The Dade County Sentinel has been featuring candidates in state and local races over the past several weeks. This week the Sentinel is covering Dade’s County Executive Race. Running for the County Executive seat being vacated by Ben Brandon, are Republican Ted Rumley, Sr. and Democrat Don Townsend.
Ted Rumley, Sr. is running for the office of Dade County Executive/Chairman. Fifty-two-year-old Rumley has always lived in Rising Fawn where he currently resides with his wife of 34 years, Diane. The Rumley’s have two sons, Dusty and Ted, Jr.; daughter-in-law Emily; and granddaughter Abigail. Rumley owns and operates Rumley Construction and has been in the business field his entire life. His parents started the Georgia Game Park in the 1950s and it was from helping his parents with the family business that Rumley said he learned hard work and management of money. Rumley is a member of Rising Fawn United Methodist Church where he has served on various committees. Rumley was a district commissioner in Dade County from 2000-2004. During his last two years as commissioner, Rumley served as chairman and during the last nine months of his term, he served as acting manager.
“I enjoyed serving you and am looking forward to serving you again if elected,” Rumley said.
Q: What are three of the issues in Dade County government that you feel need to be addressed?
A: The three issues I feel need addressing are: One, the financial condition of Dade County. We, Dade County, have had to open a line of credit at a local bank just to meet our day-to-day operating expenses. This is sometimes necessary at the end of a year when tax notices go out late and the revenue comes in after the first of the year, but it should never happen in the middle of the year, like this year in June.
Two, jobs. The commission needs to reach out and try to entice industry to our area. With the recent closing of Shaw and the lay-offs at other companies, we need to make every effort to bring more industry to Dade county.
Three, trust and respect in the commission office. The commission and chairman need to work closely together and try to regain the trust and respect of the people of Dade County.
Q: What impact do you think the closing of Shaw will have on Dade County’s economy, and does the county need to make any adjustments?
A: Of course it’s going to affect the economy of Dade County in a negative way. Not only are we losing Shaw’s portion of tax revenue to our local government, we are also losing dollars spent in Dade County from the former employees. Now we need to aggressively seek more industry in Dade County to offer more job opportunities.
Q: With the downturn in the economy and Dade County’s budget history, what changes should be made in the budget process?
A: The present commission is finalizing the 2009 budget and this is the budget that will have to be worked with. However, if elected I feel we will have to be more conservative in preparing the next budget because of the economic problems. As many of you know me, you know I will be very conservative with your tax dollars.
Q: Do you think the process to allow Dade County residents to vote for their commissioners at large instead of by district should be started?
A: This should be put on a General Election ballot and let the majority of the people decide.
Q: What should be done if SPLOST does not bring in the anticipated revenue, and what SPLOST items should have top priority?
A:I feel it is going to be very difficult for Dade County to bring in the proposed 18 million dollars in SPLOST. The most important items to me are our Fire and Police protection, our roads and bridges, and water and sewer. The money for the courthouse facility has been bonded by the existing commission; therefore it will be built. If I am elected, you can be assured this building will be built under budget. Also, as many Dade County contractors as possible will be used in construction of the facility. When they speak of using inmate labor from the State of Georgia, that labor is taking away work from our Dade County contractors. We have so many talented contractors in Dade County who are suffering through this economy and this would be a great opportunity to offer work to them, not only in building the courthouse, but in any projects taken on by the county.
Q: Should Dade County wait on the economy before issue the bonds to be paid for by the SPLOST approved in July?
A: This was approved by the commission on October 16th. I personally would have voted to wait to see what the economy is going to do before bonding the money. We are paying the bonding company a little less than two million dollars just to have the money now so some projects, such as the courthouse, can be started immediately.
Don Townsend is the Democratic candidate running for the County Executive/Chairperson seat. Townsend is a lifetime resident of Dade County. He is the fifth generation of Townsends to live in Dade County and many of his relatives have served in political offices. Townsend previously served on the Dade County Board of Education. While on the Board of Education, Townsend filled the position of chairperson. In 2000, Townsend married Lisa Conaway. Currently Townsend is the county clerk and finance officer in Dade County.
“My main objective shall be to faithfully serve the people of this fine county,” Townsend said in his candidacy announcement.
Q: What are three of the issues in Dade County government that you feel need to be addressed?
A: 1 – Reduce property taxes by better management of our fund accounting, and eliminate wasteful government spending based on wants vs. needs. I will work with each departmental budget manager to review monthly financial reports for higher accuracy and accountability when spending our citizens’ tax dollars.
2- Develop a 5 year, 10 year and 20 year Development Plan for our future economic development in Dade County. If you go on vacation without a map you may find yourself lost. I will work with the other four district commissioners to develop a plan for our county to help guide us into the future on sound financial footings.
3 – When elected, I will request state officials in Atlanta to return the Department of Motor Vehicles to Dade County so our citizens may renew their driver’s licenses in Trenton and save their gas, rather than driving across Lookout Mountain to Rock Spring, Georgia.
Q: With the downturn in the economy and Dade County’s budget history, what changes should be made in the budget process?
A: The current Commission has set the millage rate and then set the budget around that rate. This has been a policy the current board has adopted and I, as the county finance officer, have adhered to. However, once I am elected I would petition the other commissioners to determine the budget and then set the millage rate based on the need for property taxes in that budget. Most people cannot afford to go looking to purchase a house before visiting their banker. The banker tells the future buyers what they can afford. Once that is determined the future buyers then proceed to go buy a house inside their price range. The county has been doing this in reverse. The county has been budgeting around what they will receive in property taxes. One positive thing from budgeting after the millage rate is that the budget is produced later in the year (closer to the actual beginning of the new financial calendar year) which has made the annual budget more accurate in hitting the target. However, I believe there are more benefits to the budgeting first and then setting the millage rate to determine actual needs versus guessing what we may need in the future. Another very important budgeting aspect I would like to see change would be moving our calendar year budget (currently January 1 – December 31) to a fiscal budget year (July 1 – June 30). There seems to be many more benefits to align our budget year with the State of Georgia’s fiscal year, than to continue to try and project nine months in advance what may happen and then have to amend the budget before we ever start the new budget year. I will propose this change with an outline of how to convert our budget year within the first 100 days of my assuming the office of County Executive.
Q: Do you think the process to allow Dade County residents to vote for their commissioners at large instead of by district should be started?
A: I wholeheartedly support this initiative. At the July primary election a majority of the voters supported passage of both questions (Republican question number 4 and the Democrat question number 1). I still believe that candidates should reside in the district they are running from, but all Dade County voters should have the opportunity to vote for or against these candidates. Plus, this would be exactly how you currently vote for school board districts, which would simplify how votes are cast in Dade County. If a commissioner can raise your property taxes, then you (the voter) should have the right to vote against that commissioner if you want to.
Q: What should be done if SPLOST does not bring in the anticipated revenue and what SPLOST items should have top priority?
A: Georgia state law is very clear as to what options are available in this situation. I would recommend following what the law says and first scale back all remaining projects and consider the complete through passage of a resolution by the Board of Commissions. Second, and most importantly, I would recommend that all public safety projects be completed to ensure the health and welfare of our citizens, children, family and businesses located inside Dade County’s borders.
Q: Should Dade County wait on the economy before issue the bonds to be paid for by the SPLOST approved in July?
A: Well, this question seems to have come a day late and a dollar short since the bonds were issued last week. The current Dade County Commission issued $6.5 million in bonds last Thursday evening per a vote of the commission. The Commission did pass this bond resolution by a majority vote of the commission. Could we get a better rate in six months to a year, or will the rate have been doubled and cost the County even more money to fund than we have available . . . who knows. If we knew these answers we would all be millionaires by investing in the bond market. We are in uncertain financial times and the commissioners made the best decision they could, based on the data that was presented before them at the current time.