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HOUSTON DAILY JOURNAL New child support laws offer new approach Dear Readers, Last week, in response to a question, we start ed looking at Georgia’s new child support law. This radically new approach calculates “basic child support obligations,” taking into account both par ents’ gross monthly income. In an example, we found child support obligations increased, more so when the non-custodial parent earned more money than the custo dial parent. This week we continue our discussion. As alluded to last week, “pro rata” shares are used to calculate “uninsured health care costs, i.e., co payments, deductibles, unin sured expenses, etc. But, they are also used to allo cate responsibility for work related childcare costs of the custodial parent (previously a non-factor). Thus, where both parents work, this new cost-sharing is likely to increase the support costs of the non-custodial parent. So far, it looks like the non-custodial parent may be worse off under the new rules; however, there are a number of other changes that probably favor the non custodial parent. Let’s look at a few of these. It is common for the non-custodial parent to be ordered to provide health insurance coverage for the child. While courts often consid ered this factor (and trans portation costs) in calculat ing child support awards, the new guidelines mandate it. What happens is that the costs of health insurance premiums, attributable to each child, is distributed, on a prorated basis, to each par ent, probably to the benefit of the non-custodial parent. Other significant benefits to non-custodial parents include both a new “mini mum” each parent has for South leads back-to-school spending Special to the Journal Families in the South, including Georgia, will spend more on back-to-school shop ping than families across the rest of the country. According to research performed by BlGresearch families in the South will spend an average of $544.54 as compared to an average of $500.37 for the rest of the country. In the poll, the South led in all categories over the nation al average, according to John Heavener, President of the Georgia Retail Association. Spending on clothing in the South is predicted to be $230.06 as compared to $224.06 nationwide. Spending on shoes is pre dicted to be $102.59 com pared to $96.45 across the country. And spending on school supplies such as note books, folders, pencils, back packs, and lunchboxes is pro jected to be $87.61 in the South compared to $82.88. Spending on electronics or computer-related equipment such as a home computers, laptops, handheld organizers, or calculators is projected to be $124.28 as compared to a national average of $96.78. The survey found shifts M We • sfL Pick! j ELBERTA PEACHES Tomatoes, Squash, f Shelled Peas and Butter Beans, Okra and Other Fruits and Vegetables picked daily Homemade Peach Ice Cream, Discounted Oil Paintings Jim Rockefeller Columnist ajr@rockefellerlawcenter.com “self-support reserve” (S9OO per month) and a require ment of assuming income based on 40 hours per week at minimum wage - some thing courts often did, but only with respect to the non custodial parent. In the first instance, a “floor” is set per mitting the parents to have at least that amount of his/ her income available to pro vide for their own needs. In the second instance, the custodial parent has to pro vide some presumed finan cial assistance. This is particularly sig nificant where the custo dial parent remarries and chooses not to work (except if caring for children under the age of 4). But, the most significant benefit is the credit given non-custodial parents for their other children. This credit can be for other sup port obligations or non ordered costs for raising other children (excluding stepchildren). Under the old rules, a non custodial parent with other children might receive con sideration in awarding child support, but there were no specific rules for doing so. Now, an existing child sup port obligation (or 75 per cent of a “theoretical” calcu lation as if one exists) may be deducted from the non custodial parent’s “adjusted gross income,” in determin ing the combined income and the pro-rata responsi bilities. in spending by region. Consumers in the West are beefing up their back-to school budgets ($409.19 last year vs. $479.45 this year), while spending in the South is expected to rise as well ($434.09 in 2005 vs. $544.54 this year). While consumers in the Midwest cut back in 2005 ($404.68), they are expect ed to bump up spending ($521.10) this year. The only area where consumers are pulling back is in the Northeast, where consumers will be spending an estimated $456.38, down from $513.07 in 2005. According to the survey, discount stores will remain popular back-to-school shop ping destinations, with nearly Assessing Your Leadership Skills -SBS/person ' :?/• I /Zf/ttCcGAtC ’<l ' o p<an*tt7oCan&et One mile North of Montezuma, Hwy 49 478-472-8767 Mon - Sat: B:3oam-6:3opm • Sun l:3opm-6:3opm Ia There are some other changes pertaining to “will ful” unemployment (or underemployment) and a new “ceiling” of $30,000 per month for the combined gross income of both par ents. Also, a party is no longer strictly limited to seeking one (1) modification every two (2) years, exceptions being where there is a devia tion from the court-ordered visitation (more or less) or involuntary unemployment. However, a strict “parent ing-time” formula, which was in the law passed a year ago, was repealed by this new law. Finally, non-cus todial parents can now be required to pay for “extraor dinary” educational (includ ing private school tuition and books) and medical expens es, previously paid only by the custodial parent. As you can see this new legislation amounts is a radical departure from the old child support guidelines. Hence, it would be wise to speak with an attorney for advice on how the new law affects your situation. Warner Robins attorney Jim Rockefeller is the for mer Chief Assistant District Attorney for Houston County, and a former Florida State Attorney. Owner of Rockefeller Law Center, Jim has been'in private practice since 2000. E-mail your comments or confidential legal questions to ajr@rockefellerlawcenter. com. three-quarters (72.2 percent) of shoppers heading to dis counters to purchase items on their lists. Department stores and specialty stores will be seeing increased traf fic this year. More than half of con sumers will head to major department stores to com plete a portion of their back to-school needs (53.3 percent this year vs. 39.7 percent last year) and close to a third will shop at their favorite spe cialty shop, such as clothing or electronics store (30.9 per cent in 2006 vs. 18.8 percent in 2005). Other popular destinations include office supply stores (35.8 percent), drug stores (16.3 percent) and online (15.2 percent). F. Dennis Hooper Certified Leadership Development Coach Building leaders and organizations of excellence (478) 988-0237 dhooper2(ajuno.com LOCAL 34274 Zinnias 100/stem Creating an intentional culture Was it in geography, world history, or civics that you first became aware of the word “culture”? Or maybe you first heard the term “cul ture” in preparing Petri dishes for studying bacte ria. However you first learned of that word, you are now building one in your orga nization! What? Nobody ever told you that? I’m telling you that being intentional about building your culture is one of your biggest jobs as a leader! Open your mind to how an outside observer might describe your organization’s culture. What if your leadership team became more inten tional about what you and your colleagues want to cre ate? Let me share two exam ples of intentional cultures that you can study as mod els to stimulate your imagi nation! Think back to that class in U.S. history. Remember those guys named Jefferson, Adams, and Franklin? Remember the Continental Congress and debates about how the big states and small states would be rep resented? Some of you memorized, “We, the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union ...” (Um, it gets a little fuzzy after that!) All that debate in the 1770’s was a large-scale effort to establish an inten tional culture. Nothing like democracy had ever existed before in the history of the world! A bunch of renegade ideas were offered by people who felt there had to be a better way: “What if we worked it like this?” We take all that for granted today, but those activities were radi cal! They sure took King George 111 by surprise! Over two centuries later, the concepts are still being copied! How about a current cul- i # UPsljl mCW 1 IBk H flBMi Wit f H > rWc Mm ► Go Karts, pDirt Bikes Electric Guitar $ 59 00 Acoustic Guitar Adult $ 39 88 Child $ 24 88 Banjos $ 42 73 Shampoo - Lotion , nn Household Cleaners U Cell phone accessories: Cases, Auto & Home Chargers and much, much more @ $1 00 each. Kitchenware, Clothes, Cleaning Supplies. TONS OF ITEMS! 79 Green St. - Warner Robins, GA Q 99-0009 (One Block From Hwy. 247) . HOURS: 10am - spm Mon-Sat j Dennis Hooper Leaders Building Leaders dhooper2@juno.com ture that’s being intention ally built? Visit a Chick fil-A restaurant and listen to the employees. When you hear “My pleasure!” in response to your “Thank you,” take a moment and ask that person “Do you say ‘My pleasure!’ when you’re not at work?” Listen close ly. Then ask how working at Chick-fil-A has influenced this person’s life in other ways. In his 1989 book enti tled “It’s Easier to Succeed Than to Fail,” Truett Cathy reveals that in 1946, at the end of his first week operat ing his new restaurant, he and his brother Ben decided to close on Sunday. “Never have I intended to make a big issue out of being closed on Sunday,” Cathy writes. But he also notes, “People who take a day of rest to worship the Lord and to refresh themselves spiritu ally and physically are the kind of associates we seek.” The company is very open about how it conducts its business. Researching this arti cle on the internet (web address is www.chick-fil a.com, I found many “fre quently asked questions” with surprisingly frank answers! J ft rstU nlte^^^ dist Ch Urch >■ Cheerful Cherubs Preschoo' •We offer a Half Day Pre-K Program for 6 months - 4 years * Highßeach And Zoo-Phonics Curriculum • We encourage each child to develop to his or her potential through new experiences including physical, emotional, social, cognitive and spiritual. 205 N. Davis Dr. • W.R., GA 31093 • 922-8448 S’ ‘Tfta&e 'facet iTwintSet - $ 99 00 fijlfgg - $ ll9 OO i!@tu.eentS.et - s ls9°° iKinstSet - s 229°° THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2006 ♦ IP The stated purpose of Chick-fil-A is, “To glori fy God by being a faith ful steward of all that is entrusted to us. To have a positive influence on all who come in contact with Chick-fil-A.” Their sys tems and structures are all intentionally set up to serve. Your culture could be intentional, too. Ah, the cynics out there are probably thinking, “Sure, but what about results?” In 2001, 55 years into its history, Chick-fil-A reached the $1 billion mark in annual sales. Five years later, they’ve doubled to $2 billion. Now that’s growth! David Grossnickle, owner/ operator of the store on Sam Nunn Boulevard in Perry, was generous with his time as I sought perspective for this column. Are you interested in learning more about build ing intentional culture? Grossnickle says he’s will ing to talk with you about how Chick-fil-a is doing it! People Pleasing! (We will delight you!) . scsf&dglr. 1-75 fait 13ft • r Electric ® Guitar A 10 Amp % Amplifier t $8895 J 5A 100035627