BUDGET, FINANCE & INVESTMENT COMMITTEE

June 11, 2002                                                 7:00 P.M.                                        Courthouse

PUBLIC HEARING

MINUTES:

Members Present:                            Others Present:                         Others Present:

Comm. Joyce Ealy                            Nancy Allen                                Hulon Watson

Comm. Paul Johnson                       Comm. Anthony Johnson          Jeff Sandvig

Comm. Tina Jones                            Comm. Joe Frank Jernigan     Laura Harper

Comm. Robert Peay                         Comm. Gary Farley                   Gail Tune

Comm. Steve Sandlin                       Comm. Bob Bullen                    Don Odom

Comm. Dwight Throneberry             Comm. Jerry Baxter                  Joel Johnson

Comm. Jimmy Evans, Chair.            Comm. Trey Gooch                  Judy Hailey

Alex Meacham, Mandy Smith, Thomas Adams, Jackie Pope, Pete Hut, Joanne Hut, Chantho Sourinho, Bentley Shofner, Sue O’Brien, Joe McKenzie, Lee Campbell, Tom Crawford, Janna L. Wheatley, Susan Allen, Jim Mahanes, Art Patterson, Regina Harvey, Richard Harvey, Amelia Campbell, Janet Davis, Kathy McMahan, Bobby Thompson, Mike Nunley, Donna Long, Bryan Brooks, Paul Long, Elaine Cawthon

Chairman Evans presided and opened the public hearing relative to the 2002-03 budget with all members being present.

Chairman Evans introduced the members of the Budget Committee, the Finance Director, Deputy Finance Director, and the County Executive.

FINANCE DIRECTOR 2002-03 BUDGET PRESENTATION:

The Finance Director explained the budget process to date.  He explained the difference in the current property tax rate of $2.78 and the certified and proposed property tax rate of $2.51.  Mr. Long presented a Statement of Operations showing the projected fund balance of each of the funds as of June 30, 2003.  Mr. Long displayed a chart showing the annual growth in the assessed value for 10 years.  The presentation included the Budget Committee actions to date.  An illustration was provided of the projected revenue by source and the appropriations by function totaling $231,601,577.  He provided a breakdown of the County Budget by the Public Safety Departments, the Health & Welfare Departments, the Finance Departments, and the Administration of Justice Departments.

PUBLIC COMMENTS:

The following individuals made comments to the committee:

Mr. Alex Meacham, Attorney, spoke in favor of keeping the current tax rate at $2.78.

Ms. Jackie Pope, President of the REA, spoke for teachers and children.  She urged the committee to stop the cuts to the education budget.

Mr. Pete Hut, whose wife is a teacher, questioned the certified rate.  He asked if the revenue had to stay the same but the property tax rate could change?

Mr. Bentley Shofner, a counselor at Riverdale High School, stated he was disappointed in the committee’s actions last week.  He asked the committee to restore the money to the school budget.

Mrs. Joanne Hut, a parent and teacher, spoke about the school’s budget and expressed her concern about bus service being discontinued for those students who live within one-half mile of their school.  She also expressed concern about the possible elimination of Educational

Budget Minutes                                                June 11, 2002                                              Page Two

Assistants.  She expressed concern over the budget being cut, and the potential of the State also cutting the budget.

Mr. Thomas Adams stated the growth is not paying for itself.  He urged the committee to find another source of revenue and to roll the tax rate back to the certified rate.  He also addressed the flooding issue and stated development is causing the flooding problems.

Mr. Janna Wheatley, a Theater Arts Teacher at La Vergne High School, expressed her concern about her job.

Mr. Lee Campbell, a teacher, urged the committee not to cut the school’s budget.  He expressed concern that the pupil/teacher ratio would increase and stated teachers cannot effectively teach with more than 30 students in their classrooms.

Chairman Evans stated there have been a lot of comments about cuts to the School’s budget.  He stated he wanted to make everyone aware that the request has been adjusted, but the budget that was received last year has not been cut.

Mr. Chantho Sourinho, advised he has been in Rutherford County for 30 years, and he worked for the Rutherford County School System.  He spoke for other Laotians who live, work and attend school in the county.  He asked the committee not to cut the School’s budget.

ADJOURNMENT:

There being no further comments to be made, Chairman Evans declared the meeting adjourned at 8:20 P.M. 

________________________________

Elaine Cawthon