As you can see, this creates a philosophical tension for many ideological purists, like me. As an elected official, my desire is to represent the will of the people. And when homeowners are begging for some tax relief, and our legislators enact such laws, I desperately want HB581, and a tax break, for the people. But the implications are perilous for children in public schools in my community. Thus, the quandary of HB581.

Do we accept the legislation as-is and take the financial hit crippling our school systems, or do we set aside ideological purity and “opt-out” of HB581 for the sake of the future of our community: the voice-less and vote-less children who so desperately need someone to fight for them. Some have said that to opt-out after the voters have spoken is to commit “political suicide.” I’ve spoken to a host of uneasy board members across the state, especially in metro-Atlanta, many who feel this same tension of helping the homeowners save their homes and doing what is best for all the students in their community.
This is not an easy decision.