MCKENZIE (June 22) - Final approval was given to a $2.74 million city budget Thursday by unanimous vote. The 2006-2007FY budget calls for the same tax rate of $1.05 per $100 assessed value, unchanged from the current year.

Mayor Walter Winchester said the budget includes a 40-cent per hour raise for city employees, the purchase of three 2007 model Ford Crown Victoria police cruisers, at $24,000 each payable one per year for three years from Tri-County Motors, and 30 complete sets of firefighter turnout gear at a cost of $52,000. Completion of the sidewalk along College Drive from Bethel to the McKenzie Recreation Park is included at $58,000, with the state paying the remaining $104,000.

Anticipated revenues include: local assessed taxes of $1,838,700 including the bulk of revenue from sales taxes of $858,500, beer taxes of $125,000, business taxes of $40,000, hotel/motel tax of $20,000, cable television taxes of $90,000, Carroll County Electric in lieu of taxes $10,000, and 2006 property taxes of $541,200; Intergovernmental Revenues include $601,000 from other governmental sources; licenses, permits, and fines generate another $109,400, including $30,000 from the city wheel tax, $60,000 from fines, $2,500 from the sale of seized vehicles; in services and facilities generates $82,500 including $25,000 from rural fire contracts, $28,000 from the driving school; and miscellaneous $166,500.

Expenditures include: general government, $660,487; police department $1,047,200; fire department $337,100; streets and highway department $365,650; city garage $36,900; street lighting $99,000; parks and recreation $192,600; and public affairs $5,000.

Donations were approved of $100 each to the Carl Perkins Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse, St. Jude's Children's Hospital, American Cancer Society, and Southern Poison Center.

Councilman Gene Hale reported the issuance of 58 citations for violating the city sticker (wheel tax) law from June 5 to 22. The fine is $39 plus the cost of the $10 sticker. The city is also trying out a mobile speed trailer, which can be placed on the roadside to display motorists speed. He encouraged fellow councilpersons to visit the installation sites and to "watch the brake lights come on." The loaned unit, powered by solar power, sells for $18,000, but can be purchased for approximately $12,000. It can be used by the police along city routes and in the school zones, and the street and water departments near construction sites. If purchased, the costs would be shared by all three departments, said Hale.

In Fire Department reports, Councilwoman Darra Adkins said the Department has made 99 calls this year. Letters requesting rural residents to contract with McKenzie Fire Department will be mailed within days, said Adkins. The annual fee is $65, for a contract term of July 1 to June 30. The Fire Department will respond to rural addresses within five miles of the city for a contracted fee of $750 or $1,500 without a contract.

Adkins questioned the recently advertised fees for collecting roadside household waste, limbs and brush. Councilman Jerry Arthur said the city reinstituted its previous fee structure, which had been temporarily suspended. Mayor Winchester said the Street Department's budget must now be self-sustaining, in which the associated revenues of road taxes and other revenues must fund the department's budget. The Mayor also commented that tree-cutting companies have been leaving the debris for the city to collect. The companies are supposed to dispose of the debris, said the Mayor.

Adkins said she noticed a considerable amount of roadside debris while she was driving around town recently. The Street Department collects roadside household waste (not garbage) and brush on alternating weeks, said Arthur. Mayor Winchester said recent high winds created a larger-than-usual amount of downed limbs.

Councilwoman Jill Holland provided an update on the upcoming Freedom Festival activities. (See separate news article in this newspaper.)

Winchester announced a special meeting on Thursday, June 29, 7:00 p.m. to amend the 2005-2006 budget.

All councilpersons were present.

MCKENZIE (June 26) - Members of the McKenzie Special School District Board of Education heard a summary of the proposed 2006-2007 FY budget beginning July 1. Superintendent Jim Ward said the $6.66 million budget would be funded with no new property taxes at a tax rate of $1.53 per $100 assessed value. The board will vote on the budget Tuesday, June 27.

Ward said the proposed budget provides a 2.25 percent raise to certificated staff, plus another 5 percent supplement on their major medical insurance, raising the system's portion to 60 percent of either family or individual coverage. Ward said a family plan total costs are approximately $12,000 and individual $4,800 to $5,000. Starting salary of for a beginning teacher with a Bachelor of Science degree will be $30,383. Approximately eight percent of the certified staff will receive a pay level increase for experience and advanced degrees. Non-certified employees are expected to receive 5% raise for full time and 4% for part time. The proposed budget includes $100,000 in new money for technology and approximately $60,000 for textbooks.

The overall budget represents a four percent increase in costs including $19,000 more for electricity and 15% more for natural gas.

Ward said he is pleased with the progress at MSSD during his tenure. The number of certified personnel has increased, student-teacher ratios have declined, reading has been added as a subject in the middle school, and pre-K has been added with great success and should reduce the retention rates in kindergarten and first grade.

Personnel changes include: Elementary - two retirements, Sarah Freeman and Martha Putman and the resignation of Karen Jeffery and Angie Maddox. Becky Smith will return as counselor, filling the vacancy of Maddox; Middle School - Annie Ward has vacated the library position, William Hardy has been deployed to Iraq, and Beth French has relocated to Murfreesboro. Jill Renfro will fill the position of librarian, Brad Chappell will move from computer to Hardy's classroom, and Shawn Thompson has been hired to fill Renfro's language arts class; High School - Erika Cole is returning to MHS to teach Spanish, a position Anthony Campbell vacated.

Carroll County has more than 200 more persons employed than it did for the same period one year ago, according to latest statistics released by the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development.

Carroll County's unemployment rate for May 2006 was 6.0 percent, down from the April rate of 6.2 percent. From a labor force of 13,600, a total of 12,790 were employed, leaving 820 unemployed.

"There were overall increases in total non-manufacturing with no one sector dominating," said Judith Bradberry, Labor Market Analyst for the state.

In May 2005, the county had an available work force of 13,610, with 12,570 employed and 1,040 unemployed.

Unemployment rates in Henry County also decreased slightly during the May reporting period, while Weakley County's jobless rate remained unchanged.

According to statistics, Henry County had 270 fewer employed than this time last year. Henry County's jobless rate for May was 6.8 percent, down from 7.3 percent in April. From a labor force of 13,770 a total of 12,830 were employed, leaving 940 unemployed.

"Henry County followed the same trend as Carroll County. Overall employment increased slightly with no one area dominating," said Dawson.

When compared to the same period last year, Henry County had a labor force of 14,150 in May 2005, with 13,100 employed and 1,050 unemployed.

Weakley County's May unemployment rate remained at 5.8 percent, the same as April. There were no significant changes in employment sectors, according to Dawson.

Compared to the same period last year, Weakley County showed increases in its labor force and employment increased by 270 as well. From a labor force of 15,650 Weakley Countians in May 2006, a total of 14,740 were employed, leaving 900 unemployed. In May 2005, the labor force for Weakley County stood at 15,480, with 14,470 employed and 1,010 unemployed.

Tennessee's unemployment rate for the month of May is 5.4 percent, the same as the seasonally adjusted April rate, according to Commissioner of Labor & Workforce Development James Neeley. The national unemployment rate for May is 4.6 percent, down 0.1 percentage point from the April rate.

"Tennessee unemployment rate is below where we were a year ago at 5.7 percent," said Commissioner Neeley. "We continue to see employment growth in both the household and business surveys with the most significant growth in the service providing industries."

April-to-May figures show increases in leisure and hospitality, up 4,200 jobs. Employment in construction increased by 2,000. Trade, transportation and utilities employment increased by 1,900 jobs. Month-to-month employment decreases took place in professional, Scientific and technical services with 2,500 jobs lost. State government educational services employment dropped by 2,400 jobs, and educational services lost 1,500 jobs.

From May 2005 to May 2006, trade, transportation and utilities increased by 10,200. Jobs in leisure and hospitality rose by 8,700 and educational and health services jobs increased by 7,200. Employment decreased in manufacturing by 5,200, food and beverage stores by 1,500 and federal government jobs by 700.

 
The McKenzie Banner will observe a deadline of 12 noon Friday for calendar events and advertising for the West Tennessee Advertiser for the July 4 edition. The deadline for all other news and advertising will be 4:30 p.m. Friday.

The newspaper will be in the newsstands on Monday afternoon and will have a regular Wednesday postal delivery.