County Bankrupt????????
Recently there seems to have been much protestations about the county not being bankrupt. It seems that the County Executive heard a rumor, according to her words, then made a very strong denial in a committee meeting, on the radio, in the Commission Meeting and in the newspaper. Doth the lady protest too much?
While I agree that the county is not bankrupt financially it is certainly headed in that direction. By her own words the County Executive stated the county is spending more than it is taking in. Certainly that's, in part, a problem that is caused by some months being periods of slow collections. There is a greater problem however in that when the budget was made it was adopted knowing that reserve funds would have to be used to finance it. Many times the budget committee, the financial management office, the county executive and the commissioners have been warned of the financial problems, even before the collapse of the markets, yet they have chosen to ignore the problems and increase spending even above what was originally budgeted for.
Three million dollars in reserve may sound like a lot but when you keep taking 10 an 20 an $30,000.00 chips away from it soon it's not so big.
Fact, Giles County has a shrinking tax base but continues to grow the government.
Fact, with a decreasing tax base and increasing expense a tax increase is on the way.
Fact, with a shrinking population and increasing unemployment how can the people who are left pay the increased tax burden?
While the county may not be bankrupt at this moment it's leadership is certainly bankrupt of common sense and a will to control spending. Allen Barrett
While I agree that the county is not bankrupt financially it is certainly headed in that direction. By her own words the County Executive stated the county is spending more than it is taking in. Certainly that's, in part, a problem that is caused by some months being periods of slow collections. There is a greater problem however in that when the budget was made it was adopted knowing that reserve funds would have to be used to finance it. Many times the budget committee, the financial management office, the county executive and the commissioners have been warned of the financial problems, even before the collapse of the markets, yet they have chosen to ignore the problems and increase spending even above what was originally budgeted for.
Three million dollars in reserve may sound like a lot but when you keep taking 10 an 20 an $30,000.00 chips away from it soon it's not so big.
Fact, Giles County has a shrinking tax base but continues to grow the government.
Fact, with a decreasing tax base and increasing expense a tax increase is on the way.
Fact, with a shrinking population and increasing unemployment how can the people who are left pay the increased tax burden?
While the county may not be bankrupt at this moment it's leadership is certainly bankrupt of common sense and a will to control spending. Allen Barrett
posted by Allen Barrett | 10:19 AM
69 Comments:
We need some financial statements before we'll know anything. Where is the 2008 state audit report? It was on-line last year around Nov. 15.
As far back as I can remember, the corporate world had reliable numbers in 15 days & final results within 30 days of year end. It's been almost five months since 6-30-8. Did the state audit the books this year?
I can't recall any earth shaking problems other than the school department. The school department is a whole different can of worms. It reminds me of the old rhymes taught in school about ants & grasshoppers - stuff you could relate to. The ants look leaner while the grasshoppers get fatter. Can't wait to see the results!
Another negative thread. Why am I not surprised?
4:30
You obviously dont know the difference between negative and concern.
If you're not surprised then why bother telling everyone?
I heard a man say one time in Giles County, "I just like to disagree." So that must be you
Thursday, November 20, 2008 4:30:00 PM
I've been thinking it was a woman disagreeing until I thought about that.
At least that keeps the blog going.
I bet if WAB said, "it's going to rain today" and it pouring down then you would disagree.
According to the news this AM, the legislature is going to give school boards the power to raise taxes! If so,schoolds will never go broke until every last citizen is broke!
Of all the government agencies I can think of, school administrations are number one when it comes to lying and waste!Giving them unlimite taxing & spending is the most outrageous thing I've ever heard. It looks like hell raising is just around the corner.
Hiring Shirey back with a raise is also a waste and will help to bankrupt this county. How many people knew that he was even hired back?
Did anyone see that Dan Speer got a raise??? Unbeleivable that he got more money when everything is such a mess!
PEOPLE we MUST contact our State reps NOW and ask them to vote AGAINST this legislation that would give the school board the opportunity to vote in county sales taxes. We cannot survive arbitrary taxes. Bad enough now.
Contact
state representative
eddiebass@legislature.state.tn.us
and
state senator
sen.doug.jackson@legislature.state.tn.us
Thank you.
Its property tax increases they are after not sales tax.
6;14 They will for sure be after property taxes, but don't count them out on any opportunity to stick it to the taxpayers.
They've maxed out on the sales tax. The city has reached the full amount they can charge and the county has committed not to increase their part until the city pays off the Sam Davis upgrade?
Property tax is all that's left. Since the tax base continues to shrink and spending keeps going up and jobs keep going away even a second grader can do the math.
Common sense tells us that you can't have unlimited outflow and limited income for very long.
There must be a tightening of the spending or else there will be major disaster ahead. While the county may not be bankrupt at this moment, based on the rate of spending and the amount of income what's available in reserve will not last very long.
Weakness and incompetence will lead the way to complete failure or massive tax increases. The big question is with the loss of so many jobs where will the money come from to pay the taxes? Allen Barrett
Mr. Barrett you are incorrect in saying that a property tax increase is all that is left. There is always a wheel tax.
You are correct. What I was referring to was the existing taxes that are available.
No doubt there will be a major effort to impose a wheel tax and anything else they can come up with.
Why should the commissioners impose a wheel tax just because they don't have the guts/balls to say NO and do some cutting in the budget as is. I believe if a wheel tax was tried (as it has been tried in the past), do the people get to vote on that WAB?
To Anonymous of the 2:04 post.
I don't believe it's necessary to have the people approve a wheel tax. If they go straight through the legislature the people are cut out of the decision. Allen Barrett
The people CAN run an initiative via a petition to OVERRULE anything that our stupid commissioners try to vote in .
Ask your three district commissioners whether they will sponsor or vote FOR a wheel tax . If they will , then remember that at the next election .
K Lutz
When you think about it, you've got 6 Commissioners in the City districts that would support a wheel tax, and there are 3 in the 4th District that have openly admitted they wanted a wheel tax. (Lovell especially) That's a total of 9. Dont you think they've already got 2 more lined up for a total of 11. Get ready, it's just around the corner.
A wheel tax makes a LOT of sense, if the commissioners would give a break to the property owners! The more sources of revenue there are, the less burden it is on one set of taxpayers (property owners). I don't know what is going to happen, but if that is the proposal, then we should consider supporting it!
A wheel tax makes no sense especially when compared to more responsible spending. Only a very inane person could possibly suggest that a wheel tax would actually lessen the burden on property owners. First of all everyone who lives in a house or apartment in the county either directly or indirectly pays property taxes. Either you pay it directly because you own the property or you have it passed on to you in your rent. It's inconceivable that anyone smart enough to have a rental property would rent it for less than their expenses.
The likelihood of the county reducing the property tax is non-existent when they are so utterly addicted to spending.
It would take an incredibly naive person to support a wheel tax or any other new tax especially when we are faced with the very real possibility of increased federal and state gasoline taxes, increased income taxes, increased fees, state mandated sales tax increases and income taxes.... The answer to the problem isn't to blindly raise taxes but to develope the discipline to make some necessary cuts in the budget. Examine every expense and cut out the fat. Allen Barrett
Agree entirely with Mr Barretts posting above. I would add though that if you think a wheel tax would end at the introductory amount, think again. A wheel tax would allow commissioners to increase and increase and increase, year after year. You also have to think about the farmers. In making their living they have to have a number of farm vehicles. Those expenses for a farmer would be out of sight.
What would be wrong with a whel tax being put in place with the understanding (in writing) that any subsequent increases would be subject to a vote of the people? In addition, with the imposition of this tax, the property owner's taxes would see a decrease.
This seem a fair and equitable way of raising government revenues. However, all facets of county government should likewise be examined with an eye toward cutting out the pork.
It's just not fair that the property owner has to foot the bill.
Sounds like Taxum Lovell is back on the blog. Government has an obligation to cut expenses & innovate, but there is zero effort in that direction.
The only way to solve the revenue problem is to run off anyone who brings up new taxes. We don't need new money. We just need to make sure the crooks starve & the dummies who follow them get lost along the way. Anybody want to bet - if Lovell supports a wheel tax he'll be gone in the next election. (no more wheelin & dealin....)
7:30
That would be ideal but the law just dont work that way.
7:53
When this wheel tax comes up again for vote within the commission we should all remember who voted in support of it and oust them from office in 2010.
anonymous 7:53
You are bordering on committment to an insane asylum. I know who Mr. Lovell is, but rest assured that I am not him. You didn't agree with what I had to say, so you resorted to the typical name-calling. Oh, and those who disagree with you are crooks and dummies? Absolutely profound. Get some psychiatric help and start your new year out on a positive note.
748 you obviously disagree & believe that government has an obligation to increase taxes, never innovate, and search for more ways to spend money.
You want new taxes to increase government's share of income, which by definition decreases individual citizen's share of their income.
You want to fatten crooks and their dumb followers, because you fall into that category (too lazy to work & too dumb to get out of the way of those who do work - you are a watcher & getter - when no one is looking)
When the tide goes out next election, you & your wheel tax will be gone with it.
How in the world will you be able to disagree with this poor-trait of you & the earlier post?
Bet you'll say we need more money because it's all gone! (& then turn around & use some big words to make us think you're not an idiot)
9:48 anonymous
Did you become so small-minded all by yourself? I would think you had to have some help to reach your present level of ignorance.
I'll not even bother to defend my conservative thinking. Have you ever read the Bible passage where one should not cast his pearls before swine? I'm not referring to you as a pig, but I think you catch my drift. No, I'll not lower myself to your standards of name-calling.
Let me give some analysis to the inner workings of your mind. You must believe in free speech and one's right to speak his mind as long as he agrees with you. Otherwise that person becomes a dummy. What incredible arrogance!
When the next election comes around, we the people of this county need to make sure who we are voting for and make them tell you yes or no on how they stand on taxes. Whether it be property or wheel, or sales tax. We CANNOT STAND anymore taxes. Our County Officials have got to stop the excessive spending. Every time the newspaper prints how each candidate stands on issues, it's always funny to me how some candidates like a Mr. Walls one time put. "The commission must get our taxes under control. The commission must find a way to fund the ever-increasing monetary needs of the various county entities. Our property/landowners cannot continue to open their wallets and purses at the whim of the county commission every time more funds are needed. This has to stop. There are more fair ways of generating revenue and I will find them and present them to my fellow commissioners if elected." So, when candidates say things like this, you had better believe they will stick another tax on you so fast it will make your head spend. And the ones who make comments like that usually have a direct benefit from raising your taxes or adding more taxes, for example their wife works for the school system.
424 As usual you never answer a question or think beyond the Oboma conservative view.
Conservatives oppose taxes & government, especially when spending is far greater than growth & inflation (Almost three times tha imflation rate for schools) To the extent other departments are not screaming for more to waste, they are probably doing a good job!
Never questioned yuor right to speech - It's your inability to think matched with ability and influence to corrupt.
Like all who support Bushynomics & the Obomanation, you're trying to con people into believing that it's most fair (fairest) to take a hundred away from citizens when they buy their auto tags than taking the same amount away when the pay property tax or sales tax! Sounds like you think you're the crook in charge of fairness.
anonymous 10:39
You are, as usual, dead wrong. As Ronald Wilson Reagan often said, "There you go again". You suggest my inability to think matched to my ability to influence and corrupt. horsehockey!
I will say that if people like you are conservative, I may join the independent party.
I'm not trying to "con" anyone. All I am doing is opposing people like you who will trash anything and anybody at will. You can't do that in our society without the possibility of rebuttal. Without that, there is no free speech.
Seek psychiatric care. You are obviously nuts!
Your opposition never deviates from the premiss of more taxation & expanded government bureaucracy.
Conservation of resources & money is beyond your comprehension.
The rebuttal you talk about is what you can't stand to see from others. No one calls more "names of no substance" than you. Because you can't tie the subject & object together, nor think long enough to construct a thoughtful answer, you're a flaming liberal idiot who thinks they are a conservative. If you we a chicken you'd think you were a duck, jump in the water, & drown!
anonymous..
Speaking of ducks, you would have to be a QUACK. Oh, I wasn't calling you a name like you guys so artfully do. No, I was merely describing your behavior. However, I still think you need to see a psychiatrist. Your hatred and resentment toward certain others who have the position and power you crave so badly is apparently driving you nuts (describing your behavior again). How's that for a constructive answer?
And what power do you possess? AC/DC or plain old dead cell dufus? Pull up your pants - your quack is showing & everybody is laughing at you. Your responses are like a broken record - SOS without the telegraph
anonymous..
You really would make a great comedian or storyteller. But you need to seek professional help first.
Now, as for power I possess. I'll have to think on that one, because anything I might say would be scoffed at or taken out of context by people like you. So, in terms of the way some people crave power, I have none and feel no desire for it. I'm content within myself and don't need to prove anything to anyone or feel that my ego needs me to be able to tell someone else what to do.
No, I'm afraid it's you who sounds like a broken record. Why don't you consider the idea of writing children's books or comedies since you have such a vivid imagination? I think you would find that a lot less stressful than running around here with your hair on fire and mad at the world. Lighten up, ok?
"I'm content within myself and don't need to prove anything to anyone or feel that my ego needs me to be able to tell someone else what to do."
What a statement of fantasy! You have spent more time on this blog than anyone else trying to tell people what to do and how to do it. You are lacking in self knowledge and insight more than anyone I've ever known.
1014 you're right on. A conservative Marxist muckraker who wants everyone to believe she would never lower herself to calling names - while calling names & saying something stupid & catty. All wrapped up in warped morals about agreeing with the message but hating the messenger.
We're dealing with a retarded schitzo that can't remember what she was five minutes ago & has no idea of who she will be five minutes later. A real hoot if one thinks about it.
I expecter her to come up with an "I'm not me" excuse any minute.
You are right about that. We have a woman that is sick. She has gotten on here and bragged about what material things she has. She has made fun of people, all the while she is complaining about some one else doing exactly all the things she is doing.
People, please, she is only describing their behavior!
I'll bet she's hiding in a closet pitching a hissy fit, while her husband's outside praying for a tornado to come along & blow her & the plantation away.
Meanwhile, the old man with gray hair & bulging neck veins hasn't discovered Prudence & Sylvester out behind the barn trying to play leapfrog. Will a tornado save they're vanishing way of life???
anonymous..
Uh, the last time I looked I was all male. You are soooo incredibly confused. Please do yourself and your family a favor and see a psychiatrist. Your hatred, envy, and feelings of political impotence are wrecking your health.
Retarded schizo? There you go again calling names. So typical of the left. again, you should take up writing comedies or comic books.
You are really not fooling anyone. Please!
Richard Simmons is a male but then that's about as far as it goes.
anonymous...
You act just like an imbecile (describing behavior ther). I would say you could check my gender for yourself, but I'm not into fecalism and other isms you like to talk about. Funny you should mention Richard Simmons.
You are always describing some one else's behavior, you need to pay a little more attention to your own behavior.
anonymous..
I got the term "describing behavior" from the exalted one. Why is it ok for him to "describe" someone else's behavior and I can't? Seems a bit hypocritical of you.
He doesn't run it in the ground. That is all you seem to know how to say. It gets a little tiresome to hear all of the time.
anonymous..
It gets a bit tiresome for me at times to be describing you guys' behavior. It's a tough job but somebody's got to do it.
7:52 why don't you retire and let an illegal do your describing? Your oration has passed boring.
To Allen Barrett:
If you want to investingate something, why don't you go back to the first year Vanzant was elected, for the state audit report. Then stay with it and check each year thereafter. Then report what you find here in BOLD PRINT. It should shed some light on the things you have questioned for the these past years. Then Post the results here since most people will not spend the time to do the same. Each year it is Public Record and printed in local paper ( usually on last page) or other spots not much noticed in small print.
Fact is she's 90-95% of all the problems due to her constant string of lies.
Finally someone has a great idea and has hit the nail right on the head. Let's all remember this next election day
Me thinketh the hen hath laid an egg!
She done laid the egg and made a omelet. When she get finished only the grease on the plate will be left
Ridiculous. That would be "an" omelet.
Funny funny children.
6:17 that should be a comma after ridiculous. But then you knew that laughing here.
anonymous
Wrong, my grammatically-challenged friend. Ridiculous can stand alone without additional words. By the way, if I had placed a comma after ridiculous, I would have used a semi-colon to separate two complete thought. Consider a refresher course in English or at least find yourself a hobby.
anonymous.
I don't want to confuse you further, so I'll tell you now that "thought" in my second sentence should have been thoughts (plural).
The 9th and 10the comment above, are serious, then the next seven are all childlike and shows exactly why a lot of the people in this county deserve what they have with Mrs. Janet Vanzant. They can not even remember what happened last year much less the last six she has been using smoke and mirrows.
With the way things are going with our Senate and Congress if would not suprise me if she give up her office and runs for Congress next round.SHE WOULD SURE FIT IN!!
But then she and Nancy probally would not see eye to eye, you know there can only be ONE BOSS!
11:38
Are you often so nice and complimentary of others? I am impressed (being facetious)! However, your kind of "friendliness" I don't need. In fact, your inflammatory remarks are a blight on this wonderful county.
You are a blight on this wonderful county!
Getting close to time for budget
A fine time for St. Nicholas'
and goodies for Mr. Fudgit
may be a blade of grass
No, people like you who constantly complain and only see negatives in those you resent are the real blight on the county. How have you helped anything here? If you don't like the way things go, then run for an office or support someone who meets your approval. Of course, another alternative would be for you to move to another town where you can be better appreciated. It will be our loss and surely someone else's gain.
843 you really need to study grasshoppers & ants. Maybe someone who feels sorry for you will buy an ant colony in an aquarium for your Christmas.
Put it next to your bed & try to concentrate on what they do, all night log if possible. Try not to let your thought train get derailed.
PS, if you're looking for a grasshopper, wait till next summer - they're all dead right now because they were too busy eating to plan for winter!
9:55
Did you not read the above post? I think you were given some really good advice. Either run for an office yourself or support a candidate of your choice OR move to another city where people will appreciate your greatness.
And you want to talk about the grasshopper and the ants? Hilarious.
You're slipping dangerously close to insanity, aren't you?
When may we hear your lecture on Jacksonomics?
Here we go laughing again. You must really sound like a hyena most of the time.
better to sound like a hyena sometime than look like the east end of a west bound baboon. So being me is much better than being you. laughing here
You don't know what I look like, but everyone on here knows what you sound like. You have described yourself on nearly every topic on this blog.
How so?
What ever happened to the TN Audit? Did they conduct an audit? Are they afraid to publish it?
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