The following interview was conducted by the Fayette County News. I reproduced my response to assist voters in making their decision. I am available as always to speak with anyone who wishes. Thank you very much for the opportunity I have had to serve, and I respectfully ask that you vote for me to continue the excellent course Fayette County has chartered over the past seven years.
Charles W. Oddo
Vice Chairman, Fayette County Board of Commissioners
Candidate, District 5, At Large
email: oddonow@aol.com
cell phone: 770-843-4034
Fayette County News 04.29.2020
April 29 Fayette County News – Charles W. Oddo
If the county has dire financial problems due to the pandemic, what is your solution?
Fayette County has been superb at setting aside funds and identifying funds for projected use five years into the future. That level of planning and expertise will help the County through the potentially tough financial times ahead.
The County will certainly face financial ramifications from the COVID-19 pandemic that no one could foresee six months ago. The end of the crisis is unclear, and today, the impact is only a guess. Much will depend on how quickly people can return to work and how fast the economy bounces back.
The County has two major sources of income: property tax and sales tax.
Property tax revenue for the most part, has been received for the current year. Financial impact will be felt next year and after. The degree of the COVID-19 impact on property values will show up in assessments later this year. How much county revenue is affected will depend in part on the economic consequences of the economic shutdown. We don’t want to see a surge in foreclosures and short sales this summer. Reopening the economy as soon as feasible will minimize the economic impact.
Sales tax has a more immediate effect. We’ll have an idea of the impact as the county portion of tax is distributed over the next few months. Again, the sooner the economy begins to reopen, the more the situation will be ameliorated as sales tax revenues increase.
However, the question posed suggests a future situation and later actions to be taken. My opinion is to begin preparing now. County revenues tend to lag the economic conditions. Wise financial management puts Fayette County in a good position to weather the storm this year and budget for an impact next year. If there is a silver lining, it is that we are at the beginning of the budget period, and we can incorporate our considerations into the FY2021 budget.
As we prepare the budget for 2021, we’ll need to reconsider how funds are used. My four-way decision test will be very valuable as we proceed: Do we want it? If we want it, ….. Do we need it? If we need it, ….. Can we afford to? And finally, ….. Can we afford not to? (see: www.oddonow.com, How I Decide). Perhaps a combination of delayed purchases and reduced expenditures now can cushion a shortfall the following year. We may find it helpful to reprioritize some capital projects, perhaps delaying them a year or two.
One thing we must not do is rely on Washington for aid. If any comes, great. But we must be prepared to continue without it.
And as I suggested in a previous Q&A, when the crisis ends, we must take time to consider how we responded, what we did right, what we can do better. Answers can help us budget going forward.
In a nutshell, the County will do what it always does, balance the budget, provide the services the citizens depend on, and do the best job with the resources available.
Should the county lean in to a more aggressive growth attitude?
What would a more aggressive growth attitude look like, and how would it benefit the county? Currently Fayette County maintains a balance with the municipalities that preserves a less dense population with more green space in unincorporated areas. Cities provide for denser populations with more emphasis on development. A more aggressive growth attitude would sacrifice that balance and completely change the character of the County. We would lose our identity.
Presently, Fayette County targets industries in Advanced Manufacturing, Film and Creative Media, Aerospace & Aviation, Information Technology, and Corporate Headquarters. These types of firms enhance the economic well-being of the residents, while contributing to the quality of life Fayette is known for. They overwhelmingly locate within municipal boundaries.
Unincorporated Fayette should grow according to the County’s comprehensive plan in place, and recently updated with the participation of numerous citizen stakeholders throughout the county. It provides the road map that preserves and enhances the special qualities that originally attracted residents while providing for the County’s growth and development.
As Fayette County successfully attracts preferred industries, those businesses appropriately locate within the city limits. Development in unincorporated Fayette is limited by design; it does not have a sewer system, which limits intense development. Most cities do provide sewer, enabling higher density and more development. The less dense nature of unincorporated Fayette complements the cities, and offers residents a choice of two distinct lifestyles, the more rural less dense style of unincorporated Fayette and the more developed and denser style of the cities. I believe that choice is attractive to businesses considering to locate in Fayette County.
We should maintain the distinguishing characteristics of unincorporated Fayette County, rather than encourage aggressive growth that would make it indistinguishable from the cities. Of course, we must remain flexible. Conditions change and may warrant adapting the comprehensive plan while still focusing on the goal that preserves the special qualities of Fayette County while providing for the County’s growth and development.
The most successful plans are good plans that have desirable goals, and are worked towards achieving those goals. I do not believe Fayette County should lean towards a more aggressive growth attitude. It has a good plan in place, and I believe the County should stay with its plan.
Charles W. Oddo
Vice Chairman, Fayette County Board of Commissioners
Candidate, District 5, At Large
email: oddonow@aol.com
cell phone: 770-843-4034
Fayette County News 04.29.2020
April 29 Fayette County News – Charles W. Oddo
If the county has dire financial problems due to the pandemic, what is your solution?
Fayette County has been superb at setting aside funds and identifying funds for projected use five years into the future. That level of planning and expertise will help the County through the potentially tough financial times ahead.
The County will certainly face financial ramifications from the COVID-19 pandemic that no one could foresee six months ago. The end of the crisis is unclear, and today, the impact is only a guess. Much will depend on how quickly people can return to work and how fast the economy bounces back.
The County has two major sources of income: property tax and sales tax.
Property tax revenue for the most part, has been received for the current year. Financial impact will be felt next year and after. The degree of the COVID-19 impact on property values will show up in assessments later this year. How much county revenue is affected will depend in part on the economic consequences of the economic shutdown. We don’t want to see a surge in foreclosures and short sales this summer. Reopening the economy as soon as feasible will minimize the economic impact.
Sales tax has a more immediate effect. We’ll have an idea of the impact as the county portion of tax is distributed over the next few months. Again, the sooner the economy begins to reopen, the more the situation will be ameliorated as sales tax revenues increase.
However, the question posed suggests a future situation and later actions to be taken. My opinion is to begin preparing now. County revenues tend to lag the economic conditions. Wise financial management puts Fayette County in a good position to weather the storm this year and budget for an impact next year. If there is a silver lining, it is that we are at the beginning of the budget period, and we can incorporate our considerations into the FY2021 budget.
As we prepare the budget for 2021, we’ll need to reconsider how funds are used. My four-way decision test will be very valuable as we proceed: Do we want it? If we want it, ….. Do we need it? If we need it, ….. Can we afford to? And finally, ….. Can we afford not to? (see: www.oddonow.com, How I Decide). Perhaps a combination of delayed purchases and reduced expenditures now can cushion a shortfall the following year. We may find it helpful to reprioritize some capital projects, perhaps delaying them a year or two.
One thing we must not do is rely on Washington for aid. If any comes, great. But we must be prepared to continue without it.
And as I suggested in a previous Q&A, when the crisis ends, we must take time to consider how we responded, what we did right, what we can do better. Answers can help us budget going forward.
In a nutshell, the County will do what it always does, balance the budget, provide the services the citizens depend on, and do the best job with the resources available.
Should the county lean in to a more aggressive growth attitude?
What would a more aggressive growth attitude look like, and how would it benefit the county? Currently Fayette County maintains a balance with the municipalities that preserves a less dense population with more green space in unincorporated areas. Cities provide for denser populations with more emphasis on development. A more aggressive growth attitude would sacrifice that balance and completely change the character of the County. We would lose our identity.
Presently, Fayette County targets industries in Advanced Manufacturing, Film and Creative Media, Aerospace & Aviation, Information Technology, and Corporate Headquarters. These types of firms enhance the economic well-being of the residents, while contributing to the quality of life Fayette is known for. They overwhelmingly locate within municipal boundaries.
Unincorporated Fayette should grow according to the County’s comprehensive plan in place, and recently updated with the participation of numerous citizen stakeholders throughout the county. It provides the road map that preserves and enhances the special qualities that originally attracted residents while providing for the County’s growth and development.
As Fayette County successfully attracts preferred industries, those businesses appropriately locate within the city limits. Development in unincorporated Fayette is limited by design; it does not have a sewer system, which limits intense development. Most cities do provide sewer, enabling higher density and more development. The less dense nature of unincorporated Fayette complements the cities, and offers residents a choice of two distinct lifestyles, the more rural less dense style of unincorporated Fayette and the more developed and denser style of the cities. I believe that choice is attractive to businesses considering to locate in Fayette County.
We should maintain the distinguishing characteristics of unincorporated Fayette County, rather than encourage aggressive growth that would make it indistinguishable from the cities. Of course, we must remain flexible. Conditions change and may warrant adapting the comprehensive plan while still focusing on the goal that preserves the special qualities of Fayette County while providing for the County’s growth and development.
The most successful plans are good plans that have desirable goals, and are worked towards achieving those goals. I do not believe Fayette County should lean towards a more aggressive growth attitude. It has a good plan in place, and I believe the County should stay with its plan.