This morning marked the first of the Breakfast with the Legislators meetings, sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge.

Senator McNally, recently named Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, noted that among the General Assembly’s first tasks will be receipt of the Governor’s roughly $28 billion budget.  Other issues expected to surface quickly are a proposed increase in the tobacco tax (currently, one of the lowest in the nation), and adjustments to the BEP — the State’s formula for funding public K-12 education.  The General Assembly is also likely to consider an income cap for the property tax freeze for seniors, which passed as a constitutional amendment last year, and potentially a minimum wage discussion.

Jim Hackworth noted that he and Dennis Ferguson (Roane Co.) had worked previously on getting the widening of Highway 58/95 (the west end of the turnpike out to Horizon Center) on track, and that those efforts would continue.  He also told the group that gas tax revenues (allocated for road projects) have not risen — that as the cost of fuel increases, people buy less, and tax revenues remain flat.  Given that the cost of labor and materials does not remain static, the availability of funds to complete such projects is dwindling.

Both McNally and Hackworth addressed the subject of education funding, with the consensus being that it’s more likely they’ll increase funding for at-risk students and those who speak English as a second language than to completely overhaul the formula.  This seems consistent with the Governor’s message as well.

One of the topics brought up by a questioner involved the lottery scholarships, as relates to a letter to the editor in this morning’s News-Sentinel (Slight deviations can disqualify good students, third letter down).  Not all students who lose the lottery scholarship do so for lack of good grades or enrollment, it seems.  I just heard from Alpha today that a math honors student at UT lost his scholarship because he earned too many credits during a summer internship.

McNally and Hackworth agreed that the system isn’t perfect, and will require some adjustment.

Other concerns raised by audience members were the long lines at the ballot box last August, the need for a dedicated revenue stream for Pre-K funding, and questions about how education foundations might affect BEP funding (it doesn’t).

The next Breakfast with the Legislators will be on Feb. 26 at the Civic Center, and is open to the public.  If you have questions, come on down!

The BEP Review Committee met again this morning to resolve their last piece of unfinished business: to issue a recommendation on system-level fiscal capacity, deferred from the Nov. 1 Annual Report.

Last year, the General Assembly passed a resolution directing the BEP Review Committee to provide a “consensus recommendation on a system-level fiscal capacity model.” This was a tall order, as the BEP Review Committee is by definition representative of all constituencies — large, urban school systems; small, rural school systems; municipal and independent school systems; the House and Senate Education Committee chairs; the State Board of Education; Tennessee School Boards Association; the Tennessee Municipal League; the Tennessee County Commissioners Association; along with various representatives from State offices like TACIR, the Comptroller, the Governor’s office, etc.

Because everyone on the committee represents a particular interest, it’s impossible to gain consensus on anything that’s going to harm some, in order to help others. And, as was pointed out in today’s meeting, defining what is needed to meet the goals of state education policy is the group’s real focus — fiscal policy really belongs in the hands of the General Assembly.

I agree.

Ultimately, the committee agreed that they cannot reach what the Legislature demanded: a “consensus recommendation on a system-level funding formula.” Their recommendation will be that the system-level funding formula be combined with a broader legislative discussion of adequacy in education funding statewide.

Several groups are now working on defining “adequacy” in terms of education funding, including one working with the University of Washington, sponsored by the Gates Foundation. Another is the Tennessee Organization of School Superintendents.

A second resolution passed today directed the State Board of Education to conduct a study of current school system expenditures by category, in order to determine the areas in which the BEP is falling short of meeting the needs of school systems, and that this study begin soon — not next Fall, as is usually the case.

Several people on the committee surprised me by making a rather dramatic turnaround from previous positions, including TACIR’s Harry Green, who said (prior to his motion on the recommendation, which passed):

I hate to spend so much time talking about fiscal capacity when the system is failing. Redistrubuting money isn’t going to change the educational outcome if we are not addressing adequacy.

Gee, couldn’t we have saved about three years if everyone realized this sooner? Still, better late than never.

We’ll have to watch the Legislature very closely this year, but if they truly comprehend this recommendation, it will be okay.

Reader “Girlfriend” e-mailed with a good question about the Target deal:

Ok then, if they would have gotten a tax abatement what would that have amounted to and can you use the analogy that if we would have done it with the tax break it would have cost the city more? 

I looked up the abatement answers on the IDB Retail Incentive Matrix, and the estimated property tax revenues from notes I took in a meeting yesterday, and came up with something close to an answer.  It doesn’t substitute for a real answer at the work session next week, but I think it’s close.

You know, the tough part about representing Oak Ridgers is that you folks never ask easy questions.

Based on the IDB guidelines for retail incentives, they would be eligible for a 50% property tax abatement over 15 years.

But, the (expected) assessed value of the property, when completed, is substantially less than the actual investment (probably $65 to $70 million).  Steve Jenkins estimated the annual property tax revenue (to Oak Ridge only) to be $282,849 per year.  So, if they got a 50% abatement for 15 years, that would only total $2,121,367.50.  Now, if the County property taxes were abated as well – which Oak Ridge does have the power to do – the value of the abatement would be closer to $5M.

That’s still just about half of the investment that Oak Ridge is being asked to make.

However, the assessment of retail property is based in part on sales volume, so the busier the place is, the more the property is judged to be worth.  AND more sales tax revenue is generated, which is the real cash flow from this kind of development and the one that most benefits the schools countywide.

It IS a risk.  However, our retail sector desperately needs a jump-start; having a healthier retail environment would also help us to attract some of the high-dollar residents that we’ve been losing to west Knox County in the last 10 years, which boosts not only the property tax base but also the sales tax revenues.

Think of economic development as a three-legged stool: housing, jobs, and retail.  For the last decade, we’ve had the jobs, but housing and retail were on the decline.  For the last 6 years or so the City has really put a focus on residency, so we finally have some new housing options that are beginning to pay off.  However, while that was happening, retail continued to slide, and slid so far that it’s negatively impacting the housing market (and possibly even impacting industry’s ability to recruit people to work here).  We need to get this third leg stabilized, then we’ll have a healthy balance.

I’m still feeling burned over the effort I put into Arnsdorff’s mall proposition, because he turned out to be a snake-oil salesman.  I don’t like being fooled, so I’m being tentative on this one.  However, I’ve already seen some differences, and GBT actually has a known track record.

Arnsdorff didn’t, and still doesn’t.

AtomicTumor seems to have gotten behind this idea as well.

Oak Ridge City Council will hold a work session next Monday, January 29, in the courtroom of the Municipal Building. The subject will be the proposed Super-Target shopping center, and the extent of the City’s involvement.

It will be televised on Channel 12, but it would be a good meeting to attend if you’re interested.

Although a significant investment will be required of the City to make this deal happen (due to the very high cost of developing this particular piece of property), I’ve seen Steve Jenkins’ revenue projections, and I definitely think it’s worth talking about. Like many, I feel totally burned on the Mall deal (although we never put any money into that deal — the City’s abatement doesn’t kick in until Arnsdorff spends at least $10M of his own money and fills up most of the empty space), and I don’t want to be fooled again.

Make no mistake: there is risk involved. But given the potential tangible return, it’s a risk I’m almost comfortable with. When you throw in the intangibles, it looks even better.

But, this is not a decision that your city leaders are going to go forward with unless people come forward and express their support. That was expressly stated in the original announcement yesterday, and repeated last night and this afternoon.

The numbers part is complicated, but it’s not as bad as the BEP formula. Time is of the essence. Get educated about this proposal, talk about the pros and cons, and let’s make this decision as a community, one way or the other.

As noted previously, the gas company declined to inform me that a 110v outlet (within 30″ of the stove) was required. The stove was installed, but we’ve been operating with a huge yellow extension cord running out of the cabinet beneath the stove, around the corner to the nearest outlet.

Thanks to a long weekend, the project was scheduled for completion… but naturally, any indoor projects were put off until the expected rain began. Then with the start of the rain, we needed to make a trip to Jacksboro for a lawnmower part. Next, it was time to go to the health club for a workout (do these things spell procrastination to you?). After supper, and a gross sci-fi movie, there were no more excuses.

Watching him squeeze nearly 6 feet, 200 or so pounds, into a kitchen cabinet was just pitiful.  Especially since I can easily get into the cabinet comfortably enough to snap a picture over his shoulder… but I don’t know how to install the outlet.

I don’t mess with electrical wiring.  Yes, I can split firewood, make a prom dress, build a fire and even wield small power tools… but I don’t do large current.  Even with the breaker off.

It’s a bit frustrating that this couldn’t have been done while we had the whole top of the island off, when it would have been easy to get to.  But… never mind.

The stove is awesome; instant on, instant off.  Works even when there’s no power (yea! — bring on the snowstorm!).  Cooks like I’ve always dreamed it would.

And, the biggest bonus of all: junk mail, school papers, etc. are absolutely prohibited from the island on the grounds that it would start a big fire.

So far, so good.

From AtomicTumor and NineMonths, it appears that Bos and Eaves’ new baby is on the way!

After a bit of a rough day today, my aggravation is gone and nothing but happy thoughts remain. Newbaby is actually due tomorrow, and it appears that he (supposed to be he, but we’ll know soon) may actually arrive right on time.

Not a bad thing, for a fourth baby.

Here’s to an easy labor and a healthy baby!

UPDATE: 8 lb baby boy arrived at 12:35 a.m. — exactly on his due date.

Yes, we are cooking with gas!

The installation took all day, and not on the day I had planned. The person who scheduled the installation didn’t tell me that a 110v outlet was necessary within 30″ of the cooktop (which would have been easy to install before the stove was put in, but which will now require crawling into the cabinet to complete). Electricity is required to power the lights and the igniter, so I have it hooked up to an extension cord for the moment.

This weekend, Hubby will put in an outlet for me, inside the island where it doesn’t show — and can’t be accidentally unplugged.

I still have to stain and install the trim work that goes around the edge of the marble, but that’s not a big deal. Again, a project for the upcoming 3-day weekend.

I need to buy some marble wax to protect it from stains, now that it will be the center of various messy cooking activities.

However, the two gentlemen who ran the gas line through the basement and put in the new stove were most courteous and efficient. As an added bonus, I had a gas line extended to the deck, so that my grill can be converted to natural gas rather than propane; now, there is no danger of running low on fuel in the middle of a good steak.

It’s a good thing that the hard part of the ordeal is finished, as several folks have been ready for me to get back to work. The “I can’t cook and my kitchen is a wreck” excuse only works for so long…

David Bradshaw, Lou Dunlap, and Leonard Abbatiello have announced that they’re NOT running for City Council in the June election.

Here’s the press release.

So, as speculated at the end of my previous post (just scroll down), how might these three members of Council be expected to vote on the budget, knowing that they will not face approval (or disapproval) by the voters in June?

I don’t know.  Rather, I know how Abbatiello will vote, but I don’t know how Bradshaw and Dunlap may vote.

Both David and Lou surprised me greatly last year; I do know that both understand and appreciate the value of having a great school system.  I’m hopeful that they will feel liberated by this decision, and that they will feel a greater allegiance to protecting our greatest asset than to the rigidity of the strategic plan, or the small faction of voters who want lower taxes at any cost.

I hope they understand the harm that was done last year, and choose not to perpetuate it.

There’s still a hole in the kitchen island where the stove is supposed to be. One of us wrote the date down wrong… but I was at the computer when I made the appointment, and I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t have scheduled it for tomorrow (because I’m supposed to be somewhere else tomorrow).

Still, it is what it is. I picked up a big frozen lasagna and threw it in the oven, so we don’t have to forage tonight.

I will wear my pajamas inside out and do the snow dance. If school is called off tomorrow, then I won’t miss the event that I’ll have to miss for the mis-scheduled stove installation.

Thanks to the magic of photoshop, I can visualize what it’s going to look like…

I’ve deleted dozens of Nigerian scam e-mails over the years, but occasionally read them through because the stories can be humorous (not to mention the writing).  The one that came last night though, was considerably darker.

I have confirmed that it’s a hoax, but it sure was strange to wake up to this message:

Good day,

I want you to read this message very carefully, and keep the secret with you till further notice, You have no need of knowing who i am, where am from,till i make out a space for us to  see,i have being paid $50,000.00 in advance to terminate you with some reasons listed to me by my employer,its one i believe you call a friend,i have followed you closely for one week and three days now and have seen that you are innocent of the accusation,Do not contact the police or F.B.I  or try to send a copy of this to them, because if you do i will know, and might be pushed to do what i have being paid to do,beside this is the first time i turned out to be a betrayer in my job.
Now listen,i will arrange for us to see face to face but before that i need the amount of $80,000.00 and you will have nothing to be afraid of.I will be coming to see you in your office or home determine where you wish we meet,do not set any camera to cover us or set up any tape to record our conversation,my employer is in my  control now,You will need to pay $20,000.00 to the account i will provide for you,before we will set our first meeting,after you have make the first advance payment to the account,i will give you the  tape that contains his request for me to terminate you, which will be enough evidence for you to take him to court(if you wish to),then the balance will be paid later.

You don’t need my phone contact for now till am assured you are ready to comply good.

Lucky You

Snicker.  Off to resume cleaning up the kitchen.