I have looked at his opponent, Steve Broadbent. I respect his military service. However, I think he failed to respect me and others when he failed to follow the City Charter and voted to not fill the two seats we had empty. The cost of a special election is $200K. I assure you that this City Council has erred much much more than $200k since they took the vote to not have the elections. That is a price we are all paying.
Also, I have a major concern about high density housing and where Mr. Broadbent’s loyalties will fall. As a voting member of the Development Authority of Fulton County, he has voted for more than 2000 high density residential units within Fulton County to get tax abatements and financial inducements over the first half of 2015.
I do not think Mr. Broadbent understands that when he votes to offer inducements to projects that would be built regardless, that he costs taxpayers, and that he does not add to the tax collections. For instance, a Kroger that is to be built in Buckhead does not need tax abatements. If Kroger wants to build in Buckhead, they will do so. If not, someone else will seize that opportunity.
Of all the sectors in our economy, high density units are the LEAST likely to need tax abatements to be successful. What does an abatement do? It means that they only pay 72.5% of the property taxes that they would otherwise pay over ten years. Real Estate Investment Trusts that are focused on high density housing are one of the most profitable sectors you can find in the investment markets today.
While I live in Johns Creek, I also live in Fulton County. So I cannot understand the rationale as to why more and more high density housing, where the residents pay far less taxes to Fulton County and Fulton County Schools than the burden they put upon those entities is a good thing. To put it bluntly, every high density housing development offered tax inducements by the DAFC is putting an unnecessary burden on you and I.
If Mr. Broadbent thinks all of this high density development is good for Fulton County, then can someone explain how he would be able to vote against it in Johns Creek? If he thinks it is good for Fulton County, how can he think it is bad for Johns Creek?
Mr. Radford understands these concerns. I have spoken to him personally and in great detail. Even more importantly, I can tell that Mr. Radford is willing to listen to what concerns us.
To reiterate, I will be voting for Tom Radford. I need a candidate who will put the needs of Johns Creek over the needs of the high density developers.
Tom Radford has my vote.
I have looked at his opponent, Steve Broadbent. I respect his military service. However, I think he failed to respect me and others when he failed to follow the City Charter and voted to not fill the two seats we had empty. The cost of a special election is $200K. I assure you that this City Council has erred much much more than $200k since they took the vote to not have the elections. That is a price we are all paying.
Also, I have a major concern about high density housing and where Mr. Broadbent’s loyalties will fall. As a voting member of the Development Authority of Fulton County, he has voted for more than 2000 high density residential units within Fulton County to get tax abatements and financial inducements over the first half of 2015.
I do not think Mr. Broadbent understands that when he votes to offer inducements to projects that would be built regardless, that he costs taxpayers, and that he does not add to the tax collections. For instance, a Kroger that is to be built in Buckhead does not need tax abatements. If Kroger wants to build in Buckhead, they will do so. If not, someone else will seize that opportunity.
Of all the sectors in our economy, high density units are the LEAST likely to need tax abatements to be successful. What does an abatement do? It means that they only pay 72.5% of the property taxes that they would otherwise pay over ten years. Real Estate Investment Trusts that are focused on high density housing are one of the most profitable sectors you can find in the investment markets today.
While I live in Johns Creek, I also live in Fulton County. So I cannot understand the rationale as to why more and more high density housing, where the residents pay far less taxes to Fulton County and Fulton County Schools than the burden they put upon those entities is a good thing. To put it bluntly, every high density housing development offered tax inducements by the DAFC is putting an unnecessary burden on you and I.
If Mr. Broadbent thinks all of this high density development is good for Fulton County, then can someone explain how he would be able to vote against it in Johns Creek? If he thinks it is good for Fulton County, how can he think it is bad for Johns Creek?
Mr. Radford understands these concerns. I have spoken to him personally and in great detail. Even more importantly, I can tell that Mr. Radford is willing to listen to what concerns us.
To reiterate, I will be voting for Tom Radford. I need a candidate who will put the needs of Johns Creek over the needs of the high density developers.
It’s just that simple.