Tag: Tennessee

Tennessee Department of Finance and Administration Commissioner Stuart McWhorter announced this month that overall January state tax revenues exceeded budgeted estimates. Revenues for January totaled $1.4 billion, which is $28.8 million more than budgeted and 2.81 percent greater than revenues received in January 2018, according to a press release on the state government’s website. “January sales tax revenues, reflecting consumer spending that occurred during December, remain strong and represent 22 consecutive months of positive growth. The second quarter growth rate from sales activity was 6.05 percent compared to last year, representing the highest growth rate in three years,” McWhorter said.  “Corporate tax revenues also posted positive growth gains against the month’s estimate, while all other revenues finished near estimate. “It should be noted that there was a large drop in Hall income tax revenues when compared to this same time last year due to the implementation of the federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) of 2017. And, while year-to-date revenues look promising, we must continue to monitor revenues and closely manage our expenditures so that Tennessee continues to be prepared for any future economic slowdown.” On an accrual basis, January is the sixth month in the 2018-2019 fiscal year,…

Authorities have indicted the former president of the Jasper Elementary Parent Teacher Organization on a theft charge after school system officials found and reported questionable transactions. This, according to an audit Tennessee Comptrollers released Wednesday, referring to Amber Bailey. “Investigators determined that Bailey stole at least $5,590 from May 2017 through February 2018. Bailey made purchases, wrote and cashed PTO checks for her personal benefit, and failed to deposit money collected during fundraisers,” according to a Comptrollers’ press release. “She concealed her misappropriation by failing to turn over, or make available, PTO bank statements and other crucial financial information. This information should have been reviewed by other PTO officers.” During her tenure as president, Bailey maintained total control of the funds collected during PTO fundraisers and other events. Bailey used PTO funds to purchase or to reimburse herself for a folding canopy, drill, garment steamer, and folding tables, which she kept, according to the audit. The Marion County School System recognizes the Jasper Elementary PTO as a school support organization. The PTO’s fundraising efforts provide additional financial support for activities at Jasper Elementary School, auditors wrote. “Although the organization had multiple officers, the former president assumed responsibility for all financial…

Local government officials in Tennessee might doggedly pursue you if you don’t pony up your hard-earned tax dollars. But that doesn’t mean those same bureaucrats must abide by the same standards they impose upon you. And you, the taxpayer, must pay for the bureaucrats’ sloppiness. Officials in the Tennessee town of Gates, for instance, didn’t pay payroll taxes last year, according to an audit Tennessee Comptrollers released this week. Auditors said payroll taxes were due June 30 of last year — but town officials didn’t pay them until early October. Gates is in west Tennessee, in Lauderdale County. “The Town did not follow the requirements for remitting Federal payroll taxes and incurred penalties that were required to be paid with Town funds,” Comptrollers wrote. No one at the listed phone number for the town government picked up the phone Wednesday to answer The Tennessee Star’s questions. In a written response to auditors, however, unidentified town officials blamed their former city recorder for these lapses. “Former City Recorder (Rachel Isaak) did not pay the payroll taxes as required by law,” Gates’ officials wrote. “We have a new City Recorder (Jenny Ward) in place since October 2018 to assure these issues are…

NASHVILLE, Tennessee — Members of the Tennessee General Assembly want to “place some guardrails on the state’s community oversight boards” and announced new legislation Monday designed to do just that. Under the proposed bill, sponsored by State Rep. Michael Curcio, R-Dickson, a community oversight board in Tennessee would not have any power to issue subpoenas for documents or to compel witness testimony. Also, under this proposed law, a community oversight board could not restrict or otherwise limit membership based upon demographics, economic status, or employment history. The legislation was not available on the Tennessee General Assembly’s website as of Monday night, however The Tennessee Star obtained an advance copy of the measure. The legislation would also prevent community oversight boards from releasing confidential information to the public. “This will ensure everyone is treated respectfully and justly during any review of alleged misconduct involving members of our law enforcement community,” Curcio said at a press conference at the state capitol Tuesday while flanked by several other legislators. “Let me be clear. We are not here to drown out the voices of our citizens. This legislation does not eliminate the community oversight boards. It is applicable to all Tennessee communities.” Curcio said at the…

The former fire chief for the Keith Springs Volunteer Fire Department stole more than $20,000 from the fire department and used it on himself, according to a state audit released this week. Court officials indicted that man, Jamie Stephens, the audit went on to say. “Stephens withdrew thousands of dollars in cash from the fire department checking and savings accounts. He also used the department’s debit card to purchase items such as televisions, food, gasoline, groceries, tires for his personal van, and a vacation rental in Panama City Beach,” auditors said in a press release. “The theft also included $853 in fuel that was purchased on the fire department’s fuel account. Investigators reviewed the purchase dates and determined Stephens was not performing fire department duties, and he did not provide proper documentation to support the purchases.” In December 2017, the fire department’s board of commissioners met with Stephens about his use of the bank funds and fuel and placed him on probation. However, while on probation, Stephens continued to use the bank and fuel accounts for personal use, auditors said. The board of commissioners elected a new fire chief in March of last year. A Franklin County grand jury indicted Stephens this month on one count of theft over $10,000, the press release…

This year, Tennessee legislators may or may not do away with what is known as an amusement tax on small gyms and health clubs throughout the state. If, for whatever reason, Tennessee General Assembly members choose not to kill the tax then small gym and small health club owners may fight the matter out in court. This, according to Jeff Rose, who manages the Orangetheory Fitness in Lakeland. On the state end, a long and protracted legal battle will cost taxpayer money. As The Tennessee Star reported, large gym owners throughout the state don’t have to pay this tax. Small business owners do, and they must pass the higher costs of doing business down to their customers. The tax amounts to about 10 percent. State legislators plan to review the law this year. “Eliminating the tax will ensure the state does not face almost certain costs of litigation because if it doesn’t pass this session then our only last recourse, if we still want to pursue it, is through the courts,” Rose told The Star. Rose said he could not describe how much money his customers lose every year because of the tax because that’s “proprietary information.” But he did…