They did it Again!

Submitted by Mike Cesarini

With the exception of last year, the Giles County Commission has consistently kicked the can down the road.

Year after year, Commissioners have generally passed budgets that spent more money than the county was taking in. Rather than approving small cost-of-living adjustments to the property tax rate, they went years without any increase at all.

That eventually led to a crisis that forced a 16.1% property tax increase in 2025, creating a firestorm that taxpayers are still feeling today.

To prevent this from happening again, the Commission agreed last year to approve only balanced budgets where ongoing expenses were matched by current revenue.

The plan was simple: control spending while making only modest adjustments to the tax rate when necessary.

So here we go again.

The budget approved May 29 by the Budget Committee includes no increase in the property tax rate but relies on taking $488,305 from Education and an additional $426,799 from the Road Fund balance.

Money from Education should be used to improve school facilities and support our students, not be diverted back into the General Fund.

As for county roads, it is estimated that instead of paving 70 miles of roads badly in need of improvement, taxpayers will have to settle for only 40 miles.

Even with these cuts, the proposed budget is still $110,572 short of being balanced.

Commissioners kept their own raise.

Several years ago, the Commissioners voted themselves a pay raise that will take effect this September.

The total cost of Commissioner compensation to taxpayers will increase from approximately $55,000 this year to $113,316 next year.

Individual Commissioner pay will rise from $2,619 to $5,396 annually.

These figures come directly from the county’s proposed 2025-2026 budget approved by the Budget Committee.

When asked to rescind this increase — which would have saved $58,776 and reduced more than half of the current budget shortfall — they voted to keep the raise.

That decision is a slap in the face to taxpayers who are struggling with rising food, housing, fuel, and other everyday costs while receiving only modest increases in their own income.

So what can we do?

Call your Commissioners.

Let them know you expect accountability, and that elected officials should be held to a higher standard.

There is still time to make your voice heard. The budget must still be approved by the full Commission at its June 25 meeting.

Vote in August.

Elect Commissioners who will plan for the future, insist on responsible budgeting, protect funding for education and essential county services, and put the interests of taxpayers ahead of their own paychecks.

Don’t Miss Your Chance to Vote!

Submitted by Dawn Pozzi

Local elections have a direct impact on the issues that affect our daily lives — from schools and roads to public safety and local services.

The officials elected at the local level make decisions about how tax dollars are spent and what priorities shape our communities.

Voting in local elections is one of the most effective ways to have a voice in the future of your town, county, and neighborhood. It helps ensure that community leaders are accountable to the people they serve.

Register by July 7

The deadline to register to vote is July 7 — and it’s closer than you think.

Even if you’ve voted before, it’s important to make sure your registration is still active and your information is up to date. Changes in address, name, or status can affect your ability to vote.

Your voice matters. Your vote matters.

Take a minute today to make sure you’re ready for Election Day.

First things First

Submitted by Dennis Pozzi

There are moments when we have to stop pretending this is normal.

The Republican-controlled state government has worked to silence our vote, gerrymander our state, and make it harder for people of color to elect a representative of their choice.

It is obvious. It is blatant. It is racist. And it is immoral.

But here is the part they may not have counted on:

This power grab can still blow up in their face.

When Republicans split up the Memphis vote, they did it because they were afraid of what that vote could do if it remained whole. They tried to take one strong Democratic voice and divide it across multiple districts.

They thought that would make us weaker.

But the surrounding “red” counties they used to dilute Memphis are not as red as they want people to believe. Some are as much as 40% blue. There are Democrats in those counties. There are independents who know this is wrong. There are people of conscience who have been told for years that their vote does not matter.

Maybe that is why too many have stayed home.

Maybe they looked at the maps and the margins and believed the outcome was already written. Maybe they believed the story Republicans wanted them to believe — that there were not enough of us, that the lines were too fixed, that the power was too locked down, that showing up would not change anything.

But this moment tells a different story.

If we rise together, organize across those lines, and understand that Memphis Democrats, rural Democrats, suburban Democrats, independents, and every voter who still believes in fair representation are part of the same fight, then this map does not have to be the end of representation.

It can become the beginning of a backlash.

Instead of silencing one blue representative, they may have created the conditions to lose three seats.

That is the opportunity in front of us.

They drew these lines to weaken us.

Now we have the chance to make those lines connect us.

When we rise as one, When we stand up and be counted, We can push back.

That is the message behind my song “First Things First.”

Listen. Share it. Use it as a reminder.

Then show up. Speak out. Stand together.

Show Up for Our Democratic Candidates at the Giles County Election Forum

The 2026 Election Forum is almost here, and Giles County Democrats need to show up.

The forum, presented by Pulaski Citizen and WKSR, will be held at STAAR Theatre on Thursday, June 4, and Friday, June 5 at 6pm.

This is an important opportunity for voters to hear directly from the candidates who are asking to represent them. It is also an opportunity for Democrats, independents, and community-minded voters to make it clear that we are paying attention.

Our candidates should not have to stand alone.

Running for local office takes courage. It means answering hard questions in public. It means putting your name, your values, and your plans in front of the whole community.

When Democratic candidates step forward in Giles County, they deserve to see friendly faces in the room. They deserve encouragement. They deserve support. And they deserve to know that the people who believe in fair representation, responsible government, public education, working families, and a better future for Giles County are standing with them.

Attendance matters.

Local elections are often decided by who shows up. Forums like this help shape public opinion, local conversations, and voter confidence. When our community sees Democrats present, engaged, respectful, and informed, it changes the story about what is possible in Giles County.

This is not just about one night or one candidate. It is about building visibility. It is about showing that Democrats are part of this community, that we care about local government, and that we are ready to participate.

Please make plans to attend.

Come listen. Come learn. Come support the Democratic candidates. Bring a friend, neighbor, or family member who cares about the direction of Giles County.

Let’s fill the room with people who believe local government should serve the public, protect essential services, support our schools, and plan responsibly for the future.

Our candidates are showing up.

Let’s show up for them.