County Commission Rejects Proposed 29 Cent Property Tax Hike (VIEW VIDEO HERE)

June 24, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

The county budget committee will have to get back to work next month on the proposed budget for the 2019-20 fiscal year after the county commission Monday night rejected a recommendation to increase the property tax rate by 29 cents per $100 of assessed value.

Eight votes were needed for passage. Five commissioners voted in favor but six cast a no vote. Three members, Beth Pafford, Jenny Trapp, and Anita Puckett were absent.

MAH00058 from dwayne page on Vimeo.

Commissioners voting for the tax hike were Sabrina Farler, Dr. Scott Little, Janice Fish-Stewart, Jerry Adcock, and Jeff Barnes. Those voting against were Dennis Slager, Julie Young, Myron Rhody, Bobby Johnson, Matt Adcock, and Bruce Malone.

A public hearing  on the proposed tax rate and consolidated budget was held 30 minutes prior to the start of the regular monthly meeting but no one spoke up either in support or opposition from the public.

Since the proposed resolution on the tax levy failed, action had to be delayed on passage of the new consolidated budget and appropriation resolutions until after the budget committee meets again to revise its recommendation on July 10 at 5 p.m. in the downstairs courtroom of the courthouse. The county commission doesn’t meet again until July 22 at 6:30 p.m.

In the meantime, the commission Monday night adopted a routine continuing budget resolution to keep county government operating passed July 1 until the new budget and tax rate are adopted.

Although they didn’t state their reasons during the meeting, half of the commissioners voting no told WJLE after the meeting they felt the proposed tax hike was too much while the other three said it didn’t go far enough in meeting existing and future needs. Even a couple of commissioners voting yes said they felt the county should do more.

With the proposed increase, as recommended by the budget committee, county taxpayers would have paid $2.12 per $100 of assessed value starting this fall, up from the current rate of $1.83. However none of the proposed increase would have gone to fund a new school building program. Although the Board of Education has settled on a new Pre-K to 2^nd grade school model it has not yet sent a request for funding to the county commission. When that request does come, some say the county may have to re-visit property taxes and or seek a wheel tax to help support a school building program.

Steve Bates, the county’s financial advisor, has warned that the county cannot go another year without more revenue.

According to Bates, the county general fund is expected to be in the red by $1,681,933 as of June 30, 2020 if spending goes according to the proposed budget. To balance the budget, the county would have to pull the $1.6 million from the fund balance (cash reserves). Even with a 29 cent tax hike, Bates said the county general fund is still projected to run in the red by $473,132 as of June 30, 2020 if all budgeted funding is spent. However, he added the county could manage and possibly grow out of the deficit as long as spending is kept in check.

While most of the proposed tax increase, 25 cents would have gone to shore up the general fund, the remaining 4 cents would have been added to schools which is needed to meet the state required local Basic Education Program (BEP) match for education. The county proposed to take one cent from the Capital Projects Fund and move it to the Road Department to meet the state required five year average for local funding of roads. With the move, the county would  have been allocating 4 cents of the property tax for roads rather than the current 3 cents. The tax rate for Capital Projects would have gone from 10 cents to 9 cents.

The proposed tax rate was to be divided among the funds as follows:

*County General: $1.21.35 cents, up by 25 cents from the current rate of 0.9635 cents

*Highway/Public Works: 0.04 cents, up by 1 cent from the current rate of 0.03 cents

*General Capital Projects: 0.9 cents, down by 1 cent from the current rate of 0.10 cents

*Debt Service: 0.13 cents

*General Purpose Schools: 0.65 cents, up by 4 cents from the current rate of 0.61 cents.

June 24, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

Video from a home security camera system helped nab a burglar on Toad Road last week

19 year old Robert Stephen Ryan Derrick of Toad Road, Dowelltown is charged with vandalism, possession of burglary tools, aggravated burglary, and theft of property. He is under a $35,000 bond and his court date is July 11.

Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on Monday, June 17 a deputy was summoned to a residence on Toad Road due to a break-in and upon arrival noticed that the back door of the home appeared to have been forced open.  The image of a suspect was captured on video from home security cameras and the man shown was later identified as Derrick from previous booking photos of him at the jail.

Upon his arrest, Derrick had on him a claw hammer, believed to have been used in the break-in and an estimated $875 worth of items were taken from the home. He also caused about $375 worth of damage to the residence.

52 year old Neal Tracy Loucks of Tami Kay Road, Dowelltown is charged with aggravated assault. His bond is $10,000 and he will be in court July 11.

Sheriff Ray said that on Sunday, June 23 a deputy responded to a residence on Tami Kay Road due to a domestic fight. Upon arrival the officer spoke with the victim who claimed that Loucks began pushing her while she was trying to gather her belongings. According to the woman, Loucks shoved her to the couch, began trying to choke her, and punched her in the face.

A 16 year old boy will make an appearance in Juvenile Court on Thursday, June 27 after recently breaking into a home on Tubbs Street in Liberty on two separate occasions.

Sheriff Ray said the boy is accused of entering the home on one occasion and taking an Xbox One and controller, headset and video games.  On the second occasion, the boy pried open a rear window causing $200 in damage and took 2 Mountain Dews, 4 A& W Root Beers, a Hungry Man dinner, and 4 sausage and biscuits.

The case was investigated by detectives who obtained juvenile petitions against the boy.

June 24, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

Meet “Cammy”!

The WJLE/DeKalb Animal Coalition featured “Pet of the Week” is now available for adoption.

“Cammy is a 10 month old Chihuahua, probably Rat Terrier mix. She is as sweet as can be and loves her neighbors. She actually has a dog playmate. She is so good with all and ready for a forever home,” said Shelter Director Megan Moore.

The shelter is now open for business Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 12pm-4pm and Saturday 10am-12pm.

The shelter also has changed its telephone number. The new number is 615-597-3647 (DOGS).

Meanwhile the DeKalb Animal Coalition is sponsoring a Shelter Adoption Event on Saturday, June 29 at 10 a.m. at Tractor Supply on West Broad Street in Smithville.

“Come out and meet our snuggly, playful cats and kittens waiting for their forever homes,” said Moore.

Kittens are $20 to adopt. A full refund is made with proof of a spay/neuter for pets at least six months of age.

Adoption fees for adult females is $75 and $60 for adult males.

The shelter is located at 186 Transfer Station Road behind Tenneco Automotive.

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