Staff Photo by Robin Rudd/ Matt Barton, candidate for the District 5 Georgia House set speaks at the Murray County Senior Center. The Murray County Republican Party hosted a meet and greet for candidates running for the District 5 Georgia House Seat on December 20, 2018. The seat was left empty with the death of longtime house member John Meadows.Georgia State House candidate Matt Barton defended his record as a city councilman Monday, arguing his political opponent is not providing the full picture about his history with property taxes.
Jesse Vaughn prodded at one of Barton’s campaign mailers in a video statement last week, questioning Barton’s claim that he “slashed” taxes during his time on the Calhoun City Council. From 2010-17, when Barton served on the council, the city’s tax rate increased by 24 percent.
“He sent out a mailer saying he slashed taxes,” Vaughn told the Times Free Press. “In fact, he did the exact opposite. He made the motion to raise taxes, and that’s what his minutes reflect.”
Barton argues the situation is more complicated than Vaughn insists. Yes, the overall property tax rate increased during his years in office. But some of those years, the overall property values in the city decreased. Raising the rate is only one half of the equation. With the lower property values, the city’s actual tax revenue decreased in five of his eight years in office.
Barton accused Vaughn of misleading voters. The day after Vaughn posted his video, Barton posted on Facebook: “Lawyers make a living distorting facts and numbers. They do the same with truth. Do we want a lawyer who talks or a worker who works?”