Newspaper Page Text
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2023
THE JACKSON HERALD
PAGE 3A
SPLOST 6 tops $98 million
Revenues from SPLOST 6 topped
$98.5 million in Jackson County over
the life of the sales tax.
SPLOST 6 began in July 2017 and
ended in June. The dollars were split
between the county government and
the various city governments in the
county. Voters approved the projects in
each jurisdiction before the SPLOST
went into effect.
Unlike regular sales taxes, SPLOST
funds can only be used for capital
projects and debt service, not ongoing
expenses.
Data from the county shows a
breakdown for how those dollars were
allocated:
County Government
Debt Service = $37.2 million
Water projects=$16 million
Public Safety= $3.99 million
Roads/Bridges = $5.3 million
Historic Courthouse = $1.4 million
Parks & Rec = $4.4 million
Animal Shelter = $443,700
City of Arcade = $2.67 million
Town of Braselton = $2.4 million
City of Commerce = $8.12 million
City of Hoschton = $2.89 million
City of Jefferson = $9.28 million
City of Nicholson = $2.61 million
City of Pendergrass = $3.15 million
City ofTalmo = $1.12 million
Donuts with the
Mayor program
planned in Commerce
Join Commerce Mayor Clark Hill for “Morning with
the Mayor” on Saturday, Oct. 14, at 8:30 a.m. There will
be coffee, donuts and discussion.
This event will be held at the Commerce Public Li
brary, located at 1344 South Elm St., Commerce.
All are invited to attend. The mayor will be available
for questions and answers.
County sales tax revenues back up after 4 months of slowing
After four months of In July, the county col- trailing last year’s LOST chase goods and services,
month-over-month de- lected $1.24 million in lo- income since March. Weak- The county has collect-
clines, Jackson County’s cal option sales taxes, up er sales taxes are often an ed $7.45 million so far in
sales tax revenues went from $1.16 million in July indication of economic 2023. The county’s budget
up in July over the same 2022. slowing as people aren’t for the year is $12.5 million
month in 2022. The county had been spending as much to pm- in sales tax dollars.
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The second class of the Commerce Youth Leadership Council was sworn in on Monday. Commerce High
School students on this year’s council are: Logan Petersen, Keara Zelley, Autumn Henry, Rian Mullis
and Madison Sanchez. Students are pictured with Commerce City School System Superintendent Joy
Tolbert, CHS Principal Will Smith and Commerce Mayor Clark Hill.
Commerce welcomes Youth Leadership Council
Five Commerce High
School students took their
oaths on Monday, Sept.
18, and will serve on the
second Commerce Youth
Leadership Council. Stu
dents — Logan Petersen,
Keara Zelley, Autumn
Henry, Rian Mullis and
Madison Sanchez — were
sworn in during the Com
merce City Council’s Sep
tember 18 meeting.
Over the coming
months, the group will get
a behind-the-scenes look
in the City of Commerce,
touring different depart
ments and learning how
the town works. Com
merce Mayor Clark Hill
said Monday that the pro
gram will allow the stu
dents to see how the city
is run.
“Plugging into our
youth is important to the
future of our community,”
Hill said.
City Clerk Sandra Hag
gard and CHS Media Spe
cialist Terri Massey help
to organize the program.
The group will meet about
once a month beginning in
October.
Nicholson
designated as
‘City of Civility’
The City of Nicholson has been designated as a City of
Civility by the Georgia Municipal Association (GMA).
Nicholson adopted a civility resolution in GMA’s new
Embrace Civility program on Sept. 5.
“A 2019 poll by Weber Shandwick revealed that over
90% percent of Americans believe that incivility is a
problem, with nearly 68% percent identifying it as a
major problem,” GMA leaders said. “Civility is more
than just politeness; it is about disagreeing without dis
respect, seeking common ground as a starting point for
dialogue about differences, listening past one’s precon
ceptions and teaching others to do the same.”
GMA, in partnership with Georgia City Solutions
(GCS), a nonprofit organization managed by the Asso
ciation, created the Embrace Civility program to equip
Georgia’s cities and partner organizations with resourc
es to create more civility in their meetings and among
their residents, the general public, and meeting attend
ees.
“Civil behavior and speech are critically important to
a healthy, functional and respectful society. For public
service to be effective, there must be an atmosphere of
respect and tolerance and a commitment to a healthy
public exchange of diverse ideas and viewpoints,”
GMA leaders continued.
To become a City of Civility, city councils are required
to adopt a Civility Resolution and pledge to engage in
civil behavior with each other as well as with residents
and meeting attendees. Cities also have a civility pledge
that can be published or recited at meetings.
“I commend the City of Nicholson for embracing ci
vility and adopting the resolution to become a GMA
City of Civility,” said GMA CEO and Executive Di
rector Larry Hanson. “We believe that Georgia’s cities
have a great platform to model open, free, and vigorous
debate, while maintaining the highest standards of ci
vility, honesty, and mutual respect.”
Learn more about the Embrace Civility program at
www.gacities.com/civility.
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for students through literacy
Photos by Angela Gary
State School Superintendent Richard Woods presented a literacy leader ban
ner to Maysville Elementary School. Shown are: (L-R) Ashley Payne, Dawn
Brewer, Ashley Hoek, Superintendent Woods, Maysville principal Dr. Katie
Warwick and Kelli Hall.
Local schools recognized by State
School Superintendent Woods
By Angela Gary
Georgia State Superinten
dent Richard Woods made a
stop at Maysville Elementary
School Monday to congrat
ulate the students for their
achievement in reading.
Maysville Elementary was
the number one school in
Georgia for third grade reading
improvement during last year’s
Milestones testing with a 32.7
point increase.
Woods presented school
leaders with a literacy leader
banner. Each fourth grader
was given a pocket-size United
States Constitution.
“We are here to celebrate the
fourth graders and what they
did last year as third graders,”
Woods said. “We are here to
celebrate some amazing work
that was done in reading. Read
ing is extremely important. It is
the most important skill you
can take with you when you
graduate high school.”
Jackson County School Sys
tem superintendent Dr. Philip
Brown also spoke and con
gratulated the students for
their achievement and the
teachers and staff for then-
work with the students.
“We love each and every
one of you,” he told the stu
dents. “We want you to be
successful and we do every
thing in our power to make
sure you have the best possi
ble education.”
To the staff, he stated,
“Thank you for all you do to
go above and beyond.”
The students sang a special
song, “Education Rocks,”
led by music teacher Tony
Villarini, during the assem
bly in the gym. The students
wore Maysville T-shirts with
different colors for each
grade.
Superintendent Woods
was presented with a basket
of T-shirts and other items
representing Maysville and
Jackson County. Maysville
student Mackenzie Kidd
presented the gifts to Woods.
Maysville principal Dr.
Katie Warwick stated, “We are
proud of each and every one of
you. You are all amazing and
special and we believe in all of
you. Keep up the hard work!”
State School Superintendent Richard Woods presented a literacy leader
banner to Gum Springs Elementary School. Shown are: (L-R) Missy Brunen,
Christina Wilkins, Karin Pittman, Holly Roland, Lisa Ellis, Gum Springs princi
pal Joshua Todd, Woods, Morgan Runge and Mechelle Robinson.
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