SENIOR TAX FREEZE
In 2006 the people of Tennessee overwhelmingly voted in favor of placing a tax freeze on the house and up to five acres of certain low income senior citizens. Several counties have implemented this optional action. Giles County has discussed this issue over and over without a decision until it's become right embarrassing.
Today in the County Commission it was to have been voted into existence or into oblivion, yet once again it was tabled for more discussion.
The hang-up seems to be the "added work load" to the County Trustee and Tax Assessors office. With approximately only 800 senior taxpayers being involved the idea that these offices will need additional personnel to implement this program is beyond absurd, especially when you consider that they now work approximately 35 hours a week for forty hours pay and only about 200 days a year. A little added to the work load of these folks when it benefits some folks who are having a hard time paying their taxes seems a fair trade off. Allen Barrett
Today in the County Commission it was to have been voted into existence or into oblivion, yet once again it was tabled for more discussion.
The hang-up seems to be the "added work load" to the County Trustee and Tax Assessors office. With approximately only 800 senior taxpayers being involved the idea that these offices will need additional personnel to implement this program is beyond absurd, especially when you consider that they now work approximately 35 hours a week for forty hours pay and only about 200 days a year. A little added to the work load of these folks when it benefits some folks who are having a hard time paying their taxes seems a fair trade off. Allen Barrett
posted by Allen Barrett | 4:45 PM
39 Comments:
This will not freeze all senior citizen's property taxes, just those in lower economic bracket. As it should. Come on county commission, get with it. These people need help, and you are holding it up. Whatever your issues, get over it and get on with helping these people out.
There are real problems that I wasn't aware of, for whatever reason. All things considered, 6:19 sums up what must happen ASAP! Apparently there are five choices 1) the new plan, 2) the old plan, 3) the old plan with a sweetner to make sure it equals the new plan, 4) kill all tax breaks, or 5) put it off until the old folks either starve to death or die of old age! A few of our commissioners would probably have a heart attack if they had to cut taxes.
Rather than saying a lot of well deserved nasty things, Let's just demand a 30 day ultimatum for the council to provide a cost and benefit analysis relative to the county and senior citizen, for 1, 2, and 3, period! Then publish the results in the paper and have a vote to chose one of the three!
If we don't have anyone in all of the county departments that can create a simple profile program to scan the election and property records, then fire who ever should know it and hire someone who can do it (computer teachers, accounting, etc.?) Get the info & do it!
I can't fault the commissioners for not voting something in without knowing the best way to do it. We can raise all kinds of fire & brimstone for stonewalling it because the school system might not get to squeeze the last penny out of dying taxpayers!
I want it passed NOW, and PASSED RIGHT!
ALSO- It's time to act on a real common sense tax proposal by Mr. Pollard. LOWER THE SCHOOL TAX! He's absolutely right! If the educators can't figure out how to deal with recessions & good times, the children they teach will learn to be just like the director - hand out with a tin cup, dark glasses, a white cain & carrying a sign that says, deaf, dumb, & mute!
First let me say that I think the tax cut for seniors is a good idea.
Then, the 35 hours worked for 40 hours pay. If you work in a factory your work an 8 hour shift. You get 30 minutes for lunch plus two 15 minutes breaks. Am I working 7 hours for 8 hours pay, nope. These people were hired or elected to work from 8-4 therefore they are working the hours they were hired for. Plus the 200 days is off by a lot. Where did you come up with that. 200 days would be working 40 weeks out of the year. Do they get 12 weeks off in holidays and vacations? WAB, please don't say these things and try to make people believe them.
I have watched the situation at the courthouse for a long time and very few in the courthouse work forty hours a week when you consider the amount of time some take for lunch and breaks. When yo factor in the days off and the vacatiion and holiday time about 225 days a year is about right.
Just suppose the Snr Tax Freeze was finally voted in the commissioners get to vote on it each and every year so they very well could remove it the next year. The County Charter being asked for makes the Snr. Freeze permanent. Also includes the employees working a 40 hour week which needs to be done on the salaries they now get because when the went to a 35 hour week the pay was not reduced accordingly. Things have got to change in Giles county and this Charter is a very good place to start working for that change.
Tommy Campbell dont want a charter in Giles county he says it should stay the same as it has for the last 200 years.
Court House has always been open at least 40 plus hours a week. Employees has always worked 35 plus hours a week. This has been going on for decades. Why the questioning of it now ?
Employees used to work 40 hours a week. It was suddenly changed in the late 90's. Its not questioning all of a sudden. The public has been angry about it ever since it started. People who have had to go out of county to find a job have to take a half day off to do business at the courthouse. Didnt Carol Wade campaign on her office being open on Saturdays?
I don't remember the county working 40 hours. Is there anyone out there who worked there during the 90's that remember that? Don't others county and state offices work the same hours? I believe so. I know they do in surrounding counties and in the state offices.
Its irrelevant what the state offices and surrounding counties do, we're talking about Giles Co.
Lincoln county works longer hours. That courthouse closes at 4:30.
They work the same hours now as they did in the 70's, 80's, 90's, 2000's. I believe it was Danny Tomerlin who wanted to be open on saturday. I don't go to the Court House to buy tags, I either mail them or buy them through an E-mail. Much easier.
Other courthouses in this area close at 4:30 NOT 4:00. That would add thirty minutes a day or two and one half hours per week per employee which should allow them to handle any extra work created by the change. If you go to the courthouse with any regularity at all you will know that NO ONE in ANY office is overworked!!
9:09
Double amen to that!
Does it really matter what has happened for the past 200 years?
Government reports to the people! If government doesn't serve the people, repace those who refuse to serve the people.
With a charter, the taxpayers can set the days, hours, and pay if need be. That ends the argument - it's over - If someone doesn't like it, quit! Lots of people want jobs & will provide what is necessary to get the job done right. Police work 7 days, 24 hours. What's the problem?
Arguing about it is stupid & counterproductive. The interest of the citizen IS first. If pay is above minimum wage, the argument is over. That includes telling the schools to not open in the dead heat of summer, just to run up an astronomical A/C cooling bill!
5:35---- You have absolutly no idea what you're talking about !!!!
Police were hired to work those hours. County workers were hired to work the hours that they do. If you were hired to work 35 hours then that is what you are getting paid for. If you were hired to work 40 and you work 35 then that is a different story.
Police were hired to work the hours of court. Weather it be 8 to 4 or 8 to 8. The annex does not have police. On the tax freeze, what about the rebate the commision was talking about ?
To the 17 March 6:35 poster.
You made an observation about my statement "consider that they now work approximately 35 hours a week for forty hours pay and only about 200 days a year. A little added to the work load of these folks when it benefits some folks who are having a hard time paying their taxes seems a fair trade off".
You stated, "the 200 days is off by a lot. Where did you come up with that. 200 days would be working 40 weeks out of the year. Do they get 12 weeks off in holidays and vacations? WAB, please don't say these things and try to make people believe them".
Please consider that there are 52 weeks in a year two of those days each week are Saturday and Sunday which are not worked at the courthouse, that equals approximately 104 days add to that 10 Federal Holidays each year, 3 sick days, and fourteen days (two weeks) vacation, that totals 141 days; subtract that from 365 and you get 215 work days. Please understand these are averaged, approximate numbers and some may have more time off while some may have less time off.
So while two hundred is not exact it certainly isn't far off from the 215 days.
As for saying things and trying to make people believe them, you haven't read anything I have written that told people they had to believe it. If you have read much I have written you would have seen that I offer my observations and have asked people to not take my word only but to simply check it for themselves.
I have put my name on my post so that if there is some question about something I have written it can be addressed to me directly on this blog, by phone or simply ask me when you see me. As I have said before the only thing a person truly has that is theirs alone is their integrity thus it is important for me that I keep it intact. Allen Barrett
Try this. 52 weeks @ five days per week=260 days. Subtract 10 holidays = 250 days. Subtract two weeks vacation = 240 days. You cannot count sick days which people are not paid for if they don't take them. So 240 days. Not 200 nor 215. Sorry, but a phone call to you "ain't" gonna happen. Here again difference of opinion.
a good point that needs to be followed through. How many sick days are accumulated each year? Not out to whack anyone's knees, just want to know. I think it would be good info for the public. Sick days are accumulated - ref the tax assessors office - they don't go away, as it is now & as such the time & cost must be recorded & same for the liability.
Since the "law" states the Trustee has the final say so about who is eligable for Senior Tax Freeze and the Assessor of Property is to calculate the tax.
Write up the Charter so these (two) elected officals whom are being paid very well already, be the persons to preform these duties.
No extra personal needed, No extra cost to the office or the tax payers.
County employees including school employees get one sick day per month worked (10 for school employees who don't work summers). I believe that these are state guidelines since they relate to the Tennessee retirement system. Accumulated days at retirement are sent to the retirement system.
10:15 talks about the county charter. This charter is a valuable document for the people of Giles county. Sign the petition as I did and help make this a reality. We need to join together and make a change happen while we have a chance.
240 - 10 to 12 = 228 to 230 days.
Getting closer???
Anything else????????
How many days does the school system work?
What is the average?
If this charter idea passes, who is going to write it ??? The county commission ??? The Great Ones ? The people who have moved into Giles County from large metro areas ??? Just wondering
I'm going to write it & it'll be your worst nightmare! Going to get a big bucket of tar & bag of chicken feathers. Every Sat. night we're going to get together, have a good time, & nominate some deserving crook for the pullet surprize!
You could add that to your BS in Nematodeology
Well 7:44 you got me on that one. What in the world is nematodeology ??? You must be smarter than Webster because he didn't even know. Man you need to take a chil pill !!!!!1
clue - break it down -
nematode & ology - also references to nematoad
ain't gonna get the pullet surprise if you don't dig into it.
to 12:01
The students are in school 180 days by state law. The teachers put in at least 5 more days of inservice by law. They may also be requested to do more inserice if there are new programs being introduced in the school system or there are other inservices in their subject area.
Because of vacation days for students for holidays and seasonal breaks the year takes 10 months to complete.
Teachers are required by law to be on the job site for at least 7 and one half hours a day. Most are there planning and grading papers 9 to 10 hours each day---unless they carry home large amounts of work to be done after hours.
1030 - thanks - no question about it, any teacher worth their salt puts in MANY hours
Look when I took my job I negotiated my pay,Vacation,hours worked and my sick time. If this was to change it would be a breach of contract and would have to be renegotiated and would definatly cost the county more money because I dont work for free.
People who work for the county or city do not negotiate their benefits that are set and the employee gets them if they take the job.
037 hate to say it, but you can renegotiate any time you desire - If you don't like the renegotiated results, well.......
Some may have a valid contract, if so it stands until renegotiated. If you go & you are good, we lose.
If you are bad ... & go we win, but if you stay we lose!
screwed up isn't it?
County employees may not negotiate but the teachers union does.
I think every business every factory or every employee in Giles county should work 12 hour shifts five days a week. This way the factories would only have two shifts and we can let the other shift be laid off. This way food service business would only have to hire one group of people to work all day long. The courthouse could be open from 5 to 5 that way it will be open in the morning for all the farmers who get up early and for everyone else who gets off late in the evening. on the weekends you could hire two 12 hour shifts for your food service and factories.Anyway when I work at my job they require me to work year around. Why do teachers only work 9 months out of the year? Why does Mcdonalds open at 5:00 a.m. Wait that needs to be earlier too because I get off of work at 3:00 a.m. and sometimes I am hungry. Wait what was I talkin about? Wait can county schools be open during the night so my child can be in school while I am at work? This would save me money! I will stop here because if you took this much time to read all this and all of this garbage on this blog. Then you need to get a life. This is about how stupid all of this crap sounds on this blog. So I thaught I would add more stupid crap!
You just did! Hilarious.
Hey 9:51, how do you come up with 9 months for teachers? Also, do you know of any factory workers that take their assembly lines home with them at the end of their shift? If their line is not working correctly, and "producing" as some bureaucrat thinks it should, do these factory workers spend their own money and time correcting the problem according to instructions and mandates written by someone who has never seen their assembly line and has no knowledge of how an assembly line works? Do these same factory workers live with the stress of knowing that if their "lines" have not been cared for properly, have been misused or abused, or simply cannot do the job this bureaucrat arbitrarily decided it should do, then these workers can be sued personally? Do these folks that work in a factory receive irate phone calls at their home, at dinner time or bedtime or any time after work hours, from the assembly lines. Do these assembly lines make wild accusations against the workers, sometimes using vile language?
All of these ridiculous questions would have to be answered "yes" if the factory worker is being compared to a teacher and the assembly line is a metaphor for a fraction of the teacher's responsibilities.
Get your facts straight and if you want to make comparisons, then please don't compare apples to oranges, take the time to at least be logical. If you still don't get it, then maybe one these under- worked teachers could help you with some tutoring during their free time, like those imaginary 3 months off that you spoke of...
Hey 10:47, I hope you are not a teacher! Because everything I wrote in that section was meant to be alot of rubbish about like the rest of the stuff on this website. But since you brought it up. All of the above that you just suggested about factory workers getting called at home and people talking foul language at you ETC. ETC. ETC. Evidently you have never worked in a factory. Because yes you do get calls at home at night because the line will go down during the night and they want you to come in early to make up for what was not produced. Yes people talk about you people cuss you out at least once a week. Yes they do take work home from time to time. When times are good they work 12 hours a day seven days a week. Sounds like apples to apples to me. If you are having such a hard time doing your work maybe we should have school yesr around so you will have more time to complete this work. Anyway if you would have read what I wrote you would have laughed and said Yep thats a bunch of rubbish!
One thing a teacher never has to worry about is their "salary" being cut, their job disappearing, being fired etc, etc, etc. Look at teaching more as an executive position than an hourly factory worker. Every executive takes work home with them, works constantly and is required to produce a higher quality product while many teachers show up sometimes, do all their paper grading at school during class, teach from the monotonous memorized sentences they have used for the past twenty years, and spend hours each day gossiping about other people to other teachers.
Face it there are good and bad teachers just like in every other occupation when the good teachers realize the bad ones are making life hard for everyone they will put pressure of the unions to get rid of the dead weight restore respect and skills instead of just whining more money all the time.
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