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TOP STORIES FOR
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 2003
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Carroll Academy Affected by Budget
Cuts |
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Carroll Academy will lose $150,000 due to a reduction in
state grants, if Governor Bredesen's plan to reduce the
cost of government is imposed. Carroll County Executive
Kenny McBride said the school for court-remanded students
will have its grants cut by 15 percent if the proposed
budget is approved.
That additional $150,000 for Carroll Academy is in
addition to other cuts proposed by the Bredesen
administration for each county. Bredesen has proposed nine
percent reductions of state-shared revenues for counties
and cities.
McBride said the county's highway department is expected
to receive $100,000 to $170,000 fewer dollars and the
county general fund will receive $120,000 to $130,000
fewer. In those numbers is a reduction in cost
reimbursement for housing state prisoners in the county
jail. Presently, the state pays the county $20.45 daily,
which will be reduced to $18 daily.
Before the reduction in Carroll Academy, county
commissioners estimated that a property tax hike of 10
cents per $100 assessed value would have to be applied or
a $10 wheel tax to equal approximately $240,000 in lost
revenues.
"We've got to live with it," said McBride. "County
commissioners have no intention of raising property
taxes...That's not an option."
"The Governor inherited a problem worse than he
anticipated," said McBride of the state's budget. In a
meeting with county officials statewide last week,
Bredesen reiterated that almost all the state's
departments would be pared by nine percent. Some budget
cuts were hard to make. Some cuts should have been made
earlier. The shared funds with counties and municipalities
were the last resort to balance the budget. Bredesen
proposes to cut the share of city and county money by
$60.7 million - or nine percent.
City officials from throughout Tennessee are in Nashville
this week to learn how the budget cuts will affect their
individual cities. Bredesen has suggested nine percent of
revenue sharing will be eliminated. Preliminary numbers
suggest that the City of McKenzie stands to lose $35,000.
Huntingdon will lose approximately $44,000. Bruceton
estimates a loss of $14,000. McLemoresville Mayor Phil
Williams was unsure how the budget cuts would affect his
citizens. "Nine percent of not much is a whole lot," said
Williams. He said the people of McLemoresville have been
through lean times before. Everyone will have to do their
part during these war times, indicated Williams.
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Carroll, Weakley Teachers to Get Pay Hike If Governor's
Proposal Approved |
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Carroll and Weakley County teachers will be among the
first wave of those that will receive an increase in pay
if Governor Bredesen's pay equity proposal is approved
by lawmakers.
In his push to begin equalizing teacher pay across the
state, Bredesen released Wednesday, March 12 a list of
75 school districts that will split $26.7 million among
17,161 teachers.
In Carroll County, six school systems made the list, for
a total of $696,000 dedicated to salary increases. There
were no schools from Henry County and one listed for
Weakley County.
In West Tennessee, 23 school systems made the list, with
increases ranging from $17,000 for Carroll County School
System to $846,000 for Hardeman County Schools. The five
special school systems in Carroll County will share
$679,000.
This means the average increase per teacher would be
approximately $2300, but that not all teachers would
receive exactly this amount, which is to be determined
by individual school boards, said Sen. Don McLeary
(D-Jackson).
While this effort by no means solves the teacher pay
equity issues, Bredesen calls it an important "down
payment" toward addressing an issue that has long
plagued public schools in Tennessee.
The average instructional salary for Carroll County
schools based on Fiscal Year 2001-02, as well as total
new state funding proposed were as follows:
* Carroll County School System - $35,733 average salary,
$17,000 in new funds.
* Hollow Rock-Bruceton Special School District - $33,678
average salary, $185,000 in new funds.
* Huntingdon Special School District - $35,659 average
salary, $131,000 in new funds.
* McKenzie Special School District - $35,803 average
salary, $120,000 in new funds.
* South Carroll Special School District - $34,980
average salary, $60,000 in new funds.
* West Carroll Special School District- $34,722 average
salary, $183,000 in new funds. |
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Fires Ravage Two Trezevant Homes |
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Two families lost everything in separate house fires in
Trezevant on Wednesday, March 12. The fires claimed the
two-story home of David and Jennifer Rogers on Johnson
Street and a mobile home on Bryant Street Extended, owned
by James Jones.
Mr. and Mrs. Rogers and their 13-year-old son, Chris
narrowly escaped tragedy after a raging fire broke out at
their home just after midnight.
Jennifer said everyone was asleep when she suddenly
awakened for unknown reasons and walked into the kitchen
area. Looking out the kitchen window into a back porch
area, she discovered the area was engulfed in flames.
"All I saw was orange," she said of the fire. "I was later
told it could be seen all over town."
Jennifer noted that heat was radiating from a door leading
onto the back porch and when she opened the door, flames
forced her back.
The main house was equipped with smoke alarms, but they
had not yet activated, said Jennifer.
She said she went to awaken her husband and son and the
three just had just enough time to get out of the house,
after she called local firefighter Bobby McAlexander.
Jennifer said she knew he had a mutual aid system and
could quickly alert other firefighters.
Firefighters were dispatched to the scene and found the
frame home completely engulfed in flames.
The assistance of firefighters from McLemoresville, Terry
community, and Air One assisted in the early morning fire.
Trezevant firefighters returned during the early morning
hours to fight spot fires.
The family lost all their belongings and are presently
residing with David's brother, Robert Rogers of Trezevant.
Jennifer works at Adrian's Diner in Trezevant and David is
self-employed as a car detailer and a truck driver.
"I've always heard it is like a death to lose your home in
a fire and it is," said Jennifer. "It's like waiting to go
home, but you can't."
Household items and clothing for the family are being
collected at Adrian's Diner, located on Highway 79 in
Trezevant. David's sizes are 33-34 pant, large shirt, and
size 12 shoe; Jennifer wears size 14, large shirt and 7
1/2-8 shoe; and Chris wears size 38-32 pant, Extra large
shirt and size 13 shoes.
James Jones of Bryant Street Extended lost his mobile home
and contents during a Wednesday afternoon fire. Jones said
he had just left the mobile home to pick up a student at
school. When he returned, the house was burning. He
indicated he had no insurance. "I had items money can't
buy," said Jones, noting he had some things that belonged
to his parents. Once firefighters extinguished the blaze,
Jones was allowed to enter his destroyed home. He
retrieved a shotgun that survived the ordeal. Oddly, Mr.
Jones resided in a home that burned 14 years earlier in
the exact location. |
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McKenzie City Council Honors Citizens
Discusses Fourth of July Fireworks Display |
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McKenzie Mayor Walter Winchester and members of the
McKenzie City Council on Thursday, March 13 honored
family members of the late Ben Gaines by presenting them
with a framed copy of a resolution commemorating Mr.
Gaines for his civic, business and social leadership.
Said Ben Gaines, Jr., "My father loved McKenzie and he
was always proud to call McKenzie home."
Mayor Winchester presented Employee of the Month Gordon
Dickson with a check for $50.00. A six-year employee of
the Water Department, Dickson was chosen for the honor
at the recommendation of Water Department Superintendent
Tim Waldrup, who advised he had worked for two weekends
in a row and was instrumental in addressing backflow
problems in order to meet the State's bi-annual
requirements. Mr. Dickson is a certified water
department operator.
Citing the possibility of less expense for early
contracting of Fourth of July fireworks expenses, Mayor
Winchester stated the annual display will cost "$5-6,000
for 20 minutes of fire and light in the air if we want
to do it."
The mayor stated he has contemplated bringing in music
and fair rides to complement the celebration at the Como
Street Park which is the hub of the fireworks display
that attracted approximately four thousand spectators
last year.
Council members debated the popularity of the event
versus the considerable expense. Responding to
Councilmember Willie Huffman's request for information
concerning revenue and the prospect of the loss of
state-shared taxes, City Clerk Dana Deem responded that
revenues are down seven to eight percent this year and
that approximately $35,000 could be lost in state-shared
revenues.
Stating the Fourth of July celebration is a big thing
for McKenzie, Vice Mayor Gene Hale proposed that civic
organizations be contacted concerning the possibility of
co-sponsoring the event with the City of McKenzie.
Further discussion was postponed pending communication
with local organizations. |
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Phone (731) 352-3323 or Fax (731)
352-3322
washburn@mckenziebanner.com
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