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Anderson County Budget Committee sends budget with no tax increase to County Commission

Posted at 2:35 pm June 13, 2017
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Steve Emert

Steve Emert

The Anderson County Commission Budget Committee has completed its work on the county budget and forwarded it to County Commission for consideration and approval at its June 13 special-called meeting, a press release said. The full budget is available on the county web site at andersontn.org under the Finance Department tab.

“The Budget Committee and Finance Department had several challenges in preparing next year’s budget,” said Myron Iwanski, Budget Committee chair. “This is the first year operating under the 81 Financial Management Law. It has resulted in changes in the Finance Department’s role and its organizational structure and staff. There have also been the challenges of having to take $1.5 million dollars from our fund balance to address Ambulance Service shortfalls; the continuing costs for legal fees that have accumulated over the last four years; the computer breach; and increases in medical insurance cost.”

The press release said the proposed budget keeps spending in departments at current levels, but it includes funding for an Information Technology staff. It provides funding for a capital outlay note to purchase a county Senior Center building, relocate the General Session Court in Oak Ridge to a county-owned building, and fund several needed building upgrades. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Government Tagged With: Anderson County Budget Committee, Anderson County Commission, county budget, Myron Iwanski, Natalie Erb, Steve Emert

Anderson Co. budget: Special meeting scheduled June 23

Posted at 1:41 pm June 16, 2016
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

A special meeting of the Anderson County Commission has been scheduled for June 23 for budget-related discussions.

During the meeting, department heads, residents, and elected and appointed officials can talk to the commission about the proposed budget that has been recommended by the Anderson County Budget Committee and presented by Mayor Terry Frank.

Also, there could be discussion, amendments, and adoption of the budget for the next fiscal year, which starts July 1, including any resolutions required or related to the budget and/or tax rate, a meeting notice said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Front Page News, Government Tagged With: Anderson County Budget Committee, Anderson County Commission, Anderson County Courthouse, budget, special meeting, tax rate, Terry Frank

Anderson County teachers disappointed as commissioners delay vote on budget, pay raise

Posted at 1:10 pm June 24, 2015
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Anderson County Budget Committee and Rachel Minardo, Chris Phillips, and Connie Aytes

Rachel Minardo, right, a first-grade teacher at Claxton Elementary School and president of the Anderson County Education Association, asks for a 4 percent pay raise for county teachers and school staff during a May 28 public hearing on the county budget. Also pictured are Chris Phillips, left, director of accounts and budgets for Anderson County, and Connie Aytes, deputy budget director.

 

CLINTON—Anderson County teachers were disappointed as they watched county commissioners postpone a vote on the budget and a possible 4 percent pay raise on Tuesday.

But they’ll be back on Monday, June 29, for the next meeting of the Anderson County Commission, said Rachel Minardo, a first-grade teacher at Claxton Elementary School and president of the Anderson County Education Association.

It’s not clear if the 16-member Commission will agree to fund the school system’s request for a 4 percent raise for all teachers and staff. That’s what the Anderson County Board of Education unanimously recommended last month. The request could require the equivalent of an 18-cent increase in the property tax rate.

But during debate over proposed pay raises for some county employees on Tuesday, several commissioners said they want to be consistent and fair to all workers. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Education, Government, K-12, Top Stories Tagged With: 4 percent raise, Anderson County, Anderson County Board of Education, Anderson County Budget Committee, Anderson County Commission, Anderson County Education Association, Anderson County Schools, Bill Haslam, certified tax rate, Chris Phillips, Chuck Fritts, Claxton Elementary School, Clinton High School, Daniel McInturff, Jerry White, Larry Foster, Melanie Lamberson, Monique Berry, Norris Middle School, one-to-one devices, pay raise, property tax rate, public hearing, Rachel Minardo, reappraisals, Robin Minch, teachers, Terry Frank, Theresa Scott

Public hearing on Anderson County budget today

Posted at 12:16 pm May 28, 2015
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

The Anderson County Budget Committee has a public hearing on the budget proposed for the next year at 6 p.m. today (Thursday, May 28). The public hearing starts at 6 p.m. in Room 312 of the Anderson County Courthouse in Clinton.

The budget will be presented to the Anderson County Commission for its consideration on Monday, June 15.

The next fiscal year starts July 1.

Filed Under: Anderson County, Front Page News, Government, Meetings and Events Tagged With: Anderson County Budget Committee, Anderson County Commission, budget, public hearing

AC BOE revises budget proposal, 22-cent tax hike would be needed

Posted at 12:01 pm May 28, 2015
By Oak Ridge Today Staff 6 Comments

Information from WYSH Radio

The Anderson County Board of Education on Tuesday voted to approve a revised budget that, if approved as is, would require the equivalent of a 22-cent property tax increase.

The amended proposal adopted during a special-called meeting Tuesday still asks for 4 percent pay raises for school employees—who have not seen significant salary increases in the past six years—as well as $178,000 to pay for needed school roof repairs and state-mandated upgrades to physical education facilities and $178,000 to start a new program under which students would receive an electronic tablet.

The revised budget proposal includes several cuts to the original proposal, which would have necessitated the equivalent of a 56-cent tax increase. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Education, Front Page News, K-12, Meetings and Events Tagged With: Anderson County Board of Education, Anderson County Budget Committee, Anderson County Courthouse, budget, electronic tablet, pay raise, property tax increase, roof repairs, salary increase

Anderson mayor: Budget proposal holds spending steady, no tax increase

Posted at 8:07 pm May 18, 2015
By Oak Ridge Today Staff 1 Comment

Terry Frank

Terry Frank

The budget proposed by Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank for the next fiscal year would keep most county departments at current-year spending levels and it includes no tax increase, a press release said.

The proposed general fund budget was presented to the Anderson County Budget Committee on Tuesday afternoon, and it was unanimously approved at Thursday evening’s budget meeting, the Mayor’s Office said in the release.

The next fiscal year begins July 1.

The balanced $25,088,157 budget for the county’s general operating fund proposes maintaining a focus on stabilizing spending levels until “we have full economic recovery,” the press release said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Front Page News, Government, Top Stories Tagged With: Anderson County, Anderson County Budget Committee, Anderson County Commission, budget, budget process, budget proposal, Christopher K. Phillips, Connie Aytes, Dusty Irwin, funding, general fund budget, general operating fund, health insurance, Leonard Abbatiello, on-site medical clinic, Phil Warfield, public hearing, Robert McKamey, Russell Bearden, salary increases, schools, spending, tax increase, Terry Frank

Letter: Mall nullification proposal would make TIF loan impossible to finance

Posted at 1:33 pm November 16, 2013
By Oak Ridge Today Letters Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge Mall TIF Public Hearing

James Murphy, center, is a Nashville attorney representing Oak Ridge Mall redeveloper Crosland Southeast. Also pictured during a recent public hearing are Ray Evans, right, Oak Ridge economic development consultant; and Tim Sittema, a Crosland Southeast partner.

Note: This Nov. 14 e-mail from an attorney representing mall redeveloper Crosland Southeast was written in response to a nullification proposal submitted by Oak Ridge City Council member Trina Baughn to Anderson County officials.

I represent Crosland in connection with the proposed Economic Impact Plan for the Redevelopment of the Oak Ridge Mall Economic Development Area (the “Economic Impact Plan”). The Economic Impact Plan has been approved by the Industrial Development Board of the City of Oak Ridge (the “IDB”) and the City Council for the City of Oak Ridge, and it is on the agenda for the Nov. 18 meeting of the Board of Commissioners of Anderson County. I would like to respond to Ms. Baughn’s suggestion that the tax increment financing (“TIF”) funding for the redevelopment of the Oak Ridge Mall be nullified if at least 65 percent of the planned new retail square footage is not completed by December 2018.

As has been explained by Ray Evans in the meetings of the Anderson County Operations Committee and the Budget Committee, the proposed redevelopment of the Oak Ridge Mall requires a public-private partnership. After carefully reviewing the project’s pro forma, the city officials who have been involved in negotiating the incentives with Crosland were convinced that there was a funding gap of $13 million that could be bridged by the use of the TIF funding. Without that $13 million in TIF funding, the project would not go forward. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Letters Tagged With: Anderson County, Anderson County Budget Committee, Anderson County Commission, Anderson County Operations Committee, Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP, Crosland Southeast, IDB, incremental tax revenues, James L. Murphy, lender, loan, mall, Oak Ridge City Council, Oak Ridge Industrial Development Board, Oak Ridge Mall, property tax revenues, Ray Evans, redevelopment, tax increment financing, tenants, TIF, Trina Baughn

Oak Ridge City Council approves $13 million tax financing for mall redevelopment

Posted at 10:10 pm November 11, 2013
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge Mall

The Oak Ridge City Council voted 6-0 on Monday to approve a $13 million proposal to use new property tax revenues to help redevelop the Oak Ridge Mall. The L-shaped mall is pictured at center above. The white-roofed building at center left is Walmart and the one at center top is the Cinemark Tinseltown theater.

The Oak Ridge City Council voted 6-0 on Monday to approve a $13 million proposal to use new property tax revenues to help redevelop the Oak Ridge Mall.

There was one abstention. The near-unanimous approval by Council continues a string of successes for the proposed redevelopment.

Known as tax increment financing, or a TIF, the proposal approved by Council on Monday had already been unanimously endorsed by the Oak Ridge Industrial Development Board and the Anderson County operations and budgets committees. It will next be considered by the Anderson County Commission on Monday, Nov. 18. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Government, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge, Top Stories Tagged With: Anderson County Budget Committee, Anderson County Commission, Anderson County Operations Committee, Oak Ridge City Council, Oak Ridge Industrial Development Board, Oak Ridge Mall, property tax revenues, tax increment financing, TIF, Trina Baughn

Anderson officials develop plan to hire 15 jailers for jail expansion

Posted at 8:37 pm May 24, 2013
By John Huotari 1 Comment

Terry Frank

Terry Frank

CLINTON—For now, Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank has dropped her proposal to cut funding for the county law director, and she has worked with the budget director to put together a plan to hire 15 new jailers for a jail expansion that could open in November.

But it’s less than half the number of new jailers requested by Anderson County Sheriff Paul White for the 212-bed expansion of the Anderson County Detention Facility, which could be completed in November.

“They understand the budget constraints,” Frank said of the Sheriff’s Department. “In this tight economy, we’re doing the best we can.” [Read more…]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Government, Top Stories Tagged With: alternatives to incarceration, Anderson County Budget Committee, Anderson County Commission, Anderson County Courthouse, Anderson County Detention Facility, Anderson County Law Director, Anderson County mayor, Anderson County Sheriff, budget, Chris Phillips, Dusty Irwin, jail expansion, jailers, Myron Iwanski, Paul White, property tax rate increase, savings, Steve Mead, Terry Frank, Tim Isbel

Anderson County budget: No tax hike, ACSD still seeking funds

Posted at 11:26 am May 17, 2013
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Terry Frank

Terry Frank

Information from WYSH Radio

After a lengthy meeting Thursday evening, the Anderson County Budget Committee recommended approval of a budget proposal that leaves property tax rates at their current levels.

The budget proposal will be the subject of a public hearing on May 30 and will be deliberated in June by the full County Commission. It will be up to commissioners to decide what to do about funding the Anderson County Sheriff Department’s request for hiring 34 new jailers at the soon-to-be-expanded Anderson County Jail and funding requests for new vehicles and equipment. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Government, Top Stories Tagged With: ACSD, Anderson County Budget Committee, Anderson County Commission, Anderson County jail, Anderson County Law Director, Anderson County mayor, Anderson County Sheriff's Department, budget, funding, jailers, Jay Yeager, property tax rate, Terry Frank

Council to consider budget amendments in special meeting Thursday

Posted at 10:38 pm May 15, 2013
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Trina Baughn

Trina Baughn

Chuck Hope

Chuck Hope

The Oak Ridge City Council could consider a dozen budget amendments Thursday evening that were postponed on Monday, a series of proposals that could increase spending in some areas or cut it in others.

Nine of the amendments have been proposed by Oak Ridge City Council member Trina Baughn, and three were recommended by Council member Chuck Hope.

Baughn’s proposals could reduce spending on municipal travel by 20 percent, the Oak Ridge Public Library by roughly $950,000, and Recreation and Parks Department funding by 10 percent, among other things.

Hope’s proposals would add $500,000 funding in the city’s general fund for spending in three areas: economic development, capital maintenance, and to study the relocation of Fire Station No. 2 to Melton Lake Drive. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Government, Oak Ridge, Top Stories Tagged With: Anderson County Budget Committee, budget, budget amendments, Chuck Hope, Oak Ridge Board of Education, Oak Ridge City Council, Oak Ridge Municipal Building Courtroom, spending, Trina Baughn

Frank proposes cuts in county property tax rate, law director’s budget

Posted at 12:33 pm May 10, 2013
By John Huotari 6 Comments

Terry Frank

Terry Frank

Note: This story was last updated at 9:46 p.m.

Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank on Wednesday proposed cutting the property tax rate by 1.62 cents and reducing the county law director’s budget by 16.5 percent.

It would be a $52,069 decrease in the budget of Anderson County Law Director Jay Yeager, who said he would have to lay off one of his two staff members.

Frank proposed reducing the property tax rate by 1.62 cents through a restructuring of the Alternatives to Incarceration Program, a relatively new program that lost its director in March. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Government, Top Stories Tagged With: Alternatives to Incarceration Program, Anderson County Budget Committee, Anderson County Law Director, Anderson County mayor, budget, Jay Yeager, liability claims, property tax rate, Terry Frank

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Classifieds

Availability of the draft environmental assessment for off-site depleted uranium manufacturing (DOE/EA-2252)

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) announces the … [Read More...]

Public Notice: NNSA announces no significant impact of Y-12 Development Organization operations at Horizon Center

AVAILABILITY OF THE FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE OFFSITE HOUSING OF THE Y-12 DEVELOPMENT … [Read More...]

ADFAC seeks contractors for five homes

Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties (ADFAC) is a non-profit community based agency, … [Read More...]

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