The Islander. (St. Simons Island, Ga.) 1972-current, June 08, 2009, Image 1

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The Islander., June 08, 2009, Image 1

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Newspaper Page Text500 JSLflND€R_ • Dave Barry -10 • Editorial Back Talk -16 • Health - 7 • Movie Review Up -11 • Music Review Friedman's Ear Food - 9 ■ • Pew News -14 Surfin’ the News Published by Permar Publications • P.O. Box 20539 • St. Simons Island, Ga. 31522 • 912-265-9654 • ssislander@bellsouth.net June 8, 2009 Established 1972 Vol 37 Issue 23 By Pamela Permar Shierling The Brunswick City Com mission unanimously accepted a proposed $16.7 million Gen eral Fund budget for 2009- 2010 at their Wednesday, June 2 meeting. The City will hold a public hearing on the budget on Wednesday, June 24 at 6 p.m. prior to approval. According to City Finan cial Director Martha Hendley the budget as presented will not result in a millage rate increase. The current millage rate is 12.25. "The millage rate will be set in July after we receive the assessed property value from Harmon, Kim Johnson (2nd Row - 1 to R) Essie Southall, Betty Julio, Karmen Harrison, Roberta Johnson, Jennifer Way, Undo Clark (3rd Row - 1 to R) Ellen Murphy (Instruc tor), Olena Burnfin, liz Garcia, Phyllis Krush, latoreya McCalip, Britney Collins, lynda Butler, Monteya long, Katie Orrel (Instructor), not pictured Cyshequa Dancy. Islander Staff Photo City approves 2009-2010 budget • Budget 15% less than 2009 STAR Foundation grads Turn to Page 5 City 09-10 budget New CASAs sworn in STAR 2nd Qtr. 2009 graduates include: (1st Row - left to right) Janice Russell, Eunice Reed, Gale Fipps, Taquilla Gloria Grovner, (left to right) Margaret Maestas and Rachel Torres were sworn-in as CASA volunteer advo cates by Glynn County Juvenile Court Judge George Rountree last week. Islander Staff Photo On Thursday, June 4, three new Court Appointed Spe cial Advocates (CASAs) were sworn in by Glynn County Juvenile Court Judge George Rountree in the Juvenile Courtroom in Glynn Comity's Office Park building. New CASA volunteers include: Gloria Grovner is a Bruns wick native who has two grown children. She has worked for Georgia Legal Services assist ing clients with their cases. Gloria describes herself as compassionate and empathic which is demonstrated by her commitment to mentoring teenaged unwed mothers in the community. She is chomp ing at the bit for her first case. Margaret Maestas is origi nally from New Mexico and works at FLETC for the Depart ment of Defense as a Federal Turn to Page 5 New CASAs STAR Foundation graduates 19 from second quarter class The STAR Foundation awarded certificates to 19 grad uates during its 52nd gradua tion ceremony last Thursday, June 4. The graduation was held at the First Presbyterian Church in Brunswick. Over the years STAR has graduated 881 students and helped them become comput er literate as well as teach ing them job training and life skills. Financial education has become part of STAR's train ing. Sixteen of the 19 gradu ates saved enough money in a virtual bank account to pur chase a computer. These students were each awarded their own computer. The computers, late model, gently used, were donated to the STAR Foundation by local businesses and individuals. Graduates also received awards for perfect attendance and financial literacy. STAR 2nd Qtr. 2009 gradu ates included: Janice Rus sell, Eunice Reed, Gale Fipps, Taquilla Harmon, Kim John son, Essie Southall, Betty Julio, Karmen Harrison, Roberta Johnson, Jennifer Way, Linda Clark, Olena Burnfin, Liz Garcia, Phyllis Krush, Lato reya McCalip, Britney Collins, Lynda Butler, Monteya Lang and Cyshequa Dancy. STAR, Southern Techno logical Advocacy Resources, is a 501(c)3 non-profit organiza tion. New classes start in July, 2009, for more information call 554-0540. □ No tax increase for County • Jury still out on digest By Matthew J. Permar Glynn County’s fiscal year 2009-2010 budget is ready for final approval by the County Commission and Glynn Coun ty residents can look forward to property taxes remaining at last year’s levels. County Finance Director Phyllis McNicoll presented the final draft version of the bud get to the county commission at a called meeting at 5:00 p.m. last Thursday, June 4. A mandatory public hearing was held immediately follow ing McNicoll's presentation. A public hearing had also been held the day before on St. Simons Island. According to McNicoll, the General Fund budget is bal anced at $56,204,694. “Staff is recommending no increase in property taxes,” said McNicoll. The one thing that could have a major, negative impact on the budget is the tax digest, which is required by law to be completed by Chief Appraiser Robert Gerhardt and turned in to Tax Commissioner Florence Dees' office by July 1. This year's digest is cur rently expected to be about two weeks late. McNicoll based her budget revenue assumptions on a zero property tax increase for this year. If the tax digest comes in much lower than predicted, it could result in a major budget reduction adjustment. Expressing concern about the tax digest, Commission er Don Hogan (At Large #1) asked McNicoll if there were any indicators on where the value of digest might come in. Based on the lateness of the digest, McNicoll said, “I don’t have any information about the digest that I have any con fidence in.” Along with the zero prop erty tax increase, McNicoll's other revenue assumptions include sales tax coming in at 9% under last year's actual col lections; the Accommodation Excise Tax (Bed Tax) coming Turn to Page 2 County budget