WAB: Monday's Budget Meeting
Monday's budget committee meeting opened and closed with very few no’s to raises and increases. If the first meeting is an indication of things to come, not only will property taxes be raised but everything north of “Old Lynnville” will have to be sold to Maury County Alabama Tennessee Knoxville
Some high or low-lights from the meeting included but was not limited to the following: (please click on "comments" to continue)
posted by J. Kendrick McPeters | 10:57 PM
47 Comments:
Increase travel budget for the Commissioners along with an increase for supplies.
County Executive office increased to include a “4% raise for the girls”, that is a direct quote from the county executive not my words.
5% pay increase for elected officials. 4% increase for other employees. Of course they need and deserve that increase because of the extra hours they work keeping the courthouse open on Saturdays. Surely they’re not still working thirty-five hours a week!
Pay for election workers increased from 60 and 80 dollars a day to $100.00 per day.
The approval of money for the courthouse was delayed until after an evaluation by Columbia Fire Equipment could be done to determine the cost of installing a fire alarm system and possible sprinklers.
Juvenile Services was given a straight salary increase of $2,924.00.
There were three issues that were actually debated during the meeting. One was the suggestion to no longer fund the Judicial Commissioners. With the exception of Mr. Holt and Mr. Beets, the committee voted to recommend to the full Commission doing away with the three positions and save the county over $28,000.00 a year.
A second issue discussed was the matter of having the County Clerk, who is responsible for all official minutes of the commission to actually come and take the minutes of the committee. This was dismissed because most on the budget committee were simply afraid to ask the Clerk to provide someone.
The third issue was the announcement by the county executive that a representative from TOSHA had informed her that “we have to hire” a Safety Officer. I believe this statement has as much validity as the false claim that there are no qualified applicants for the job of Financial Management Director. This has been a pet project of the county executive for several years and turned down by the full Commission each time it has been presented. It’s a position that would be created with a salary of $34,000.00 and put the person (now I just wonder who that person might be?) in charge of such things as the Rescue Squad, fire, safety and emergency management and a few other people and activities that have managed just fine without a “Safety Director”. -- Allen Barrett
Who would be that person?
Its Pierre Billard.
In addition to the salary, add another 30% for benefits.
Remember a paid "deputy director" was recently added to EMC, that was to prep for Billard to have this new position created for him.
Yeh, why does Fire and Reacue need a supervisor when they've done an excellent job without this.
As to TOSHA, we should see this mandate in writing, it could be only a recommendation, if anything. And couldn't the new finance director create a safety committee?
The courthouse hasn't had fire safety since it was built 90+ years ago. While I think its a good thing, can this be another delay tactic on getting the Hunter Smith building up and running? They should have fire safety taken care of in both buildings at the same time.
Funding for these buildings comes from the local hotel/motel tax. I'd lay bets Vanzant will say the fire marshall is demanding the old courthouse be taken care of now!! then she'll add there's not enough money to do anything about the HS building. Another bet would be no one on the property committee would challenge her on that except for Connie Howell who, if you read the paper, has been speaking up a lot lately. Add to that Tommy Pollard. Good for them.
They are two very very good commissioners!!
Budget Meeting agenda for Monday April 30 has many items to cover. In addition, they are to consider a request from Milky Way for a Private Act by the commissioners that has something to do with exempting Milky Way from county and city taxes! Lord help us.
You have to be kidding!
To anonymous Fri 27th 9-10 PM
NO NOT Kidding !!
Why not call your commissioner on that committee and ASK them ?? They are after all YOUR representatives .
TELL them how you want them to vote . There's one from each district ...
on the Budget/Legislative except for District 6
Ramona Flacy, Chr 468-2483
Stoney Jackson 565-3268
Billy Beets 363-1035
Edwin Lovell 527-3572
Bill Holt 363-1236
Tommy Campbell 363-3513
If we don't call we have only ourselves to blame.
Why should the Milky Way be exempt? You would think the people who are paying that much for property could better afford the taxes than many of our local residents who are unemployed and ones who are retired and on a set income. The developers are experienced at this and would not be doing it if they could not make a killing from it. Is our county government going to give away all the gravy and leave the crumbs for our local people who have paid taxes localy for years?
I think, as disappointing as it is, that Tommy Pollard is in the whine group's back pocket. I really am surprised at that.
What in the ding dong did Mr Pollard's name come up for? Dont think he is on the budget committee. Anything to take a stab at somebody. I forgot, what church did you say you go to?
Church affiliation has nothing to do with my disappointment about Mr. Pollard. I consider him a friend, and my remarks about him were not intended to be perceived as a stab in the back. Why did I know someone like you would try to make it look just the opposite?
You need to go back and take a look at your post if you think you didn't insult the character of Commissioner Pollard and also those he represents.
You clearly accused him of being in someone’s pocket. In some senses that may mean he has his hand in ones pocket in order to steal their money. In a political sense it means that the person has become so totally influenced by someone or some group that they no longer have the integrity of their convictions to guide them.
Your statement claimed something that is untrue and seeks to stain his character.
Mr. Pollard and I have not always agreed and probably won’t agree on some things in the future but I have found him to be honest, forthright and willing to listen and research subjects, much more so than some in our local government. From the campaign to now he has been steadfast in his resolution to not raise taxes. Unlike some of his counterparts he understands that if the freewheeling spending currently engaged in continues raising taxes and cost of services will increase.
I firmly agree with his stance against increased taxes and excessive spending and believe Mr. Pollard will do what he believes is right and reflective of those he represents, regardless of what any special interest group may think. Allen Barrett
Sounds like good news! - Rats on the run! Biting at any that stand in their way! Predictable! You might find Pollard's agenda isn't building more rat nests. He is a threat & I hope he keeps lighting a fire under your rear end! Let's make this "Rat Riddance Week"!
wab...
Like you never insult anyone (laughing so hard at the hypocrisy here)? Yep, I clearly did say that I THOUGHT he was in the whiners' back pocket. I didn't accuse him of anything, so maybe you need to go back and read my post.
What you accuse me of is almost like your calling people names and then claiming you do not attack them "personally". I do not use that tactic.
By the way, I don't know of any special interest groups around this county other than the one you seem to champion.
Anonymous (4/29 2:55), Once again after reading your post I find you to be a complete idiot. Do you ever read your post even after you post them?
Once again, Blue Balls licks WAB's ass!
Comments on the Milky Way Private Act - wake up commissioners and dont do this. This new development will increase the assessed valuation and bring in much needed tax revenues.
Ole Hickory
Was anything dicussed about the Judge wanting funding for a sec. position?
Well I sure hope that the judge does not get funding for a sec. The Judicial Comm. need the pay way more than he needs a sec. Please call your comm. and pass this along.
The MW private act page 24, section 12 - "... THE DISTRICT (MW), its PROPERTIES AT ANY TIME OWNED BY IT and the income and REVENUES therefrom shall be EXEMPT FROM STATE, COUNTY, AND municipal TAXATION." (caps added for emphasis). That would make it a tax free zone for just about any of the many things they say they'll do. Only an complete idiot would buy into that, for Giles County!
MW is a good idea as long as all state and county laws and taxes are applied! Don't care what they add to it as long as THEY PAY FOR IT & it's legal. NO EXCEPTIONS!
Nothing was discussed in Budget Meeting of April 30 re sec. for judge. At least, not where the public could hear it.
Has Chan Harris been eating with Jackson and Norman. He really pushed the school boards budget. It is so full of holes. Just think he will be able to get his hands on enough money to build his Athen's Annex, Phase III to the school board building.
Whine and complain. Perhaps you are angry ebcause they didn't invite you to dinner! So incredibly laughable.
Point: It's none of your business or mine who dines with whom.
So Anonymous, it would be fine with you if I took your wife out to dinner? Yes it is everyone's business. Say you own a business and your salesperson is using your money to wine and dine his friends or family. Would that interest you?
Either way, business owner or taxpayer, it's a conflict of interest and it is our business. When are you going to take your key board and go home?
At this morning’s budget meeting the following resolution was presented by Commissioners Reedy and Lovell that up to $900,000.00 would be used to renovate the Hunter Smith building. This is without, as admitted by Commissioner Reedy, an architects’ plan or a structural engineer examination or any plan for the parking problem. It also by-passes the subcommittee that was established to make recommendations to the full commission about any courthouse annex building proposals.
Almost immediately after presenting this resolution Commissioner Reedy stated that there was a shortage of income for the county and thus consideration must be given to the possibility of raising the property tax rate and the creation of a wheel tax of Fifty (50) Dollars. An alternative proposal was offered that “the problem isn’t a shortage of money but a looseness of spending. The county isn’t bringing in too little money it’s simply spending too much.” I urge you to call your commissioners and tell them you want any and all property tax increases and wheel tax proposals met with a dead on arrival toe tag. Urge them to please take better control of county spending and stop the waste, pet projects and counterfeit budgets. Allen Barrett
I'll take my keyboard and go home when lunatics like you stop spewing hatred and distrust.
And no, its actually none of your business or mine who dines with whom! This is none of my business as well, but I just have to ask....did you get your high school diploma?
So you don't mind if I take your wife to lunch! Yes, I got my high school diploma, but I'm not sure if it counts. It was from Richland.
Hang on a second, I'm spewin, oops, it's green snot not hatred.
What a dope!
funny blue..
You shouldn't call yourself derogatory names such as dope. It's not good for your self-esteem, which you seem to have plenty of. And, by the way, I thought the name-calling was to be directed at those like me.
You're too quick for me anonymous.
blue..
I think you ought to ask wab out to dinner and a movie.
The buzz at the budget meeting today was yes to everything that involved spending. Then someone asked about how they were going to pay for the spending, “we’ll have to borrow the money” says one. “But how much have we spent” says another? “I don’t know but it’s a lot”, says still another. “Well, we can’t borrow any money if we don’t know how much to borrow,” says yet another. “I know what I want to do,” says Mr. Lovell. We need a $50.00 wheel tax.” Well, the people won’t go for that,” comes the response from across the table. “Well, they will if we give them a ten cent reduction in property tax,” responds Mr. Lovell. “Anyway we don’t have to do what the people want if we send it straight to Nashville and get a private act passed!” “OK, I make the motion to put it on the special called meeting for June,” says Mr. Lovell. “I second that,” says Mr. Holt. “Well I vote yes,” says Mr. Lovell, Mr. Holt and Mr. Campbell. The vote is five to three the proposal fails,” declared the chairwoman Mrs. Flacy. “Well, I’m gonna bring it up in the June meeting anyway,” says Mr. Lovell.
Get out the bicycles boys, if the gas price don’t get ya, the wheel tax will! Hey, think how much the highway department could save by paving only half the highways and using them for bicycle paths. Oh, well. Allen Barrett
wab..
Since you are so smart, please share with us how you would fix things if you were "in charge". Inquiring minds truly want to know.
To Anonymous,
A very interesting question. I don't consider myself to be as smart as you claim but I did stay in a Holiday Inn long enough to figure out when I was being lied to, robbed, and treated worse than an illegal alien. If I were "in charge" as you suggest the very first thing I would do is have an audit of the school budget. I would insure that every commission meeting was broadcast and every committee meeting was recorded. I would consolidate all the water districts in the county and supply water to every inhabited area. I would sell the Hunter Smith building to the highest bidder and build an adequate facility near the jail and move every court out there where they could be secured. I would require everyone working in the courthouse to work a full 40 hour week at their job, not lottering in other peoples offices. At budget time I would require everyone submitting a budget to justify what they ask for and give documented reasons for any raises or increases. I would stop the first solution to every problem from being spend more and let the people pay. I would restore trust and confidence in county government by making it open and trustworthy.
Those are a few of the things for the first day. Allen Barrett
wab..
So, according to you, county government is closed to the will of the people and untrustworthy? That is ridiculous.
It must hurt to know that you will never be in charge.
To a-nag-u-must, Even you in all your stupid hatred toward wab should be smart enough to know the truthfulness of your statement "county government is closed to the will of the people and untrustworthy".
Have you ever even seen a Jackson school budget? Have you ever wondered why so many commissioners are disgusted with the whole process?
You look at all wab wrote and all you can do is whine? What do you think about the broadcast of meetings, the consolidation of water districts, raises based on merit, people being paid for forty hours but actually working less than thirty-five. I thought you were pathetic but you have exceeded my thoughts.
bart..
Thank you for the complioments. I've always strived to do my best. Glad I impressed you.
But...the post was not addressed to you. I could just say you need to butt out, but that's not my style. And, as I've said before, I may think you an idiot, but I've got more class than to call you one.
To a-nag-u-must
I didn't realize there was a rule against posting a response to someone simply because their post wasn't directly addressed to you. Gee, guess most of your post are in violation since no one post to you but me. I find it interesting that you say, "I could just say you need to butt out, but that's not my style. And, as I've said before, I may think you an idiot, but I've got more class than to call you one", I would like to add some more things that "you could do" such as get a working brain, have a personality implant, get permission from your trainer to have more bananas each day, request to have your head extracted long enough for at least three gulps of fresh air each week, I could suggest those things but I want, I mean what's the use you've already been diagnosed as terminally stupid. As for class I understand yours graduates in 2022, hang in there and you might make it with a few well placed bribes.
bart...
Let me address whichever personality you are at the moment. You aren't coming across as intelligent or comical. We are not impressed.
Have you ever asked yourself why you are so angry and bitter. Were you one of those who lost in the August election? As I've said before, get over it.
To A-nag-u-must,
I'm very troubled that you question "whichever personality you are at the moment" then refer to yourself in the plural form. As for the election I never ran for anything, never ran from anything. I never had to ask myself anything, what would be the point? By thinking, it's very clear that I would know or not know the answer so what's the point of asking myself anything? Things I already know I don't have to ask anyone, things I don't know I ask someone else. Do you suppose that's the reason you keep coming up with such stupid answers, you ask yourself the questions?
As for being angry and bitter sounds like projection on your part, I'm much too peaceful and sweet.
bart...
You are delusionary. You call yourself peaceful and sweet and yet, you are obviously a part of the small group of troublemakers here in the county. You people aren't happy with anything and think yourselves so much smarter than the average bear. That is called delusionary, and, adding to that, a touch of paranoia, makes you paranoid delusional.
Here's a question for you. Since you are among the "enlightened thinkers" in this county, please tell me what you would do to make Giles County a suitable place to live. This really should be interesting. By the way, thais is a challenge, so be specific.
To a-nag-u-must, Is this more name calling that you're not doing? I'm not "delusionary" it's just the voices I keep hearing. By the way just how smart is "the average bear". Do they have to be tested to determine which are average and which are more and less than average. Just for your information I am a group of one but I can certainly appreciate those who seek to better this county and open the government.
If I was in charge the first thing I would do is pass a resolution that all idiots have to go back to their village each night then I would hunt you down and send you back. 2nd thing is a would do away with all taxes and fees. I would fund the government by charging you $.25 each time you said something stupid and with the excess funds I would pay off the national debt.
So what would you do if you were in charge.
The real challenge here is that I want what you would do not what you would have others tell you to do, since you only know what others tell you.
bart...
My calling you "delusionary" was merely an adjective I used to describe your behavior. Allen Barrett himself once used that same response as a defense to his calling me a name. He called me a name (a noun).
Secondly, I have no desire to be in charge of anything other than my own life. Therefore, I cannot answer your question concerning what I might do. I'm not driven by a need for power and neither am i envious of those who have it. By the way, the last August elections didn't turn out exactly as I would have wanted, but that's how it goes. But I'm not going to try to humiliate or belittle those I didn't vote for.
Thirdly, you keep going back to saying that I am indifferent to truth and that I hate your hero. Wrong on both counts. I care deeply for truth and have never met your hero. What caught my attention with him was the way he talked to people who differed with him. I just couldn't allow him to go unchallenged when he resorted to name-calling and suggestions of intellectual inferiority, etc.
Finally, you keep going back to the idea that I don't know anything other than what people tell me. You know very well what I was talking about, so I'll not even bother to explain it again.
To a-nag-u-must,
Your words make you very clear. You are the one who said you "only know what you've heard others say". You are the one who said "I don't care about the truth I just don't like him". Now if I have to I can go back and get your exact statements in their entirety but you already know the truth even if you don’t care for it. You are very simply the cowardly liar with no idea where the yellow brick road is much less where it leads.
bart...
You are incredible (adjective)!
My exact statements? Go ahead. You have already shown that you can put a certain spin on anything I say. You are so hilarious (adjective).
You never did answer my question about why its not name-calling when your hero does it. Could you explain that for me?
I'm not going to call you an idiot (noun), because I've got a little more class than that.
To a-nag-u-must,
I do not speak for or attempt to explain what wab does, says or don't do or say, he seems very capable of taking care of himself. Speak to me you brain dead anal buffoon (nouns). I have no problem in calling you an idiot (noun) because you have more than proven that fact. As for class you have none all you have proven to have so far is an abundance of gaseous fumes emanating from your vile mouth along with an incredible amount of stupidity and cowardice.
bart....
I still want to call you un-smart bart, but I don't know for sure which personality you are at the time of my writing.
By the way, there is only one noun (buffoon). The remainder of those are adjectives. And to think I thought you were merely describing my behavior. By the way, could you explain the double standard with regard to the name-calling? Is it situation ethics or what?
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