We's dun made dem Nasheonl News Headlines

[Buzz Killington]

Jefferson County, AL has already made the front page of the Drudge Report and was mentioned by Shep Smith today.

http://www.drudgereport.com/

[AWK]

I heard Shepard Smith today, and it was kinda funny.  He was like Jefferson County may have to file a Chapter 11 bankruptcy... I rofl'ed.

[Saniflush]

I heard Shepard Smith today, and it was kinda funny.  He was like Jefferson County may have to file a Chapter 11 bankruptcy... I rofl'ed.

Can they even do that? 

[wesfau2]

Can they even do that? 

If I recall correctly, it's a different Chapter that municipalities file under, but there is a bankruptcy provision for them.

[Saniflush]

If I recall correctly, it's a different Chapter that municipalities file under, but there is a bankruptcy provision for them.

great.  More get out of responsibility cards coming up.

[Buzz Killington]

If I recall correctly, it's a different Chapter that municipalities file under, but there is a bankruptcy provision for them.

Chapter 9, Governmental Protection Act...I believe.  The problem is that our illustrious leader is too proud to allow anything like that happen on her watch.  She would rather just keep fiddling.

[AWK]

If I recall correctly, it's a different Chapter that municipalities file under, but there is a bankruptcy provision for them.

Yes, there is a specific provision for municipalities.  That is why I rofl'ed.

[wesfau2]

Yes, there is a specific provision for municipalities.  That is why I rofl'ed.

Thanks for clarifying.

Now get back on the search.

[Tarheel]

Chapter 9, Governmental Protection Act...I believe.  The problem is that our illustrious leader is too proud to allow anything like that happen on her watch.  She would rather just keep fiddling.

Maybe she can get The ONE to Bail them out of trouble.

[Saniflush]

Yes, there is a specific provision for municipalities.  That is why I rofl'ed.

Don't make me say bad shit about you.

[AUTiger1]

It's all Bush's fault.

All kidding aside, how did this shit get so out of hand?

[Buzz Killington]

It was kind of the perfect shit storm in that the sewer business and the occupational tax issue ended up coming to a head at the same time.  It took years of crooked politicians to get it right though.

The current tax issue started out as a feud between a Commissioner and a local group of Legislators...the Legislators decided to do something to really piss off the Commission, so they voted to repeal the occupational tax.  Three times since then, they have gone back to court and the Judge found in favor of the Commission the first two times.  However, for some reason, they sided with the Legislators the last time, that the tax was illegal as is.  The Commission and local Congressmen have had a year or two now to make amends and come up with a compromise, but none of them would do it.  So, instead of lobbying...the Commission thumbed their collective noses at them.  Now, instead of trying to find something or even <Heaven Forbid> cut some expenditures, the Commission decided to try and scare the public into screaming loud enough to make the Legislature replace the tax.  Well...as you can see, it didn't work.

[AUTiger1]

It was kind of the perfect shit storm in that the sewer business and the occupational tax issue ended up coming to a head at the same time.  It took years of crooked politicians to get it right though.

The current tax issue started out as a feud between a Commissioner and a local group of Legislators...the Legislators decided to do something to really piss off the Commission, so they voted to repeal the occupational tax.  Three times since then, they have gone back to court and the Judge found in favor of the Commission the first two times.  However, for some reason, they sided with the Legislators the last time, that the tax was illegal as is.  The Commission and local Congressmen have had a year or two now to make amends and come up with a compromise, but none of them would do it.  So, instead of lobbying...the Commission thumbed their collective noses at them.  Now, instead of trying to find something or even <Heaven Forbid> cut some expenditures, the Commission decided to try and scare the public into screaming loud enough to make the Legislature replace the tax.  Well...as you can see, it didn't work.

What is sad is that when someone mentions an elected official such as a mayor, city council man/woman, hell even a state rep you would think of someone who is educated and one has some intelligence.  I haven't really kept up with that much, just what little tid bits I catch from time to time, but that shit is ridiculous.

[Buzz Killington]

What is sad is that when someone mentions an elected official such as a mayor, city council man/woman, hell even a state rep you would think of someone who is educated and one has some intelligence.  I haven't really kept up with that much, just what little tid bits I catch from time to time, but that shit is ridiculous.

The scariest part to me is that Shelia Smoot has a degree from Michigan State.  I don't believe any of the other Commissioners have a college degree...nor does LaLa across the street.
Don't even get me started on John Rogers and the rest of the Democrats godless Socialists in the State Legislature.

[Tarheel]

I thought that I'd take the opportunity of this thread to 'toot the horn' of the county where I live (Cobb County, Georgia) in contrast with Jefferson County, Alabama in terms of what good county management can do (specifically water/sewer services).  Cobb County is probably one of the "reddest" counties in Georgia by the way; correct me if I'm wrong but I assume that the leadership of Jefferson County is "blue".  Party affiliation of the contrasting leadership might not be entirely responsible but when you have true fiscal conservatives running a government it does help.  Cobb County is one of only a handful of counties in Georgia which actually has a modest budget surplus; and the government tries to maintain that status regularly (unlike just about every other county in this state). 

I hope that you folk in Jefferson County can do something to change your leadership.

Cobb Water System is the first AAA-rated county water/sewer utility in the country graded the best-managed county water/sewer utility in the nation by Wall Street’s top bond rating agencies (Fitch IBCA, Moody’s Investors Services and Standard & Poors). According to Moody’s Investors Services, Cobb Water System shows “strong historical financial performance and a comprehensive capital plan.” Out of 3,049 counties nationwide, the Cobb Water System is the only county water system to have achieved this rating which is a strong indicator of the overall strength of a utility. It also means lower interest rates on borrowed funds.
...
Moody's focuses on key attributes about Cobb County which resulted in such an exceptional financial position.
...

Links:

http://water.cobbcountyga.gov/financial.htm

http://www.ajc.com/news/cobb/cobb-to-issue-107381.html

[Buzz Killington]

I thought that I'd take the opportunity of this thread to 'toot the horn' of the county where I live (Cobb County, Georgia) in contrast with Jefferson County, Alabama in terms of what good county management can do (specifically water/sewer services).  Cobb County is probably one of the "reddest" counties in Georgia by the way; correct me if I'm wrong but I assume that the leadership of Jefferson County is "blue".  Party affiliation of the contrasting leadership might not be entirely responsible but when you have true fiscal conservatives running a government it does help.  Cobb County is one of only a handful of counties in Georgia which actually has a modest budget surplus; and the government tries to maintain that status regularly (unlike just about every other county in this state). 

I hope that you folk in Jefferson County can do something to change your leadership.

Links:

http://water.cobbcountyga.gov/financial.htm

http://www.ajc.com/news/cobb/cobb-to-issue-107381.html

Sad part is that the majority of the Commission is was red.  Bettye Fine Collins, the Comm. President, decided about a year ago to start voting Socalist on every issue.  The GOP has been trying to revoke her decoder ring ever since.

[Snaggletiger]

Yep, you's done made the front page of Foxnews.com

[Buzz Killington]

I feel like P.T. Barnum every morning heading in to work these days.