Property Owners – Your property rights are under assault and you’re tax dollars are being used to pay for it

This is one taxpayer’s opinion. After having our property taxes doubled or even tripled, now come the people who want to control your property. Elected county officials, concerned about economic growth, contracted with the Greene County Economic Development Corporation for the last 18 years advance the county’s economic interests. The GCEDC was formed in 1989 and until recently was properly and actively involved with economic development issues which it was created to address. The GCEDC is a private not for profit organization. It isn’t a governmental agency, not directed by elected officials, nor does it represent the voters. A news article explained the GCEDC is under contract with the county receiving $120,000 this year alone and requests funding from each city based on per capita population, which would also be taxpayer’s money to be used to support its development initiatives.

In the last year though, the latest (5th) director of the GCEDC has become focused on advocating the implementation of land use planning and zoning in the county, to improve development. Apparently none of the previous directors shared this view and did not become improperly involved in the advocacy of public policy. Under the new director’s leadership though, the GCEDC seems single mindedly dedicated to that goal. Now the GCEDC, rather than working with industry, local, and regional groups on economic development issues as it was formed to do, and had been doing for the last 18 years, has now improperly strayed into the political arena. We are used to seeing private organizations, privately funded or with voluntary donations lobby leaders to advance their interests and we accept that as a legitimate form of political expression. But for a private organization, which is financed by public funds to advocate the formation of public policy is improper and completely unacceptable. It is, in the opinion of this citizen, a gross misappropriation of the public trust and funds. The GCEDC has traveled from city to city and group to group, publicly advocating the imposition of planning and zoning. I don’t want my tax money spent by a non-elected, non-representative organization to advocate actions that will directly and negatively impact me; do you?

I think its an outrage that a citizen can set in a meeting and listen to the GCEDC, along with the help of paid expert consultants from outside the county, tell our elected officials step by step how to implement planning and zoning and take away our property rights forever. Even more upsetting is the fact that officials do not seem to think there is anything wrong with this, and it appears have completely bought into this notion of zoning.

Advocating passing of laws is a purely political activity. I would urge all voters to contact their elected officials and demand that this be stopped and put an end to both the contract and the association with this now politically active group, which threatens all our citizens’ rights. Contact your elected officials and make your opinion heard even though you’re not being supplied with public funding for voicing your interests. It should be very clear after 18 years that neither the GCEDC nor anyone else could magically create prosperity anywhere. Counties in all 50 states have the same problems we do with zoned counties everywhere losing jobs at a record rate, not creating new ones. Zoning has nothing to do with jobs or prosperity. Zoning is theft of a person’s rights by the government and that’s all it will ever accomplish. Just look at the zoned counties around you! How gullible can we all be?

Otis J. Russell, Chairman
Citizens for Property Rights
RR# 1 Box 140
Switz City, IN 47465
812-659-3334