It's the Holiday season and a great time to try a new and delicious recipe.
Here's one for Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins:
Ingredients
1/2 Cup brown sugar
1/4 Cup white sugar
2 eggs
3/4 Cup canned pumpkin
1/4 Cup water
1/4 Cup butter, melted
1 1/2 Cups all purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon allspice
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
3/4 Cup semisweet chocolate chips
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Grease and flour muffin pan or use paper liners.
2. Mix sugars, butter, and eggs. Add pumpkin and water. In separate bowl mix together flour, baking soda, baking powder, spices, and salt. Add wet mixture and stir in chocolate chips.
3. Fill muffin cups 2/3 full with batter. Bake in preheated oven for 20-25 minutes.
These are simple to make, delicious, and a great snack or breakfast. They are amazing with a cup of coffee.
Want to share your favorite Holiday recipe? Sent it to newshendersonville@gmail.com
Tuesday, December 23, 2014
Tuesday, December 16, 2014
Taxing Hypocrisy
County Commissioner Merrol Hyde likes to tell the public that he's against higher taxes. He says that schools and other departments can get along just fine without additional county revenue, they just need to manage their budgets better.
Of course, this is coming from the former County Commission Chairman who presided over one of the worst examples of "borrow and spend" economics in Sumner County history. Rather than raise revenue or budget conservatively, the Commission under Hyde simply raided reserve funds time and again to the point where Sumner County was on the verge of financial insolvency until the current Commission righted the ship.
Hyde has conveniently forgotten the reckless spending of his past, however, and now claims to be a champion of the taxpayers. And by champion, he means the guy who would never, ever raise taxes, no matter how great the cause.
Hyde probably doesn't think too many people remember the not-so-distant past. But, a perusal of County Commission minutes reveals that on 7 occasions on a single night, County Commissioner Merrol Hyde voted for a tax increase.
On August 18th, 2003, the County Commission was faced with a Director of Schools who had presented a budget that required additional funds. Funds not generated by the current level of taxes. Other department heads made similar claims -- that they simply couldn't operate under existing revenue.
The Director of Sumner County Schools in August of 2003 was Merrol Hyde, who also happened to be serving on the County Commission at that time.
Hyde joined a group of Commissioners who pushed for, and ultimately won adoption of, a 45 cent increase in taxes.
On that night, Hyde voted for tax increases of 46 cents, 55 cents, 40 cents, 47 cents, 47 cents, 45 cents, and a final vote for the 45 cent increase that passed.
It should be noted that each one of those votes would have taken the tax rate above the 2015 rate of $2.50.
Hyde now says the Director of Schools should work harder to trim the budget. But back when he was Director, he had no problem asking his County Commission buddies to raise taxes. He even supported the highest tax increase proposed, 55 cents.
So, in the first months after Hyde's failed leadership, tax rates are lower than rates he's approved of in the past, the era of bailouts has ended, and schools and county departments can move forward on sound footing. Oh, and Sumner County still has one of the lowest tax rates of any county in middle Tennessee.
For more on news in Hendersonville and Sumner County, follow @HvilleNews
Of course, this is coming from the former County Commission Chairman who presided over one of the worst examples of "borrow and spend" economics in Sumner County history. Rather than raise revenue or budget conservatively, the Commission under Hyde simply raided reserve funds time and again to the point where Sumner County was on the verge of financial insolvency until the current Commission righted the ship.
Hyde has conveniently forgotten the reckless spending of his past, however, and now claims to be a champion of the taxpayers. And by champion, he means the guy who would never, ever raise taxes, no matter how great the cause.
Hyde probably doesn't think too many people remember the not-so-distant past. But, a perusal of County Commission minutes reveals that on 7 occasions on a single night, County Commissioner Merrol Hyde voted for a tax increase.
On August 18th, 2003, the County Commission was faced with a Director of Schools who had presented a budget that required additional funds. Funds not generated by the current level of taxes. Other department heads made similar claims -- that they simply couldn't operate under existing revenue.
The Director of Sumner County Schools in August of 2003 was Merrol Hyde, who also happened to be serving on the County Commission at that time.
Hyde joined a group of Commissioners who pushed for, and ultimately won adoption of, a 45 cent increase in taxes.
On that night, Hyde voted for tax increases of 46 cents, 55 cents, 40 cents, 47 cents, 47 cents, 45 cents, and a final vote for the 45 cent increase that passed.
It should be noted that each one of those votes would have taken the tax rate above the 2015 rate of $2.50.
Hyde now says the Director of Schools should work harder to trim the budget. But back when he was Director, he had no problem asking his County Commission buddies to raise taxes. He even supported the highest tax increase proposed, 55 cents.
So, in the first months after Hyde's failed leadership, tax rates are lower than rates he's approved of in the past, the era of bailouts has ended, and schools and county departments can move forward on sound footing. Oh, and Sumner County still has one of the lowest tax rates of any county in middle Tennessee.
For more on news in Hendersonville and Sumner County, follow @HvilleNews
Tuesday, December 9, 2014
Anthony Holt, Taxes, and the Sumner County Budget
County Executive Anthony Holt points out in a recent article in the Hendersonville Standard that the previous County Commission committed to a host of expenditures before they left office ... leaving the new Commission with two choices: Cut budgeted expenses or raise revenue to cover the expenses.
Here's Holt's statement on the issue:
"The majority of these expenses were budgeted and committed to by our previous 'fiscally responsible' County Commission with no attempt made to increase revenue or make corresponding reductions in the county’s budget, leaving our newly elected Commissioners holding the bill."
Among the new expenses is a bailout of the insurance trust, already bailed out in 2013 because the Commission under previous leadership refused to charge adequate premiums or deposit sufficient funds to cover claims.
That Commission, under the leadership of Merrol Hyde, also spent nearly all of the $40 million of reserve funds on recurring expenses, effectively running deficit budgets with no plan to meet expenses.
The new Commission raised revenue in a way that responsibly invests in Sumner County, including supporting schools and other county needs.
Here's Holt's statement on the issue:
"The majority of these expenses were budgeted and committed to by our previous 'fiscally responsible' County Commission with no attempt made to increase revenue or make corresponding reductions in the county’s budget, leaving our newly elected Commissioners holding the bill."
Among the new expenses is a bailout of the insurance trust, already bailed out in 2013 because the Commission under previous leadership refused to charge adequate premiums or deposit sufficient funds to cover claims.
That Commission, under the leadership of Merrol Hyde, also spent nearly all of the $40 million of reserve funds on recurring expenses, effectively running deficit budgets with no plan to meet expenses.
The new Commission raised revenue in a way that responsibly invests in Sumner County, including supporting schools and other county needs.
Monday, December 8, 2014
The Unspoken Facts about Jim Vaughn's Facts
Over at the new Strong Schools blog there's a piece detailing point-by-point the issues raised by County Commissioner Jim Vaughn's recent article on taxes.
Here's that article:
Here's that article:
In a recent article for the Hendersonville Standard, County Commissioner Jim Vaughn raised questions about the budget for our schools, specifically on the need for new investment in schools. Vaughn makes three claims I'd like to address. Vaughn's three claims are: New investment in schools is not necessary, additional funds for personnel do not help students, and increasing support for schools will not result in improved test scores.
I'd like to begin by noting that Dr. Phillips and the School Board laid out budget plans starting July and in meetings in August. Jim Vaughn was not present at those meetings, even though they were open to the public. The budget was then voted on by the Education Committee of the Sumner County Commission on September 8th. The minutes of that meeting reflect that Vaughn was not present to raise the concerns he voiced on November 21 in a newspaper article. Finally, the School Board's budget was passed at the County Commission meeting of September 15th. At that meeting, Dr. Phillips took questions from Commissioners are the proposed expenditures. Jim Vaughn was not present at that meeting to ask questions, raise concerns, or vote against the budget. Now, more than two months after the budget passed, Jim Vaughn is complaining that he doesn't like parts of it. That's simply disingenuous.
Now, on to his first argument: Vaughn suggests we simply don't need new investment in schools. This is surprising as Vaughn represents the fastest-growing area in Sumner County. A tour of the schools in his district would demonstrate rapid growth. In fact, over the past 10 years, Sumner County has added around 350 students per year -- or, the equivalent of an entire new elementary or middle school every two years. Part of the planned spending on schools is a 5 year plan to proactively address this rapid growth. It's a plan that maximizes existing space and efficiently spends funds. That is, rather than build a new school every two years, Sumner County will be taking advantage of and improving the facilities it has to manage growth.
Next, Vaughn expresses concern that hiring new teachers means that the School Board is prioritizing personnel over students. Pitting teachers against students is one of the most cynical approaches used by those who don't understand how schools work. Strong teachers impact the lives of students every single day. A growing system needs to have adequate staff to meet the needs of current and future students. The alternative would be larger class sizes and less individual attention. Supporting personnel in the schools directly benefits the students those schools serve. Moreover, the new school system budget includes funds to improve teacher pay and adjust staff pay. This means Sumner County can both attract strong new teachers and keep the great teachers we already have. That's a win for students and their families.
Finally, Vaughn wonders if investing in schools will have an impact on test scores. While that hypothetical proposition will only be answered in time, it is clear that those systems who consistently perform at high levels also invest significantly in their schools. Of the 10 systems that have the highest 3-year ACT average, 9 of them spend more per student than Sumner County. On average, those systems spend $1500 more per student than our system. That is to say, at the very least, there's a correlation between investment in schools and results in terms of student achievement.
I'd like to begin by noting that Dr. Phillips and the School Board laid out budget plans starting July and in meetings in August. Jim Vaughn was not present at those meetings, even though they were open to the public. The budget was then voted on by the Education Committee of the Sumner County Commission on September 8th. The minutes of that meeting reflect that Vaughn was not present to raise the concerns he voiced on November 21 in a newspaper article. Finally, the School Board's budget was passed at the County Commission meeting of September 15th. At that meeting, Dr. Phillips took questions from Commissioners are the proposed expenditures. Jim Vaughn was not present at that meeting to ask questions, raise concerns, or vote against the budget. Now, more than two months after the budget passed, Jim Vaughn is complaining that he doesn't like parts of it. That's simply disingenuous.
Now, on to his first argument: Vaughn suggests we simply don't need new investment in schools. This is surprising as Vaughn represents the fastest-growing area in Sumner County. A tour of the schools in his district would demonstrate rapid growth. In fact, over the past 10 years, Sumner County has added around 350 students per year -- or, the equivalent of an entire new elementary or middle school every two years. Part of the planned spending on schools is a 5 year plan to proactively address this rapid growth. It's a plan that maximizes existing space and efficiently spends funds. That is, rather than build a new school every two years, Sumner County will be taking advantage of and improving the facilities it has to manage growth.
Next, Vaughn expresses concern that hiring new teachers means that the School Board is prioritizing personnel over students. Pitting teachers against students is one of the most cynical approaches used by those who don't understand how schools work. Strong teachers impact the lives of students every single day. A growing system needs to have adequate staff to meet the needs of current and future students. The alternative would be larger class sizes and less individual attention. Supporting personnel in the schools directly benefits the students those schools serve. Moreover, the new school system budget includes funds to improve teacher pay and adjust staff pay. This means Sumner County can both attract strong new teachers and keep the great teachers we already have. That's a win for students and their families.
Finally, Vaughn wonders if investing in schools will have an impact on test scores. While that hypothetical proposition will only be answered in time, it is clear that those systems who consistently perform at high levels also invest significantly in their schools. Of the 10 systems that have the highest 3-year ACT average, 9 of them spend more per student than Sumner County. On average, those systems spend $1500 more per student than our system. That is to say, at the very least, there's a correlation between investment in schools and results in terms of student achievement.
I regret that Commissioner Vaughn missed opportunities in September to more fully engage in the school budget process. I hope that going forward, he'll engage with the School Board, his fellow County Commissioners, and the parents and teachers in his district in order to gain a better understanding of the needs of our schools.
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Got a job opening and you want to find good applicants?
Get your job openings in front of hundreds of Hendersonville residents looking for jobs.
Email us at newshendersonville@gmail.com
Iced Pumpkin Cookies
It's Holiday time and a great time to share recipes.
Here's a fabulous recipe for Pumpkin Cookies with a Cinnamon Glaze.
They are delicious, and the glaze makes them all the better.
Pumpkin Cookies with Cinnamon Glaze
Ingredients
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 Cup butter, softened
1 cup white sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1 can pumpkin puree
1 egg
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
For the glaze
2 cups confectioner’s sugar
3 tablespoons milk
1 tablespoon melted butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
ground cinnamon
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 F. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt. Set aside.
In a medium bowl, cream together the 1/2 cup of butter and sugars. Add pumpkin, egg, and vanilla to butter mixture, and beat until creamy. Mix in dry ingredients. Drop on cookie sheet by tablespoonfuls, flatten lightly
Bake for 12-13 minutes. Cool cookies, then drizzle with glaze
To make glaze: combine all ingredients, stir well with wire whisk
Want to share your Holiday recipe? Email us at newshendersonville@gmail.com
Don't miss any Hendersonville News, follow us @HvilleNews
Here's a fabulous recipe for Pumpkin Cookies with a Cinnamon Glaze.
They are delicious, and the glaze makes them all the better.
Pumpkin Cookies with Cinnamon Glaze
Ingredients
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 Cup butter, softened
1 cup white sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1 can pumpkin puree
1 egg
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
For the glaze
2 cups confectioner’s sugar
3 tablespoons milk
1 tablespoon melted butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
ground cinnamon
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 F. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt. Set aside.
In a medium bowl, cream together the 1/2 cup of butter and sugars. Add pumpkin, egg, and vanilla to butter mixture, and beat until creamy. Mix in dry ingredients. Drop on cookie sheet by tablespoonfuls, flatten lightly
Bake for 12-13 minutes. Cool cookies, then drizzle with glaze
To make glaze: combine all ingredients, stir well with wire whisk
Want to share your Holiday recipe? Email us at newshendersonville@gmail.com
Don't miss any Hendersonville News, follow us @HvilleNews
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