KERMIT S. DOROUGH JR.: Chad Warbington would be good steward

Roger Marietta lists saving MCLB, construction of the new terminal at the airport, and supporting SPLOST initiatives “that benefited” ASU, Darton and Albany Technical College as his major accomplishments. The last BRAC round was in 2005, two years before Mr. Marietta was elected, and the city had been requesting funds from the FAA, for a new terminal, for many years. Spending local tax revenue to improve properties owned by the Board of Regents is simply not an appropriate expenditure of SPLOST funds.

Mr. Marietta seems to be unaware of the fact that Albany has the highest unemployment rate of any metropolitan area in the state. We don’t need another Family Dollar, another Dollar General, another Dollar Tree, more pay day loan, title pawn, or tax preparation businesses. Attracting new industry is the only way to improve the local economy.

The city’s finances have been mismanaged during Mr. Marietta’s eight years on the commission. The budget for FY 2007, being the first year SPLOST expenditures were included in the budget, was $93.5 million. The budget for FY 2016, excluding WG&L, is $123.6 million, an increase of over 32 percent!

How has Albany’s economy fared in that nine years? An article which appeared in the August 2015 Harper’s includes Albany among the nation’s poorest cities. The article states the city’s poverty rate increased from 28 percent in 2007 to 40 percent in 2010, and has since “climbed even higher.” Does it not seem that the city commission would exercise fiscal restraint in view of these trends?

Much of the increased spending has been financed with the city’s share of the MEAG credits. The city of Albany, through WG&L, will receive between $80 million and $100 million.

Assuming direct control over WG&L is the biggest mistake the city commission has made in decades, as commissioners will set rates to meet financial demands and possibly finance municipal projects. This will be disastrous for customers.

I encourage all voters in Ward 4 to cast their ballots for Chad Warbington, who will be a good steward of city finances and will work tirelessly to restore WG&L to the control of an appointed body.

KERMIT S. DOROUGH JR.

Albany

EDITOR’S NOTE: Kermit Dorough is a former Albany city commissioner.