Newspaper Page Text
Floyd, Carter ‘Disagree’ Over Preliminary Budget
REP. FLOYD
VOLUME 88 —NUMBER 47
City of Menlo
Sees Surplus
At Year End
The City of Menlo ended
1972 with a surplus of
$2,938.45, according to a year
end report made at the first
meeting of 1973 for the Mayor
and Council. This compares
with a surplus of $1,354.78 in
1971.
Receipts for the year
totaled $14,604.17. Expendi
tures were listed at SII,OOO.
Immediately preceding the
Tuesday night meeting, three
new councilmen were sworn in
by Mayor George Payne. They
are: Larry Canada, Travis
Limited Number
Football Banquet
Tickets for Sale
A limited number of tickets
are available for the Chattooga
High Indian football banquet
on Thursday, Jan. 25, at the
CHS cafetorium, and are on
sale on a first-come, first
served, basis for $2.
The banquet speaker will be
Georgia Tech Coach Steve
Sloan, a former University of
Alabama quarterback.
Tickets may be purchased
from Leroy Buice or other
members of the Chattooga
County Linebackers Club.
Insurance ‘Help’
Due Next Week
Do you have a question
about your insurance? Arc you
having trouble with an insur
ance claim?
If you are, the Georgia In
surance Department, under the
direction of Comptroller
General Johnnie L Caldwell,
has a service to help residents
of the Chattooga County area
with their insurance problems.
A special field investigation
team now travels throughout
Georgia on a regular basis. The
fieldmen visit about 50 towns
and cities each month to
answer insurance-related ques
tions and help with insurance
claim problems.
“Since we started this
service last year, we have ex
panded it twice,” Caidwell ,
said. “Even with the addition
of two men and about 25
towns to our schedule, we are ■
still not able to reach every
Georgian who has insurance
problems.”
A member of the team from
Caldwell’s office will be in
— I
King at Meeting
J.W. (Bill) King, Superin
tendent of Chattooga County
Schools, recently attended two
days of orientation for new
superintendents held at the
State Department of Education
in Atlanta.
He also attended three addi
tional days of orientation at
Lake Jackson.
Some 40 or 50 new superin
tendents attended these meet
ings
When the 1973 session of
the Georgia General Assembly
gets underway, you can be sure
that the state’s budget will
steal the legislative spotlight.
An indication of what will
be in store is the differences of
opinion already expressed by
Gov. Jimmy Carter and Rep.
James (Sloppy) Floyd, chair
man of the House Appropria
tions Committee.
Late last year, the Governor
revealed a record budget pro
posal of $1,661 billion for
fiscal 1973, and told key
members of the House and
Senate that if his plans were
followed the state would have
a $135-million surplus by this
June.
By revealing his basic
udget plans at that time,
arter broke with tradition
lat has previously kept legisla-
She ^ummenttlk News
Money, and B. L. Bankson.
Holdover councilmen are J. P.
Thornberry and Lonnie Ward.
Hester Hurtt is city recorder.
Lonnie Ward was named
mayor pro tern for the coming
year. Other committee ap
pointments included:
- Police—Travis Money;
-Water—Lonnie Ward, B. L.
Bankson;
Street-J. P. Thornberry,
Larry Canada.
For the day shift, J.P.
Thornberry was named fire
chief, with William Thomas as
his assistant. On the night shift,
Larry Canada will serve as
chief, with Travis Money as
assistant.
Mayor Payne announced
that in the event of fire, Menlo
residents are requested to call
862-2222 or 862-2224 during
the day and 862-2629 or
862-2091 at night.
The Mayor and Council re
hired the city’s three perma
nent employees, granting a 5.5
percent across-the-board in
crease in salary.
The tax millage for Menlo
was set at the same figure-5
mills-as last year. All business
licenses (with one exception)
were set the same as during
1971.
Mayor Payne said Menlo
(Continued On Page 9)
Summerville on Jan. 8 to help
local residents with their in
surance problems. Field Inves
tigator Jim Kirk will be at the
Chattooga County Courthouse
on that date from 9 a.m. until
2:30 p.m. through the coopera
tion of the county commis
sioner and other public offi
cials.
State Court of Chattooga County Now History
The State Court of Chat
tooga County died at midnight,
Dec. 31, at the age of 31.
Although the voters of the
county had approved a referen
dum to abolish the court, few
persons are likely to have taken
notice of its demise.
The court had an active if
sometimes controversial -life
during its more than three
decades of existence. At least
one other attempt was made to
“kill” the court, but the
patient refused to die.
A legislative act approved
March 10, 1941, created the
City Court of Chattooga
County, the name given to the
court at birth. The act defined
the jurisdiction and powers of
the court, provided for the
tors in the dark on what the
Governor wants until he de
livers a budget message to a
joint session of the General As
sembly.
The proposed budget was
called “tight” and “conserva
tive” by Gov. Carter, who said
it would give the state a chance
to spend next year without
borrowing.
But Rep. Floyd has said
that the Governor’s proposed
budget will leave the state in
debt by some $l9O million.
The appropriations chairman
said Carter has overestimated
the amount of revenue the
state will collect during the
next fiscal year.
“It doesn’t look good to
me,” the veteran state legisla
tor said.
Floyd declared that the
state might make it through
SUMMERVILLE, CHATTOOGA COUNTY. GEORGIA. THURSDAY, JANUARY 4, 1973
’Uh. ******'’*’•
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Mayor George Payne (L) swears in
three new members of the Menlo City
Council immediately preceding Tues
day night’s Council meeting. The new
Smaller Paychecks
Begin in Chattooga
Beginning with their first
pay check in 1973, workers in
Chattooga County will join the
rest of the nation in paying out
more money for Social Secur
ity.
A worker making SIOO a
week paid $5.20 weekly for
Social Security in 1972. This
year, he’ll pay out $5.85 a
week, or an annual total of
$304.20 compared to $260.40
last year.
The maximum paid by any
one in 1972 was $468. This
year, the maximum has been
raised to $631.80.
Congress last year voted to
increase Social Security bene
fits. To finance the new bene
fits, an increase in the amount
of income subject to Social
Security taxes and a raise in
the rate at which that income
in taxes was approved.
Last year, only the first
$9,000 of earnings was taxed.
It will increase to SIO,BOO in
election of a judge and solicitor
and their compensation, and
provided for quarterly terms of
the court.
Before 1941, the lower
court level situation in Chat
tooga County was somewhat
different. An act approved Oct.
7, 1868, provided for the or
ganization of a criminal court
in Chattooga County until a
county or district court could
be organized. Sometime after
this date and before 1941 a
grand jury court for the county
was organized, and operated
until 1941
The act creating the court in
1941 abolished the grand jury
court for Chattooga County.
The name of the court re
mained the same until April
MENLO GETS NEW COUNCILMEN
1973. Also, the former rate ot
5.20 percent will rise to 5.85
percent.
In addition to increases
coming in 1973, further raises
for subsequent years have been
built into the Social Security
System through escalator
provisions that will allow
benefits to rise automatically
as the cost of living goes up.
Last October, those already
receiving Social Security
benefits got a 20-percent in
crease, making the maximum
Meeting Scheduled
All delegates are urged to
attend a meeting of the County
PTA Council at 7:30 tonight in
the Lyerly Elementary School
library.
Mrs. Gayle West, publicity
chairman for the local March
of Dimes chapter, will show
the film strip, “Keep on Walk
ing.”
OFFICIALLY ENDED DECEMBER 31
23, 1969, when an act was
approved to change the name
of the City Court of Chattooga
County to the Civil and Crimi
nal Court of Chattooga
County. This act did not affect
the status of the court in any
other manner.
Throughout the years of its
existence, the court handled
misdemeanor and traffic cases
for the county.
On March 24, 1970, an act
was approved which provided
for the organization, jurisdic
tion, venue, practice, and pro
cedure of certain courts below
the superior court level. This
general act had the effect of
changing the name of the Civil
and Criminal Court of Chat
tooga County to the State
one year with the Governor’s
budget by soaking up a large
surplus left from 1972 and by
spending revenue-sharing funds
on one-shot items that will not
recur.
Floyd warned that such a
budget, depending heavily on
surplus and unpredictable
revenue sharing, could lead to
additional taxes.
He said detailed studies of
the preliminary state spending
plan have convinced him that
the state will have only $1,470
billion in recurring revenue for
the year.
Floyd cited some of the
“so-called non-recurring ex
penses” proposed by Carter -
including new buildings, which
would require continuing main
tenance.
“They’re going to be around
for a long time,” Floyd said,
members are, left to right: Larry
Canada, Travis Money, and B. L. Bank
son.
benefit for an individual
$266.10 a month.
In addition, disabled
persons under age 65 will now
be covered by Medicare, and
Medicare hospital insurance
will soak up a bigger share of
Social Security taxes.
Congress has voted to in
crease the tax rate in stages up
to 6.25 percent in 1986. Also
increasing will be the amount
of income subject to tax. The
two measures will push the
maximum tax contribution up
ward with each upsurge.
A continuing climb in the
cost of living and a five percent
annual increase in wages is ex
pected by the Social Security
Administration.
Social Security spokesmen
point out, however, that
further changes in the social
security law are likely, and that
inflation will cut down the pur
chasing power of the benefit
checks in future years.
“and they’ll cost more money
in every budget.”
The Chattooga legislator
added that the only way the
state could exercise fiscal
soundness would be to spend
in fiscal 1974 only what it
took in during fiscal 1973.
Current revenue estimates
for fiscal 1973 show an income
of $1,359 billion, about $302
million less than the proposed
budget for 1974.
In a two-sided attack on the
preliminary budget, Floyd
charged that the Governor’s
proposal of SSO million in
property tax rebates was de
signed to help land merchants
and not small property owners.
“I represent people, not
pine trees,” the Chattoogan
added. “1 don’t see where this
will help the small property
owner. 1 can see; however,
1 Traffic Death
Recorded Here
During Holiday
Rossville Man Is
Killed Near Trion
One traffic fatality marred the serenity of the New
Year’s holiday period in Chattooga County, according
to a report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Depart
ment.
A Rossville man, Charles B. Stone, 21, was pro-
nounced dead on arrival at
Trion Community Hospital
following a traffic accident
early Sunday, according to the
report.
The accident occurred
about 2:45 a.m. Dec. 31 near
the Trion Golf Course.
Dennis Price, also of Ross
ville, a passenger in the auto
mobile, was carried to the
Trion hospital, transferred to
Tri-County Hospital at Fort
Oglethorpe, and later trans
ferred to Erlanger Hospital in
Chattanooga. He was reported
to have sustained multiple lace
rations.
Stone, who was driving a
Volkswagen, failed to make a
steep curve near the bridge
leading to the golf course,
officers said. The car went over
an embankment and hit two
trees. The car was reported to
be a total loss.
State Patrol Cpl. Victor
West and Deputies James
Pierce and Jon Payne of the
sheriff’s department investi
gated the accident.
The Chattooga County
Sheriff’s Department reported
a total of 3,645 arrests during
1972, the largest number ever
recorded. This figure was an
increase of some 300 arrests
over 1971.
The Summerville Police De
partment reported that three
persons were arrested last week
Court of Chattooga, and had
the effect of making the juris
diction, venue, practice, and
procedure of all “state courts”
uniform throughout Georgia.
The state court had five
judges during its 31 years of
existence. Its first judge was
C. D. Rivers. Succeeding judges
were T. J. Espy Jr., F. H.
Boney, Bobby Lee Cook,and
Jerry Westbrook.
In January, 1972, Rep.
James (Sloppy) Floyd intro
duced legislation in the House
of Representatives to abolish
the State Court of Chattooga
County if the voters of »he
county approved. At that time,
Rep. Floyd said that since the
county now has two superior
court judges he could see no
where this will greatly beneht
the big land owner.”
The Governor’s preliminary
budget of $1,661 billion con
tains SSO million in property
tax credit in a move he claims
will give back to property
owners an average of 10 per
cent of what they pay in prop
erty taxes.
“I don’t know how this will
work,” Floyd said. “There are
some things about it that just
don’t make sense right now.”
Floyd concluded by saying:
“It’s wrong to consider a
budget based on proposed
legislation. It will be difficult
for the Appropriations Com
mittee to approve a budget
while the property tax pro
posal is being considered as
separate legislation in another
committee.”
in connection with a burglary
at Parker’s Service Station on
South Commerce Street.
After tearing a hole in the
rear of the building, the report
said, the burglars took 50-60
packages of cigarettes, three or
four cases of Cokes and Double
Colas, two rods and reels, a
30-cup coffee maker, and a
pair of pliers. Most of the mer
chandise has been recovered.
Arrested in connection with
the burglary were two brothers
and a juvenile.
Rudy Hodosi, manager of
Gino’s on Highway 27-North,
(Continued On Page 9)
Trion Has Plans
On New Projects
In looking forward to the
new year, Mayor J.C. Woods
has announced that the Town
of Trion has plans in the mak
ing for several projects of im
provement during 1973.
Mayor Woods revealed that
Trion has approved a contract
to Harry Peppers and Asso
ciates of Jacksonville, Fla., for
reason to retain the court.
Earlier, a superior court grand
jury had recommended that
the people of the county be
given a chance to vote on
whether they wanted the court
to remain in existence.
In the November general
election, the voters of Chat
tooga County voted to abolish
the court.
Cases previously heard by
the State Court of Chattooga
County will now be transferred
to the Chattooga County
Superior Court and to the Or
dinary’s Court. The superior
court will handle all cases other
than traffic violations.
The State Court of Chat
tooga County has now passed
into history.
Survivors: none.
GOV. CARTER
Ordinary’s Court
Set On Thursdays
In Traffic Cases
Ordinary Paul Weems
this week announced that
traffic cases will be
handled in his offices on
Thursdays.
The cases were trans
ferred to Ordinary’s Court
when the State Court of
Chattooga County offi
cially went out of exis
tence at midnight, Dec.
31.
“Most ordinaries handle
traffic cases one day a
month,” Weems said, "but
we will try the court once
a week until we get
started, to see how things
work out.”
Only traffic cases will
be handled from his office.
Other misdemeanor cases
will be heard in Chattooga
Superior Court.
the installation of a secondary
waste water treatment plant.
Cost of the project is
$945,000.
An application has been
made to the Housing and
Urban Development Authority
(HUD) for a new community
center at Trion at an estimated
cost of $600,000, the Mayor
said.
It was also reported that an
application has been made to
the Bureau of Outdoor Recrea
tion for additional playground
equipment such as a new tennis
court and play items for small
children. The estimated cost
for this project is $45,000.
Mayor Woods summarized
the following accomplishments
for the Town of Trion during
the past several years:
Completion of paving all
streets with plant mix, a
project which amounted to
12-plus miles. This program has
been spread out over several
years and was accomplished
with help from Rep. James
(Sloppy) Floyd and the State
Highway Department.
-The addition of a number
of residential units during the
past year.
-The addition of a modern
hardware store in the Triangle
Shopping Center. "" 1 ■
Board to Meet
Next Monday night at 7:30
will be the first meeting of
forl&T B ° ard ° f ““‘‘“on
Phis will be Sue Spivey’s
first meeting as an official
board member.
PRICE 15c