PUBLIC MEETING ON THE COUNTY BUDGET
There was a public hearing held at Pulaski Elementary School on 6 July 2009. The budget committee was there, the cable network camera crew was there, several county commissioners were there and three private citizens were there.
One person addressed the committee with comments about the budget.
Indifference won the day. Allen Barrett
One person addressed the committee with comments about the budget.
Indifference won the day. Allen Barrett
posted by Allen Barrett | 10:05 AM
36 Comments:
Who were the three private citizens in attendance?
What do you expect? Those who care enough, like me, were at work at 9:30am and those without jobs don't give a rip.
I think the key word in your question, 10:17 is "private."
Thank you for trying Mr Barrett, and I am fairly certain the time of the mtg was no accident.
Carolyn
Something sinister going on Carolyn? Such corruption!
The three private citizens present were Shara Flacy, Roger Lavianna and myself. Allen Barrett
Oh the horror of it all!
Mr Barrett
Who of the three private citizens asked questions, what were the questions in regard to and what was the response?
I am not indifferent, just cant be at work and at public hearings. Should have been held in the evening just as the City is holding one next week for the public to ask questions about PES and the $7.2M bond request. Obvious the county held the budget hearing during work hours just to discourage attendance dont you agree Mr Barrett? You also used the word "indifference" which makes you sound discouraged with your fellow citizens. Right or wrong on that observation? Were you expecting more people to be present?
You make a keen observation 9:43. While I am discouraged by the lack of citizen participation I can understand much of it based on the reaction to citizens by this same committee last year when they were forced to comply with the law and hold an open hearing. Last year they sat totally detached and non responsive for the most part and I think many may have felt it was a waste of time. Certainly another problem is the issue of when the meeting was scheduled. Holding these type meetings at 9:30 AM certainly makes it difficult if not impossible for many folks to attend. There are some commissioners who do not attend committee meetings because of when they are scheduled. Two seventh district commissioners have not attended a single committee meeting in over a year in which they were not members and there are some in other districts that are just as negligent. At least two don't even attend committee meetings on which they are members.
One chairman has not even held a meeting in over a year. Each commissioner must pledge that nothing will prohibit or create a hardship that will prevent their attending meetings.
On a more positive side I was encouraged by the number of commissioners that did show up for the budget meeting.
I am the only one who addressed the committee. In my three minutes my questions centered on basically three areas from the school budget.
1) Why so much money continues to be placed in the "others" category that does not give any information about what the money is actually used for.
2) Why in the vocation section line items 72230 161 and 72230 162
were these two positions changed where the secretary salary went from 36,820 to 16,730 and the clerical personnel (which was the secretary) went from 0 to 37,222. This resulted in a 17,132 dollar increase over last year. Even on the surface this indicates a pay increase for the former secretary now clerical personnel of 402 dollars.
3) How can a cut of 179,000 dollars be justified from the diesel fuel budget? This results in a total diesel budget that is less than either of the last two years. Each of the other line items for energy usage increased. In this I stated that "anyone who is paying attention knows this is nothing but a ruse that will result in running out of funds about January and the school director declaring a crisis and coming back to the commissioners for more new money to cover the short fall".
The only response was to the comment about the diesel fuel by a commissioner who stated he also was very concerned about that large a cut and the belief also there was a game being played by the school director.
I hope this information has helped, thanks for asking. Allen Barrett
Oh, I don't know, anonymous 2:49. Obviously YOU believe so or you would not be so afraid to reveal who you are.
I think it is most gracious that Mr Barrett provided the info that he did and quite ironic that "anonymous" with different times of posting are hanging on with baited breath wanting to know who was there and what was said. Now I can't help but wonder if they will actually believe what Mr Barrett said about who was there and what was said, or if will once again be accused of creating problems simply by answering the questions of anonymous #1,or #2 or anybody else. But anonymous 2:49, please elaborate on your sinister corruption theory that has you so afraid to reveal who you are. Maybe we should all be anonymous except WAB, then we can still blame him for everything, that is until we need him to tell us who was at a meeting and what they said.
Again, I thank you Mr Barrett.
Carolyn
carolyn..
Hello! Did you not realize that you are just as anonymous as I am? Or do I need to try guessing your last name?
I mentioned to you that something sinister must be going on in response to your statement that the time of the meeting was no accident. I was merely reinforcing your apparent suspicion that something corrupt must be going on.
Oh I must apologize, I had used my last last in a previous post on a different topic and just took a short cut. I am so sorry for my negligence. My name is Carolyn Wisemore. Again, I am sorry. However I do think it is inconsiderate of the voters to hold only one meeting in the early a.m. Not really sure if I would classify it as sinister, or even corrupt. Just indifferent to the voters, uncaring of the general public, that's sort of thing. But certainly nothing so sinister as to be afraid to reveal my name. I do hope it was not my post that scared you so!
Having two meetings, one in the morning and one in the early evening would accommodate so many more citizens.
Carolyn Wisemore.
HAHAHAHA.
Some of you would complain and find fault if they held the meetings individually in your homes.
I for one am glad that commissioners not on committees don't attend. After all it is $30 per meeting. Some of the commissioners and at least one committee chair I believe use the meetings to create a nice income each month. Agri Park committee for one meets every other week it seems. Some others who don't have a job or a real job hang out at them all. Ching Ching Ching go the calculators.
Nothing makes yuou folks happy. How sad.
Thirty dollars per meeting doesn't sound like much of an income to me.
WAB, did you get answers to your questions at the meeting or did you just get dumb looks? Were there people there to actually answer those questions? I know the answer to the secretary question is step raises to employees with less that 16 years experience. The other question were good ones just wondered what the answers were.
July 08, 2009 8:48:00 AM
$30.00 times how many can add up in tax dollars.
You have to also think if they are elected to help this county they should be present.
To Anonymous of the 8 July 9:03 post.
There were no answers offered.
The matter of a step raise would answer the question about the 402 dollar increase but doesn't shed any light on the 17,132 dollar increase in those two line items.
Here is the progression of these two line items from the 2007-2008 budget to the one coming before the Commissioners on 20 July.
07/08 budget- secretary 18,450 and clerical personnel was 29,478.
08/09 budget- secretary 36,820 and clerical personnel was zero.
Current budget request- secretary 16,730 and clerical personnel 37,222.
The total for both positions is 17,132 higher in the latest budget than in the 08/09 budget. The question is why? So far there has been no answer. Allen Barrett
Monkey business.....monkey business answers the question why the raises to both positions of secretary and clerical personnel. Gosh! I am sure the teachers and assistants would like a few bananas ($$) also.
I remember a few years back Stoney Jackson saying at a cc meeting, 'Teachers work from the heart and don't care about money.' Teachers were trying to get a pay raise. I don't think cc should be paid for their service to the county. They should 'work from the heart' for the better of Giles County and SAVE the county several thousand $$ a year.
Stoney Jackson rakes in the most each year of all the commissioners.
Since Davis retired is Middlestead getting his old salary? Is this the increase? She already makes $17000 more than other secretairies and only has a handfull of students and teachers to take care of plus another secretary to help.
7:51 No kidding...... To my knowledge Stoney Jackson has NEVER voted for a teacher pay increase. Wonder where a private citizen needs to go to see the record of how much each county commissioner is paid annually?
8:37 When one is the 'favorite' of Davis and Davis is one of tj's buds, one gets favors - like more money and less responsibilities. Many in education have known this fact for years!!
understand big changes are coming to vo-tech this year and the head cat is about to be declawed
Who is the head cat?
8:29 You can get the information from Loretta Garner in the finance office. Ask for fiscal year July 1, 2008 to end of this fiscal year.
I intended to speak, but other obligations prevented attending. There is the falsification of 2007-8 amended budget sales tax revenue. I've heard it isn't so, but the data in the audit and budgets are undeniable. I did protest it in committee meetings before & after approvals & amendments that didn't include correcting financial documents!
There is the obvious manipulation of gross understated revenue, overstated expenditures, reserve manipulation, and intent to create favorable performance reviews, as clearly indicated by state audit report exhibits! It's like a bad joke that is costing taxpayers millions.
There is the fact that 2004-5 to 2010 spending is up 30.8% in a period that now looks like 10.4% (April 2009 CPI) --- where key employees (teachers & hourly help) didn't get raises because they are pawns held hostage for more tax increases! The school budget is bloated by $5 million excess, and our leaders are looking to other county departments who received no tax increases or revenue benefits from inflation, to pay for a tax cut!
Taking any money from any non school department is ridiculous! Reverse the tax increase that was granted to Jackson! There is more than enough money left over to properly pay employees, but you have to let the air out of the school budget first! Reverse the bureaucracy & waste!
As I think back on it, 2 minutes wouldn’t be enough time to say hi & bye – certainly not enough time to convince a group that doesn’t want to hear it or do anything about it!
donm
More gems from don. I admire your bravery in being willing to stand up to the corrupt leadership of Giles County! Such selflessness.
an8:55 Sarcasm noted - if wrong I apologize. To clear the air - Motive is selfish - love where I live & don't intend for me or my neighbors to be taxed into oblivion. If you are referring to "corrupt leadership within the Giles County School System", you are right. If you are referring to "corruption that is divisive and costly to Giles County government and citizens", you are right.
To my knowledge, aside from the schools issue, I haven't called the sheriff, road commissioner, or any other department corrupt. Unlike the state & local sales tax that basically supports the school system, their property tax revenue base increases with growth, but not inflation. As such, in times of inflation and no growth (like now), they may need a net tax rate adjustment. They have lived within their means and provided bottom line excellent services. If you will read what was stated, they have been victimized by corruption and may well suffer because of it. Beyond that, my statement related to a school director and system that has increased spending at a rate 3 times higher than inflation. That number is $5 million excess! There is more than enough there to right the wrongs of denying wage increases to employees and make the modest tax reduction proposed by Councilman Pollard! Read the rest of what was stated & check the numbers.
Does anyone think status quo is OK & the other departments must cut to give back some of the 2005 unnecessary school property tax increase to the public? If so, get yourself a big sign & parade around town, past the sheriff dept. & through the highway department & tell them they have to pay for Jackson's waste!
What I stated is very focused and to the point. It has been backed up with data and reason over a long period of time in the newspaper, in open meetings, in discussions, and on this blog under my name.
This blog and the paper are accessible to everyone. Certainly Mr. Jackson or anyone else has access to present facts. Saying it isn't so is a lot different than openly presenting facts. If you have been wronged, correct the facts & sign your name! If you are certified, lay it on the line. Of all the blunt things openly presented, there has been no factual rebuttal, which is an indication of how far astray this situation has progressed, certainly not because of my being.
donm
Hey donm
We need you at school board meetings.
We need live thinking bodies at all school board meetings.
The more there the more the pressure will be on them. Granted that most of the time they only refer to matters by asking the board members if they have read the report or recommendations and asking for a vote. But if you have been keeping up with things you can usually figure out what is being discussed.
It's kind of challenging trying to figure out exactly what is being discussed.
On the vocational school post - Davis retired, but Mittlesteadt has been running the place for years. She is NOT a secretary - not even close! She is an adminstrator and is a darned good one. They are putting Hastings over the vocational school because Mittlesteadt doesn't have the credentials. She'll still run everything and if Hastings is smart, he'll keep out of her way - she's reliable, successful, motivated and doing good things for those programs. She's what we don't have much of in this system: a solid worker with great character, working hard to get things right. Now we just need some people like that running our other schools.
A solid worker with great character. It's so hard to find that in Giles County......according to the vocal minority who never ever sees the glass as half full and not half empty.
We peons who work for the school system really apreciate your vote of confidence in our work ability and character. Why should we try anymore to be that type of worker when we get our face slapped by people like you for trying?
I have worked in this system for 29 long hard years--trying to educate children who do no want to be in school. Facing parents who could have cared less as long as we baby sat their children.
There have been bright moments in my years as a teacher when I have had students who wanted to learn and who were supported by caring parents who really tried to make sure that their child got the most of their educational experiences.
Thanks for your vote of confidence. If you keep this up you will end up with a true teacher shortage and more money will have to be forked over just to get beginning teachers to consider working in Giles County. Keep this in mind since salary is already a hinderance to getting teachers here. You have to have a loyality to Giles County to consider teaching here. Even more loyality to stay here when the county and state below us pay so much more.
Attitudes like yours make it extremely hard for teachers to keep their cheerful, all students can learn love of teaching ideals in focus.
Maybe you should take a look at the teachers around you---you might find more that meet your criteria than you think.
Saddened Teacher
7:47
I too am 7:47, and I would just like to say that Giles County has a wealth of skilled teachers who have great character. I was simply pointing out the attitudes of some who would question that.
9:15
I apologize for my response to your posting. I went back and reread it. Since teacher bashing has become so wide spread I'm afraid that I respond too quickly sometimes.
It is unfortunate that we have those who question our abilites as teachers. Maybe they should spend a little time in the classroom to get their bearings.
I have a friend who constantly complained about how her children were treated in school. She decided that she would visit the school to see how things really were so she signed up as a substitue. After subing about four days in the next two weeks, she told the secretary on Friday not to call her that she would not be back.
She later told me that she did not know how we faced the classroom every day---that things were so different now than when she was in school. The children had so many problems and so many bad attitudes that she spent most of her time trying to keep peace in the classroom.
Spending a day or two in a local school can be an eye opening experience for many.
1:06
Yes and thanks for the post. I believe some of those who are the most vocal about poor teacher quality here in Giles County should come visit.
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