Changes in State Minimal Activity License Threshold to Affect Local Businesses

May 27, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

Many business owners in DeKalb County and across the state will be affected by a change in requirements for obtaining a Minimal Activity or Standard Business License.

According to the Tennessee Department of Revenue, any business with annual gross receipts of more than $3,000 but less than $100,000 must obtain a Minimal Activity License. Previously, the requirement was for businesses with annual gross receipts of between $3,000 and $10,000. Any business with annual gross receipts in excess of $100,000 needs a Standard Business License. These changes apply to tax years ending on or after December 31, 2023.

These business licenses are to be obtained and renewed annually through the local county clerk’s office.

Business owners affected by the changes will be notified by letter from the Tennessee Department of Revenue that they will no longer be renewing by use of TN Tap, the department’s online payment platform.

“We have been told that the Department of Revenue will be analyzing all those TN Tap accounts in the fall and that they will be sending letters out to each of those account holders with gross receipts of between $3,000 to $100,000 to notify them that they will no longer be using TN Tap to renew but must do so with the County Clerk’s Office. For those businesses that still have sales and use tax accounts on TN Tap, they will retain that account and will continue to pay their sales and use tax through TN Tap,” said County Clerk James L. (Jimmy) Poss.

According to Poss, the changes announced by the Department of Revenue will create more activity in the county clerk’s office.

“Its going to increase the number of people we see locally and increase the number of transactions that we process locally in the office. Those numbers will go up because the majority of our accounts are standard business license accounts. We currently have very few minimal activity accounts,” said Poss.

For more information on the changes announced by the Tennessee Department of Revenue click the link below

https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/revenue/documents/notices/business/bus23-08.pdf

May 27, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

The American Legion will be having a Memorial Day Program at the basement of the Courthouse on Monday, Memorial Day, May 29th at 10:00 a.m. Susan Hinton will be providing music, Don Rigsby will be leading prayer, and the Veterans will be laying a wreath at the monument. Everyone is welcome.

May 26, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

Good news, bad news!

First the good news! The percentage of DeKalb County third graders who either met or exceeded expectations in Reading on the 2023 TCAP Assessment was 42.26%, significantly better than the 26% result from last year. The bad news is that almost 58% (57.74%) only approached or were below expectations and face the risk of retention. That was still better than the state average of 60% which didn’t measure up.

“Are we happy with 42% passing the test and 58% not? No! Its not what we want. We want 100% passing but the number of kids being held back in third grade doesn’t have to happen. There are some hoops they have to jump through, summer school and things of that nature, but from where we started last year, when only 26% passed the test, we have improved greatly and that goes to show that when you (teachers and administrators) get in that curriculum and teach what the state sends with fidelity students will have success” said Director of Schools Patrick Cripps.

The Tennessee Department of Education this week released district-level TCAP average scores across the state for third grade ELA from the spring 2023 TCAP administration.

The department also released statewide averages for third grade TCAP ELA scores ahead of previous years’ timelines, highlighting historic gains in third grade reading after the launch of a new, comprehensive K-3 literacy strategy for Tennessee public schools.

The DeKalb County School District is sending correspondence to parents of students who didn’t make the grade outlining the path forward for their promotion to fourth grade. Those students will either have to re-take the test, go to summer school, undergo tutoring next school year, or appeal the decision based on the Third Grade Retention Law. There are several exemptions to the law, like students with disabilities that affect their reading and certain English language learners.

The DeKalb County data is broken down as follows:
• 13.62% exceeded expectations
• 28.64% met expectations
• 32.86% approached expectations
• 24.88% below expectations

“Providing districts, schools, and families with data about how their students are performing is essential,” said Commissioner Penny Schwinn. “I appreciate the dedication and ongoing efforts of Tennessee districts and schools as they work with families to help them choose the best pathway for their children and their future success.”

Last Friday, May 19th, individual student ELA scores for third graders were shared with Tennessee school districts, which are responsible for communicating with families about their student’s score and pathways to fourth grade promotion, including the TCAP retake opportunity, parent appeal free summer camp and/or tutoring in the upcoming school year.

Third grade students who scored “below” or “approaching” are eligible and will be prioritized for these supports, although some students may meet certain exceptions outlined in the law.

Thanks to legislation passed by Governor Bill Lee and the Tennessee General Assembly, the grades eligible for all summer learning camps has been expanded to rising kindergarten through 9th grade students, which are meant to support students who will benefit from additional learning supports and meet the participation requirements for promotion to fourth grade. In the coming weeks, districts and schools will work with families to determine the best pathway for their student.

Families of students scoring “approaching” on the TCAP or TCAP retest also have the option to request an appeal of a local retention decision on behalf of their third-grade student. The form to submit an appeal for the department’s consideration will be on this webpage and opens May 30, 2023 and closes June 30, 2023.

Families can find critical timeline information posted on the department’s website and should coordinate with their student’s school to ensure they can make informed decisions about their student’s education. The annual, full TCAP release, including all grades and subjects for state-level and district-level results, will be released in separate announcements later this summer.

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