The Financial Management Committee took up the budget issue of school funding formula. Commissioner Larry Lowrance proposed that the funding formula recommended by the budget committee, of previous years actual, be amended to be based on 3% growth in sales tax and reducing property tax contribution an equal amount.

This option was twice referred a gamble on sales tax growth. Several commissioners were quick to respond this was not going to be a gamble because the commissioners would also recommend taking an equal amount of property tax and putting it in a Local Purpose Tax Fund that they could transfer the money if it was needed.

Commissioner James Pearson, who voted against the proposal, said during debate this proposal amounts to who controls the money and nothing else.

After the meeting I spoke with Financial Management Chair John Newman and asked him why the committee was considering this 11th hour change when they had already been presented with a budget by the budget committee.
AUDIO Commissioner Newsman addresses JMCSS Funding Formula

Opponents to the proposal say this proposal by Commissioner Lowrance is micro-management of the public school system and is a conflict of interest for Lowrance because he is the Headmaster of a local private school.

On a zero growth based budget the county school would get its budget through sales tax and property tax. If sales tax got a bump it would be additional dollars for the school but to spend it would require commission approval.

By changing the funding formula there will have to be a 3% growth in spending and sales tax collections for the school to meet budget or else the county will have to make up the difference with the local purpose tax fund.

The proposal is just a recommendation from committee and will have to be approved by the CLB at Thursday’s meeting.

IN A RELATED STORY

Commissioner Larry Lowrance told the commissioners at the regular meeting that he had arrived at his formula for school funding by backing into it use the county deficit and included a bonus or raise for all county employees. Lowrance cited that the county employees had not had a raise and this was a way to give them on if we “hit a home-run” with sales tax collections. Commissioner Newman took exception with that part of Lowrance’s presentation

At Wednesday’s called meeting Comm. Newman spoke with 101.5’s Keith Sherley
AUDIO Commissioner Newman talks about employee raises

Commissioner Lowrance said if the county hits a home run with sales tax collection there would be ample funds for either raises or bonuses for county employees

The Jackson Police Department investigation has reached an impasse.

KENDRICK TALKS EXCLUSIVELY WITH 101.5 News/Talk

On June 3 around 1:25 a.m. Jackson Police Officer Travis Hass was shot
outside L. Dalton Wholesale Meat Company at 116 Lawrence Switch
Road. Officer Hass told Investigators that he saw a suspicious person
standing outside the business. He walked away from his police car to
investigate. As he approached the suspect, he claimed that he was
suddenly ambushed from behind by a second man. According to Officer
Hass there was a struggle with the two men over his gun, he was shot
multiple times and the two men ran away in a southbound direction.
Jackson Police Officers, Madison County Sheriff’s Deputies and E.M.S.
personnel responded to Officer Hass’ call for help on his Police radio. He was transported by ambulance to Jackson-Madison County General Hospital where he was admitted for his injuries and released two days later.

Chief Gill Kendrick stated, “After a careful review of the evidence collected, it appears that an impasse has been reached in bringing a resolution to this case. After consultation with District Attorney General Jerry Woodall, District Attorney General Woodall requested the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation to assume the investigation of this case. The TBI has a stellar reputation within the law enforcement community and I have full confidence in their competence and abilities.”

Officer Hass has been a Jackson Police Officer for about three years and is assigned to the Patrol Division. He is currently on paid medical leave.

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They are charged with having a budget prepared to recommend to the County Legislative Body by Thursday for the agenda review meeting.

Tuesday’s meeting was expected to be a brief meeting and hold good news for budget members and department heads.

Budget chair Maria Mitchell has led the group through the process of department budget reviews and cuts necessary to bring in the budget based on projected revenue of sales and property tax. According to Mitchell, “This committee has a mandate from the commission to ask all departments to cut their budget’s 2% across the board.” This was a significant difference from the 10% reductions that had been proposed by members of the county early in the process.

Madison County Sheriff David Woolfork has maintained his department is operating on a lean budget and to cut 2% would potentially endanger public safety. The Sheriff has consistently returned unused funds back over to the county and maintains he operates his department as fiscally responsible as he can and still provide public safety. The Sheriff is a constitutional office.

At Tuesday’s meeting Finance Director Mike Nichols told the committee sales tax collections were up ahead of projections.

Sound Clip 06-15-10 Budget Nichols

Budget Committee member / County Commissioner Smokey Joe Rowland made a motion that the Finance Department go back to the budget and cut all departments 2%

After the meeting Keith Sherley spoke with Smokey Joe Rowland about his motion and where the budget stands.

Sound Clip 06-15-10 Budget Rowland

Jackson businessman Prince Bardo Brantley presented his request to open his business in Jackson before the Board of Zoning Appeals.

Many who live in the area are concerned the business could mean more noise from trucks and equipment and danger to the neighborhood children.

Only three of the five board members were present for the hearing. Max Hart, Valerie Cole, Thomas Varughese. Absent were Vicki Burch and Patty Lewis.

I spoke with committee chairman Max Hart and asked him if this committee had now put the burden of policing the neighborhood back on the community?
CLICK TO HEAR AUDIO BZA cut 1 Hart chairman of Board of Zoning Appeal

I asked Mr. Hart what record would reflect the terms of the agreement to allow Brantley to open his business.
CLICK TO HEAR AUDIO BZA cut 2 Hart

Board member Valerie Cole acknowledged the numerous cards of objection and concerns she heard voiced from the residents but said the planning department is very experienced in these matters and the committee is obligated to go along with that recommendation. I asked if this committee was then a sanctioning board for the planning department but board members had no further comments for the record.

The board voted two (Hart and Cole) to one (Varughese) in favor of allowing the Brantley Group, LLC to move into the building on the corner of Allen Street and Conger in East Jackson. However, the board put limits on the approval, which include: restrictions for shipping times, and boundaries using the building for manufacturing and job training purposes.

After the meeting I spoke with Brantley

CLICK TO HEAR AUDIO BZA Bardo Brantley

CLICK TO HEAR AUDIO BZA SBBI Operations Manager

Brantley told the board all manufacturing operations except those done for training purposes will be performed in SBBI’s new Humboldt TN location

You can listen to excerpts of the event by clicking on links below.

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN an extended portion of the Carter for Mayor  Campaign Kickoff -  Audio includes speeches and candidate introductions

CLICK HERE TO SEE PHOTOS

Campaign Kickoff  Excerpts – CLICK BELOW TO LISTEN

Madison County Democratic Party Chairman Atty T. Robert Hill

Jackson City Fire Chief and Madison County Commissioner James Pearson

Brandon Stewart (Harrell Carter nephew)

Democratic Candidate for Madison County Mayor Harrell Carter

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN – FBI Special Agent Todd McCall explains

The West Tennessee Antique Car Show was taking place just blocks away. The entire incident was resolved without interruption of that event.

RELATED PHOTO LINK