JOHN ANKER
CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 10
AT LARGE
In 2022, I ran for Mayor of Columbus with the belief that local governance could be improved. Despite an unsuccessful campaign, my commitment to making a meaningful contribution to our community remains unwavering.
While two years have passed since then, my determination to address persistent issues and advocate for positive change persists, as do many of the issues that motivated me to run for Mayor.
A CALL FOR TRANSPARENCY
TAXATION
Columbus, Georgia, bears the burden of being one of the highest taxed cities in the state, juxtaposed with its designation as one of the poorest. As a private citizen, I was part of a successful effort alongside homeowners and businessmen to challenge a recent property tax millage rate increase, marking a historic victory for Columbus taxpayers.
FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY & ACCOUNTABILITY
Despite Columbus' annual budget exceeding $334 million in 2023, transparency regarding the allocation of taxpayer dollars remains unclear. Internal and third-party audits have revealed questionable accounting practices, yet city leadership remains divided on addressing these issues. Audits are crucial to ensure taxpayer funds are utilized wisely, accurately, and efficiently.
PRIORITIZING CITIZEN NEEDS OVER QUESTIONABLE INVESTMENTS
Questionable real estate ventures and extravagant spending on new construction projects have diverted resources from maintaining essential infrastructure and neglected neighborhood facilities. Public discourse often occurs behind closed doors, stifling opportunities for substantive change. Citizens rightly demand honesty and accountability from their government.
COMMUNITY BUILDING
Columbus grapples with enduring challenges such as violent crime, unemployment, and poverty. Solutions cannot solely rely on law enforcement; fostering economic growth and opportunity must be paramount community objectives.
SAFE STREETS
In July of 2008, the citizens of Columbus, GA voted to approve a separate one-cent Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) and 70% of the revenue was to be devoted to Public Safety. Proposed expenditures included adding 100 police officers to the existing 388, adding new patrol zones, building police precincts and replacing fire stations, building a jail addition, and hiring sheriff's deputies and correctional officers. The remaining 30% was to be dedicated to roads, bridges and other infrastructure projects. The tax went into effect on January 1, 2009 and does not expire. When we were asked to support the 2009 LOST we were told by proponents at the time that this funding could help Columbus become one of the “Safest Cities in Georgia”.
With the recent passage of the 2021 SPLOST, with another healthy portion dedicated to public safety, Columbus’ tax rate reached 9%, the highest in the state. Today, 12 years after the LOST Vote and another dedicated SPLOST, we are now 170 officers short, leaving the promise of being the “Safest City in Georgia” still a distant dream.
WE CAN'T ARREST OUR WAY TO SAFER STREETS
Yes we need more police officers. We need to compensate them more, train them more, protect them more and appreciate them more. As we expect and demand more from them. Ask yourself, would you be willing to accept the challenges police officers face everyday?
We must also accept that there is no single cause for the violence plaguing our community, and there is no single solution to build a safer community. A more holistic strategy is required to reduce violence—a strategy that incorporates prevention and enforcement, but also addresses the root causes of violent crime - poverty, unemployment and lack of opportunity.
WE CAN'T ARREST OUR WAY TO SAFER STREETS
Yes, we need more police officers. We need to compensate them more, train them more, protect them more, and appreciate them more. As we expect and demand more from them, ask yourself, "Would I be willing to accept the challenges police officers face every day?"
We must also accept that there is no single cause for the violence plaguing our community and there is no single solution to build a safer community. A more holistic strategy is required to reduce violence—a strategy that incorporates prevention and enforcement, but also addresses the root causes of violent crime — poverty, unemployment and lack of opportunity.
OUR GREATEST ASSET IS OUR ABILITY TO WORK TOGETHER
I'm driven by a vision for Columbus, and it is rooted in partnership, teamwork, and collaboration. When we unite to converse, pray, and problem solve, we thrive collectively. Embracing our shared journey and opportunities, we pave a path towards a brighter, inclusive future.
LET'S ASK THE DIFFICULT QUESTIONS
Q: Why has crime reached such appalling levels?
Q: Why are we still 170 police officers short and what are we doing about it?
Q: We’re losing officers as fast as we’re hiring them. Do we have a leadership problem?
Q: Do we have a gang-problem and what are we doing to address it?
Q: Are there steps we should take to help our criminal justice system reduce the growing backlog of cases and help our city fulfill its mission of accountability, rehabilitation and public safety.
Q: What can we do to address the root cause and impact of juvenile crime?
WE NEED SOLUTIONS
I'll be blunt - I don’t have all the answers. My opponents may highlight my lack of political experience and challenge any proposals for change. However, I'm ready to acknowledge my limitations and respond by seeking help. I invite input from current leadership, the business community, churches, pastors, concerned citizens, and servant leaders. Together, let's confront the tough questions and collaboratively find the solutions we need to pave the way forward.
TRANSPARENCY & ACCOUNTABILITY
In conclusion, let me point out this interesting statistic:
• Columbus Council recently passed a $296.6 million city budget for the fiscal year 2022.
• The city’s FY2022 revenues include $164,490,530 in General Fund revenue, which includes $41,980,603 in Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) funds.
• The 2022 budget represents an increase of 5.7% over the previous year’s nearly $280.5 million.
At that level, over a four year period, an elected administration will spend over ONE BILLION DOLLARS. In the interest of transparency and accountability, I think it’s only reasonable to ask the difficult questions, the first being “WHERE DOES THAT MONEY GO, AND WHAT DID WE GET FOR IT?”
I’m curious and I hope you are too. Join me and let’s get started.