Dear editor:

A recent article in The Moultrie Observer said that Colquitt County Commissioners and the Colquitt County School Board are experiencing a shortfall in collections of the local option sales taxes. In plain words that means they are not collecting as much as they planned on.

In the article, the county administrator said that sales tax collections since 2012 have been less than in the recession years from 2007 through 2011. That is not a big mystery. It is not even a little mystery. The answer and the reason for the shortfall is — G.A.T.E.!

The law establishing G.A.T.E. was passed by the state Legislature in 2012, and it became effective in January, 2013. So, beginning in January, 2013, 56 categories of agriculture producers were no longer required to pay state and local option sales taxes on purchases of materials and equipment required for their work. But why a shortfall in 2012? I imagine any purchases which were scheduled for 2012 were postponed, if possible,  until 2013 to reap the benefits of the new law. For example, purchasing a $200,000 piece of equipment in 2013 instead of 2012 would save $14,000 in taxes!

Therefore, suddenly the state and counties and school boards were not collecting taxes on new equipment, fertilizer, seed, plows, repair parts, fencing, mowers, all terrain vehicles, chain saws, pivot irrigation systems, and scores of other things. Now, the county administrator said previously that 70 percent of the land in Colquitt County is devoted to agriculture. Can you imagine how much money is spent by 56 categories of producers who are utilizing 70 percent of the land in this very large, county?

And how much 3 percent ( soon to be 4 percent) of that would be, that the county commissioners and the school board are not collecting? No wonder there is a shortfall !

I have seen quoted by different county officials that agriculture brings in 300 to 400 million dollars to Colquitt County each year. Really! And no sales tax is paid on anything required to make this money.

This is one story which has a sad ending. The  commissioners and the  school board are going to get their money, some way. What source does that leave? Yep, your property taxes will go up! No matter if you are 80 years old and own a house – and no matter if you are struggling to buy groceries and pay for your medicine – your property taxes will go up! And all the while the group which is making 300 to 400 million dollars a year will pay no sales tax. But you will!

How sad. I thought that  county commissioners and school board members were elected to represent EVERYONE!

So if you are looking for a new place to live, and you want to pay more taxes than elsewhere, we welcome you to Colquitt County. But don’t forget your wallet!

Bruce Leigh

Moultrie