Debt Service vs General Fund
During the called meeting of the County Legislative Body this morning it was stated by the Finance Director that if the county entered into the proposed loan for up to four million dollars it would in no way cause a need to increase or create any new taxes.
She explained, in response to a question by Commissioner Pope, that when Commissioner Greene was on the Commission he set up the bonds so they could be paid off early not realizing that there was a penalty for paying them off early. Having watched Commissioner Greene at work I find it very odd that would have been over looked as he was most through in financial matters. The Director went on to explain that the "excess" money used to pay off the bonds was going into the general fund and that excess could be used to pay for the new loans. No explanation was given as to the meaning of "excess funds".
Here's my problem with the Finance Director's explanation. First of all I am in full support of putting a wastewater treatment system out at the interstate, I have been for over ten years. There is no separate income for the debt service and since the amount that was apparently designated for debt service has been going into the general fund taking that money out of general funds would now mean taking it from other expenses since the county has run a deficit of over a million dollars a year for the past several years. Let me try and make an example of the situation. If you have twenty dollars in income and spend five dollars on your credit card debt that leaves you with fifteen dollars to spend somewhere else. Now you decide to buy a car and you have to pay ten dollars on it each month. So now you are required to pay five dollars on your credit card and ten dollars on your car debt which leaves you with only five dollars for everything else. Each time there is a new obligation created there is taken away an equal amount from general purchases.
Now one other question that I need some help in understanding. The loan itself. At a budget meeting I asked Mr. McAnulty what would be the cost of the 4 million bond issue. He stated the specifics for a total administrative cost of $48,000.00.
At the end of that meeting that was the agreement. Then came the Full Commission Meeting and the proposal had been withdrawn by the County Executive. No explanation was given at the time. It was later learned that Steve Walkers a former CTAS employee now working for a finance company had presented the County Executive with a different proposal that would cost the county only $2,000.00 in administrative fees. Is a $2000.00 administrative fee realistic for such a loan? Is this an example of the buddy system once again? Why isn't the written proposal for this loan put on the County website? Why isn't any of the county financials put on the website like was promised more than a year ago? If the cost of the loan is only $2,000.00 I say congratulations to the County Executive and anyone else who worked out this deal but but shame on you for the secrecy that you have it surrounded in.
She explained, in response to a question by Commissioner Pope, that when Commissioner Greene was on the Commission he set up the bonds so they could be paid off early not realizing that there was a penalty for paying them off early. Having watched Commissioner Greene at work I find it very odd that would have been over looked as he was most through in financial matters. The Director went on to explain that the "excess" money used to pay off the bonds was going into the general fund and that excess could be used to pay for the new loans. No explanation was given as to the meaning of "excess funds".
Here's my problem with the Finance Director's explanation. First of all I am in full support of putting a wastewater treatment system out at the interstate, I have been for over ten years. There is no separate income for the debt service and since the amount that was apparently designated for debt service has been going into the general fund taking that money out of general funds would now mean taking it from other expenses since the county has run a deficit of over a million dollars a year for the past several years. Let me try and make an example of the situation. If you have twenty dollars in income and spend five dollars on your credit card debt that leaves you with fifteen dollars to spend somewhere else. Now you decide to buy a car and you have to pay ten dollars on it each month. So now you are required to pay five dollars on your credit card and ten dollars on your car debt which leaves you with only five dollars for everything else. Each time there is a new obligation created there is taken away an equal amount from general purchases.
Now one other question that I need some help in understanding. The loan itself. At a budget meeting I asked Mr. McAnulty what would be the cost of the 4 million bond issue. He stated the specifics for a total administrative cost of $48,000.00.
At the end of that meeting that was the agreement. Then came the Full Commission Meeting and the proposal had been withdrawn by the County Executive. No explanation was given at the time. It was later learned that Steve Walkers a former CTAS employee now working for a finance company had presented the County Executive with a different proposal that would cost the county only $2,000.00 in administrative fees. Is a $2000.00 administrative fee realistic for such a loan? Is this an example of the buddy system once again? Why isn't the written proposal for this loan put on the County website? Why isn't any of the county financials put on the website like was promised more than a year ago? If the cost of the loan is only $2,000.00 I say congratulations to the County Executive and anyone else who worked out this deal but but shame on you for the secrecy that you have it surrounded in.
posted by Allen Barrett | 3:21 PM
89 Comments:
I predict trouble here. It seems too good to be true the difference in the two loan companies of $46,000. Then when you recall the large errors made in the past years by Loretta Garner I just cant trust what she says. Yep, negative thoughts, but thats the way our local officials and county employees have brought me.
How much is the County paying in insurance coverage expenses???
How much of that amount is going to the insurance underwriter????
How much of that amount is staying in Giles County (aka Jimmy Alsup)?
Must you people constantly be condemning others? Don't you have anything better to do than fault-finding? When did you become so perfect?
Wake up 6:15 it's our tax money we'r talking about. You don't have to be perfect to complain when you're being taken to the cleaners by some who are growing rich off us. You don't even have to be real smart to see what they are doing but you sure have to be mighty dumb to keeping closing your eyes and pretending it ain't happening.
The only ones I know of who are getting rich off us are Middleeasterners and oil companies in general. And THEY are the ones who don't give a rip about us.
6:15 And you wonder why Barrett calls you enabler. You just gave an example.
I would like to know when you became so perfect?
By the way I didn't post Monday 6:25 pm. Just don't like your attitude.
I never had thought you might be Jimmy Alsup. I don't believe he would answer to this silly blog.
Got me wondering.
6:01
Well, wonder if you must, but his reference to em as an enabler is still the lie it was when he told it. I simply asked a legitimate question about those who constantly find fault with everyone but themselves of course.
6:23 Needs to read 8:32's post again.
Sounds like he hit the nail on the head.
6:01 You may be wondering right.
Can't you see why Alsup wouldn't like barrett?
I am new to all of this. What is Mr. Alsup being paid to provide insurance for the county?
7:27
I can see where tons of people dislike Barrett.
And I can see where mega tons of people don't like you either. So?
12:47
Yes, all two or three of you who think NOBODY should ever disagree with anything you say.
I've heard that Mr. Alsup does frequent this blog. Heard it said that he watches in order to respond whenever his name gets mentioned. Think he's a stout defender of Janet Vanzant.Perhaps the enabler/rabid is him.
7:35
In that case .... Hey Jimmy .... How much do you earn off the Giles County Insurance program??????
I am willing to bet that you will keep quite and won't tell. WHY ???
I am also willing to bet that you are making more that $200,000.00 off this deal EVERY YEAR !!!!
Who is in your wallet ????
Now before the rest of you jump on me ask wht Lawrence, Marshall, and Lincon Counties each insure more that we do and they each pay WAY less than we do ????
Also why does the insurance underwriter send Jimmey the bill and then he bills Giles County without saying how much the insurance underwriter is charging ???
Why does Giles County pay Jimmey and then he pays the insurance underwriter ????
Why doesn't Giles County send the check directly to the underwriter rather than going through Jimmey ????
Yes I may be a butthead and I will piss a lot of you off for ATTACKING Jimmey; but he is getting our tax money and refuses to disclose how much he is making !!!! WHY ?????
Even if he is making a 10% markup I don't care; but I am willing to bet that he is making close to 25-30%
For those who intend to defend him ... are you willing to allow hime to make that much over the past 30 years ?????
7:45
Isn't that Mr. Alsup's right to defend or support whomever he wishes? And why can't you guys give up on the name-calling?
8:41 I didn't know Mr. Alsup was defending anyone.
9:32
I never said he was. Those were the words of 7:35.
Whenever a politician is spending the money, they have to be accountable. Questions being asked here are good ones.
Now, for some verifiable answers.
He defends Janet and all the while has all the controls and commission for the county's insurance. You don't see a problem with that 9:50? Citizens have a right to know to whom and how much their tax dollars flow. Out of curiosity, what has brought the questioning of Jimmy Alsup back to the forefront? Is it because citizens have never gotten any answers or is something else brewing?
Look school bus drivers have been lied to about how much insurance they are paying for only to die and their family get less than half in some cases. People have been overpaying for the amount of insurance they have and even when it was acknowledged they were overpaying they haven't gotten any refunds. The taxpayer is getting soaked from the sweetheart deals made by Vanzant, Garner and Jackson and Alsup. Anyone so bold as to ask questions is immediately retaliated against.
Everyone being screwed needs to band together and demand answers. Put Vanzant, Garner and Jackson on the spot. If the person being screwed doesn't take a stand, then who will? What insurance was lied about and who lied? Overpaying for what insurance? What family didn't get paid what they were supposed to when a family member died? This all sounds very bad. If it's true, who else has gotten short changed? Is this supposedly Alsup's mishandling or what? From the sound of it, Jimmy Alsup doesn't know what he is doing. Seems crooked and dirty. Maybe do a letter to the editor and complain so other folks it may be happening to know they are not alone.
Do you Idiots not know that there is a bid system for all county work and the low bidder gets the job.Why are you picking on an honest man like Mr. Alsup? It is no ones business what a bidders profit is. All the public needs to know is what the bid is,not the profit.Any insurance company can bid.You all are total idiots to put him down.I only have insurance with him and don't know him personaly,so don't say that I am him.Stupid is as stupid does.
3:43 So if you dont know Alsup personally how do you know he is an honest man? Incidentally, Alsup's bid was not the lowest. Dont you remember the hell Wendell Wilburn and Chris Morris were given because they questioned and challenged and even the then newspaper editor (Steve Lake) supported the folks who questioned.
3:57 how do you know that Wendell Wilburn and Chris Morris are honest?Was it because they and you are jealous?Do you have proof that he was not the low bidder? Lets see it.
3:43 you have got to be rabid, aka enabler. You run to everyone's defense? Fight everyone's battles? You should choose your battles carefully. Your drivel sounds stupid and uneducated on that which you try to speak. It has never been questioned that either Mr. Wilburn or Mr. Morris were dishonest to my recollection. Perhaps, we need to revisit the newspaper articles questioning this ordeal. Maybe you would then have the clarity you so desperately need. Have Mr. Wilburn or Mr. Morris refused to disclose anything? News articles portrayed Jimmy Alsup as the sneaky little man that he is. It's common knowledge that the money used to purchase the insurance is county taxpayer dollars. And, yes when county funds are used the citizens have a right to know. The question leveled now and previously is why does Mr. Alsup continue to be shady about this and not disclose what the citizens have a right to know. You would have to be a total buffoon to see it any other way. Now, someone is saying that an employees purchased insurance and were overcharged and no correction to refund this money? Something is seriously wrong here. Of most concern, is the fact that someone has had a claim and not receiving their full entitlement. Who the heck is in charge of the insurance? Janet Vanzant over seeing this or other person? This is a disgrace that someone has had this happen to their family. If it were my family I would be in someone’s face until I got answers.
I don't know Mr. Alsup, Mr. Wilburn or Mr. Morris, they may be honest or they may be crooked.
What I can't understand is why the Christian Gentleman replied like Wilburn and Morris might be crooked while defending Mr. Alsup.
I thought he defended people only his buddies??
As the Christian Gentleman is always telling us, "You can go read the newspaper."
To 3:43
You call others idiots then make the dumbest statements you could make to show how out of touch or plain stupid you are.
Not everything is bid out and the lowest bid accepted. The insurance was bid out at all until Wilburn and morris stirred up the pile of bull vanzant, garner, jackson and alsup had put up. Even the paper carried the story of how there had been no bid process and how Alsup was giving kickbacks to the school system.
Remember the paper told how how alsup is the only agent in the state that is paid directly by the county everyone else pays to the insurance company. What has been done with the insurance is a disgrace and how some have suffered by not getting the the money they had paid premiums for. If you want to test the honesty of each person simply look at the level of openness each has provided.
5:43 Did I say anywhere that I was a Christian Gentleman?Frist of all I'm a Christian,then a Gentleman.I also did not say that Mr. Wilburn and Mr. Morris were dishonest.All I said was you need proof of Mr.Alsups being dishonest instead of what people or our beloved newspaper says.I wrote 3:57 and 4:10.As Mr. Barrett says,get your head out of your abdomen and get your facts straight.
5:05
No, I am the one barrett started that lie on, but I am not the one who posted at 3:43. Face the fact that others besides me do not agree with you.
If you guys think Mr. Alsup has done anything wrong, why haven't you reported him to the insurance commission?
7:21 Read again, Did you really write 3:57 and 4:10?
4:10 was responded to 3:57 is the way it looks.
Maybe you need to get your head out of your abdomen.
Getting back on track and yes I am repeating myself .....
Hey Jimmy .... How much do you earn off the Giles County Insurance program??????
I am willing to bet that you will keep quiet and won't tell. WHY ???
I am also willing to bet that you are making more than $200,000.00 off this deal EVERY YEAR !!!!
Who is in your wallet ????
Now before the rest of you jump on me ask what Lawrence, Marshall, and Lincoln Counties each insure more that we do and they each pay WAY less than we do ????
Also why does the insurance underwriter send Jimmy the bill and then he bills Giles County without saying how much the insurance underwriter is charging ???
Why does Giles County pay Jimmy and then he pays the insurance underwriter ????
Why doesn't Giles County send the check directly to the underwriter rather than going through Jimmy ????
Yes I may be a butthead and I will piss a lot of you off for ATTACKING Jimmy; but he is getting our tax money and refuses to disclose how much he is making !!!! WHY ?????
Even if he is making a 10% markup I don't care; but I am willing to bet that he is making close to 25-30%
For those who intend to defend him ... are you willing to allow him to make that much over the past 30 years ?????
Why does not someone report him to the insurance commission ???? GOOD QUESTION !! There is no law that prohibits stupidity there is no law that prohibits Giles County from paying too much for ANYTHING !!!
Jimmy says that he does not have to divulge the true cost because he is private industry and does not have to adhere to FREEDOM OF INFORMATION LAWS. People … listen up it is our money he is taking. If Jimmy is not doing anything wrong and if he is charging a reasonable profit why is it he refuses to disclose what he is being charged and provide the documents to prove it ??????
I personally am willing for him to receive a 10% profit for his effort.
Jimmy Alsup …. Be a man what are you being charged to insure Giles County ????? Provide the documents so that all of us will know that you are and have not been ripping off your fellow citizens !! I am willing to bet that Jimmy will not 1) answer or 2) provide the certified documents.
8:38
I'll bet he won't either. Why shoulod he? He doesn't have to put up with you.
Giles County needs t change the insurance company.
To 8:10 ,excuse me I wrote 3:43 and 4:10. Now my head is out ,Wheres yours?To 8:38, lets see your income ststement.And lets see proof of Mr. Alups wrong doing or shut up.
8:47 It makes sense you wrote 3:43 and 4:10. I just couldn't believe the same person wrote 3L57 and 4:10.
My head is trying to make sense out of some of these post. I don't give a hoot who much money Jimmy Alsup or anyone else makes.
Those post weren't mine about the insurance.
Don't like to see your mistakes pointed out do you? Everybody is not a mind reader.
This blog never promotes hatred, does it?
The blog does not; but, some of the people writing on it do.
Bus drivers were not lied to. They were told exactly what the insurance was and they were given copies in writing. All they had to do was listen or read. I heard and I read. They were not listening. The policy was explained to them in detail. And they were each given a copy to read and to sign that they understood. They can go back and read the copy they were given and see what it says. NO ONE was lied to.
6:26
Thank you for that post. You are absolutely right.
Both 6:26 and 8:26 were neither there and are lying.Trying to cover other folks collective behinds. To what lengths will people go to in this city and county to cover up wrongdoing and shady behavior? Obviously there are no bounds. It must really be a thorn in the side of those who would rather it go away. It seems to keep rearing its ugly head. The reason being, the truth always shines through.
11:05
Translation: You accuse of being liars because we offer an opposing position and viewpoint. Exactly who do you think is trying to cover something up this time? Don't you guys have anything else to do?
I don't accuse..I know. The difference between you and me is the truth. Seems something hard to come by in this county and especially in county government. Don't you have anything else to do than defend those who do wrong? If you are as knowledgeable on the situation you wouldn't have to ask who is covering up. But, you aren't are you? Just very well-trained to bark and rollover like most dogs. Ready to defend bad behavior and wrongdoing just because. I Can't explain how your brain works. Perhaps not all...because anyone with half a pea-brain knows what is going on and who is in control. Why don't you take some of the extra time you have that you spend on this blog and actually get the facts? However, I doubt you will, it's much easier for folks like you to just repeat what someone tells you as truth than seek it out on your own.
11:05 and 6:27
Proof on both sides seems to be lacking
If the bus drivers were not lied to then why did the policies not pay the amounts that had been agreed to and the school system has to make up the difference from their general funds.
There is absolute proof that bus drivers were told one thing then given a different thing and the minuteds of the school board meeting have the whole story.
To April 9, 10:46 am.I corrected my typo mistake. Why don't you look at yours since you are so perfect.Seems to be a little mistake in your post,but I haven'seen it corrected.
How many of you want the Enabler to pick his or her toys up and go home and shut up?
Looks like I made another one at 10:18 just to see if you would notice.
10:21
Well, stop perpetuating that lie and I'll be more than happy to go home as you call it. But you just can't seem to stop it, can you?
It isn't a lie...that's why it doesn't go a way you idiot!
6:40
More name-calling anyone? If you want to call me names, why not try Christian gentleman? Why can't you just accept that and stop trying to belittle me?
As I have said, to call me an enabler of wrongdoing is an allen barrett lie, and I believe it would stop if you could either find a job or a hobby other than trying to stir up trouble.
No I think you are an idiot and I will stick with that name for you. If you don't like being called names you can always leave the blog. But, idiot is the name for you at this time.
TO 8:04 and 7:26:
I am Friday, April 08, 2011 8:38:00 PM and ………………………….
It is totally amazing to me, and undoubtedly others that the two of you cannot, will not and refuse to stay on subject. I have presented some very legitimate and concerning issues and yet the two of you continue to take pot shots at each other. Your personal grievances with each other is nothing more than two playground bullies yapping and sparing. Neither of you have made an attempt to get to the root of the real financial crises this County is facing. If either of you spent ½ the time you do slapping each other into trying to correct the lousy administration of Giles County … you would be making a huge contribution towards improving the life of everyone in this County.
Mr. Barrett ……. Please develop a blog where these two fine gentlemen, or whatever they are, can go and have their private pissing contest. Both of them undoubtedly don’t give a damn how this County is being run and mismanaged.
8:37
I would hope that barrett would develop THIS blog in such a way as to disallow foul language such as yours. And the guy who keeps accusing me about claim9ing I was a marine is most likely, in my opinion, one of barrett's buddies.
Here goes cry baby again. My first post of the day!
9:43
Then quit crying and posting. There's no place for dirty language OR name-calling here.
Christian Gentleman, Who's using dirty language?
You've got problems.
Wow, Christian gentlemen are they getting next to you again?
Didn't your parents ever tell you if you ignore anyone, they will go away, let them see it gets to you and they will keep on?
That's something my parents told me and I found it to be true.
10:58
No, I just won't allow them to get away with trying to trash me like they do others who do not see things their way.
So your parents never told you to ignore anyone that bother you and they will go away, but if you let them know they get under your skin they will go after you worse.hmmm
The problem is the enabler does care about the way the county is run and wants to keep it as it is under the control of a few powerful crooks so he tries to change the subject everytime the heat gets turned up on him and his pals. Ignore him and stay on topic that would drive him carizier.
HEY EVERY ONE !!!!!!!
If the County Government spent as much time, effort, thought and tenasity as these two do.........
WE WOULD NOT HVE ANY PROBLEMS !!!!!
9:34
Wrong. I care very much how our county is doing.
There is no enabler if you are referring to me. That is a lie started on me by one who ought to be totally ashamed of himself.
6:47
Christian man, no church tonight??
Can you get there in 13 minutes?
10:22
Sorry, but I had to work late this afternoon. Otherwise, I would have been there. Did you attend?
Sure did. Sorry you had to work late.
7:41
Sorry I missed you. Did you think to pray for me or call me names?
Nope, just wondered where you were.
OK, I missed a big part of this. Somebody please explain to me the problem with the bus drivers. What has happened and what did the School Board do to upset them?
To the enabler, I'm not referring to you.
There was a bus driver who paid premimuns on a $100,000.00 dollar life insurance policy through the school system when he died the policy was in full effect but when his family tried to collect they were told it was only $75,000.00.
The school board voted to take money from their general fund to make up the difference for this employee and all the others in the same situation. to get the money required a great deal of workon the part of Morris and Wilburn on behalf of the bus driver's family.
The policy was sold and paid for as one thing while it actually was a different thing. If this was explained to the bus drivers as has been claimed why did so many misunderstand including the school board members. The policy was sold as $100,000.00 of life insurance but the jinks was it only paid ten times the amount of your salary. Big difference unless you are a teacher.
9:45
Thank you. I'm glad that you too have learned that the name was a lie started on me by allen barrett.
Perhaps this is the beginning of a new day here. Peace on earth and good will toward our fellow man.
8:25
Never be a new day as long as you post.
1:50
I knew you couldn't just let well enough be. Why don't you stop trying to stir up trouble, and I will have no reason to come back here?
7:55 So funny little man. Go ahead and have the last word.
8:25 Just had top post, then 1:50 comes back at him.
Everyone please stop posting to the cry baby.
9:29
Yeah...all one or two of you.
Ask the bus driver to show you a copy of what they signed. Those papers explained everything. They were not lied to. I was there.
Who sold this insurance to them? I remember reading something about them not understanding it, but been a long time ago.
Was this question answered?
School Board Questioned On Insurance
Posted on August 18, 2010
The Giles County School Board was questioned last week about employee insurance premiums.
Board Member Don Story specifically asked Director of Schools Tee Jackson to follow up on a question asked by Chris Morris, who explained in 2008 the board agreed to pay $11,912 for life insurance premiums based on 598 employees. That carrier has now billed the system $16,582, which would mean the system is paying premiums for more than 832 employees. The total should be less than $13,000, Morris said, asking, if the board could explain the jump in premiums.
A report of findings for an explanation of the discrepancy in insurance premiums will be on the Giles County Board of Education’s September agenda.
September of what year is the question.
6:49 was not in the meeting with bus drivers when the insurance was discussed. They don't even have a clue what they are talking about. Bus drivers were lied to. This is fact. Want to know more? Ask Wendell Wilburn who at the time was a County Commissioner and Bus driver. He is still employed as a bus driver and this problem has never been resolved. People have been taken advantage of. This is wrong. It has been swept under the rug like everything else in this county that can't or won't be explained.
September of what year is the question.
Monday, April 18, 2011 10:03:00 AM
Since the question was posted in August of 2010 and it's going to be on the September agenda. I would think it would be Sept 2010. But they way things go in Giles
county it may be September 2020.
Obviously they don't intend to answer the question. Like the other poster stated, they either can't answer or they won't. I guess they think the citizens don't have a right to know. As long as no one holds them accountable there will never be a reason given.
10:20 how can you tell by my post that I was not at the meeting? I did not realize that my picture shows up. I don't see any picture of you. Was Wilburn the only one at the meeting? I can assure you that it was discussed fully. Like I said ask for someone's papers that they signed at that meeting. It tells it all. Black and white! Some people know so much that they don't listen at these meetings. Since Mr. Wilburn is the one saying it was not stated ask him if he read his papers before he signed them. I read mine and I heard it said also.
Do you understand the difference between ten times the amount of your annual salary and $100,000.00.
At the meeting it was clearly stated that everyone would be insured for 100,000.00. Later it was changed to provide $100,000.00 or ten times the amount of the persons annual salary.
The school system now makes up the difference between the two amounts with the money coming out of the school general fund. It's a simple matter to decide ask to see the school budge, ask Don Story who presented the solution, ask Tee Jackson who agreed to it or just read the minutes from the school board meeting when it was voted on.
Who was the insurance man telling about it?
Anyone know the average bus driver salary? Thanks
4:35 you are fooling no one. You mean to tell me that out of all the bus drivers present you are the one that understood it different? You have just basically said those bus drivers are liars. Mighty big words for someone who wasn't there. I think I would keep quiet who I was too if I were you. By the way, who exactly explained the insurance that day to the bus drivers? Do you know?
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