The Tennessee Housing Development Authority’s research team has created a snapshot of Tennessee’s housing market to provide you with valuable information about the housing stability in our state. This report provides detailed information on home sales, prices, foreclosures, affordability and homeownership levels in regions across the state.
You can download or view the report here.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Monday, October 26, 2009
TN SCORE Releases Final Report
The Tennessee State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE)released its final report entitled "A Roadmap to Success: A Plan to Make Tennessee Schools #1 in the Southeast Within Five Years." The report details measurable steps Tennessee can take over the next five years to make its public schools the best in the Southeast. The report shows this goal is achievable if Tennessee makes the same kind of rapid student achievement gains that Florida and North Carolina made in the 1990s.
The report contains a detailed roadmap of how to achieve this goal. This roadmap is based on four key strategies:
• Embrace High Standards
• Cultivate Strong Leaders
• Ensure Excellent Teachers
• Utilize Data To Enhance Student Learning
The report contains over 60 specific recommendations for how to pursue these four strategies, identifies who is responsible for implementing each of these specific recommendations, and details a timeline on which these recommendations can be completed. The plan requires no new state funding in the short-term, although four priorities for long-term state investment are identified.
The report concludes by identifying specific actions 14 different stakeholder groups can take to implement this plan. For example, the report details specific laws and policies that need to be passed or changed by the General Assembly and State Board of Education, specific areas where short-term investment from the business and philanthropic community can make a difference, and ideas for how superintendents, principals, and teachers can work together to improve student achievement.
For more information and to view an electronic copy of the SCORE final report, you may visit www.tennesseescore.org.
The report contains a detailed roadmap of how to achieve this goal. This roadmap is based on four key strategies:
• Embrace High Standards
• Cultivate Strong Leaders
• Ensure Excellent Teachers
• Utilize Data To Enhance Student Learning
The report contains over 60 specific recommendations for how to pursue these four strategies, identifies who is responsible for implementing each of these specific recommendations, and details a timeline on which these recommendations can be completed. The plan requires no new state funding in the short-term, although four priorities for long-term state investment are identified.
The report concludes by identifying specific actions 14 different stakeholder groups can take to implement this plan. For example, the report details specific laws and policies that need to be passed or changed by the General Assembly and State Board of Education, specific areas where short-term investment from the business and philanthropic community can make a difference, and ideas for how superintendents, principals, and teachers can work together to improve student achievement.
For more information and to view an electronic copy of the SCORE final report, you may visit www.tennesseescore.org.
Energy Grants for Counties
Governor Phil Bredesen and Commissioner Matt Kisber of the Department of Economic and Community Development announced this month that $9.3 million in federal stimulus funds will be available to small- and medium-sized cities and counties through the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program. The competitive grants are available to assist local governments in conserving energy and reducing fossil fuel emissions. If you were at the fall conference in Chattanooga earlier this month, this is the program that was described by Dan Hawk during our membership meeting.
Areas of funding that will be given priority include: developing an overall energy efficiency and conservation strategy; retrofitting existing buildings with cost effective energy efficient measures; implementing renewable energy technologies on government buildings; and replacing traffic signals and street lighting with energy efficient lighting technologies.
The 17 largest cities and 10 largest counties in Tennessee may apply directly to the U.S. Department of Energy for EECBG funds. All other cities and counties may apply through the state of Tennessee by 5 p.m. CST on December 30, 2009.
Applications and more information about the program are available here.
The maximum grant amount will be $100,000 and partial funding may be awarded.
ECD will host two application workshops on Nov. 2, 2009 in Nashville at the Ellington Agricultural Center from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. and again from 1 – 4 p.m. CST. The meeting will focus on the guidelines and application process and offer suggestions for making an application more competitive.
Applications will be scored based on the local government’s strategy, feasibility, readiness to proceed, impact, partnerships and the ability to extend funding impact beyond a one time use.
Areas of funding that will be given priority include: developing an overall energy efficiency and conservation strategy; retrofitting existing buildings with cost effective energy efficient measures; implementing renewable energy technologies on government buildings; and replacing traffic signals and street lighting with energy efficient lighting technologies.
The 17 largest cities and 10 largest counties in Tennessee may apply directly to the U.S. Department of Energy for EECBG funds. All other cities and counties may apply through the state of Tennessee by 5 p.m. CST on December 30, 2009.
Applications and more information about the program are available here.
The maximum grant amount will be $100,000 and partial funding may be awarded.
ECD will host two application workshops on Nov. 2, 2009 in Nashville at the Ellington Agricultural Center from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. and again from 1 – 4 p.m. CST. The meeting will focus on the guidelines and application process and offer suggestions for making an application more competitive.
Applications will be scored based on the local government’s strategy, feasibility, readiness to proceed, impact, partnerships and the ability to extend funding impact beyond a one time use.
Office of Legislativie Budget Analysis Releases 2009 County by County Report
This detailed report, which attempts to estimate how state dollars are benefiting each county in the state, is now available online. You may access all ninety-five reports here
Please note these reports are an indicator of how state dollars are benefiting a particular county. Many of the funds listed in the report are administered by a state agency - not allocated directly to the county itself.
Items are reported in the following eight categories:
State Shared Taxes
K-12 Education
Health and Social Services
Law, Safety and Corrections
Recreation, Tourism and Preservation
Economic Development and Higher Education
Capital Outlay
Transportation
Please note these reports are an indicator of how state dollars are benefiting a particular county. Many of the funds listed in the report are administered by a state agency - not allocated directly to the county itself.
Items are reported in the following eight categories:
State Shared Taxes
K-12 Education
Health and Social Services
Law, Safety and Corrections
Recreation, Tourism and Preservation
Economic Development and Higher Education
Capital Outlay
Transportation
New Guidelines for Municipal and County Financing
The Tennessee State Funding Board has approved a sweeping set of changes implementing enhanced requirements to the guidelines that govern cities and counties that propose to enter into interest rate swaps and other exotic financial transactions.
The revised guidelines are aimed at eliminating potential conflicts of interest by prohibiting individuals or companies from representing more than one side in derivative transactions. These revisions require greater transparency in the way information is reported and communicated about the transactions and require comprehensive disclosure of fees paid.
Cities and counties will have to demonstrate that they employ people with sufficient expertise to understand these complex transactions, including a chief financial officer and an accountant. Cities and counties must also meet minimum outstanding debt requirements and have an audit committee and a capital improvement plan.
Communities that do not meet all the requirements laid out in the guidelines have the option of appearing before state Comptroller Justin P. Wilson or his staff to explain that they fully understand all the risks involved and can comply with their debt and derivative management policy and the ongoing risk monitoring and reporting requirements.
The guidelines can be viewed at the Comptroller’s web site here.
The revised guidelines are aimed at eliminating potential conflicts of interest by prohibiting individuals or companies from representing more than one side in derivative transactions. These revisions require greater transparency in the way information is reported and communicated about the transactions and require comprehensive disclosure of fees paid.
Cities and counties will have to demonstrate that they employ people with sufficient expertise to understand these complex transactions, including a chief financial officer and an accountant. Cities and counties must also meet minimum outstanding debt requirements and have an audit committee and a capital improvement plan.
Communities that do not meet all the requirements laid out in the guidelines have the option of appearing before state Comptroller Justin P. Wilson or his staff to explain that they fully understand all the risks involved and can comply with their debt and derivative management policy and the ongoing risk monitoring and reporting requirements.
The guidelines can be viewed at the Comptroller’s web site here.
Request for Public Comment on Residential Sprinkler Systems
The Department of Commerce and Insurance has sent out the following notice seeking input from the public relating to the cost and effectiveness of sprinkler equipment in one-family and two-family dwellings in areas where residential sprinklers are in use.
"As directed by the General Assembly, the Department is conducting an analysis regarding the cost and effectiveness of sprinkler equipment in one-family and two-family dwellings in areas where residential sprinklers are in use and will report the results of such analysis to the general assembly on or before May 1, 2010.
The Department is specifically requesting input from nonprofit and business groups or organizations including, but not limited to, the Tennessee Fire Chiefs Association and the Home Builders Association of Tennessee.
It is requested that all written materials be provided to the Department by December 31, 2009."
If this issue has been of interest to your county you may send comments or concerns by e-mail, addressed to Jim.Pillow@tn.gov or by mail addressed to:
Jim Pillow
Assistant Commissioner
Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance
ATTN: Residential Sprinkler Analysis
500 James Robertson Parkway, 3rd Floor
Nashville, TN 37243.
"As directed by the General Assembly, the Department is conducting an analysis regarding the cost and effectiveness of sprinkler equipment in one-family and two-family dwellings in areas where residential sprinklers are in use and will report the results of such analysis to the general assembly on or before May 1, 2010.
The Department is specifically requesting input from nonprofit and business groups or organizations including, but not limited to, the Tennessee Fire Chiefs Association and the Home Builders Association of Tennessee.
It is requested that all written materials be provided to the Department by December 31, 2009."
If this issue has been of interest to your county you may send comments or concerns by e-mail, addressed to Jim.Pillow@tn.gov or by mail addressed to:
Jim Pillow
Assistant Commissioner
Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance
ATTN: Residential Sprinkler Analysis
500 James Robertson Parkway, 3rd Floor
Nashville, TN 37243.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
TN County Commissioners Association Newsletters
This fall, TCCA started a new monthly E-mail Newsletter. Archives of the first issues can be found here. We will try and send these around the 15th to the 20th of each month once updates about the state revenue collections are available. The newsletter will include timely information and updates about new publications, training opportunities for county officials, grants, programs and news of developments impacting state and county government in Tennessee. If you would like to receive these newsletters automatically by e-mail, contact me at tcca.connor@tncounties.org. Feel free to share them with your fellow county commissioners. At the fall conference, one of our county commissioners even indicated that he forwarded the newsletters to constituents to provide his voters with more information about issues impacting Tenessee County Govnerments.
THDA Mortgage Program Report
The THDA research division has released a report on homeownership penetration in the counties across the state and the use of that agency’s loan programs. The report details the use of four different mortgage programs in Tennessee’s three grand divisions, by MSA and by county. These four programs include the Great Rate, Great Advantage, Great Start and New Start mortgages. For more information about these programs, THDA or the information in this report, contact Toni Harris at THDA via e-mail at THarris@thda.org or by phone at 615-815-2182. The report can be accessed
here.
here.
New Officers Selected by the Membership
Much of the Board of Directors remained intact this year. While there has been some change in recent years, the board is relatively stable this year headed into the 2010 elections. New members include Thomas "Tank" Strickland as Knox County representative and Troy Beets of Roane County as President-Elect. Jim Westbrook of Weakley County assumed the Presidency at the meeting last week in Hamilton County. Treasurer Houston Naron of Williamson County and Secretary Marlene Steinbuck of Benton County round out the list of officers.
Thanks to President Wallace Austin for His Service
At the annual meeting last week, Wallace Austin of White County concluded his year of service as TCCA President. He will remain on our board as a past president as Jim Westbrook of Weakley County serves as association President for 2009-2010.
It has been a pleasure working with Wallace this year as I completed my second year as Executive Director of the County Commissioners Association. Many thanks to Wallace and our other officers and directors who give of their time in service to the association.
It has been a pleasure working with Wallace this year as I completed my second year as Executive Director of the County Commissioners Association. Many thanks to Wallace and our other officers and directors who give of their time in service to the association.
TCSA Annual Fall Conference Concludes in Chattanooga
The TCSA Fall Conference and Trade Show this year in Chattanooga was a huge success. Thanks to all of you who attended and participated in our board meetings, committee meetings, membership meetings, educational workshops and training programs. County Commissioners at the conference had opportunities to learn about a host of topics including Economic Development, Mental Health Issues, Land Use Regulations, the 2010 Census, and much more. The TCCA board met and discussed strategies and outlooks for the upcoming legislative session. Our nominating committee also made recommendations for officers and directors for the next year which were adopted by the membership (see article above).
The conference General Session included a panel of excellent speakers, including Commissioner Tim Webb of the Department of Education and Tom Kilgore, CEO of the Tennessee Valley Authority. We also heard a presentation on the recruitment of Volkswagon to the Chattanooga area. The final business meeting on Friday morning included a discussion by Tom Griscom, Editor/Publisher of the Chattanooga Times/Free Press on his impressions of the 2010 Gubernatorial Campaign so far.
The conference General Session included a panel of excellent speakers, including Commissioner Tim Webb of the Department of Education and Tom Kilgore, CEO of the Tennessee Valley Authority. We also heard a presentation on the recruitment of Volkswagon to the Chattanooga area. The final business meeting on Friday morning included a discussion by Tom Griscom, Editor/Publisher of the Chattanooga Times/Free Press on his impressions of the 2010 Gubernatorial Campaign so far.
Friday, October 2, 2009
Comptroller Report on New K-12 Standards
The Comptroller's Offices of Research and Education Accountability recently released a new legislative brief, More Rigorous Standards and New Graduation Requirements.
In January 2008, the Tennessee State Board of Education passed a new High School Policy requiring all students to complete the same graduation requirements; the previous policy defined separate paths for college-bound students and career-technical students. The State Board also adopted new K-12 standards in language arts, math, and science, representing more rigorous expectations for students. This brief details the main components of the new High School Policy and addresses the reasons behind the changes. It concludes with a section describing some of the challenges Tennessee will face in implementing these tougher standards and assessments.
The legislative brief may be viewed or downloaded here.
In January 2008, the Tennessee State Board of Education passed a new High School Policy requiring all students to complete the same graduation requirements; the previous policy defined separate paths for college-bound students and career-technical students. The State Board also adopted new K-12 standards in language arts, math, and science, representing more rigorous expectations for students. This brief details the main components of the new High School Policy and addresses the reasons behind the changes. It concludes with a section describing some of the challenges Tennessee will face in implementing these tougher standards and assessments.
The legislative brief may be viewed or downloaded here.
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