The Paper October 16, 2014 Edition

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CMYK Thursday, October 16, 2014

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Tickets on sale for Haints and Saints. 3B

Hearings highlight county’s debt woes By LEANNE AKIN

million, it was dropped each year since. Poe said even with a 1 mill increase, the county will be bringing in less money than in 2009. Back in 2009, Jackson County had a fund balance of $9,826,000 but has been chipping away at those funds to balance annual budgets to cope with shrinking tax collections. Poe explained that balancing the budget with no millage rate increase would require the use of $2,578,926 of prior years’ reserves, thrusting the fund balance below recommended guidelines. The future financial stability of the county could be jeopardized related to its bond credit rating should the fund balance continue to decline. Poe noted that assigning 24 percent of the general fund revenues toward debt service is high, an observation pointed out by the county’s auditing firm. If you take debt out

lakin@clickthepaper.com

Jackson County Commission Chairman Tom Crow says the can has been kicked down the road as far as it be related to the county’s debt and now a 1 mill tax hike is being considered as a means to being addressing the county’s ongoing financial woes. At both Oct. 13 public hearings on the proposed budget and millage rate, County Manager Kevin Poe reviewed the budget. Sessions were convened at 9 a.m. with few attendees and a 6 p.m. which attracted nearly two dozen. The tax digest experienced a .42 percent loss rather than the anticipated gain of 2 percent to 3 percent, and it was pointed out that the tax digest has felt a 19 percent declined since 2009. While the digest was once at $21.8

of the picture, Jackson County is operating on 4.5 mills. After seven years of a pay freeze, surviving two reductions in force and enduring 50 furlough days, the commission had agreed it was time to eliminate furloughs of employees, meaning an estimated $534,516 in additional salaries and benefits being added to the budget. Poe noted that of the millage rates of surrounding counties, five had higher rates, four had lower rates and one was equal to Jackson County. In the morning hearing, Commissioner Jim Hix asked about the county’s indebtedness. Poe said this year’s $8.86 million indebtedness will rise to $10.6 million in 2016 and level off. Utilizing bond refinancing, the county has

See HEARINGS, 8A

School officials requesting audit of tax assessors

LeAnne Akin The Paper

Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal joined with Toyota Industries Compressor Parts America (TICA) President Haruhiko Kirnata, Toyota Industries Corporation (TICO) President Akira Onishi and other dignitaries in cutting the ribbon to mark the grand opening of TICO. See more scenes from the celebration at ClickThePaper.com.

By LEANNE AKIN

lakin@clickthepaper.com

A grand opening for TICA Toyota Industries Compressor Parts America, Co. (TICA), a subsidiary of Toyota Industries Corporation (TICO), held its grand opening ceremony on Oct. 9. Approximately 160 invited guests attended the ceremony, including Governor Nathan Deal and TICO President Akira Onishi. “I want to express my appreciation to Governor Deal, Mr. Akira Onishi and all our invited guests for attending our ceremony,” said Haruhiko Kimata, TICA’s President. “The start-up of TICA marks an important milestone in TICO’s history. For the first time in 20 years, the complete compressor is made

been able to use those savings to help balance prior year budgets. “We have taken every advantage of every refinancing opportunity to help lower the debt service payments,” said Poe. “So the can has been kicked down the road as far as it can be kicked,” said Crow. In the evening session, Commissioner Bruce Yates complimented Poe on his efforts in formulating the budget. Yates noted the priorities are set by the commission and he questioned whether a self-efficiency and effectiveness study would net additional savings for the county. He pointed to the study conducted by theninterim county manager Leonard Myers which evaluated the efficiency of the Jack-

100 percent in America. We could not have achieved this milestone without the hard work of our associates, who are our most important asset,” said Kimata. Amy Halbrook, a TICA associate, spoke during the ceremony of the teamwork which has been built as the associates were trained through the Lanier Tech QuickStart program. She said every day was a new opportunity to continue to build on the foundation of safety and quality. HR Director Kathleen Petersen, the first associate hired, served as emcee for the official ceremony. TICA was established in February 2012 to produce the key com-

ponents for variable displacement car air-conditioning compressors. TICA’s total investment is $406 million, with $150 million in capital. The facility is approximately 600,000 square feet on 28.5 acres. TICA has created more than 320 new jobs and has plans for continued growth in 2015. The goal is to manufacture 7.2 milion units per year by 2016 when Phase III is completed. Gov. Deal and other dignitaries and invited guests were invited to take a tour of the facilities before the ceremony got under way.

See CELEBRATION, 2A

The Jackson County Board of Education registered its concern about the tax digest with a letter to county commissioners requesting the Georgia Department of Revenue be asked to conduct an audit of the Jackson County Tax Assessors office. “On behalf of the children of Jackson County, we feel a sense of urgency in addressing this concern,” said the letter signed by BOE Chairwoman Lynne MasseyWheeler and other board members. “Our commitment is to partner with all agencies, and we feel an external audit may help all stakeholders understand both the current state of affairs and the impact to our community,” said the letter. “After careful analysis of the local tax digest, we feel a responsibility in understanding and explaining to the students and families in our community why our local revenues continue to decline,” the letter reads. At the Oct. 9 meeting of the board of education, Superin-

tendent Dr. April Howard said the loss of half a million dollars was not something the school system expected. “As you know, the Jackson County Tax Digest dropped. With the exception of residential, every area declined as reflected below: - The overall Gross Digest decreased $10,675,774 from 2013 - Agricultural value decreased $227,720 from 2013 - Commercial value decrease by $10,276,844 from 2013 - Total Exemptions increased $15,478,606 from 2013 (increased from $192,124,246 in 2005 to $395,863,348 in 2014).” Howard told the school board that she and Assistant Superintendent Jamie Hitzges had meet on two occasion with chief appraiser Valerie Thornton in an effort “to understand what is going on.” She said the system was trying to be proactive and get answers. “We want people to know we are not asleep at the

See SCHOOL, 2A

nominated by lanier tech for outstanding achievement

Sheriff Mangum is honored for GED grad success Jackson County Sheriff Janis Mangum is the recipient of the GED Graduate Outstanding Achievement Award presented by the GED Testing Program of the Technical College System of Georgia, Office of Adult Education (GaGTP). Mangum is the second female in the state of Georgia to be elected to the position of sheriff, and she received a standing ovation at the Oct. 2 gathering at the Grand Hyatt Atlanta Hotel. “Lanier Technical College serves Jackson County and was proud to nominate Sheriff Mangum for the award,” said Dr. Howard Ledford, Dean of the Jackson Campus and General Education for Lanier Technical College. “Sheriff Mangum started her exceptional career by obtaining a GED.” Sheriff Mangum received the prestigious award for her strong community ser-

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vice to the citizens of Jackson County and her servant leadership. Mangum’s lifetime pursuits have been dedicated to the advocacy of children and families. “Janis Mangum is an outstanding leader in the

Volume 8, Number 51 Forum Obituaries Puzzles Sports

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community helping lead the cause for adult literacy as well as many other community challenges,” said Ledford. “Janis Mangum the community leader happens to be the Sheriff of Jackson County but was and is a role model because she is Janis Mangum.” Guest speaker for the occasion was Cynthia M.A. Butler-McIntyre of Jeffersonville Parrish La., who graduated high school at 15, went to college and was a kindergarten teacher for many years. Sheriff Mangum offered special thanks to Lanier Tech, the Technical College System of Georgia, Mrs. Brenda Thomas, Sandra Fite, Dr. Ledford and all who were involved in the award. “Special thanks to all who shared this with me, my husband Jerry, Tom and Nadine Crow and Mrs. Killip. God bless you all,” she said.

For The Paper

Presenting the GED Graduate Outstanding Achievement Award to Jackson County Sheriff Janis Mangum, (C), was Technical College System of Georgia Deputy Commissioner Dr. Josephine Reed-Taylor, and Beverly Smith, Technical College System of Georgia Assistant Commissioner for Adult Education.

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