Vision or Transparency?

Note: This letter was sent to both newspapers this morning.

This letter is being written in response to the “On the Doorstep” column that appeared in the 21 Sep 2012 issue of the Tunica Times.

While agreement can be made about most of the article, one paragraph jumped out at me and I have another opinion about the following statement: “Unlike others, I don’t fault former county officials for trying to make Tunica County better, for trying to give our people amenities that they had never had, for dreaming that Tunica County could reach beyond its ‘poorest county in the nation’ reputation.”

When I talk about former county officials and what they left behind, I’m not talking about their vision. I’m talking about their transparency.

Since 2008, the Transparency Committee has spent untold hours just trying to make sense of why so many government business transactions were set-up the way they were. For instance, why is the Battle Arena a 501c3? Why do we need a Healthcare Authority to run our Clinics? Why are there so many “commissions” standing in the way of the public’s right to know? Why, why, why? And why, when we started to ask questions did our former government officials act like we were an intrusion into their private business?

And as for the economy both nationally and locally, we should have known. We just weren’t paying attention. We trusted our elected officials and they let us down. Nationally, we had two wars that were not “on the books”; two tax cuts that were not paid for; and a Medicare prescription bill that was not paid for.

Let’s look at the facts. The first national tax cut was passed in Jun of 2001. Then 9-11 happened. The second tax cut was in May of 2003. We invaded Iraq on 19 Mar 2003. When has the United States of America simultaneously cut taxes and fought a war? Isn’t this sort of what happened here in Tunica County? When we had money flowing in from gaming revenues, why did we borrow so much money?

This is just a very short list of “whys”. It isn’t about the vision; it’s about the transparency. Ultimately, it is the people’s fault for not paying closer attention and the government’s fault for not being more open to our questions.

Board of Supervisors' Meeting 17 Sep 2012

All was not lost…

At the Board of Supervisors’ Meeting on 17 Sep 2012, the Board voted to approve the 2012-2013 Budget and an ad valorem increase of 15.77%.

There were some budget changes from the original presentation. One of these changes was an increase to the budget for an Animal Control Officer and a vehicle. Thank you to the Board of Supervisors for this.

I do disagree with the Board in comparing what is budgeted for Health Care to what is budgeted for the Tunica Humane Society. We need both.  I for one would not do what the volunteers at the THS have done and are doing. These volunteers saw a need in Tunica County and they provided it.

It is my understanding that the Supervisors have received many nasty letters and phone calls about this budget item. There is no excuse for this behavior. This is not the way to bring together the citizens of this County for the communal good.

What is being asked of the Supervisors is to take another look at the Road Department budget for monies needed for the Tunica Humane Society. This no kill shelter is good for our community and we need it much more then we need those 2 snow plows.

Here it is...What are we going to do about it?

This is the MS Code covering the tax increase being talked about in Tunica County.  We need as many eyes as possible reading and understanding this.  In addition to MS Code 27-39-321 printed below, we need to read MS Code (27-39-305); (27-39-320); (27-39-329).  Within each of these codes you will find additional references.  It's quite a lot of reading.  Look these up and study them by Googling MS Code.

§ 27-39-321. Limitation on increases of property taxes; special ad valorem tax to cover shortfalls

(1) With respect to ad valorem taxes levied for each fiscal year, no political subdivision may levy ad valorem taxes in any fiscal year which would render in total receipts from all levies an amount more than the receipts from that source during any one (1) of the immediately preceding three (3) fiscal years, as determined by the levying governing authority, plus, at the option of the taxing authority, an increase not to exceed ten percent (10%) of such receipts. The additional revenue from the ad valorem tax on any newly constructed properties or any existing properties added to the tax rolls or any properties previously exempt, which were not assessed in the next preceding year and cost incurred and paid in the next preceding year in connection with reappraisal may be excluded from the ten percent (10%) increase limitation set forth herein. Taxes levied for school district purposes under any statute and taxes levied for the maintenance and/or construction of roads and bridges under Section 27-39-305 shall be excluded from the ten percent (10%) increase limitation set forth herein. Taxes levied for payment of principal of and interest on general obligation bonds issued heretofore or hereafter shall be excluded from the ten percent (10%) increase limitation set forth herein. Any additional millage levied to fund any new program mandated by the Legislature shall be excluded from the limitation for the first year of the levy and included within such limitation in any year thereafter. The limitation imposed under this paragraph shall not apply to those mandatory levies enumerated in Sections 27-39-320 and 27-39-329.

Hamp needs anger management

He did it again.  This morning at the Board of Supervisors' Meeting, Sheriff Hamp started yelling at the Board of Supervisors because the Board decided that the three new employees he had already hired would not be placed on the County payroll because the Sheriff was over his budget.

Apparently, Hamp doesn't have a good grasp of what he can spend and what he can't.   The Sheriff's budget this year under department 200 is $6,358,375.11 and from what the County Administrator stated, Hamp is over his budget.  And...Hamp didn't think he had to come back to the Board and ask to increase his budget?  He thought he could just spend it and not be questioned?

Go back and read the 15 Aug 2012 entry on this blog.  From memory, I think this posting has Hamp saying he has never come back to the Board for more money.  No kidding.  Apparently, Supervisor Burnett thinks if gas, etc. goes up, we need to just automatically give the Sheriff more money.  How long has this guy been a Supervisor? 

And so, just why didn't Board President Dunn tell Hamp he was out of order?  Citizens aren't allowed to act like that so why can the Sheriff?  President Dunn, this is a Board of Supervisors' Meeting.  Please tell the Sheriff to take a seat with the rest of us and shut his mouth. 

Where have you been?

The Public Hearing on the 2012-2013 Tunica County Budget brought lots of folks to the Courthouse last Thu, 30 Aug 2012. Most likely it was the advertised tax increase of 15.83%.


First, I must say, I don't think the amount of this increase is legal. I do believe our taxes may not be increased more then 3-5% per year...don't have confirmation on that yet. What I do know is that I have heard this 3-5% come out of Clifton Johnson's mouth at previous meetings.

And that's the point...where have you all been? A very few of us have been faithfully attending the Board of Supervisors' Meetings. We've been digging up information, sending letters, writing reports and making requests. Has this threat of a huge increase in your taxes moved you to action?

This debt has been piling on at an accelerated rate since the former Board of Supervisors agreed to approve the Schultz and GreenTech Projects. What have these projects done for the citizens of our County? During the approval process we asked if provisions were being made to "hire Tunicans first." Clifton Johnson told us if you can read and write and pass a drug test, you could get a job at these plants. Really?

This year our debt service for all projects was projected to be $3.417M and next year's projected debt service is being budgeted at $4.580M. Not exactly what you were told at the meeting is it?

And the Sheriff's budget: Why is it going up $350K?

And the Health Insurance: Why is it going up $200K? Did you think we would forget about this one Clifton?

And Adolescent Offenders: Why is it going up $73K? Anybody looking at what they are spending on food?

And Garbage and Solid Waste: Why is it going up $70K?

And then there is Tunica RiverPark and Tunica National: Together these two facilities are being budgeted to cost Tunicans about $2M with zero revenue coming back to the County. That's the facts.

Now to the emotions tied to these projects. I understand some folks in Tunica want to keep these facilities open. So, how do you intend to pay for them? What do you suggest if you don't want them closed? We can't afford them. We can at least agree on that. Personally, I don't want to pay a tax increase to keep facilities open that don't have a prayer of turning a profit or even breaking even.

And why was Tunica National built in the first place? Looks to me like Tunica National was built so the new subdivision behind it could be advertised as “Golf Course Living.” If the developers want it, let them pay for it. That’s my idea, what’s yours?

One final thought, please don't blame the new members of the Board of Supervisors for the mess they were left. These new Supervisors didn't vote for these plants and projects. The last Board of Supervisors couldn't even come to an agreement on redistricting and they made the conscious decision to pass that work onto this new Board too. You can rightfully blame Dunn, Burnett and Johnson for this mess but not Nickson, Daley or Phillis Williams.