Tough economic times likely to affect county government on The Murfreesboro Post

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Tough economic times likely to affect county government

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By: MICHELLE WILLARD, Post Staff Writer

Posted: Tuesday, January 6, 2009 10:40 am

If it costs the state money, don’t expect it to happen this year, Rutherford County’s legislative delegation said to the county’s Steering Committee Monday night.

“We’re all in this together guys,” Rep. Donna Rowland (R – Dist. 34) said. “It’s not just on the city or county level. It’s on the state level, too.”

With the economy in a recession and the state facing a $800 million to $1.2 billion shortfall in revenue, any bill that comes before the General Assembly that costs the state money will likely fail this year, Sen. Bill Ketron (R – Dist. 13) said.

Rep. Kent Coleman (D – Dist. 49) said he expects a drop in federal funds on the state level also. Of the state’s $28 billion budget, $12 billion is from local revenue and $16 billion comes from the federal government.

In anticipation of a prolonged recession and falling revenue, Gov. Phil Bredesen has asked all state departments to cut 20 percent from their budgets for fiscal year 2009-2010, Ketron explained, adding the General Assembly will be asked to cut programs during the budgeting process.

“How far can you cut into programs?” he asked. “Any cuts will trickle down to county governments.”

The two areas that are likely to receive full funding are K-12 education and transportation, Sen. Jim Tracy (R - Dist. 16) said.

“I personally would like to see us do education first in the state budget, since it makes up a majority of the budget,” Tracy said.

Even though education appropriations to the state budget won’t be allocated first, the delegation thinks the Basic Education Program, or BEP 2.0, will be fully funded again this year.

As for transportation, Tracy is looking at ways to revamp funding projects in the future, like possible changes to the 21.5 cents gas tax.

The delegation is also looking at receiving additional funds for infrastructure, like roads and bridges, from President-elect Barack Obama’s economic stimulus plan.

Obama has proposed a stimulus plan totaling around $775 billion, with a majority of the funds to benefit state infrastructure and transportation projects.

Concrete proposals:
- Don’t look for any increases to the program or the governor’s pre-kindergarten plan, Ketron said.

- A bill to criminalize text messaging while driving with a civil penalty of $50-$100, Tracy said.

- A joint committee with delegation and county commission members to research ways to regulate Middle Point Landfill, Rowland suggested.

- No more sales tax holidays, Ketron said.

- Changes to the state revenue sharing of the Hall income tax, which is a tax on dividends where 10 percent goes to the state and the remainder returns to the municipality where it originated, Coleman said.

- County Mayor Ernest Burgess and the Steering Committee requested a change in language in the Tennessee Code Annotated to require county clerks to verify a person’s residency when buying or renewing car licenses.

- Commissioner Jeff Phillips asked the delegation to look into closing a loophole in the senior tax freeze, which bases household income on the deed holder’s income and not all people actually living in the home.

Michelle Willard can be contacted at 615-869-0816 or mwillard@murfreesboropost.com.

Tagged under RUCO, STATE, Wheel tax

Member Opinions:

By: Geana on 1/6/09
- A bill to criminalize text messaging while driving with a civil penalty of $50-$100, Tracy said.

These are the only laws I fnd regarding drivers with cell phones.
___________________________________________

Cell Phones

Any learner permit or intermediate driver license holder cannot use a cell phone (hand-held or hands-free) or any other type of mobile communications device while driving.

Also, anyone driving a school bus may not use a cell phone, unless it's to report an emergency situation.
__________________________________________

Granted, it is more dangerous to text while driving, but ALL drivers should be required to use hands free headsets. The state needs to fully get with the program here.

P.S. What does this and residency verification for new or renewed licenses have to do with budget cuts?

By: nbouldin on 1/6/09
No need to worry. The Fed is going to print up the 775 billion from thin air and Obama will bring back the New Deal. Goodbye recession, hello severely inflated dollar and unnecessary federal and state projects.

By: RonB on 1/7/09
The Gov. has lots of money, from fereral down to local. Just look at all the ways they waste it. They ALWAYS want more, more, more.