NAHUNTA — Residents and representatives of area animal rescues questioned Brantley County commissioners why approximately $5,000 budgeted for animal control had not been used and whether additional funding could be provided during the Tuesday, August 4 work session.
Elizabeth Snipes, Lois Vassilion-Justice and Tim Justice were three of 15 citizens to speak to the commission.
Officials acknowle dged questions and said the county’s animal control structure and responsibilities were still being addressed.
Mrs. Snipes addressed the severe failure of government transparency in Brantley County regarding tax funds and animal control.
“I want to address a severe failure of government transparency in Brantley County,” said Mrs. Snipes, “specifically regarding how this administration handles our tax funds and the complete invisibility of our animal control system. When citizens stand at this podium to complain the response from this board is total silence. You remove yourselves from the situation ... you deflect.
“You claim you have no money. You tell us the county is not legally obligated to provide a shelter, but let’s talk about actual transparency because the numbers they just don’t line up. Every year, the citizens of Brantley County pay their hard-earned property taxes, sales taxes, and code fees. We are told these funds are allocated to protect public safety, enforce local ordinances, and maintain our communities.
“We (citizens) look at the official financial records for a functional, dedicated animal control department, and the budget is effectively $0. To this board, the problem is legally invisible because you refuse to put it on your ledger, but the crisis doesn’t magically vanish just because you leave a line item blank in a budget spreadsheet.”
Mrs. Snipes pointed out public safety risks are still there with the dumping of animals along dirt rounds by Brantley Countians and those living outside the county.
“If our tax dollars are not being allocated to basic public safety, like animal control, what exactly are they being paid for?,” she asked. “If hundreds of 1000s, if not millions, of dollars are flowing into county operations, administrations, and various other departments, why is a glaring daily public safety issue completely defunded?
“This board of commissioners takes zero accountability and claims its hands are tied financially. Where are our tax funds actually going?”
She highlighted the crisis of stray, dumped and aggressive animals, and the lack of a dedicated animal control department pointing out BARC is raising significant funds to address the crisis, while the county remains silent.
“They (BARC) are raising over $113,000 a year in purely private donations and out-of-pocket foster funding just to keep our streets safe from rabid animals,” stated Mrs. Snipes.
Snipes demanded transparency and an audit of how tax dollars allocated for animal control are being spent.
“Why are our hard-earned tax dollars being prioritized for things that remain hidden from the public, while a visible crisis on our streets is completely ignored?,” Mrs. Snipes asked. “Why is the safety of our children, the safety of our property, our livestock, and our neighborhoods being treated as an invisible problem that private charities must solve for you.
“It’s time for this commission to do its job, to give us a transparent accounting of our tax funds and allocate them to a permanent countybacked animal control solution.”
Mrs. Vassilion-Justice, who started BARC, proposed the formation of an effective animal control committee composed of county officials and experts.
“I have three basic points,” she said. “We need an ‘effective’ animal committee in Brantley County composed of people who are already paid by the county to be concerned with the animal issues and have the power and the authority and/or expertise to deal with these animal issues.”
She offered the sheriff (Len Davis) or representative who, in the absence of animal control, is responsible by state law to deal with animal issues. Scott Smith, who’s job description is serving as the county’s vicious animal control officer.
A representative from the health department who is supposed to follow up on vicious dog attacks. A commissioner who can communicate to the board on animal needs and issues. The last was Vassilion-Justice herself. She explained her appointment as a resource for this county’s animal stray animal situations.
Her second point was the county starting to spend money in the annual budget, which is already supposed to be allocated for animal control issues. She passed around a handout of the Animal Control budget totaling $5,167.33 for FY27.
“It’s (Animal Control) been here for the last 16 years I have been a citizen here,” said Vassilion-Justice. “Not one penny has ever been spent on these concerns, ever, or even acknowledge when I’ve asked, begged and pleaded.”
The third point is the county providing vicious animal control officers, whose position is mandated under state law, a job description which is regulated under the law as to what those duties specifically are or outlined.
She handed commissioners a job description of the vicious animal control officer.
“That should be Scott Smith’s job description,” said Vassilion-Justice. “He should be aware of what his job description is, because it is mandated by Georgia state law.”
Vassilion-Justice’s last point was for the Brantley County Commission to begin to take the county’s issues with stray, neglected, and abused animals seriously with the law beginning to prosecute.
“Prosecute those who break these laws and state and federal laws,” she said, “just like they do the other laws. If you do this, 90 percent of the problems of Brantley County with animals will not exist.”
Justice expressed frustration with the board’s lack of action on animal control and infrastructure issues.
“If a stray walked up in your yard with fleas, lice or mange, what would you do?” he asked commissioners. “Y’all sit here and really do nothing. You talk a good game, but it’s all about the community. Transparency is business. Y’all just fail to do that.
“The next time dogs get dropped off at your place, don’t think about it. Raise the tax a quarter percent to build something to do settle this problem. I mean, you raise taxes on everything else. Why not?”
Comments