means to be a
    Public Servant”, The Perspicacious Conservative, April 2, 2012
  18. Kiri Walton, “Meet the Candidates: Mike Boyce”, Patch: East Cobb, GA, July 24, 2012
  19. Denis O’Hayer, “A Talk With Mike Boyce, Incoming Cobb Commission Chairman”, WABE, July 29, 2016

Taxpayers’ Report Card for Bob Weatherford, Cobb Commission District 1

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Spending YOUR Money

red-x-hi-20x20 Voted to increase county spending to $789 MILLION for Fiscal Year 20161
red-x-hi-20x20 Voted to increase county spending to $858 MILLION for Fiscal Year 20172
red-x-hi-20x20 Voted to increase county spending to $890 MILLION for Fiscal Year 20183

Raising YOUR Taxes

red-x-hi-20x20 Voted to increase county property taxes to $280 MILLION for 20154
red-x-hi-20x20 Voted to increase county property taxes to $292 MILLION for 20175
red-x-hi-20x20 Voted for $130 MILLION per year ‘OLOST’ sales tax hike6,7

Braves Stadium Boondoggle

red-x-hi-20x20 Voted to give the Braves a parking monopoly near the Stadium by outlawing private parking8,9
red-x-hi-20x20 Voted to condemn private property so that the government could use it to build the Braves Bridge10
red-x-hi-20x20 Voted to give the Braves an additional $14 MILLION for their road work near the stadium11,12

Tell Commissioner Bob Weatherford what you think about his performance!

>>>>> SIGN UP TO LEARN MORE <<<<<

Footnotes

  1. Minutes of Regular Meeting, Cobb County Board of Commissioners, 8 Sep 2015, Finance Item 8C
  2. Minutes of Regular Meeting, Cobb County Board of Commissioners, 27 Sep 2016, Finance Item A
  3. Minutes of Regular Meeting, Cobb County Board of Commissioners, 22 Sep 2017, Finance Item 8A
  4. Minutes of Regular Meeting, Cobb County Board of Commissioners, 22 Jul 2015, Finance Item 2C
  5. Minutes of Regular Meeting, Cobb County Board of Commissioners, 25 Jul 2017, Finance Item 7B
  6. Minutes of Regular Meeting, Cobb County Board of Commissioners, 23 Jan 2018, Board of Commissioners Item 13A
  7. Jon Gargis, “Cobb commissioners to consider public safety referendum call,” Marietta Daily Journal, 19 Jan 2018
  8. Minutes of Regular Meeting, Cobb County Board of Commissioners, 23 Feb 2016, Community Dev. Item 6A, Code Section 78.406
  9. Liz Roscher, “Cobb County outlaws private parking at new Braves stadium,” Yahoo! Sports, 30 Jun 2016
  10. Minutes of Regular Meeting, Cobb County Board of Commissioners, 22 Mar 2016, Consent Agenda Item 9D
  11. Minutes of Regular Meeting, Cobb County Board of Commissioners, 14 Mar 2017, County-wide Item 10A
  12. Liz Roscher, “Braves say Cobb County owes $14 million for new stadium transportation,” Yahoo! Sports, 25 Jan 2017

Taxpayers’ Report Card for JoAnn Birrell, Cobb Commission District 3

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Spending YOUR Money

red-x-hi-20x20 Voted to increase county spending to $743 MILLION for Fiscal Year 20141
red-x-hi-20x20 Voted to increase county spending to $765 MILLION for Fiscal Year 20152
red-x-hi-20x20 Voted to Voted to increase county spending to $789 MILLION for Fiscal Year 20163
red-x-hi-20x20 Voted to Voted to increase county spending to $858 MILLION for Fiscal Year 20174
red-x-hi-20x20 Voted to Voted to increase county spending to $890 MILLION for Fiscal Year 20185

Raising YOUR Taxes

red-x-hi-20x20 Voted to increase county property taxes to $275 MILLION for 20146
red-x-hi-20x20 Voted to increase county property taxes to $280 MILLION for 20157
red-x-hi-20x20 Voted to increase county property taxes to $292 MILLION for 20178
red-x-hi-20x20 Voted for $130 MILLION per year ‘OLOST’ sales tax hike9,10

Braves Stadium Boondoggle

red-x-hi-20x20 Voted to build the Braves Stadium on the backs of taxpayers after it was negotiated in secret11,12
red-x-hi-20x20 Voted to put taxpayers $368 MILLION in debt for the Braves stadium without voter approval13
red-x-hi-20x20 Voted to give the Braves a parking monopoly near the Stadium by outlawing private parking14,15
red-x-hi-20x20 Voted to condemn private property so that the government could use it to build the Braves Bridge16
red-x-hi-20x20 Voted to give the Braves an additional $14 MILLION for their road work near the stadium17,18

Tell Commissioner JoAnn Birrell what you think about her performance!

>>>>> SIGN UP TO LEARN MORE <<<<<

Footnotes

  1. Minutes of Regular Meeting, Cobb County Board of Commissioners, 10 Sep 2013, Finance Item 10A
  2. Minutes of Regular Meeting, Cobb County Board of Commissioners, 26 Aug 2014, Finance Item A
  3. Minutes of Regular Meeting, Cobb County Board of Commissioners, 8 Sep 2015, Finance Item 8C
  4. Minutes of Regular Meeting, Cobb County Board of Commissioners, 27 Sep 2016, Finance Item A
  5. Minutes of Regular Meeting, Cobb County Board of Commissioners, 22 Sep 2017, Finance Item 8A
  6. Minutes of Regular Meeting, Cobb County Board of Commissioners, 22 Jul 2014, Finance Item 16B
  7. Minutes of Regular Meeting, Cobb County Board of Commissioners, 22 Jul 2015, Finance Item 2C
  8. Minutes of Regular Meeting, Cobb County Board of Commissioners, 25 Jul 2017, Finance Item 7B
  9. Minutes of Regular Meeting, Cobb County Board of Commissioners, 23 Jan 2018, Board of Commissioners Item 13A
  10. Jon Gargis, “Cobb commissioners to consider public safety referendum call,” Marietta Daily Journal, 19 Jan 2018
  11. Minutes of Regular Meeting, Cobb County Board of Commissioners, 26 Nov 2013, County-wide Item 8B
  12. Dan Klepal, “Braves’ stunning secret simmered for months,” Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 11 Nov 2013
  13. Minutes of Regular Meeting, Cobb County Board of Commissioners, 27 May 2014, County Attorney Item 19A
  14. Minutes of Regular Meeting, Cobb County Board of Commissioners, 23 Feb 2016, Community Dev. Item 6A, Code Section 78.406
  15. Liz Roscher, “Cobb County outlaws private parking at new Braves stadium,” Yahoo! Sports, 30 Jun 2016
  16. Minutes of Regular Meeting, Cobb County Board of Commissioners, 22 Mar 2016, Consent Agenda Item 9D
  17. Minutes of Regular Meeting, Cobb County Board of Commissioners, 14 Mar 2017, County-wide Item 10A
  18. Liz Roscher, “Braves say Cobb County owes $14 million for new stadium transportation,” Yahoo! Sports, 25 Jan 2017

Candidate Survey Results for the 2016 Primary

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Georgia Taxpayers United surveyed each of the candidates for each State House and State Senate race. We ask candidates to give us a straight answer, “yes” or “no,” on issues that are important to our supporters. We gave each candidate until May 2nd to return their completed survey.

Survey Questions

  1. Will you support legislation that will effectively nullify Obamacare?
  2. Will you support legislation to repeal the hospital bed tax and oppose all efforts to give revenue (taxing) authority to unelected bureaucrats?
  3. Will you support legislation to completely repeal the state income tax in Georgia including any and all State taxes on dividends and interest?
  4. Will you support legislation, including any necessary constitutional amendment(s), to completely repeal all property taxes in Georgia?
  5. Will you support legislation, including any necessary constitutional amendment(s), to repeal all ad valorem taxes on automobiles and all motor fuel taxes?
  6. Will you support legislation to completely repeal the Transportation Investment Act and to abolish the 12 regional commissions?
  7. Will you support legislation to completely repeal Georgia’s Internet tax scheme?

Survey Responses

Key: Yes = Yes, No = No, Yes and will sponsor = Yes and will sponsor, Did not answer = Did not answer

Continue reading →

Candidate Survey Results for the 2014 Primary

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Georgia Taxpayers United surveyed each of the candidates for each State House, State Senate, and Gubernatorial race. We ask candidates to give us a straight answer, “yes” or “no,” on issues that are important to our supporters. We gave each candidate until April 21st to return their completed survey.

Survey Questions

  1. Will you support legislation that will effectively nullify Obamacare in Georgia by authorizing State and local law enforcement to arrest federal officials attempting to implement Obamacare within the State of Georgia and by providing legal recourse to Georgia citizens adversely affected by Obamacare?
  2. Will you support legislation to repeal the hospital bed tax and oppose all efforts to give revenue (taxing) authority to unelected bureaucrats?
  3. Will you support legislation to completely repeal the state income tax in Georgia including any and all State taxes on dividends and interest?
  4. Will you support legislation, including any necessary constitutional amendment(s), to completely repeal all property taxes in Georgia?
  5. Will you support legislation, including any necessary constitutional amendment(s), to repeal all ad valorem taxes on automobiles, the prepaid motor fuel tax, and the motor fuel excise tax?
  6. Will you support legislation to completely repeal the Transportation Investment Act and to abolish the 12 regional commissions?
  7. Will you support legislation to completely repeal Georgia’s Internet tax scheme?

Survey Responses

Key: Yes = Yes, No = No, Yes and will sponsor = Yes and will sponsor, Did not answer = Did not answer
Continue reading →

[Video] Neal Florence thinks stopping Obamacare is “crazy”

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Do you want your state representative to use every legal ‘trick’ in the book to stop Obamacare in Georgia?

If so, then candidate Neal Florence thinks you’re “crazy!” and “nuts!”

You see, we sent surveys to all of the candidates who qualified for the special election for your State House District.

Our survey tests candidates on important issues like the Obamacare tax, the largest tax hike in Georgia history (T-SPLOST), the state income tax, property taxes, automobile related taxes, and the Internet tax.

Neal Florence failed to return his survey before the special election on January 7th. So when he placed 2nd in the race and qualified for the run-off election on February 4th, we contacted him to asked if he would complete and return the survey.

During an email exchange, Mr. Florence stated that he would get the survey back to us “as soon as possible.”

We also forwarded the survey to his campaign staff who assured us that Mr. Florence would return the survey no later than January 20th.

They both lied.

Continue reading →

Special Election Candidate Survey Results

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Georgia Taxpayers United surveyed each of the candidates for the January 7th, 2014 special election to fill vacancies in State House Districts 2 and 22. We ask candidates to give us a straight answer, “yes” or “no,” on issues that are important to our supporters.

Survey Questions

  1. Will you support legislation that will effectively nullify Obamacare in Georgia by authorizing State and local law enforcement to arrest federal officials attempting to implement Obamacare within the State of Georgia and by providing legal recourse to Georgia citizens adversely affected by Obamacare?
  2. Will you support legislation to repeal the hospital bed tax and oppose all efforts to give revenue (taxing) authority to unelected bureaucrats?
  3. Will you support legislation to completely repeal the state income tax in Georgia including any and all State taxes on dividends and interest?
  4. Will you support legislation, including any necessary constitutional amendment(s), to completely repeal all property taxes in Georgia?
  5. Will you support legislation, including any necessary constitutional amendment(s), to repeal all ad valorem taxes on automobiles, the prepaid motor fuel tax, and the motor fuel excise tax?
  6. Will you support legislation to completely repeal the Transportation Investment Act and to abolish the 12 regional commissions?
  7. Will you support legislation to completely repeal Georgia’s Internet tax scheme?

Survey Responses

Key: Yes = Yes, No = No, Yes and will sponsor = Yes and will sponsor, Did not answer = Did not answer

Office District Party Name City Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q5 Q6 Q7 Received
State House 2 R Neal Florence La Fayette Did not answer Did not answer Did not answer Did not answer Did not answer Did not answer Did not answer –
State House 2 R Steve Tarvin Chickamauga Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 9-Dec-2013
State House 2 R Doug Woodruff Ringgold Did not answer Did not answer Did not answer Did not answer Did not answer Did not answer Did not answer –
State House 22 R Meagan Biello Canton Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 3-Jan-2014
State House 22 R Nate Cochran Canton Yes and will sponsor Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes and will sponsor Yes 2-Jan-2014
State House 22 R Jeff Duncan Ball Ground Did not answer Did not answer Did not answer Did not answer Did not answer Did not answer Did not answer –
State House 22 R Sam Moore Ball Ground Yes and will sponsor Yes and will sponsor Yes and will sponsor Yes and will sponsor Yes and will sponsor Yes and will sponsor Yes and will sponsor 27-Nov-2013