The Paper September 12, 2013 Edition

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CMYK Thursday, September 12, 2013

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Friends honoring volunteers. 3B

Tax digest requiring close budget look Jackson County Schools and City of Jefferson feeling impacts of loss in values, exemptions

By KATIE GRIFFIN

klgriffin@clickthepaper.com

The Jackson County Board of Education held its first celebratory meeting on Thursday, Sept. 5, at East Jackson Comprehensive High School. The meeting was an opportunity for the schools on the east side of Jackson County to show off their achievements last year and thus far this year. Each principal gave a short presentation and bragged on their students and teachers and all of the hard work they did last year. The Board of Education hopes that next year’s celebratory meeting will be an even bigger event. However, the September work session which followed the celebration found all the smiling faces turning into a “deer in the headlights” look as information about the insur-

ance rates and the tax digest were explained. Healthcare costs have increased $700,000. According to the preliminary tax digest, there has been a $7.8 million decrease in funds since 2009. The last time the county was operating on this amount of money was in 2006, but there are now 500 more students in Jackson County schools than in 2006. One impact on the tax digest comes from exemptions – both state and local –granted to homeowners and to corporations. The total amount of exemptions in 2006 was around $170 million whereas last year’s exemptions were $380 million. The exemptions were also noted at the

Monday work session of the Jefferson City Council. The impact of exemptions, particularely state “Freeport” inventory tax exemptions, are difficult to estimate, said City Manager John Ward, who assured Mayor Jim Joiner and the council that staff would continue to work to bring the budget proposal within the anticipated revenues to be generated. He said he expects Jefferson to be able to hold steady its millage rate. “We have an increase in the digest and and increase in jobs but also increasing exemptions which offset the gains,” said Ward, who noted he will recommend that capital improvement spending be limited to public

safety and the Jefferson Station project, for which a bond resolution and intergovernmental agreement was approved. The former Food Lion building is being renovated for a new library and police department, thanks in part to a $2 million state grant. The Jackson County School System is feeling the pinch in state dollars as Assistant Superintendent for Operational Support Jamie Hitzges has noted at previous session. With austerity withholding at $32 million and a $7.8 million decrease in funds, that means that the schools have $40 million less to work with this year. And with the increase in healthcare costs, that means that what funds the system does have will be put toward healthcare and even less money will be available for learning supplies. For example, East

See DIGEST IMPACTS, 2A

TACG, TICA expanding in Jackson County

‘Best day ever’ as Daddy returns home

A grandparents breakfast celebration held Sept. 6 brought a number of special guests to the campus of West Jackson Primary School but, in Allison Spivey’s second-grade class, the atmorsphere was even more electric. Katey Jackson’s grandmother, Deborah Everts, was among those attending the grandparents’ event and she returned to Katey’s classroom where Assistant Principal Michele Archibald explained how important it is to the classroom experience to welcome special guests. Shortly, Keith Jackson, dressed in his white naval uniform, stepped into the room – just back from a deployment aboard the USS Mahan which began Dec. 28. Katey’s mom said it was a hard secret to keep but she was rewarded when Katey explained, “Daddy”, with tears, then smiles, as she ran into her father’s waiting arms.

120 new jobs will be created

LeAnne Akin The Paper

TD Automotive Compressor Georgia, LLC (TACG) and Toyota Industries Compressor Parts America, Co. (TICA) announced plans Tuesday to expand their operations in Pendergrass. Plans call for the combined project to create 120 new jobs and a capital investment of $190 million. TACG and TICA combined investment has translated into more than $600 million in new capital into Jackson County as well as more than

820 jobs. “We are very excited as a community that TD Automotive Compressor Georgia and Toyota Industries Compressor Parts America has chosen to grow their businesses in Jackson County,” said Jackson County Commission Chairman Tom Crow. “Our partnership with these companies has been a strong and prosperous one for many years and we look

See NEW JOBS, 2A

Community & Southern Bank buys Verity Bank

By Zac Taylor

Regional staff

Atlanta-based Community & Southern Bank solidified its position as the largest bank in Barrow County with the announcement Sept. 4 that it would acquire locally-based Verity Bank. CSB, which entered the market in 2010 with the acquisition of The Peoples Bank, was already the largest holder of deposits in the Barrow County and has now expanded the gap

See BANK, 3A

Braselton honors gold medal disabled skiier

Water system improvement gets approval The Town of Braselton is utilizing its WaterFirst designation to obtain favorable borrowing terms on funds to address elevated copper levels in its well water. The action was among several items on the consent agenda of Monday’s Braselton town Council meeting which got unanimous approval. In a special recognition, Jackson County native Jeremy Maddox was honored Monday by the Braselton Town Council upon his return from the Disabled Water Ski World Championships competition as a champion. Maddox, 32, was named to the team in 2012 and has competed in wheelchair divisions of road races for many years. His competition category on the disabled water ski team was MP2, defined as an athlete using his upper trunk muscles to raise his body partially from his knees in

INSIDE Church Entertainment Events Features Forum

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the skiing position. The American team prevailed over 11 teams in Milan, Italy, winning their third consecutive world championship. Mayor Bill Orr read a Council resolution, reading in part, “the Town of Braselton hereby acknowledges Jeremy Maddox’s incredible stamina, positive life attitude and inspiration to able-bodied and disabled individuals for all to live life to their highest potential.” Maddox welcomed his parents to join him for the special recognition event. Maddox will also be honored later this month when he serves as the Hometown Hero in the Hoschton Fall Festival “Just Right In” Parade on Sept. 28. A banner has been placed on Hoschton Square to honor Maddox’s gold medal showing.

See BRASELTON, 2A

Volume 7, Number 45 Obituaries Puzzles Schools Sports

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Braselton’s Council honored Jeremy Maddox at Monday’s meeting. Photo, left to right: Councilman Richard Mayberry, Mayor Bill Orr, Jeremy Maddox, Councilwoman Peggy Slappey, Councilmen Dudley Ray and Tony Funari. Maddox will also be featured as a Hometown Hero in the Hoschton Fall Festival Parade on Sept. 28.

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