Prayers of Death

Well, one Sumner County taxpayer and frequent critic of the current County Commission has taken to Facebook to pray that those commissioners who voted for a new tax rate will soon be taken in death by the Lord.

Here's the post:

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Taxes, Trash, and Tires

Alderman Russ Edwards with an update on key BOMA votes from this week:

We adjourned our meeting tonight (Tuesday, August 27/Wednesday August 28th) at 12:30. Some very important issues were voted on, notably:

- Firestone attempted to open a tire store next to Lowe’s on Calender Lane. We rejected this by denying the rezoning for the property. So Hendersonville will not have another tire store, at least for the time being.

- Anderson Park was approved. This will be a housing development behind Lowe’s. The developer agreed to pay $288,000 within 90 days that will be used specifically for much needed paving throughout the city. More impact fees will be paid to the city as the houses are built.

- The garbage fee was rolled into the general fund and will be paid for with property taxes. Citizens will therefore no longer pay the $293 yearly garbage fee.

- The property tax rate was increased to $0.92 per $100 of assessed property. This means that those with property worth $350,000 or less will save money because of removing the separate trash fee.

These were incredibly difficult issues; ones that we all struggled with. 

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Out on a Limb

The latest from Hendersonville City Hall via Facebook:

From the Public Works Roads Department:

Express Limb Collection Service is no longer available.

Hmmmmm…...

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Tinsley v. Weaver

Sumner County Commissioner Luke Tinsley has made no secret of his disdain for State Representative Terri Lynn Weaver. In fact, it seems likely that Tinsley will challenge Weaver in the Republican primary for the 40th district House seat Weaver represents. That race would be in 2020.

Here's more from Tennessee Holler on a key question for Weaver:


Despite Rep. David Byrd apologizing ON TAPE to 1 of 3 women who say he sexually abused them in high school, Weaver tells (rumored primary challenger) Luke Tinsley she won’t ask Byrd to resign, defends disgraced Rep. Jeremy Durham who was accused of inappropriate sexual conduct – including sexual harassment – by 22 women.

See video and more here>


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Pay Boost for Teachers Starts in January

Tena Lee in the Hendersonville Standard reports on the recently approved teacher pay raises that are now set to begin in January:

A $4,000 annual pay increase for all Sumner County teachers, principals and other certified employees will take effect in January following votes by the Sumner County Commission on Monday and the Sumner County Board of Education on Tuesday.

On Monday, teachers, principals and school nurses descended on the county’s administration building for a vote to set the county’s tax rate at $2.262 per $100 of assessed property value. The rate is 33 cents more than the certified rate of $1.9284.

Of the 33-cent increase, 12 cents will go toward funding raises for certified employees at an estimated cost of $8.8 million. Two cents, or roughly $1.2 million, will go toward hiring school resource officers in the remaining 15 schools that do not currently have one.

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Jim Vaughn Rants

Following Monday night's County Commission meeting that saw the approval of a county budget and new tax rate that funds teacher pay raises, additional SROs, road improvements, and work on an expansion to the jail as well as a new courthouse, former County Commissioner Jim Vaughn went on a rant.

Vaughn accused "liberals" and the School Board of taking over the County Commission and running Sumner County. This despite Vaughn's own role in failing to fund schools that led to the 2012 crisis. In fact, during Vaughn's tenure on the County Commission, he helped raid the county's reserve funds and run county finances and many county departments into the ground. Meanwhile, he blindly followed the leadership of then-Commission Chair Merrol Hyde, who worked tirelessly to stop any progress in our public schools.

Here's Vaughn's most recent rant:

People are hurting and angry about the tax increases and out of control spending that is occurring in Sumner County, but we need to take steps toward changing this trend that has been occurring for years. Please allow me to explain:
Prior to 2011 people were moving to Sumner County to take advantage of our schools and conservative government. The County Commission controlled spending in the county and held the School Board accountable. The process was that the School Board would submit their budget and the County Commission would review the budget and request adjustments, prior to voting on the budget. This is part of the checks and balances that have always been in place. Once the School Board hired Director Phillips, we suddenly had horrible schools that needed more money. He used the teachers and the students to achieve his goals!
During the budget process of 2012 the County Commission followed the same process that we had used for years. The School Board submitted their budget and when it was returned for adjustments, Dell Phillips closed the schools. The County Commission held firm and kept the School Board spending within the revenues that were available to the county.
The 2013 budget process was the easiest that we had experienced. The School Board submitted a budget that was within the revenues that we had available and there was very little debate.
This is when the liberal group known as Strong Schools was formed and took over the County Commission. After the 2014 election, the School Board took control of Sumner County. The School Board has increased spending at a phenomenal rate. Now the process is the same every year. Dell Phillips brings his power point presentation to the County Commission and the Commission is simply a rubber stamp. There is no critical review and the checks and balances is gone! The School Board determines the budget process and county spending. Since that time, we have had two tax increases of 25% and 17%.
The only way to take back our county and begin the process of controlling spending is to replace the School Board that is allowing Dell Phillips to get away with the runaway spending. Half of the School Board members are up for re-election in 2020. We need conservative people to run for School Board next year so that we can take back out county! We need to get ready for the 2020 election, NOW!

And here's a response from at least one school board member:

This is half way factual. He leaves off much about how under funded MANY county departments were until 2014. Our county was being conservative to the detriment of county services. I think if you will speak to any county employee and/or principal they will tell you that since 2014 their jobs have become much less stressful because they have been able to plan and budget better than ever before. He also leaves off the dramatic successes our school system has had since 2014.

When you are in a big hole it takes more revenue to fill it in. Funny how that narrative keeps getting left out of the equation.

I won't apologize for the investment that has been made into our schools for the past 5 years because we are getting a great return on our investment-we have the stats to prove it and parents and students have the scholarship money to back it up.

I'm up for re-election in 2020

And here are some more facts about Jim Vaughn's record as a County Commissioner:

Turns out, Vaughn's never been much of a fan of facts:

It's worth noting that this is the same Jim Vaughn who argues that shifting money from one pot to another is the same as a budget increase -- yes, he was behind the accounting gimmick that "gave" the School Board money that was already earmarked for School Board projects -- thus, defunding those projects -- and then turned around and called that a funding increase. 

Jim Vaughn is taking on the facts of the budget.  But, the budget is winning. 

He also voted to bailout the County Insurance Trust with hospital reserve funds -- the same insurance trust he'd helped mismanage.

He does seem to like secret meetings as a means of avoiding public accountability.

Turns out, he also didn't like going to meetings where he wasn't in control:

Where's Jim? That's the question citizens in the 6th County Commission district are likely asking about County Commissioner Jim Vaughn following his recent column in the Hendersonville Standard.

In the column, Vaughn suggests the recently adopted tax rate came as a surprise to him. He further notes that he doesn't understand why the schools need more money and that it's not clear to him Sumner County faced financial disaster if something wasn't changed.

Vaughn might be surpised about the budget and tax issues because meeting minutes from the September 2nd meeting where Commissioners were sworn-in and assigned to committees reflect that Vaughn wasn't present that night.

Minutes from the September 8th meeting where the School Board's budget was voted on by the Education Committee indicate that Vaughn didn't bother showing up for that one, either. And, on September 15th, when County Commissioners voted on the budget for schools, Jim Vaughn wasn't present.


He voted AGAINST funding for a building and renovation project that took the number of portable trailers from behind our schools from 75 to 8 over four years. Additionally, he opposed purchasing the land for the new Liberty Creek schools to be built in Cottontown.

Oh, and when it came time to learn about the budget, Jim Vaughn just skipped the key meetings:

Last night, as the Sumner County Commission passed budgets for the 2015-16 fiscal year, Commissioner Jim Vaughn made a surprising revelation.  He told his fellow Commissioners and those in attendance that he hadn't attended a single budget committee meeting or any other meeting related to the budget. He said he didn't know what was going on in this year's budget. He noted that the school system's budget was growing, but he couldn't say why or whether it was justified, just that it seemed like a lot of money.

Vaughn then joined County Commissioners Merrol Hyde, Moe Taylor, Mike Akins, and Steve Graves in opposing funding for all the county's budgets.


Jim Vaughn likes to rant, but his record is clear: He avoids facts and voted against funding our schools -- over and over and over again. He skipped meetings and sided with those who would stop any progress in Sumner County.

Oh, and now he's resorting to name-calling and half-truths because he didn't get his way.

This image from 2017 is a reminder of where Jim Vaughn has always stood:

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Teacher Pay Raise to Start in January

School Board member Sarah Andrews explains that the Board of Education approved the recommendation to start teacher pay raises in January following approval by the County Commisison of a new tax rate to fund the increase.

Here's more:

At tonight’s school board meeting we approved the county commission’s recommendation to start the pay increase for certified staff in January. Our finance Department will work on numbers to present as an amendment to our budget later this fall. This will not only allow our employees to receive these raises sooner but also help our principals to attract top talent this spring as they look to hire new teachers.

We also approved the rates for employee health insurance. We have very minimal increases ($5-15 depending on plan) which is a major benefit to our employees-current and those seeking employment at Sumner County Schools. Due to negotiations and decreasing the costs with our dental plan we will also be able to provide long term disability to all employees (classified and certified) with 3 years or more of service at no additional cost to the employee. This benefit will start with the new plan year in January.

Lastly, Dr Phillips confirmed that with the approval of our 2019-20 budget last night we will complete the cycle started in 2014 of increasing pay for our classified staff by increasing pay for custodians, nutrition workers, and bus assistants to a minimum of $10/hr. These employees will see this reflected in their September checks. September will also include the raise amount from August.

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New Tax Rate on the Way in Hendersonville

The Hendersonville Board of Aldermen voted to set a new tax (higher) tax rate and also eliminate the city's garbage fee at the most recent meeting. The net effect is a lower payment for city residents.

Here's more from the Hendersonville Standard:

Hendersonville’s Board of Mayor and Aldermen voted on first reading on Tuesday to raise the amount of property taxes residents are paying while also eliminating an annual trash fee.

If the measure passes a second and final reading on Tuesday, Aug. 27, residents could pay more in property taxes but see an overall decrease in the amount they pay to the city due to the elimination of the trash fee. Last year’s trash fee was set at $293.

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Approved

By a vote of 17-7, the Sumner County Commission last night approved a budget and certified tax rate. The measures included a $4000 pay raise for all teachers. If the Sumner County Board of Education approves, the raise will go into effect in January.

The new budget and tax rate will also fund an SRO in every existing school (hiring 15 new SROs), add funds to the highway department, and begin a construction project in Gallatin to include a new courthouse, parking garage, and jail module. The Sumner County Jail has been overcrowded for at least nine months and Sumner County's courts are scattered in multiple locations. The courthouse on the square is unsafe for employees and visitors.

11th District County Commissioner Jeremy Mansfield spoke in opposition to funding teacher pay raises and the other items paid for by the new funding. Speaking for nearly 30 minutes, Mansfield ultimately offered no alternative solutions. He mentioned several ideas for alternate funding, but never made an actual motion to amend the recommended budget. While he claimed he is "for teachers," he failed to offer a way to fund the raises he supposedly believes they deserve.

Additionally, Mansfield proceeded to insult the intelligence of Sumner County's educators by repeatedly referring to them as "pawns" who had been duped into supporting a tax increase that wasn't actually necessary. His own inability to offer a viable alternative funding source exposed his charade as little more than a failed filibuster attempt.

Likewise, 1st District Commissioner Moe Taylor offered a budget and tax history lesson devoid of many facts and then moved to amend the budget and then voted against his own amendment. He later admitted he was "confused."

Of the more than 40 individuals making public comments on the budget, the speakers were 2-1 in favor of raising the tax rate and approving a budget that included money for roads, SROs, teacher raises, and other needed improvements. Still, a small group of speakers affiliated with Kevin and Laura Baigert's Sumner Taxpayer's Alliance spoke in opposition. Many wore stickers calling teachers "pawns" and suggested that while they supported teachers, they didn't support the mechanism for funding their raise.

Kevin Baigert himself compared teachers wearing red to soldiers in Communist China who were just doing what they were told.

Many of the anti-tax/anti-raise speakers seemed to have no memory of the history of budgeting in Sumner County. None acknowledged the budget crisis of 2012 brought about by a previous County Commission that spent all the reserve funds and dipped into the hospital fund proceeds. Instead, the anti-tax crowd suggested spending all the reserves and using the hospital fund (one-time money) to pay for teacher raises (a recurring expense).

Apparently, few in this group remember the actions that led to nearly eliminating all portable trailers in Sumner County, eliminating many student fees paid by parents, planning for a new school campus (Liberty Creek), beginning the hiring of SROs for schools, and improving pay for classified employees across the district. As a result of a slow, deliberate, methodical approach, all classified employees in Sumner County now make at least $10 an hour. Pay for substitute teachers has also improved dramatically.

Additionally, during the 2018-19 budget cycle, Director of Schools Del Phillips indicated he was asking the School Board to fund one round of classified pay raises in 2018-19, adding in all remaining classified in 2019-20 (current budget cycle), and then moving forward with a significant raise for teachers.

The point: The idea that a pay raise for teachers is some sort of surprise is simply -- to borrow from Commissioner Mansfield -- "a false narrative."

Ultimately, 17 County Commissioners voted in favor of fiscal responsibility, low taxes, and much needed improvements in county services. Meanwhile, 7 voted to kick the can down the road -- to support a philosophy of spending all the money with no planning for the future.

Here's how they voted:

Voting YES:

Geminden, Hinton, Driver, Foster, Schell, Ring, Sullivan, DeWitt, Echols, Rhodes, Tucker, Chris Taylor, Goode, Krueger, Langford, Guthrie, Nipper

Voting NO:

Hyde, Becker, Wright, Tinsley, Graves, Moe Taylor, Mansfield.

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A Sumner County Educator on Teacher Pay

Hendersonville resident and Sumner County educator Kyle Craighead shares his story and explains why he's supporting the proposed teacher pay raise even though it requires a tax increase:

My name is Kyle Craighead, and I have lived in Sumner County my entire life except for the four years I attended Lipscomb University. I am a proud graduate of Hendersonville High School and am thankful for the education I received at Lakeside Park, Hawkins, and HHS. I began teaching science at Merrol Hyde Magnet School in 2008, where I also at various points coached basketball, tennis, and served as the athletic director and as a teacher leader. From 2016-2018 I taught biology and served as a teacher leader at Gallatin High School. I am currently in my 2nd year as an assistant principal at White House High school and am in my 12th year overall in education. My wife, brother, and several cousins are educators in Sumner County. Education is a calling, and my family is 100% devoted to doing what is right by our students in Sumner County.

You will likely hear many facts and figures tonight, and I have a few of my own, but I want to first tell a story. This summer in June we were interviewing for an open teaching position, and at the end of the interview we asked the prospective teacher if he had any questions for us. He then asked, “Well I don’t know how to ask this without sounding selfish, but I looked up the pay scale in Sumner County, and it looks like to me that I would take almost a 1200 dollar pay cut if I moved over here. I know that can’t be correct, so can you explain this to me?”

How do you answer that question? Sumner is the 9th wealthiest county in TN out of 95 counties. Robertson is 21st . I’m not talking about Williamson. I’m not talking about Davidson or Rutherford. Robertson is across the street from White House Middle School…literally. White House Heritage is less than 1 mile from White House High School. Let that sink in a minute. This is not a distant competitor.

When finding prospective teachers, we pride ourselves on selling a strong student and faculty culture as well as a supportive community, and it works. Everyone wants to work where they are respected and have growth opportunities. We have accomplished this in Sumner County Schools. But as the Sumner County Community as a whole, how can a brand new teacher looking for a job out of college think that they are supported when Robertson, Davidson, Wilson, Trousdale, and Macon counties all pay first year teachers more? How many teachers overlook Sumner immediately? How many drop out of interview pools when they figure out the pay scale? How many of our top level Sumner County graduates are going to decide to teach in a different county? When you’re talking about a salary of 35,000 dollars, every bit counts.

I want to say this to all parents of Sumner County students: you, like us, want the best education for your child. There are endless studies on the biggest influence on a student’s learning, and every one of them point to the classroom teacher as the most important factor. I am a parent of a future student in our county, and I don’t just merely want good teachers. I expect it. I demand it, just like all of the rest of the parents out there.

In summary, I hope you all see that I am not clamoring for ridiculous teacher pay increases. I’m not even arguing that teachers work way more and are far more devoted that anyone outside of education understands, because although those are very true and valid points, I’m making a simpler point and it is incredibly easy to understand:
Robertson, Trousdale, and Macon have a combined total of 95,000 residents. Sumner has over 160,000. Sumner routinely outperforms those other 3 counties on every measurable piece of student achievement and growth, and that’s because we have amazing teachers.

In terms of wealth, Sumner is 9th, Robertson is 21st, Trousdale is 40th, and Macon is 85th.Based on that evidence, how can Sumner continue to pay the least and expect to have the best teachers in the future?

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Rhodes Backs Teacher Pay Raise

7th District Sumner County Commissioner Gene Rhodes took to Facebook yesterday to announce his support for a plan to raise teacher pay in Sumner County by $4000:

There has been a lot of back and forth over social media lately in regards to the upcoming budget vote and the teachers pay raise. I myself am a single father of 2 boys who attend Sumner County Schools. I understand what it takes to live on a budget and to be frugal. When I was running for office, I always said That I have to put my personal feelings aside and make the best decision for our county. I want to let everyone know they I am in FULL support of the proposed tax rate that the Budget committee passed on Monday night and I and 100% supportive of the $4000.00 teacher raise. I encourage you to contact all commissioners and beg them to support this. We want this great county to continue to move in a positive direction. Why do you want to go backwards? I also encouraged you to not listen to the small few who only tell you what they think they know and make up a lot of misinformation. I hope everyone has a blessed day.

The vote by Sumner County Commission is scheduled to occur on Monday, August 19th at 7:00 PM.

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The Case for Raising Teacher Pay

As the Sumner County Commission prepares to consider a proposal to raise teacher pay and fund other key items - a move which would require a tax increase -- this graphic explains why the school system is making a push to raise pay.

To put it simply: Our stating pay is significantly lower than nearby counties and our teachers face a $3000-$4000 pay deficit compared to peer districts over their careers.


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Budget Committee Recommends New Tax Rate

The Budget Committee of the Sumner County Commission met last night (August 12th) and recommended a new tax rate be adopted by the full County Commission.

The new rate would be $2.262 if the full Commission votes in favor of the recommendation.

The state-adjusted "revenue neutral" rate is $1.93.

The proposed rate includes a 15-cent adjustment for inflation since the last tax increase in 2014.

Additionally, around 12 cents would pay for a $4000 raise for every teacher in Sumner County.

Other needs funded by the proposed increase include road improvements, a new facility for the jail, a parking garage in Gallatin, and adding SROs to every school in the county (15 new hires).

Even with the proposed new rate, Sumner County would have one of the lowest tax rates in middle Tennessee.

At $2.26, Sumner's rate would be only slightly higher than Rutherford County, and significantly lower than Wilson, Davidson, Cheatham, Montgomery, and Robertson.

According to Zillow, the average sale price of homes in Sumner County is around $260,000.

Based on those values, the new tax rate would mean $216 more per year for the average taxpayer, or just about $18 a month.

The County Commission will meet at 7:00 PM on Monday, August 19th at the County Commission Chambers in Gallatin to consider the new rate.

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Budget Committee to Consider Teacher Pay Raise

The Budget Committee of the Sumner County Commission will meet on Monday, August 12th at 6:00PM in Conference Room 112 of the County Administration Building in Gallatin.

The agenda will include a discussion of a proposed pay raise for Sumner County teachers that would take effect in the 2020-21 academic year.

Director of Schools Del Phillips is proposing that the County Commission commit to funding a $4000 pay raise for all teachers in order to make teacher pay in Sumner County more competitive.

A final decision on the measure is expected to be voted on at the August 19th full commission meeting.

To date, the 2019-2020 county general purpose and school system budgets have not been approved.


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Sumner Democrats to Host Potluck

An announcement from the Sumner County Democratic Party:

Please join us for our monthly potluck on Thursday, August 15! Bring a dish unless it's your first potluck! Bring a friend, always! A variety of options and wonderful deserts.

Doors open 5:30pm, dinner is served at 6pm. Hope to see you there! 333 W Main St., Suite F, Gallatin, TN.

 

We have several opportunities for you to be a part of SCDP by joining one of the committees. Bring your talents to the party. We need event planners, singers, artists, graphic designers. If you want to stay flexible we encourage you to join our volunteer list.

Looking forward to seeing you all!

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Phillips Pushes Teacher Pay Raise

Sumner County teachers could see a $4000 boost in pay in the 2020-21 school year if a proposal from Director of Schools Del Phillips wins the support of the Sumner County Commission.

Phillips presented the plan at a study session of the Sumner County School Board on August 6th. He plans to take it to the Sumner County Commission Budget Committee on August 12th.

The move would bring Sumner County teacher pay in line with surrounding counties such as Williamson, Rutherford, Robertson, and Wilson.

Currently, teachers in Sumner lag behind teachers in those communities in pay.

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