Assault at the Taj Mahal

County Commissioner Paul Goode claims he was assaulted by County Commissioner Merrol Hyde outside a recent meeting of the Sumner County Commission, according to a story in the Hendersonville Standard:

The simple assault allegation stems from a reported confrontation that took place between 10th District Commissioner Paul Goode and 8th District Commissioner Merrol Hyde inside the Sumner County Administration Building shortly after midnight on Tuesday, June 18.

Goode and Hyde have long been at odds, with the former Director of Schools (Hyde) resisting efforts to fund Sumner County Schools and other government entities with new revenue. Former Goode associate and former 45th District state representative Debra Maggart was also embroiled in the conflict between the two men at one time, attempting to push a different financial management scheme on the county by way of her position in the legislature.

It's not clear whether Goode will pursue prosecution or whether filing the report was just one more attempt to embarrass the already has-been Hyde.

What is clear is that the county is in the early stages of a potential financial crisis reminiscent of the one (led by Hyde's inaction) that caused the closing of Sumner County Schools in 2012.

Perhaps instead of bickering in the papers, Goode and Hyde could hold a WWE-style wrestling match and use the proceeds to fund volunteer fire departments?

For more on news impacting Hendersonville and Sumner County, follow @HvilleNews

Sumner County Commission Votes for Schools Budget

The Sumner County Commission adopted the proposed budget for Sumner County Schools for the 2017-18 school year. The budget includes 1.5% raises for teachers and most employees as well as a scale adjustment for bus drivers and an increase in pay for substitute teachers.

A solid majority of the County Commission voted in favor of the budget, while four Commissioners, including Hendersonville's Merrol Hyde, voted against. The other Commissioners voting against funding the school system's budget were Jim Vaughn, Moe Taylor, and Mike Akins.

For more on news and events in Hendersonville, follow @HvilleNews

Hyde and Rogers Take on Voters

Apparently, resoundingly losing an election won't stop Merrol Hyde from trying to meddle in local political affairs. Despite the fact that Hyde's County Commission buddies Frank Freels, Jerry Stone, and Kirk Moser lost in the May elections and that Hyde's once-powerful faction on the Sumner County Commission now can barely muster more than 5 votes on any single issue, Hyde continues to push an anti-voter legislative agenda.

Hyde has partnered with State Rep. Courtney Rogers (the candidate Hyde recruited to run against Debra Maggart in 2012) to advance state legislation that would bar teachers, police officers, and first responders from serving on the Sumner County Commission.

Hyde claims that this is to prevent any "conflicts of interest." Nevermind that voters were fully aware that the candidates they were voting for (or against) in May and August were also serving Sumner County as teachers, sheriff's deputies, and in other capacities. Hyde wants to protect the poor voters from any injustice -- Hyde knows best, after all.

While such a stance may seem hypocritical in light of the fact that Hyde himself was once Director of Schools while at the same time serving as a County Commissioner, hypocrisy has never gotten in the way of Merrol Hyde with a political ax to grind. In fact, when his schools budget was out of balance and he was serving on the County Commission, he voted 7 times in a single night for varying levels of a tax increase -- now, he claims to be an anti-tax champion.

As one might guess, County Commissioners who also serve our community in other capacities have had enough of the 1-2 punch of Hyde and Rogers. Last Monday, they passed a resolution calling on the General Assembly to oppose the ill-conceived Rogers bill.

And one Commissioner, Scott Langford, offered his opinion in the Hendersonville Standard.

Langford said of the Rogers bill:

This bill seeks to undermine free elections by limiting the choice of who can serve and whom voters and whom voters can elect.

For more Sumner County and Hendersonville news, follow @HvilleNews

County Commission Meets Tonight at 7 PM

The Sumner County Commission will meet tonight at 7 PM at the County Commission Chambers in Gallatin.

The meeting will include a presentation on the budget and likely public discussion regarding the recently adopted tax rate.

A group of commissioners, led by former Chair Merrol Hyde and Commissioner Jim Vaughn, are seeking to delay progress on investments in schools and other county services.

Ironically, these two commissioners led the county to the brink of financial collapse while they were in charge. Now, they want to set aside any new revenue from the tax rate and delay by a year projects to improve schools and address other pressing needs.

Hyde and Vaughn led the past commission in an unprecedented raid on the County's reserve funds, acting as if the money was coming from a credit card that never had to be repaid. Hyde has also conveniently failed to mention his past support for tax increases to meet his budget needs.

While Vaughn now says he doesn't know what was going on back in October and November and wants to delay needed school projects for further debate, it seems he simply missed key meetings in August and September.

If Vaughn and Hyde are successful tonight, key building projects will not start on time. Here's a graphic showing the projects slated to begin if a bond is approved tonight:

 

 

 

For more on news and events impacting Hendersonville, follow @HvilleNews

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

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.

Where's Jim?

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.

Voters elected Jim Vaughn to serve them by attending meetings, asking questions, and being a part of the process. But it looks like he took most of September off. No word yet on whether Vaughn will return his monthly stipend for September to the General Fund.

Vaughn did show up to the October 20th County Commission meeting. But his November 21st article suggests he wasn't aware of what was going to be discussed at a November 3rd County Commission meeting.

Vaughn says he was surprised a tax increase was being discussed in spite of public notice published on the County Commission website and in the Hendersonville Star News and Gallatin News Examiner on both October 22nd and October 31st. The notice stated clearly the "intent to exceed the certified tax rate."

Further, as a County Commissioner, Vaughn would have received a meeting packet and agenda. So, sometime in the two weeks between when he should have known what was on the agenda and the night of the meeting, Vaughn could have talked to Finance Director David Lawing and found out more about what was going to be recommended.

Finally, Vaughn asserts that the county was well-managed in the past. This must mean he suffers from the same faulty memory currently afflicting fellow Commissioner Merrol Hyde. Vaughn previously served on the budget committee. He was a part of the group that consistently recommended deficit budgets made whole through spending of reserve funds. It was Vaughn who helped craft a taxpayer-funded bailout of the county's failed insurance trust.

As County Commissioner Chris Taylor made clear in an analysis of the budget situation, before the vote to raise taxes, Sumner County was on the verge of financial collapse as early as July, 2015. This because previous leaders, Vaughn among them, steered the ship wrecklessly in the name of never raising taxes.

Now, taxpayers in District 6 are left to wonder: Is Jim Vaughn doing his job? He's not showing up to meetings, he's not paying attention to meeting notices, and he's not taking responsibility for his past failed leadership.

For more on news in Hendersonville, follow @HvilleNews

Merrol's Murky Memory

Apparently, County Commissioner Merrol Hyde has forgotten that under his leadership, Sumner County routinely dipped into reserve funds to balance the budget. He's forgotten that his leadership of the County Commission coincided with budgets that got Sumner County to a point where without an infusion of funds, we'd be bankrupt by July 2015.

He told the Hendersonville Star News on November 7th:

“My problem is this, the old commission did a good job of spending the money they had wisely. We estimated the budget conservatively. We weren’t dipping into reserves. We had plenty of money coming in the next year.”

It seems Hyde has forgotten that back in 2012, the County Commission bailed out its badly mismanaged Insurance Trust to the tune of $3 million. The Commission authorized another $4 million plus in special project spending. All from reserve funds.

Yes, reserve funds.

Which Hyde said his County Commission didn't need to balance the budget.

Except that they did. Because the only way the budget was balanced otherwise was to not properly fund the Insurance Trust so that the County's contributions were artificially low.

In fact, $3 million new dollars are being pumped into the Insurance Trust this year. Because the "old Commission" failed to manage it properly.

Hyde is counting on the public having a short memory. But the evidence is clear: Hyde's leadership was about budgets out of balance and reserve funds paying for bailouts.

Oh, and the last time taxes went up in Sumner County? Merrol Hyde was Director of Schools (and on the County Commission) and presented a budget that was out of balance. His proposed solution? A tax increase.


For more on news in Hendersonville, follow @HvilleNews

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. 

Forsythe vs. Hyde: Or, is it a park or not?

It seems Merrol Hyde and Jerry Stone are in a bit of a row with Garry Forsythe -- of course, given Stone and Hyde's propensity to challenge anyone (schools, the library, the airport board), it's no surprise they are now confused about their dealings with former imaginary Mayoral candidate and terminated Mayoral aide Garry Forsythe.

Here's the story.

Basically, a couple of investors have bought some land near the Hendersonville Public Library that many thought was part of a park.  They say they have "exciting" plans.  They promise to keep the common, public space...well, common and public. 

And it seems that no one is really paying attention to what happens at important meetings where decision like who owns what piece of land are being made. 

Tena Lee's Wild Ride

Tena Lee writes in today's Hendersonville Star News about the 2014 County Commission and School Board races.

She suggests Sumner County is in for a "wild ride" between now and election day -- when voters will hear conflicting messages about the state of our schools.

One the one side, grassroots organization Strong Schools -- calling for more funding for schools and the election of County Commissioners who will support that funding, even if it means a small tax increase.

On the other, the Merrol Hyde-Jerry Stone faction of the County Commission -- a group locked down against any tax increase.  That faction insists instead that the School Board should simply make do with what it has.

Lee's piece is compelling because while parents have packed the County Commission chambers on numerous occasions (including this past Monday for the Janet Arnold-Leslie Schell vote) historically, turnout has been terribly low for primary and general elections for County offices. 

If parents whine and complain, but don't vote, there will have been 2+ years of intense conflict resulting in little actual policy change.

On the other hand, with turnout numbers so typically low, involving just 100-200 new voters in some districts may be enough to change the outcome and elect someone new to County Commission or School Board. 

In either case, the next 9-12 months promise to be quite interesting and possibly even wild.

Library Dispute Continues

A long-running dispute over who "owns" the Hendersonville Library (The County Commission/Sumner County) or the City of Hendersonville (which holds the deed) continued recently with a meeting of members of both governing bodies. 

The dispute goes back to a state audit finding noting that the County has been claiming the Library as an asset on its books despite not having a deed to the library.  In fact, though the County issued a bond to pay for a portion of the library and then passed a resolution saying it should get the deed to the library from Hendersonville, no written agreement was ever established between the two parties.  That is, NO ONE from the County carried out negotiations to get a formal written document from Hendersonville BEFORE passing a resolution and bond that obligated taxpayers to pay for a building which the County didn't own.  No one, apparently, sought to rectify the matter in the years that have passed since, either. 

Back in January, when this controversy was in its infancy, it appeared that Kirk Moser and Merrol Hyde believed the whole issue could be solved with a sign giving the County credit for its role in establishing the library. 

So, let's review: The County issued a bond for a building it didn't own and had no claim to before securing a commitment from Hendersonville officials to deed the building to the County.  The bond was issued and the County listed a facility on its books it didn't own and no one checked to see if an actual deed existed, they just referred to a resolution passed by the Commission. 

Now, the City has made an offer of a joint deed arrangement.  Will the County accept? Or will they keep fighting?

County May Give Hendersonville Library to Hendersonville

Despite throwing a fit about not getting enough credit for the library in Hendersonville for which the County provides some funds, County Commissioners are now exploring the idea of just giving the Hendersonville Public Library to the City of Hendersonville.

The building is recorded on the books of both entities -- which gives both an audit finding in annual state audits.  The City provides maintenance funds, including grounds keeping, and does significant work at the library.  However, the County provides staff salaries and pays for some books, at a total cost of around $500,000 a year.  Significant private funds were raised to even build the facility in Hendersonville and some citizens consistently clamor for longer hours and more services at the library.

It's not clear whether the City is able or willing to absorb the cost of taking full control of the library or if the City could improve library operations.  Commission Chair Merrol Hyde would like the issue to be resolved by July 1st, however, in order to avoid an audit finding in the 2013-14 budget year.

Under-funded Schools Place Burden of Basics on Parents

Without millions in school fees and millions more in PTO fundraisers, the Sumner County Schools simply could not operate.  That's the finding from a review of monies collected through school fees and an analysis of PTO expenditures across Sumner County.

Focusing on the fees, which total $1.8 million a year, the Star News and reporter Jennifer Easton talked with parents, principals, board members, and the Director of Schools. 

The bottom line:  Parents pay fees that end up covering basic costs -- like supplies for class, workbooks, computers, and even the salaries of some teachers. 

If you take into account the contributions from PTOs, it appears that parents are contributing 15-20% above the total dollars allocated to schools by the County Commission.  And that's just to operate the current program, which many consider inadequate in terms of technology, school safety, and salaries for teachers and staff. 

The School Board meets in Special Session on May 14th to discuss the 2013-14 budget.  That will start a process that will likely end with fighting in the County Commission.  It's not clear whether the Board will submit an excellence-based budget that will reduce or eliminate fees, fund technology, raise teacher pay, and move toward eliminating unsafe portable classrooms.  Even if they did, it seems an anti-school majority on the County Commission, led by Kirk Moser, Jerry Stone, Jim Vaughn, and Merrol Hyde will continue to block improved funding for schools. 

If baseball's not enough summer entertainment for you, turn to the School Board and County Commission meetings - they should be full of fireworks and ultimately, disappointment.

County's Lack of Oversight Leads to Audit Findings

The Sumner County Commission hasn't been keeping up with recommendations to have an Audit Committee and properly review departmental budgets.  That's the takeaway from the most recent Comptroller's Audit of the County's finances.

The Audit, conducted by the state Comptroller's Office, found several repeat deficiencies in the way County departments conduct business.  These inefficiencies could end up costing taxpayers. 

Most disturbing, however, is that the state recommends that County governments have permanent Audit Committees in addition to their Budget Committees in order to carefully review state audits and recommend improvements. 

Sumner has only sporadically had an Audit Committee since 2005 (when the recommendation went into place).  Now, it appears that rather than being proactive, the Commission (chaired by Merrol Hyde) is reacting to unfavorable state findings. 

A more thorough review by the Budget Committee on the front end and the existence of an Audit Committee on the back end could have addressed these issues years earlier had Commission leaders chosen to act more responsibly.

The lack of due diligence on the part of Commissioners means the committee was formed quickly and will now have to work fast to address findings identified in the most recently list of departmental shortcomings. 

Towle Takes On Hyde Regime

Star News General Manager Mike Towle is taking on Merrol Hyde and his band of cronies on the County Commission.  This time, it's over convenience voting.

Towle's point in several recent columns seems to be that a relatively small group (Hyde, Jerry Stone, Jim Vaughn, Kirk Moser) essentially control all of Sumner County politics and policy.  Readers may recall that Hyde was once BOTH Director of Schools and Chair of the County's Education Committee.  This meant he proposed the school system's budget to the Education Committee he Chaired (which passed it, of course) and then presented that budget to the Commission as Director of Schools and then recommended that budget to the Commission as Education Committee Chair.

Readers might also recall that the last property tax increase in the County (2002) occurred when the Director of Schools submitted a budget that required additional funds -- the Director of Schools then was none other than Merrol Hyde, who convinced his friends on the Commission to raise the taxes needed to fund his otherwise out of balance budget. 

Fast forward to 2011 and 2012, when the Director of Schools (not from Sumner County, not even from Tennessee) proposed budgets that needed additional revenue.  Then, Hyde, Stone, Vaughn, and Moser led a group on the Commission to lock down against any new revenue for schools. 

It seems Mike Towle might just be on to something. 

Convenience voting or no, there IS an election in 2014.

Let's NOT make Voting TOO easy, Ok?

Remember just a few short weeks ago when it appeared Sumner County was on the verge of progress and convenience voting would be coming to elections?

Not so fast, say County Commissioners.

It seems the Commissioners, who voted in committee 7-1 to oppose the convenience voting centers, think campaigning only takes place on Election Day.  This despite the advent of early voting, which claims 50% or more of all voters in Sumner.  And which allows voters to vote at sites other than their designated precinct.

Perhaps fearing backlash from their persistent opposition to funding for schools, Commission Chair Merrol Hyde and Commissioners Jerry Stone and Kirk Moser all noted their opposition to making voting more convenient for Sumner County citizens.  Since low turnout typically favors incumbent politicians, it seems no surprise that these unpopular incumbents would oppose a measure that has the potential to increase turnout.

What's somewhat surprising, however, is the fact that convenience voting has the potential to save Sumner County $125,000 per election.  For a County Commission so concerned about money they wouldn't release funds to allow schools to buy textbooks, it seems shocking that they're willing to spend more money in order to preserve an antiquated voting process that depresses turnout.

Some Sumner County elected officials are speaking out, however.

Hendersonville Alderman Scott Sprouse said (via Facebook):

This is a shame. I'm for anything that makes it easier for people to vote. At least the county commissioners voting against this idea were forthright enough to admit they put their personal and purely political desire before the public good.
I'm someone who regularly spends 13+ hours standing in front of a polling place on Election Day. I enjoy seeing so many friends but I'd gladly give up the experience to make it easier for my neighbors to vote.
Sumner County voters, please remember what these commissioners said the next time you get up early or rush home from work to vote, stand in line for two hours, and later find out the wait ...at another polling place (one that you just passed) was only five minutes.

I just realized something. Fewer people vote in the county's May primaries and August general elections than in national and city elections. Maybe these commissioners realize that low voter turn out elected them and that greater voter participation, especially from working parents upset about school funding, may not reelect them.

Additionally, Goodlettsville City Commissioner Zach Young and Gallatin-area County Commissioner Baker Ring both spoke out in favor of convenience voting and against the Committee recommendation.



 

The Ad Hoc Committee on Delaying Action

So, the Sumner County Commission now has an Ad Hoc Committee on School Safety and Implementation.

The list of Committee members includes police chiefs from across the County and exactly ONE school system employee.

It is not clear when the committee will hold its first meeting. 

It is not clear IF they will consider the School Board's recommendation for facility upgrades and additional School Resource Officers (SROs). 

Committee Co-Chair Jim Vaughn has been advocating spending zero additional dollars on school safety and instead has proposed arming teachers.  This in spite of serious physical issues that make many schools vulnerable.

Noteworthy, too, is the fact that the County Commission may make recommendations to the School Board, but the Board is not bound to implement them.  That is:  Unless these recommendations have buy-in from the Board, they won't happen. 

The Board has made a request and is continuing a school security review with an outside expert on the issue.  The Board is asking the Commission to fund that request, which includes facility improvements.  The Commission has yet to schedule a vote on the Board's proposal.

No one is talking seriously about the vulnerability of portable classrooms - a result of poor planning for community growth.  There is so far no discussion of a plan to rezone, improve/expand facilities, or build more schools in order to ensure that portables are nothing more than a temporary solution to a space problem. 

With no meeting date set, it seems likely that this Ad Hoc Committee will not present findings at the February 25th County Commission meeting.  Unless someone moves to add the School Board's proposal to the February agenda, it seems unlikely it will be addressed.  And then, on to March.  When will the Commission take up the issue of school safety and vote to approve or reject the necessary funds? Or, will they?

Moser Resigns Committee Post

County Commissioner and Budget Committee Chair Kirk Moser resigned from his position as Chair last week, according to County Commission Chair Merrol Hyde.

Moser has been a leading voice against full funding of budget requests from the School Board. He continues to maintain that the school system does not need new revenue while failing to offer solutions for outdated technology, inadequate facilities, and improved management. 

It is rumored that Moser will not seek re-election to the Commission in 2014.