CMYK Thursday, October 9, 2014
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Artistic touch for DDA’s hoedown. 3B
Millage rate hearings are Oct. 13 and 20 Two of the three required public hearings on the proposal millage rate increase of .9 mills in the unincorporated area and 1.16 in the incorporated area will be held Monday, Oct. 13. The Jackson County Board of Commissioners meetings will convene at 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. in the jury assembly room of the Jackson County Courthouse. The third hearing, after which the commission will likely vote on the proposed budget and recommended millage rate, will be held at 6 p.m. on Oct. 20. The proposed tax increase for a home or nonhomestead property with a fair market value of $125,000 is approximately $45 in the unincorporated area and $58 in the incorporated area. The commission held a Sept. 24 budget
Jackson County Board of Commissioners will weigh tax hike to balance FY15 budget work session at which County Manager Kevin Poe went through the budget document put together by Finance Director Logan Propes and Poe. Meetings with county department heads were held to determine the recommended budgets. Most of the budgets had to be tweaked downward after the county tax digest reflected no growth after appeals of valuations, exemptions and abatements to industry were finalized. Poe noted major changes in the way the budget was prepared to be more user friendly. Every departmental budget is being
decreased this fiscal year as the health insurance expense for each is now being placed in a separate Health Insurance fund. Also, all capital outlay expenses had been allocated back to each respective departmental budget rather than being in a separate capital outlay fund. Related to capital spending, Commissioner Bruce Yates questioned the $20,000 being allocated for purchase of a boat for the dive team. He said residents of the northern area of the county where ambulance response time is considerably higher than the rest of
the county remains a concern which should be address. He suggested the funds be used to help locate an EMS station in the northern part of the county. It was noted by Commissioner Dwain Smith and Chairman Tom Crow that the dive team assists with drowning victims as well as helping law enforcement with the recovery of evidence. The team, which has often used personal equipment or borrowed boats for response and training, has invested considerable time and effort to support Jackson County and other communities. Smith said the team deserved to have equipment which would aid them in their role. Commissioner Yates emphasized the board should consider its priorities as the boat is used infrequently for responses.
Jackson County School System’s strategic vision blurred by digest By LEANNE AKIN
lakin@clickthepaper.com
DAR, SAR markers dedicated
The Lyman Hall Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution and the Colonial William Chandler Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution dedicated grave markers Saturday in commemoration of the service of Compatriot Herbert B. “Kit” Braselton Sr., and DAR Peggy Watlington Braselton. They are buried in the Braselton Family Cemetery and their gravestones are now engraved with the emblems of the organizations in which they were actively involved. Representing the family for the dedication which featured a musket salute
and placing of wreaths honoring the couple was (above) their daughter, Rebecca Gerald and husband Mike; son, Herbert B. “Herb” Braselton Jr.; and grand-
sons, Westley Braselton, who sang the National Anthem, Justin Braselton and Cody Braselton, who sounded taps. See more at ClickThePaper.com
With building permits being pulled and commercial and industrial growth taking place, there was anticipation that the Jackson County tax digest would begin to see some recovery from the years of economic downward spiral. Told to anticipate a 2 percent to 3 percent increase in the tax digest, governmental entities developed their budgets but are having to a formulate new budgets as the digest is finalized. Being fiscally conservative and still reeling from the measures taken after another drop in the digest last year, the Jackson County School System had prepared its budget for a flat digest – one that did not show growth. “We had hoped to recoup our fund balance because we have already cut to the bone at the classroom level,” said Dr. April Howard, superintendent of Jackson County Schools. She notes that classroom sizes are perhaps larger than they have ever been, and substitutes and transportation have been limited. “It is very confining and doesn’t stimulate creativity and innovation.” The startling reality came when it was communicated that the impact on the tax digest – a 2 percent reduction – means that the school system is losing another $500,000 in revenues.
On Tuesday, Dr. Howard and Assistant Superintendent Jamie Hitzges met for the second time with Chief Appraiser Valerie Thornton seeking information to help better understand another digest decline. With the westside of the county as its barometer, Dr. Howard said she fears that it could be another two or three years out before the tax digest is able to generate the money of the past. Appeals, abatements and exemptions including increased acreage going into conservation reserve now total $395,863,348 in property off the tax digest. Those losses on the digest are also impacting the West Jackson Fire Department which will likely be forced to reduce its level of service and furlough firefighters as the fire district feels the brunt of a big abatement granted for economic development purposes. West Jackson Fire Chief Ben Stephens, who has also met with the appraisers office, fears the district will be suffering because of incentives provided to industry. For the school system, the revenue drop will require exploration of possible consolidation of the system’s smaller schools with reorganization of school administration. Dr. Howard said students deserve a full 180-day calendar so reduction of school days would be a last resort.
Inaugural ‘PlanFirst’ recognitions announced
Braselton picked among top 10 in state for planning By FARAH BOHANNON
fbohannon@clickthepaper.com
The Georgia Department of Community Affairs announced this week that Braselton is one of 10 Georgia communities receiving statewide distinction in a new program recognizing excellence in community planning. Good planning makes for excellent communities — just like Braselton. Once a city or town has applied, the application undergoes many steps that can be very intense. Prerequisites include having a comprehensive plan and having historically maintained this status as well as providing a list of carefully thoughtout goals and specific action items that will help realize their hope for the future.
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Braselton Mayor Bill Orr says that the “PlanFirst” is one of the town’s many achievements and it thrilled him that the town was selected even with several other applicants. “This is one of Braselton’s many achievements that has come about through excellent planning and our implementation of those plans,” said Orr. “Myself, the town employees, the council members and our residents all want a place where we can work, live and play and I think we are making that happen. It truly is an honor.” Braselton along with Athens-Clarke County, Coweta County, Johnson County, Jones County and the cities of Gainesville, Madison, Suwanee, Vienna and Woodstock
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each achieved Georgia’s first-ever “PlanFirst” designation, which acknowledges communities that have a proven track record of implementing their plan and a history of good plan development. “Good planning by local communities is the hallmark of economic growth,” said Gretchen Corbin, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Community Affairs. “These are communities that can serve as statewide models for others in how to actively and strategically implement a vision for the future.” Braselton Town Manager Jennifer Dees said she is honored to be a part of the “PlanFirst” designation and believes the hard work and dedication has been worth it. Dees
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has worked for the town since 1997, so she has seen it grow and blossom for almost 20 years. Her dedication to Braselton is a large reason why it has become more and more successful as the years go by. “I am very honored and excited that our town is now a PlanFirst town,” said Dees. “As a town, we see the importance of planning and implementing the plans to ensure success. Our plans are very carefully thought out.” Dees mentioned that this is much more than just an award as there are many benefits to being a “PlanFirst” town. Benefits include public visibility, eligibility for funding and
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