A Taxing Judge

Sumner County Commissioners are on the way to creating a new judgeship in the county -- at a cost of nearly $1 million a year.  Funding the position would likely require a small tax increase (1 3/4 cents) and there are conflicting reports regarding its necessity.

Commissioner Chair Merrol Hyde, who won't support a tax increase of any kind, even for the schools he once led as Director, opposes the idea.  However, Commissioners Jerry Stone and Jim Vaughn, typically Hyde allies, are in favor of the move. They say the position is needed, though they have consistently opposed any sort of revenue increase or financial prioritization that would mean more funds for an overcrowded school system with more than 70 portable classrooms.

Creating the judgeship now would allow the County Commission to appoint a judge to fill the slot after September, 2014. That incumbent judge would then be placed on the ballot in the 2016 election.

Some have suggested that the Commission is rushing the decision in order to gain the appointment power and that at least one sitting County Commissioner is interested in being named to the seat. 

COMPASS Direction

It won't change all that much... Debra Maggart, now a Senior VP at lobbying firm CivicPoint, will remain in her role as Executive Director of COMPASS.  Only now, the non-profit that works to build partnerships between schools and businesses will be contracting out for "executive director services" and using Maggart's firm (and Maggart) to provide those services. 

The organization spends nearly 60% of funds raised on salary (Maggart is currently the only employee) and under the new arrangement, is seeking to add a part-time assistant, increasing its staff costs. 

The group spent just 26% of its revenue on grants and scholarships directly benefitting schools.