How the Recession Affects Robertson County

As we emerge from the most current budget cycle, one thing we must keep in mind is the upcoming property tax appraisal/assessment process – and, succinctly, how this will affect the Robertson County tax base.

Check out this piece by TCCA Executive Director David Connor as relates to the recession and its overall impact on our collective tax bases.

On September 27, 2011, the Tennessee County Commissioners Association had a regional meeting here in Springfield, Robertson County, Tennessee. The topic of the re-appraisals came up. Quite frankly, several of our sister counties that are going through the process are facing dire situations – including Williamson County.

The Week of August 22nd

MEETINGS SCHEDULED WEEK OF

August 22 - 26, 2011

Date & Committee/Board                 Time                            Location

Monday - August 22

Special Session:

            Board of Education                6:00 P.M.                    Central Office

Tuesday - August 23

Legislative                                          6:15 P.M.                    Juvenile Courtroom

Public Hearing/Budget                 7:00 P.M.                    Juvenile Courtroom

Wednesday - August 24

Open

Thursday - August 25

Highway Commission                        7:00 P.M.                    Highway Offices

Friday - August 26

Open

2011-12 Operating Budget: Heading into Monday’s Regular Meeting

Here is the most recent coverage from the Robertson County Times of the August 2, 2011 Robertson County Commission Budget Committee Meeting. The article covers some of the rates in sister counties – remember, I did the same thing back in April by looking at a good part of Middle Tennessee.

My summary can be found here.

As we head into Monday’s Regular Meeting, we will have an up-and-down vote on the 2011-12 Operating Budget.

I am still committed to not raising your property taxes. We have a long way to go, and I do not think we have adequately explored the budget in its current form.

The Week of August 15, 2011

MEETINGS SCHEDULED WEEK OF: August 15 - 19, 2011

Date & Committee/Board                           Time                                      Location

Monday - August 15

Animal Control                                                  6:00 P.M                              Juvenile Courtroom

County Commission                                        7:00 P.M.                             Juvenile Courtroom          

Tuesday - August 16

911 Board                                                            9:00 A.M.                             ECC Building

Budget                                                                 5:00 P.M.                             County Office Building

Health and Safety                                            5:30 P.M.                             County Office Building

Wednesday - August 17

RTA                                                                        10:00 A.M.                          400 Charlotte, Nashville

GNRC                                                                    11:00 A.M.                          400 Charlotte, Nashville

MCHRA                                                                Noon                                     400 Charlotte,

Thursday - August 18

Redistricting                                                       4:00 P.M.                             County Office Building

Friday - August 19

Open

MY Minutes: 2011.8.2 RCC Budget Committee Meeting

Here is a summary of last night’s Robertson County Commission (“RCC”) Budget Committee Meeting (“BC”):

There were presentations from various agencies including the Gorham-MacBane Public Library; as well as discussions regarding funding for various non-profit/not-for-profit agencies.

Following this discussion, the BC considered cuts to several departments, and even considered cutting Robertson County Animal Control. However, this was general discussion and no motion/proposal was specifically considered by the BC.

After this general discussion, the BC came to the conclusion that they did not necessarily know what direction that the RCC would want to go with the Budget. Meaning, would the RCC pursue further cuts, or would the RCC consider the “needed” $.40 property tax increase. When the discussion turned to some form of both cuts and tax increses, the BC decided to send the discussion to the RCC.

The BC voted to send the $.40 property tax increase to the RCC.

This will be considered at the next Regular Meeting later this month.

I hope to have more on this issue in the coming weeks.

Robertson County, what are your thoughts?

Proposed "Archives and Records Management Fee"

Here is a proposed resolution that seems to be gaining some momentum amongst commissioners (I have included the resolution in its entirety at the bottom of this post).

Summarily, this proposal is a resolution adopted by a sister where a fee would be assessed for archiving certain documents. If adopted, this fee would generate a significant amount of revenue – an estimated $.01 or $.02 here in Robertson County.

This fee increase is seen as an alternative to ease the apparent looming property tax increase.

Apparently, to levy a fee is easier than to levy a property tax increase.

See, in my humble opinion, whether labeled as a “fee,” or attached to sales, or levied against property – a tax is a tax is a tax.

This is attempting to generate solutions to our issues from the revenue side. Our problems are not with revenue. Our problems are with spending and borrowing.  

Here is the proposal, and below the proposal, find the suggested documents which would be assessed this fee:

MY Minutes: 2011.7.26 RCC Budget Committee Meeting

Jim Bellis of the Robertson County Times covered Tuesday, July 26, 2011 Budget Committee Meeting here.

Here are several of the keys I would like to highlight:

At the committee meeting held July 21, committee members had asked county department heads to revisit their individual budgets in search of additional areas that might be trimmed.

What resulted from the charge?

Collectively, those administrators came to the committee Tuesday night with a total of $58,944 in additional cuts, amounting to just under one-half-cent in property tax value.

Further,

Sheriff Bill Holt said that, after further examining his budget, he was optimistic about the possibility of receiving an additional $125,000 in revenue for federal inmates housed in the county’s detention center, reducing the potential property tax increase by one penny.

However, as I understand this effort by the Sheriff’s Department, this is not cutting as much as it is growing an estimate of bring more convicted federal criminals to our County.

Lastly,

Overall, approximately two cents were trimmed from the budget, bringing the potential property tax increase to 38 cents, which Ray said is still too much.

It is not enough.

You know where I stand on this issue.

UPDATED: County-By-County Analysis: Their Budgets

We are not the only County struggling with fiscal issues.

Here are what other counties are doing with their budgets.

What I will try to do is highlight some of the other discussions, issues and, most importantly, solutions they applied. Consider this a forum for discussion rather any endorsement of one idea over another.

Henry County: Protests after a $.15 increase.
Dyer County: It appears that Dyer County reluctantly broached just what charitable contributions should come from public coffers. Further, each department had a reduction of their budget by 4%.
Monroe County: Bleak, and more bleak.
Williamson County: $.23 increase
Obion County: Nothing definitive here with the exception of the 'wheel tax' proposal. Fees are taxes, too.
Anderson County: $.16 increase & $25 wheel tax
Carter County: $.14 increase

Please feel free to share any stories you may have. This is an open forum.

The Week of August 1st

MEETINGS SCHEDULED WEEK OF

August 1, 2011 – August 5, 2011

Date & Committee/Board           Time                    Location

Monday- August 1

Building & Grounds                        5:00 P.M.             RCOB                 

Tuesday- August 2

Budget                                                5:00 P.M.                    3rd Floor Conf. Rm.

(RE:  Continuation of 7-26 meeting)

Wednesday – August 3

Foster Care Review Board            9:00 A.M.                General Sessions

Thursday- August 4

Budget                                                 5:00 P.M.             3rd Fl. Conf. Rm.

(RE:  FYE 2012 Budget)                            

Re-Districting Committee            4:00 P.M.                    3rd Floor Conf. Rm.                          

Friday-August 5

Open           

MY Minutes: 2011.7.21 Budget Committee Meeting

You may have heard discussion about it already, but prepare for the Robertson County Budget Committee meeting (of Thursday, July 21, 2011) to be talked about over the next several days….at least, not until the next meeting which is currently scheduled for Tuesday, July 26, 2011 at 5:00pm. (Recall the schedule I originally posted here.)

The Week of July 25th

MEETINGS SCHEDULED WEEK OF:

July 25 - 29, 2011

Date & Committee/Board                           Time                                      Location

Monday - July 25

Education                                                            6:00 P.M                              Central Office

School Board                                                      7:00 P.M.                             Central Office

                                             

Tuesday - July 26

Budget                                                                 5:00 P.M.                             Finance Office

Wednesday - July 27

Safety                                                                  8:30 A.M.                            

Thursday - July 28

Zoning Board of Appeals                                  6:00 P.M.                             County Office Building

Highway Commission                                       7:00 P.M.                             Highway Offices

Friday - July 29

Open

City of Springfield: Dissapointing

I will be candid:

I am disappointed with the City of Springfield’s Board of Mayor and Aldermen.

It seems as though that the path of least resistance was taken with the approach to their Budget.

The Board of Mayor and Alderman approved a six-cent increase at a special meeting on Tuesday, June 28, as city leaders adopted the annual budget. It is the city’s first property tax increase since 1988.

The vote followed an amendment by Springfield Alderman Shane Shoemaker, who called for the six cent increase, three of which would be put towards street paving.

It has not yet been explained to me why each of us must trim each of our own household budgets, but ‘leaders’ take the path of least resistance with government budgets.   

In the context of the Robertson County 2011-12 Operating Budget, Springfield residents are set to be smacked.

The Week of July 18th

July 18 - 22, 2011

Date & Committee/Board                 Time                            Location

Monday - July 18

Legislative                                                         6:00 P.M.                    Juvenile Courtroom

Finance                                                             6:30 P.M.                    Juvenile Courtroom

Nominating                                                      6:30 P.M.                    Juvenile Courtroom

County Commission                                       7:00 P.M.                    Juvenile Courtroom

Tuesday - July 19

911 Board                                                        9:00 A.M.                   ECC Building

Wednesday - July 20

Open                                            

Thursday - July 21

Budget                                                              5:00 P.M.                    Finance Office

Redistricting                                                    6:00 P.M.                    County Office Building

Friday - July 22

Open

2011-12 Operating Budget: Budget Approval Schedule

Last Thursday, May 5, 2011, the RCC Budget Committee met.

The agenda included several 2010-11 budget amendments. Further, Chariman Billy Ray introduced a “Budget Adoption Schedule” for the 2011-12 Operating Budget. Please make a note of this schedule. (Thanks to Commissioner Faye Stubblefield, member of the Budget Committee, for providing me an electronic version of this schedule // Also, if you would like this in a document form, please e-mail me).

2011-12 Operating Budget: Links & Contacts of Interest

As we enter discussions regarding the 2011-12 Operating Budget discussions, I thought each of you may find the following information beneficial.

On the Robertson County, Tennessee website, Robertson County Clerk Susan Atchley posted the 2010-11 Operating Budget. As particular items come up for discussion, I hope this link will be helpful as a point-of-reference.

Many of you have asked who is on the RCC Budget Committee. The RCC Budget Committee is comprised of Commissioners Billy Hugh Ray (2^nd District), Faye Stubblefield (8^th District), Billy Vogle (7^th District)  and James Bowens (12^th District). (Note: Commissioner Polen was also a member of this committee). Your county commissioner contact information can be found here.

As always, should you have any questions, I will be happy to answer them, or point you in the direction of someone who can.

2011.4.14 Budget Committee Meeting

Last Thursday, the RCC Budget Committee re-convened after their meeting of Thursday, April 7, 2011. The April 7, 2011 meeting was continued.

A tentative 2011 Budget was introduced at the previous meeting. The tentative budget sparked a heated discussion by those Robertson County Government Department Heads that were in attendance. This discussion was due to the proposed cuts and a deviation from the “old process.”

Now, as of this second meeting, the “old process” will be implemented. Under the “old process,” Department Heads personally meet with the Robertson County Finance Director Jody Stewart wherein they will generate their proposed budget. After doing so, their budget will be submitted to the Budget Committee for consideration. This apparently was part of what sparked the heated discussion, because this proposal was a deviation from the “old process.” Candidly, I am not a proponent of the “old process” for there is little, if any, proactive participation by the commission in the formation of respective budgets.

Regardless of the process, it is going to be a difficult year.

County-by-County: Comparing the Property Tax Rates

Many of you have asked me just what the tax rates are for our surrounding counties.

Of course, this question was sparked by the recent story in the Robertson County Times discussing the possible property tax increase.

The numbers I pulled below are the “base” property tax rates. I say “base” because they do not represent the entire tax rate. Municipalities within the respective counties have additional taxes on top of the respective county taxes. Some counties, such as Cheatam County have additional taxes for fire districts. I have not included those for comparison since it is hard to compare based on those separate taxes.

If you would like to investigate further, please follow this link to the Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury – Division of Property Assessment. A link can be found here: 2010 PROPERTY TAX RATES:

County                      Property Tax Rate

North Middle Tennessee

Cheatam County              $              2.78                       

Sumner                               $             2.02.08 

Robertson                           $              2.61

Dickson                                $              2.85

Montgomery                     $              2.88

Trousdale                            $              3.00

Wilson                                 $              2.4327

Middle/Southern Middle Tennessee

Davidson                             $              3.56

Rutherford                         $              2.4652

Maury                                   $              2.59

Williamson                        $              2.26

Marshall                              $              3.09

Bedford                               $              2.27

What does $.74 actually mean?

I am sure that many of you saw this story in the Robertson County Times (RCT) this past week.

 This is sobering.

Robertson County taxpayers could be looking at $9,278,000, or a 74-cent increase in property taxes to balance the 2011/2012 county budget. This reality was absorbed by the county budget committee at its meeting last week as members met to begin considering a workable budget for the coming fiscal year.

Their task must take into consideration the debt service needs of schools, highways and the general fund, which total more than $17 million altogether.

Broken down, county schools have the highest proportion of debt, with $12.1 million required to pay for recent school construction. The recently completed county jail’s cost is reflected in the $4.1 million general fund debt, and county highways require servicing a debt of $807,100.

In all, committee members have little option but to require the revenue increase from taxpayers, or find ways, with the help of county department heads, to pare back on operational and equipment expenses in order to alleviate the 74-cent sticker-shock.

This is the portion that I would like to highlight. Many times you here those close to county government articulate this in “government-speak” what the number of “pennies” actually means. Of course, it is an easy way to speak of the issue from commissioner-to-commissioner; yet, many folks do not know what the bottom line means for them. This story breaks that down for those outside of government.

According to Robertson County Finance Director Jody Stewart, that 74 cents translates into an approximate $185 tax increase for an average $100,000 home, or a 28 percent increase. The current tax for Robertson County rate is $2.61 per $100 of assessed value. If increased by 74 cents, the Robertson County taxpayers would be paying $3.35 per $100.

In the coming weeks, I hope to illustrate to you a county-by-county analysis of property tax rates to dispel some rumors.

Committee members will convene again this week, as they will for the next several months, as they grapple with the combined realities of climbing expenses versus revenue in their task of crafting a workable budget to present to the full commission.