Fascinating!
Regarding the recently approved plan to buy and transfer the Gilbert Manor property from the Augusta Housing Authority to the Medical College of Georgia: While I certainly support MCG, I have a few questions.
If the AHA has ownership of the property, why is Augusta buying the property from itself? Have not the taxpayers already paid for this property in the first place? Why is Augusta putting the burden on the local taxpayers again? Has the city thought about swapping property already owned by the city for the Gilbert Manor property?
Ownership of the property also could be retained by the city by leasing the parcel to MCG for a $1 long-term lease. If the state ever decided MCG would better serve the population in some other location, Augusta would retain ownership of the property and any improvements made by MCG.
Also, was the demolition of the structures on this property a part of the $10 million plan, or an additional price tag? Either way, was the price for demolition put out for bid by MCG or the city?
It would seem the state of Georgia and the Board of Regents have much more funding resources than to be putting this burden on local taxpayers.
Jerry Newman, Evans
Comments
Fascinating!
It [filtered word] off those in office to know that people in the area actually do come up with real tough thought out questions when they can't see past their own greed. Gotta love it!
My name is not christian134 and I agree with Shivas.....
And a good morning to you 14PUTT....:-) Glad you keep me in your thoughts....
ask joe bowles . he says the ten million doesnt cost anything.
he says since it comes from investment income it costs the city nothing. i believe u will find that the a h a is some kind of hybrid govt private company that buys and sells property. i know they are selling assets that no longer fit their desired criteria.
joe please tell us how 10 million really doesnt cost anyone anything again as i never could figure it outl. also please explain how aha sells assets and where that money goes?
tia
$10,000,000 of city money to be deposited into local banks for MCG to use. Ed Tarver and Don Grantham both sit on boards of directors of local banks. Where is the money going? Just asking.
Jerry, your ideas are too practical, too logical, too win-win for them ever to be considered by our government.
The AHA is not an agency of the City government. It is a separate entity, a PHA, federal HUD. The City did not own the property, so it was not "buying it from itself." HUD cannot legally sell the property to MCG, so the city brokered the deal to buy it in order to sell it to MCG
Why not lease it to MCG instead? Well, then you'd complain that they bought it for $10M but then got no return on the investment. If the city were to lease it to MCG for $1, they would not get $10M from MCG. This is your idea of a good plan?
City pays $10M. MCG pays city $10M. MCG pumps a Billion dollars per year into the Augusta community. Please explain how this is a "burden on the local taxpayers."
It isn't. Except that the money is re-paid with sales tax revenues not a check from MCG. Wish there were more MCGs out there.
I'm more concerned about the fascist move on Rahn to supercede the Foundation to get the money he wants to build the Dental school. Although I want a new dental school, I distrust the MCG administration, especially with the long history of faux pas by past presidents of the school. My hope is Rahn is different from the rest, but this move seems highly questionable given the structure of the Foundation.
To grow landlocked MCG surrounding neigborhoods will be consumed. Rev. Bob Oliver (now deceased) led a protest to save G/M in the '80's. Oliver was an alcoholic, non rent paying, ex-con who "squatted" at G/M. 25 years later the City is paying $10M for the property.
We are led to believe the sales tax is a tax others pay. We pay it. The failure of the City administration to timely deploy sales tax revenues to replinish decaying infrastrucute or build schedule community facilities continues to cost the City millions. Similary to tie the sales tax to an operating budget violates the principles of government budgeting and oversight.
We should suck it up and vote against future SPLOST and revolt by not paying ad valorem taxes until such time as the legislative delegation passes a responsible Municipal Charter.
We have been in a mess for almost 20 years and each year cost us dearly. August folks IS east Georgia.
I am glad all of the nameless posters have courage on this topic. How does MCG fight against the UGA Foundation???????
10 million sales tax dollars=6.5 million from residents(FACT) 6.2 million for new section 8 housing for seniors near MCG and 240 million in local development???????????????????
Latwon since you seem to have all the answers why don't you run for commission?
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