Newspaper Page Text
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10, 2010
THE JACKSON HERALD
PAGE 7A
VOLUNTEER COACH OF THE SEASON
8U Boys Spurs head coach Tommy Parker was recently
voted the 2009-2010 Academy Sports Volunteer Coach
of the Season. Parker’s Spurs completed a fun and
exciting season - capping it off as Champions of the
8U Boys Division. Jefferson Recreation would like to
publicly recognize the volunteer efforts and personal
sacrifices made by all of their coaches in order to bet
ter the youth of this community both athletically and
personally. Through the endless time and boundless
energy invested in practices, games and team functions
Jefferson Parks & Recreation Department’s youth bas
ketball program has been strengthened immeasurably.
Pictured are, left to right, Academy Sports Regional
Representative Michael Costello, coach Tommy Parker
and JPRD Director Colton Green.
Chili cook-off ahead April 17
BOE continued from page 1A
WHO MAKES the best chili
in Jackson County?
The Jackson County Area
Chamber of Commerce hopes
to answer that question — and
raise a few dollars and have a
good time —April 17 with its
annual Chamber Chili Cook-
Off.
The event will be held from
4 to 6 p.m. at YearOne in
Braselton in conjunction with
a YearOne car show. The com
bined events typically draw
5,000 people.
The chamber is solicit
ing teams. The entry fee is
THE SCHEDULE of
events at Maysville Public
Library for March and April
includes the following:
•10:30 a.m. Friday, March
12, Pre-School Story Time
and Tea Party with Miss
Sherri. Participants are invit
ed to bring their favorite
doll or teddy bear to the tea
party.
•6 p.m. Thursday, March
18, Friends of the Library
meeting. The meeting is open
$100. Teams must produce
seven gallons of chili and are
expected to have a booth dec
orated for the situation staffed
by appropriately attired team
members.
The entry deadline is April
5. There will be a mandatory
cooks meeting April 14 at 3
p.m. at the chamber office.
T-shirt sponsorships are also
being offered at $50.
For information, contact
Linda Foster at the chamber
office at 706-367-0300 or by
email at Linda @jacksoncoun-
tyga.com.
to the public.
•11 a.m. Saturday, March
20, free movie at the library.
•11 a.m. Saturday, March
27, Easter egg coloring.
•8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday,
April 17, community trunk
sale. Vendor space must be
reserved by April 16 and is
$10. The rain date will be
April 24.
For more information on
any of these events, call the
library at 706-652-2323.
The latest cost-cutting
moves includes some big
changes: No supplies for
schools or programs and more
furlough days for employees.
Jeff Sanchez, assistant
superintendent for finance
and information services, pre
sented a 2010-2011 budget on
Thursday that includes more
than $2.8 million in cuts.
Among those cuts is more
than $137,200 in supplies
and travel costs for middle
and high school band, cho
rus, drama and ROTC pro
grams. It also includes the
elimination of $227,400 in
vocational funding at the
county's two high schools and
$42,700 in vocational funding
at the county's three middle
schools.
“There is nothing left in
this budget at this point for
supplies and materials for
band, chorus and vocational,”
Sanchez said on Thursday.
The budget cuts don't
include the elimination of
positions — just supplies,
equipment and travel expens
es.
“They'll still be there, they
just won't have supplies,”
Sanchez said.
Instead, organizations sup
porting the programs and
schools — such as PTOs and
booster clubs — are being
community too,” she said.
Bone said the county has
made some sacrifices in
SPLOST 5 to allow the munic
ipalities to continue to get the
same percentage of funds as
they have in the past.
“I think it's an important
note that the public understand
this is not an additional tax,”
added mayor Doug Haynie.
“It's just a continuation of
what it is exactly right now.”
The vote on SPLOST 5 is
slated for July of this year.
AZALEA FESTIVAL
In light of the current eco
nomic situation and with a
tight timetable in mind, the
city council voted to postpone
this year's Encore Azalea
asked to help fund supplies.
So far, superintendent
Adams said the PTOs have
been supportive of the fund
ing request.
“They might want to consid
er instead of making improve
ments to playgrounds, buying
boxes of paper (for) school
supplies,” he said.
Chairperson Wilbanks
questioned the move to cut
funding for supplies from the
programs, if the budget is that
tight.
“Why wouldn’t we look at
eliminating some more posi
tions instead of striping out
everything out of the schools
to make it harder for them to
operate,” she said.
She later warned that some
of the programs that have been
funded in the past may not be
financed as such next year.
Sanchez presented the idea
of allocating $10 a student
for general supplies at each
school, and another $10 for
each high school student
enrolled in a vocational pro
gram, $5 for each middle
school student enrolled in a
vocational program and $1 for
each student in the district for
media costs.
That proposal wasn’t
included in Monday’s bud
get and will be considered
again after district officials
Festival until next year.
Bone also cited a lack of
city workers to set up the
festival, which would leave
it completely as a volunteer
event.
“We don’t have the funds
to commit,” council member
Ron Smith said. “That's the
bottom line, to me.”
Haynie added, “I'd rather
not do one this year, and do it
next year and do it right.”
The vote to approve the
postponement was unani
mous, with council member
Ricky Walker absent.
Also during Monday night’s
meeting, City Administrator
Debbie Mockus gave an
update on the city's finances.
meet with principals on sup
ply costs.
“(There’s) no supply money
at all and I know we’ve got to
put it back,” he said.
Sanchez said deciding how
to allocate supply money for
schools and programs is com
plicated by grants and pro
grams in the middle schools.
Supplies and expendable
equipment for school admin
istration and maintenance
will also be cut by a total of
$257,700 and not purchasing
new textbooks will save an
estimated $320,740.
MORE FURLOUGHS
Taking a pre-emptive strike
with more financial cuts next
school year, the proposed
2010-2011 budget includes
six furlough days for employ
ees. The board didn't specify
the dates of the furloughs.
This school year, teach
ers will take a total of six
furlough days in response to
budget cuts from the state.
“I'd rather have furlough
days rather than an increase
in (state) austerity reduction,”
Sanchez said.
The six furlough days are
expected to save the school
system a total of $244,900 in
salaries in benefits, although
the state would initially cut
$834,300 in salary costs from
the district's revenue for the
Mockus said that administra
tive service revenues were
ahead of projections for the
month of February by $1,819
with expenses being behind
by $326, leaving a month end
net of $1,493 to the good.
In parks, road and main
tenance, revenues were also
ahead of projections by
$593, with expenditures also
being ahead of projections by
$4,678, resulting in a balance
of $5,271 for the month.
Police department revenues
were behind by $615, but
expenses were ahead of pro
jections by $2,275, leaving a
month end net of $1,661 to
the good.
As of the end of February,
furlough days.
In addition, the board plans
to reduce its local teaching
supplement by two percent
— saving $642,470.
And anticipating more
budget cuts from the state
next school year, the board
reduced its state funding by
six percent.
Sanchez also expects that
the school system will collect
97 percent of local property
taxes — compared to 100 per
cent that was once adopted in
the current budget.
Meanwhile, next school
year is the last year that the
district's budget will be lift
ed by $1.8 million in federal
stimulus funds.
Chairperson Wilbanks
encouraged the board to
address how it will support
those positions funded by
the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act (ARRA)
when it expires for the district
in 2012.
“If we don't make that up
this year, we’re dead in the
water next year,” she said.
Overall, the proposed 2010-
2011 budget anticipates an
ending balance of $2.1 mil
lion.
“The better we can build
that fund balance, the better
off we’ll going to be long
term,” Wilbanks said.
the city is up $34,042 for the
year.
Arcade Police Chief Randy
Williams reported that for the
month of February, Arcade
officers patrolled a total of
6,358 miles, burning a total
of 499 gallons of gas at a
cost of $1,242. Officers made
22 misdemeanor arrests,
answered 29 calls, completed
37 incident reports and had no
arrest reports for the month.
Also during the meeting,
council member Tom Hays
said applicants to fill the posi
tion of road supervisor for
the city are currently being
reviewed. Hays said he hopes
to begin the interview process
soon.
Upcoming library events
Arcade continued from page 1A
Call 706-367-5233 to subscribe to
The Jackson Herald today!
Don’t forget to
buckle up for safety!
JAIL BREAKS BY
CLASSIC CITY BONDING, INC.
706-354-865$
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Now Serving: Madison & Jackson Counties!
Also Clarke, Jackson, Oconee, Oglethorpe & Barrow Counties
Email: jailbreaks@classiccitybonding.com
Web: classiccitybonding.com
Rent That
Builds Equity
Shannon Sell
Applying for a home loan today sure isn't what it used to
be. Buyers who would have qualified just a year or two ago
are now facing rejection. But all hope is not yet lost. If you
find a home you love offered by motivated sellers, your real
estate representative may be able to negotiate a lease-to-own
option.
Simply paying rent is like throwing your money away,
but a rent-to-own option actually helps you build equity as
you make your monthly payments (like a mortgage).
Usually, a portion of the monthly rent paid goes into
escrow, where it accumulates for the eventual down
payment. It's a fairly painless way to help save up money so
you can get the home you want now, even if you can't put
enough down yet or don't have the credit needed to qualify
for financing. Within an agreed amount of time, usually one
to three years, you have the opportunity to save enough for
the down payment and improve your credit score enough to
secure a loan and then complete your purchase.
Many sellers find this arrangement attractive too. Because
we are still in a strong buyer's market, sellers are in fierce
competition for the limited pool of buyers. Offering a lease-
to-purchase option can give them a tremendous advantage
over other listings. In a still unstable housing market, they
could ultimately end up with a slightly higher sales price
simply because they are willing to wait for the closing. And
in the meantime, having the lease-purchase can generate
income.
Shannon Sell is the broker & owner of The Sell Group,
LLC, a full-service real estate firm located in
downtown Hoschton. He can be reached at Coir ^
706-654-5691. www.thesellgroupoidine.com
RrjJ Ei Mr Strvim
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^ Kids •
Moms
WW A ■ ‘■A
Barrow County's Largest Sale
Oxlf ^
• Toys
• Strollers
• Games
• Books
• Clothes
• Maternity
• Nursery
• Bikes
• Car Seats
• Furniture
**' What?
Watt - to - watt bargain*
(over 6000 sg. ft.) (or rids,
moms, and mom (.-to-be on
the beet quality item* at prd
sale price*.
DON'T MISS THIS SALS!
When?
March 13th
8:00 AM -
LCCATCO IN FELLOWSHIP HALL
Pain or Shine
Air conditioned/Healed
Half price tale Noon to 2:00 PM
Aj
Ci
Winder first United Methodist church
280 N. fcoad St. Winder (Across from
For information or to volunteer,
call Allison dart: at 710-81*1-4514
City of Nicholson
NOTICE OF SPECIAL AGENDA
The City of Nicholson will hold its
monthly work session at 7:00 p.m. on
March 18, 2010 at the Community Center.
During the session the Mayor will call
the meeting to order to vote on the
proposed 2010 Budget.
GARYALLAN
Thursday, April 22 at 8 p.m.
Tickets on sale Friday; March 12
Call or stop by the Box Office
706.357.4444
www.ClassicCenter.com
300 N. Thomas St. Downtown Athens
ClassiccenteR
^ Theatre