By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support local journalism.
Tax increase passes first read in city
Placeholder Image


McMinnville officials have included a 19-cent tax increase in the 2011-12 fiscal year budget. It passed, but not without generating some confusion and dividing the Board of Mayor and Aldermen.
The measure passed 4-3 with Mayor Norman Rone, Vice Mayor Everett Brock, and Aldermen Clair Cochran and Billy Wood voting for the measure. Aldermen Rick Barnes, Jimmy Haley and Junior Medley voted against it.
When discussions began regarding the fiscal year budget, Brock made a motion to adopt a 15-cent tax increase.
“So, it is your recommendation to not go with 19 cents as recommended,” said Cochran. “Only 15 cents.”
City administrator David Rutherford’s recommendation, made when discussions began, was to include a 19-cent tax increase.
“I don’t think we need it,” said Brock.
Wood said even with a 19-cent tax increase, the tax rate will be lower than it was 20 years ago. Twenty years ago, the tax rate was $2.19. Today, the tax rate is $1.90.
“Even with a 19-cent increase, the tax rate will be 10 cents less than it was 20 years ago,” he said. “It will be $2.09.”
Without a tax increase, the city’s projected ending balance will be $2 million in June 2012.
Rutherford says the city’s cash flow has improved. However, officials are trying to correct some past mistakes that led to the problem.
“We got in this situation because we did a foolish thing in 1969 by agreeing to give away local option sales tax,” Rutherford said. “Then, we tried to lower property taxes. The extra money in the budget will be used to make sure we do not get into the problem again.”
Wood agreed.
“We are trying to put money aside, like Dave Ramsey says, for a rainy day fund. We are trying to put some money in the bank to protect the best interests of the employees and taxpayers.”
Officials plan to begin a Fund Balance Policy that will allow funds to be open and saving to begin. All money deposited will be marked as non-spendable, restricted, committed, assigned and unassigned funds.
The motion made by Brock was withdrawn.
“Seeing that there is no second to my motion, I will withdraw it, as well as my motion to include a 15-cent tax increase,” said Brock.
Cochran made a motion to accept the budget and include a 19-cent tax increase.
Medley was one of those voting against a tax increase.
“I just hate to see the property owners always getting hit with a property tax increase,” said Medley. “Property owners had an increase last year of 19 cents and the year before with 17 cents. I just think that’s enough.”
Budgets require two passing reads before the board. The next regular session is scheduled for July 26 at 7 p.m.

Local farm partnership brings fresh beef to Warren County Schools
local news.png

Warren County Schools has beefed up lunch menus this school year through a new community partnership. Thanks to a collaboration between the district’s School Nutrition Department and Barton Creek Farms, students at Warren County High School, Warren County Middle School, West Elementary, Eastside Elementary, and Dibrell Elementary are enjoying locally sourced, farm-fresh beef in their lunches as part of a pilot program.

The initiative, spearheaded by Terri Mullican, Director of School Nutrition, has already shown great promise in its first few months. The partnership with Barton Creek Farms, located in Rock Island, Tennessee, ensures that the beef served is not only local to Warren County but of the highest quality. Barton Creek Farms specializes in farm-to-fork beef, with grass-fed and grain-finished cattle. Each calf is born and raised in Rock Island and goes through USDA-inspected processing, ensuring it meets the strictest safety and quality standards.

“When the opportunity arose to provide fresh, local beef, we knew it was a no-brainer,” Mullican said. “The fact that it’s a product from right here in our community makes it even more special. We can’t wait to implement it district-wide.”

Barton Creek Farms delivers fresh ground beef to the district monthly, and the nutrition

department incorporates it into homemade recipes such as lasagna, meatloaf, chili, and tacos.

As of now, the beef is being served at five schools, but the ultimate goal is to expand the program to all ten lunch-serving schools in the district.

The pilot program originated from a conversation between Mary Roller of Barton Creek Farms and Mullican. Roller, recognizing the farm’s potential to support local schools, reached out to gauge the district’s interest in serving local beef to students. Around the same time, a Warren County school board member contacted Mullican to share information about a similar partnership in neighboring Dekalb County, which helped push the initiative forward.

The timing worked in the district’s favor, as the nutrition department was able to fund the purchase of the beef using existing resources, eliminating the need for additional funding. Now that the pilot program is enjoying a successful run, the department has budgeted to extend the partnership district-wide for the 2025-26 school year.

Dr. Grant Swallows, Director of Schools, praised the program’s economic approach to student nutrition.

“This pilot is a perfect example of how we can use local resources to continue providing nutritious, healthy meals for our students,” he said. “We are grateful for partnerships like this one that benefit both our students and our local community. We always strive to support our local businesses when we can because our community is so good to us.”

In addition to working with Warren County Schools, Barton Creek Farms also partners with local restaurants to offer farm-fresh beef on their menus. The farm’s offerings include ground beef, steaks, roasts, and custom cuts by the quarter, half, or whole cow, meeting diverse consumer needs.

As the program continues to grow, the district hopes to expand its focus on farm-to-school meals, benefiting students’ health and connecting them to the agricultural roots of the community