The Paper October 10, 2013 Edition

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CMYK Thursday, October 10, 2013

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Walk for a Cure raises research cash. 3B

Jackson Co. BOE millage goes to 19.276 By Katie Griffin

klgriffin@clickthepaper.com

The Jackson County Board of Education proposed and approved an increased millage rate on Monday. The rate will rise from 18.9 mills to 19.276 mills, however, due to reductions in property values, ad valorem taxpayers will likely see a net reduction in their school taxes. For example, the owner of a $200,000 home would pay an estimated $1,406.16 in taxes, down $105.84 from the previous year if a 7 percent reduction in home value is experienced. If a 3-percent reduction in home value is realized, the owner of that $200,000 home would see a $16.18 drop in their taxes at the 19.276 mill rate. The Jackson County millage rate has not increased since 2004 when it increased .5

mill. The board also voted to maintain the bond retirement rate at 3.1 mills. “Raising the millage rate was a last resort,” said Dr. April Howard, Superintendent of Jackson County Schools. “I hope our evaluation rate will soon change and give us more reserve so next year or the next we can roll the millage rate right back down.” Howard explained that valuation drop in the tax digest has greatly impacted Jackson County and is one important factor for raising the millage rate. She said building a fund balance is crucial as reserves are depleted. “Basically, we’ve decreased spending by $4 million this year and the budget for next year is to save $6 million. That’s $10 million in two years,” said Jamie Hitzges, Assistant Superintendent for Operational Support. Hitzges continued by saying that the schools have reduced 50 positions, 6.5 positions since

June of this year, while teachers have lost 10 pay days and leadership has lost between six and 15 pay days. The total district expenditure reduction is $4,159,415.00, which is saving around $350,000 a month. Ninety percent of their spending goes to people, which is why they had to cut back on positions in order to meet the appropriate budget. “Fiscal sustainability is what we strive for,” said Hitzges. “That, combined with school-based fund management and leadership.” The budget proposal will be voted on during the board’s Thursday meeting. The board expects to have $1.2 million in the fund balance, but generally only collect 98 percent of ad valorem taxes. The financial documents will soon be posted to the website so that anyone and everyone can see where their money is going.

“We want absolute transparency,” insisted Howard. Board chairwoman Lynne Wheeler then explained that the board’s goals and budget are more detailed than they have ever been in the past. She encouraged and thanked everyone for their dedication to achieving their goals and making such a strict budget work. “We’ve decreased personnel, increased class size and raised the standards and our teachers still continue to perform well,” said Howard. The board then heard from East Jackson Middle School seventh grade math teacher Tommy Palmer about his success with “The Flipped Classroom.” He allows his students to focus on “homework” at school and sets up stations where different learning methods

See BOE MILLAGE , 2A

County millage to be set

The Jackson County Board of Commissioners is expected to finalize the county millage rate after the third public hearing on the Fiscal Year 2014 budget proposal today at 6 p.m. The commission has been taking public comment on the proposed budget and on the possibility that a .25-mill increase would help balance the county budget. Because of devaluation in property values, some property owners would pay less in county taxes even if the millage rise increased.

At the first public hearing, Ron Johnson, chairman of the Jackson County GOP, said he considered the proposal tax increase to be unnecessary. He urged the board give back furlough days to the employees if there is a hike in the millage rate. Wayne Whitelaw commended the board for their efforts during a time of declining tax revenues. See more about the proposed budget and millage rate at ClickThePaper.com

JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL

Buhler Quality Yarns partners with students By KATIE GRIFFIN

klgriffin@clickthepaper.com

Great Promise Partnership and Jefferson High School students enjoyed an open house at Buhler Quality Yarns in Jefferson on Sept. 26. The event allowed GPP and JHS to give a shout-out to the students involved in the GPP program, 12 For Life, which provides students from cooperating high schools with the opportunity to work in an industrial or office setting to get life skills, life coaching as well as a pay

check as long as they promise to graduate from high school. “It’s a tough time to be growing up so if we can help these kids get that diploma, then great,” said Hilda Johnson, GPP coordinator. Johnson explained she grew up in Jefferson and has recently returned here and is so proud that her alma mater and a local textiles company have partnered to help local high school students obtain a diploma as well as get onthe-job training. She spoke of the crucial need for an edu-

cated work in this area and the partnership is a win-win proposition for all involved: Buhler is getting quality help and is allowing training experience for their employees while JHS students are getting life coaches and work force training. Great Promise Partnership is expanding and helping more students obtain a diploma. “Buhler is doing amazing things and it is a blessing to work with Buhler and these kids,” said Johnson.

See PARTNERSHIP, 2A Katie Griffin The Paper

Students and their life coaches were photographed outside Buhler Quality Yarns during the Great Partnership Program celebration. The aim of the 12ForLife is to connect students at risk of not completing high school with a job that gives incentives to stay in school to graduate.

LeAnne Akin The Paper

Jackson County Probate Judge Sherry Moore administered the oath to Lauren Stover, the newest member of the Board of Elections and Registration.

Update of city voter lists points to process flaws Jackson Co. registrars proceed with caution

By LEANNE AKIN

lakin@clickthepaper.com

In preparation for the Nov. 5 municipal elections, the cleanup of voter lists had been under way, however, the Georgia Secretary of State is hoping to reconsider the process and come up with something a little more reliable. Another round of letters were to have gone out after hearings were convened to give voters an opportunity to show why they should remain on the voting rolls, however, the Jackson County Board of Registrars decided to proceed with extreme caution, said Elections Supervisor Lori Wurtz, who noted the effort was made to ensure voters were receiving the correct ballot. “It is such a difficult task, and we cannot assume nor speculate,” said Wurtz. “When I spoke to the SOS they did not advise us to proceed or to halt, we just had discussion about the issues with the process and it was mentioned that sometime in the near future hopefully things can become simpler.” Following the guidelines from the office of Secretary of State Brian Kemp, the stateprovided letter was sent to some municipal voters seeking documentation about their address. To those for which the cities had no proof of city residency, letters were sent that had city hall phones ringing off the hook. Some calls also went into to the

county Elections & Voter Registration Office. “People were concerned and calling in that the clerk was challenging them,” said Wurtz, who noted voters should be voting for those who represent them. City clerks used utility billing records for comparison and if service was not in a voter’s name, a letter may have been mailed out. In some households, there may be several registered voters but only one person’s name on the utility bill. That meant multiple concerned people in the household. Some voters who had not moved, including one person who had lived at the same address for 12 years, received a letter. The utility bill was a starting place but the letters generated some bad feelings. Wurtz said she explained to many callers that she apologized but most were understanding after she explained the reason for the letter. Some of those receiving letters were the owners of rental property. Tubs of returned letters reflected the number of voters who had moved from their last known address. While some have already registered to vote in another jurisdiction, the whereabouts of others is unknown. Wurtz said some voters were upset because of the short window of opportunity between their receipt of the challenge letter and the hearing.

See VOTER LISTS , 2A

Josh Fenn: Fast and furious focus on Jackson Co. By LEANNE AKIN

lakin@clickthepaper.com

Jackson County Area Chamber of Commerce President/CEO/Director of Economic Development said it’s been a fast and furious two months as he has been transitioning into his new role since July. Fenn credited the Chamber’s board of director for “keeping the ship running and going forward” between the time Shane Short ended his association with the Chamber in August of

INSIDE Business 3A, 7A Church 4A Entertainment 5B Events 6B Features 3B

2012. The Chamber also lost director of economic development Courtney Bernardi, vice president of member services Linda Foster and office administrator Sharon Anderson. Bryan Dearing served as interim president/ CEO during the search for new leadership. Fenn recently spoke to the Rotary Club of Braselton and said the current program of work will continue through this year but changes will be ahead in the coming year. Fenn said there will be more of a focus on small

Volume 7, Number 49 Forum 6A Obituaries 4A Police report 2A Puzzles 5B Sports 1-2B

Fenn

business development. With Melissa Britt, who formerly worked with the Gwinnett County Chamber of Commerce, in place as the new director of membership, the chamber will be taking from the pages of the Gwinnett play book. He said 75 percent of the community and the chamber membership is small business. “We want to connect more to those,” said Fenn. “We want to add more value to their membership” by providing business development programs that members can

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select from to best meet their needs. Community development will also be a focus with Jackson County and its municipalities. Attracting retail development is a goal as Jackson County currently loses a lot of sales tax dollars to Hall County, Gwinnett County and Athens-Clarke County. “We need to see how we can get more revenue collection stations, more collection points,” said Fenn. “People need more places to shop and eat.” As people

buy more, there is generated more money to be spent on roads, schools and capital improvement projects that can be financed through sales tax until the property tax values return. He said he hopes to see vibrant strip centers, not empty store fronts. “Without retail, we lose a lot of cash,” said Fenn, referring to the commute pattern which finds paychecks leaving Jackson County. “We want to keep more of the money that is earned here.”

See FENN, 2A

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