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5/8/02

Sales tax option voted down Commissioners fear state might keep money anyway

By Beth Seay
The Macon County Board of Commissioners voted against a proposed one-half cent hike in the sales tax and voted to consider adoption of an amendment to the watershed ordinance at their regular meeting on Monday, May 6.

The sales tax hike proposed by the county would actually replace the same amount of tax currently being levied by the state. The half-cent tax is due to expire in July 2003. County manager Sam Greenwood explained that the $1.2 million generated by that half-cent sales tax would be split between the state and the county. Comissioner Charles Leatherman said that the county could receive as little as 5/16 of the tax money generated.

“If the half-cent could stay in Macon County, the county could heal itself,” Leatherman said.

Highlands resident John Cleaveland spoke during the public comment session prior to the meeting to urge the comissioners not to adopt the proposed increase. No one appeared to speak during the actual public hearing on the proposal.

Leatherman expressed concern that the state would opt to keep the generated funds to make up for budget shortfalls. Commission Chairman Harold Corbin said he was “tired of the state collecting and keeping our money” and that it was time to “stand up and tell them where to go.”

The group considered postponing a decision on the the tax rate increase. Commissioner Janet Greene said the county was “... gambling that the state will let us keep” the funds. Leatherman pointed out that the current tax doesn’t expire until July, 2003. After concerns were expressed regarding the current state budget crisis and the likelihood of a change in the split, the board voted against adopting the increase in sales tax.


Watershed proposal

George Sweet of the Macon County Watershed Council presented proposed changes to the county’s watershed ordinance. The proposed changes would prohibit point source discharges and limit construction density on the Little Tennessee River below Lake Emory. The ordinance would limit density of construction to two “dwelling units” per acre for single-family housing. Other residential and non-residential development would be limited to a 12 percent coverage of surfaces. The ordinance would limit construction within one-half mile of the river in the watershed area, though no setbacks would be required by this ordinance, according to Sweet. The ordinance also adds a new watershed area designation of “WS-EQW” – Excellent Quality Waters – to the Watershed Protection Ordinance.

Commissioner Allen Bryson said the ordinance had moved from protecting water quality.

“Now we’re into zoning the whole area,” he said.

Commissioner Greene moved to accept the first reading of the amendment and to set a date for the public hearing. Bryson was the lone vote against the proposal.


Educators seek support

Macon County school principals and school Superintendent Dr. Rodney Shotwell came before the board to put in a plug for funding for the upcoming year. Shotwell said the state has told the school system to “be prepared for the worst-case scenario” in terms of school funding, and that the funding is likely to remain at the same level as this year except for a 3-percent state-mandated pay increase necessary.