The National Association of Counties (NACo) has created an online database of sample codes and ordinances that are listed by subject. This materials may be of interest to your county if you are considering a specific issue. Keep in mind that these are not tailored to Tennessee law. They may give you a starting place for drafting but should not be adopted "as is." A county commission interested in one of these samples should have the code or ordinance reviewed by the county attorney to see if there is authority in Tennessee law for a county to take such action and to determine whether the sample needs to be modified to conform to Tennessee law.
See the link below.
http://www.naco.org/research/solutions/Pages/CodesandOrdiances.aspx
Monday, October 18, 2010
Friday, October 15, 2010
TCSA Fall Conference Coming Up
In less than two weeks, TCSA will be holding its annual fall conference and trade show in Pigeon Forge, TN. During the event, TCCA will have a membership meeting, board meeting and nominating committee meeting. This conference is when our new officers and board members will be selected. In addition to these meetings, there are numerous training and break-out sessions on topics of interest to county officials. With over 10 days still to go, we already have more folks registered for this year than attended the conference last year. It looks to be a great turnout. Hope to see you there.
State Revenue Collections
Tennessee sales tax collections showed positive growth in September, as overall revenues grew compared to the same period last year. Finance and Administration Commissioner Dave Goetz reported that overall September revenues were $977.5 million or 6.14% above September 2009 collections.
September collections were $41.0 million more than the budgeted estimate. The general fund was over collected by $28.5 million and the four other funds were over collected by $12.5 million.
Sales tax collections were $1.0 million more than the estimate for September. The September growth rate was 2.15%. Franchise and excise taxes combined were $22.9 million above the September budgeted estimate of $246.6 million. The September growth rate was 10.36%.
Gasoline and motor fuel collections for September increased by 15.08% and they were $3.9 million above the budgeted estimate of $70.8 million.
Year-to date collections for two months were $35.6 million more than the budgeted estimate. The general fund was over collected by $17.8 million and the four other funds were over collected by $17.8 million.
September collections were $41.0 million more than the budgeted estimate. The general fund was over collected by $28.5 million and the four other funds were over collected by $12.5 million.
Sales tax collections were $1.0 million more than the estimate for September. The September growth rate was 2.15%. Franchise and excise taxes combined were $22.9 million above the September budgeted estimate of $246.6 million. The September growth rate was 10.36%.
Gasoline and motor fuel collections for September increased by 15.08% and they were $3.9 million above the budgeted estimate of $70.8 million.
Year-to date collections for two months were $35.6 million more than the budgeted estimate. The general fund was over collected by $17.8 million and the four other funds were over collected by $17.8 million.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
"Tennessee Downtowns" Program Accepting Applications
Economic and Community Development Commissioner Matt Kisber announced today that applications are now being accepted for Tennessee Downtowns, a competitive community improvement program for cities and counties seeking to revitalize traditional commercial districts. The program is open to communities with downtown commercial districts established at least 50 years ago and whose citizens are ready to organize efforts for downtown revitalization based on the successful program “Main Street Four-Point Approach to Downtown Revitalizationtm.” Applications are available online at www.tennesseemainstreet.org and must be completed by Monday, Nov. 8.
For the full press release on this program announcement, go here.
For the full press release on this program announcement, go here.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
County Officials Fees
A question came up at one of the regional meetings about alternative ways of handling the funds collected by the so-called “fee offices”. The following material is adapted from the CTAS County Government Handbook and explains these options.
The sheriff, trustee, county clerk, register of deeds and court clerks receive fees from the public for services they perform; for this reason these officials are sometimes referred to as "fee officials." There are two methods of accounting for the fees received by these officers.
The first and oldest is the "fee system." Under this system each official remits to the trustee quarterly all of the fees and charges collected by the official in excess of expenses for the following items: salaries of the official's deputies and assistants, necessary expenses of the office, and the official's salary as established by statute. The official is also authorized to maintain a reserve in an amount equal to three times the monthly salaries of the official, deputies, and assistants. If the fees are insufficient to pay the regular expenses of the office, including the statutory salary of the official and the salaries of deputies and assistants, the deficit is to be paid out of county general funds. Excess fees are placed in the county general fund as a source of county revenue.
The county commission is authorized to adopt an alternative system for fee officials, often called the "budget" or "salary" system, although the sheriff is always under this alternative system. This budget system can be adopted for some or all of the officials. Under this method, the official pays over to the trustee all of the fees, commissions, and charges collected by the office on a monthly basis. The county commission must, in return, budget for expenses, authorizing the trustee to pay the official's salary, salaries of deputies and assistants, and authorized expenses of the office. These salaries and other proper costs of the office are included in the budget and must be paid even if the fees are insufficient to cover them.
The sheriff, trustee, county clerk, register of deeds and court clerks receive fees from the public for services they perform; for this reason these officials are sometimes referred to as "fee officials." There are two methods of accounting for the fees received by these officers.
The first and oldest is the "fee system." Under this system each official remits to the trustee quarterly all of the fees and charges collected by the official in excess of expenses for the following items: salaries of the official's deputies and assistants, necessary expenses of the office, and the official's salary as established by statute. The official is also authorized to maintain a reserve in an amount equal to three times the monthly salaries of the official, deputies, and assistants. If the fees are insufficient to pay the regular expenses of the office, including the statutory salary of the official and the salaries of deputies and assistants, the deficit is to be paid out of county general funds. Excess fees are placed in the county general fund as a source of county revenue.
The county commission is authorized to adopt an alternative system for fee officials, often called the "budget" or "salary" system, although the sheriff is always under this alternative system. This budget system can be adopted for some or all of the officials. Under this method, the official pays over to the trustee all of the fees, commissions, and charges collected by the office on a monthly basis. The county commission must, in return, budget for expenses, authorizing the trustee to pay the official's salary, salaries of deputies and assistants, and authorized expenses of the office. These salaries and other proper costs of the office are included in the budget and must be paid even if the fees are insufficient to cover them.
Rural Library Grants
Dozens of rural libraries across Tennessee will share in nearly $1.5 million in combined federal and state grants to provide computers, education courses and job skill training. The grants are targeted to help Tennesseans improve computer-related skills so they will be more competitive as they seek jobs.
The project is the culmination of more than a year’s effort by the Department of State and the Department of Economic and Community Development (ECD). The joint effort was successfully leveraged to secure additional funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development. Of the nearly $1.5 million, ECD will provide $1,030,000 and the Department of State will provide up to $70,000. The remaining $356,577 will come from USDA Rural Development. The funds will be used to provide computers, peripheral equipment, high-speed Internet routers and instructors to conduct training classes.
In addition to administering the $70,000 grant, the Tennessee State Library and Archives, which is a division of the Tennessee Department of State, will administer the other grant funds. TSLA is currently assisting the local libraries in finalizing the consent agreements required before the money is disbursed.
For more info, see the full press release from the Department of State here.
The project is the culmination of more than a year’s effort by the Department of State and the Department of Economic and Community Development (ECD). The joint effort was successfully leveraged to secure additional funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development. Of the nearly $1.5 million, ECD will provide $1,030,000 and the Department of State will provide up to $70,000. The remaining $356,577 will come from USDA Rural Development. The funds will be used to provide computers, peripheral equipment, high-speed Internet routers and instructors to conduct training classes.
In addition to administering the $70,000 grant, the Tennessee State Library and Archives, which is a division of the Tennessee Department of State, will administer the other grant funds. TSLA is currently assisting the local libraries in finalizing the consent agreements required before the money is disbursed.
For more info, see the full press release from the Department of State here.
Race to the Top Resources
The State Department of Education has put together an Internet site with detailed information about the Race to the Top Program in Tennessee. I particularly recommend that county commissioners use the link on the site to download the approved Scope of Work that was proposed by your school system. These documents provide a detailed plan as to how your school system intends to use their portion of the federal grant to improve schools in your communities over the next four years.
You can find these resources by going to this website Race to the Top and then selecting your LEA (local education agency) from the drop down menu. There is a signature page within these scopes of work. If your school system is planning to use these funds in a manner that will create on-going obligations after the federal grant has expired, the chair of the funding body (county commission or city council) should have been required to sign off on the scope of work as well.
You can find these resources by going to this website Race to the Top and then selecting your LEA (local education agency) from the drop down menu. There is a signature page within these scopes of work. If your school system is planning to use these funds in a manner that will create on-going obligations after the federal grant has expired, the chair of the funding body (county commission or city council) should have been required to sign off on the scope of work as well.
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