The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth. For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer. 1 Timothy 4:1-4.

Two years ago, we opined that the residential growth of Oconee County was out-pacing its ability to generate a sustainable tax base without commensurate growth in commercial and industrial segments.  Now that the chickens have come home to roost in the form of budget cuts, staff cuts, and other budget shortfalls in our education system even if the millage rate were increased to its legal limit, are we ready to ask our commissioners to consider allowing restaurants to serve beer and wine by the glass? The re-written MPD ordinance has done little to address the fact that there are currently over 2,000 individual home sites zoned and planned for build out in the next ten to fifteen years.  That means more residents using Oconee infrastructure, and more tax dollars being spent in other counties instead of staying home and supporting a lifestyle that has become the magnet for more and more people fueling the vicious cycle.  The last time we tried this through voting, it was for all alcoholic drinks.  And of course, it failed.  It was destined to fail.  All we are asking is a fighting chance to continue to operate, and to start to operate profitably.  The County Commissioners and City Councils can enact by resolution and ordinance the sale of beer and wine by the drink.  Now that the adult entertainment ordinance is in place, and Watkinsville's City Ordinances are being reviewed, are we ready to say we can accept the sale of a glass of wine without the fear of having adult entertainment businesses come into our neighborhoods?  By allowing a restaurant to serve wine it provides a complete dining experience, and allows the restaurant to offer amenities that are simply out of the question without the revenue generated by the sale of wine.  This means more employment taxes, more sales taxes, more property taxes.  More tax revenue with little or no increase in services required.  Ask your commissioners and city council if they are willing to continue to let our county and city grow without the resources required to sustain the quality of life we have come to enjoy.  Ask them if they are willing to let a top-ranked school system implode under the weight of its popularity without considering every option available to expand and broaden the tax base that supports it.