Catoosa Vision

Tip O' The Hat

I'll give Clark one thing, though... He's masterfully set up the other Commissioners to (possibly) take a fall in upcoming elections. Here's the layout:

Remember when there was all the discussion about adding 1-mil to the property taxes? It looked like it was going to pass. I mean, "How could they not pass it?" thought everyone, including Clark. The county finances were in a shambles. It was either raise taxes or hit the reserves. Clark knew there was no other option but to raise taxes. But, he was (genuinely) surprised when the vote came out that everyone else on the Commission voted against it. (Granted, they thought they could slip in a "public safety fee"and not call it a tax ... but that didn't work.)

So, move forward to the Impact Fee debate. Clark has once again positioned himself as the only one looking out for the current residents... asking only that new houses pay their "fair share" by paying a new housing tax. Clark knows the Impact Fee proposal was flawed, ignored economic development requirements, and would likely be immediately challenged -- very expensively -- with lawsuits. But, that didn't deter Clark... No, he knew that it would be voted down. But, by voting for it, he gets to say he's a better man, looking out for the locals.

Mark my word: Clark is going to use this as a rallying cry for the CAVE dwellers, with him as their (hopefully) SOLE COMMISSIONed leader. "The other commissioners wanted to raise taxes," Clark will assert. "And, they refused to make new residents pay their fair share!"

I can only hope and assume that the majority of voters are now aware enough of Clark's regressive and ultimately self-serving agenda (he does own an awful lot of land) so as not to be taken in by his smoke and mirrors.

Look past the blind bluster and see the agenda for all its glory... it's backward... it's hurtful... and it's damning for the future of Catoosa County.

posted by Chris Casey @ 9:11 AM