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ARCHIVES
Statement of Jim Carns Regarding Vote Against
Forbearance Agreements
Birmingham, Alabama, October 2, 2008 – In early September at the time of the last forbearance agreements adopted by the Commission, I sent Governor Riley a statement explaining my vote in favor and my position on the issues under consideration. Today I am voting against the latest forbearance agreements as I told Governor Riley I would, and I want to explain my vote to my constituents and to the public in general.
In the case of the sewer warrants, the County is obligated to apply net revenues to the payment of debt service, and that is all that we are obligated to do. Neither the Governor nor any other party has held out any hope whatsoever that Wall Street will accept as sufficient only that to which it is entitled. Wall Street is greedy; it wants more, always more. Under these circumstances I see no need to delay default any longer. Jefferson County has gone above and beyond its duty to its creditors. Wall Street has failed to live up to its responsibilities in this and many other matters.
For more information, click here.
Would Bankruptcy Benefit Jefferson County ?
A poll recently published by The Birmingham Business Journal asking if Jefferson County should declare bankruptcy showed that 51% of people responded “yes.” Only 27% responded “no.” For the 22% who are undecided and waiting on more information I hope the following link provided by CBS 42 will prove helpful.
CBS 42 News Story
To view the Right to Know Rally in its entirety, please click on the link below.
Right To Know Rally
August 7, 2008
RIGHT-to-KNOW RALLY
Public Invited
Homewood Public Library
1721 Oxmoor Rd / Homewood, AL 35209
6:00pm
Birmingham, Alabama, August 5, 2008 – I will hold a Right-to-Know Rally on Thursday, August 7, 2008, at the Homewood Public Library beginning at 6:00pm.
This open, candid meeting confirms my commitment to provide the public opportunity to question the details of all proposed solutions to Jefferson County’s financial crisis.
Without my support or that of Commissioner Bobby Humphryes, the other three members of the Jefferson County Commission continue to move forward with a refinancing plan that includes approximately fifty million dollars of new taxes charged to our citizens each year. These taxes represent “non user fees” broader and more expensive than most Jefferson County residents can imagine. With automatic property tax increases, Jefferson County home owners could see a repeat in property taxes similar to the 300% sewer rate increases.
The tax paying citizens of Jefferson County ultimately pay the bill for any decision the Commission makes. Therefore, I believe it imperative our citizens have their questions and concerns about the impact of restructuring the sewer system debt answered freely and truthfully, unscripted and uncensored.
I welcome and encourage all questions from the public regarding how proposed solutions to Jefferson County’s current financial troubles affect their property taxes, business fees, sales taxes, jobs and school systems – and the future of Jefferson County as a whole.
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Downloadable Press Release
You Have the Right to Know:
Complete Disclosure on Debt
Negotiations
Birmingham, Alabama, July 11, 2008 - The following statement has been released by Jefferson
County Commissioner Jim Cams:
I am releasing today a summary of the status of negotiations as of Tuesday, July 8, 2008 so that
the public can have a reference point as alternative plans are considered for the restructuring of
the sewer system debt. The County's prior team of advisers did an outstanding job of assembling
a workable and fair plan that could have avoided bankruptcy and put the sewer system on a
sound footing.
As other proposals are brought forward, I will evaluate them under the following criteria: (1) do
they avoid taking revenues required for other pressing needs; (2) do they provide for adequate
operating and capital expenditures to keep safe our rivers and streams and comply with the law;
(3) do they convert the County's debt to long term fixed rate, full payout debt; (4) do they
provide for reasonable rates; and (5) do they avoid additional taxes or gambling revenues.
The plan abandoned last Tuesday met all of these criteria and was mostly accepted by the
County's creditors.
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Jim Carns Explains the Facts
Dear Supporters,
Thank you for sharing your concerns about the County’s sewer debt situation with me. Please allow me to address some of the questions and fears about the solution we currently propose.
First, the Jefferson County Commission will not use any of the $1.05 billion raised in a bond issue for schools to pay its sewer debt. In fact, the County paid every cent of that money to its schools between November 2006 and April 2007.
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Welcoming Brookwood
Pharmaceuticals
I am excited to welcome
Brookwood to Jefferson County
and elated at the cooperation of
state, county, and city entities
to produce this significant
achievement. Brookwood’s leading
position in the polymer based
drug delivery industry is a
definite asset to our community.
The 300 new jobs created by
Brookwood will broaden the
County’s employment
opportunities in the higher wage
technology sector I have long
advocated as vital to growth in
Jefferson County .
more
Watch Brookwood Pharmaceuticals Press Conference
Jim
Carns Continues Campaign for
Jefferson County Manager
County Commissioner Jim Carns and Representative Paul DeMarco (R-46 District) announce the
introduction of a bill to the Alabama Legislature authorizing the employment of a County
Manager for Jefferson County during the week of February 5th.
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Read County Manager Bill |
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Facts About County Manager |
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Watch
Jim Carns Advocates a County Manager |
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Show
your Support for a County Manager |
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Read
Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce to
Support
Jefferson County Manager Bill |
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