12/31/2015

OK, so I know it’s not Friday, but I’m taking tomorrow off and looking forward to the Vols kicking Northwestern’s…………well, kicking Northwestern.

· Let the fun begin. The legislature comes back into session on January 12 ^th and this year will be no different for us at MTAS than in the past. When requested, we’ll be asked to answer questions and provide information about how proposed legislation might affect city governments. You all know the drill. So, when your help is sought in following up on those requests, please do so as soon as possible. FYI, Elisha and I, along with Robin Roberts and Libby McCroskey at CTAS, are meeting with the new director of the Legislative Fiscal Review Office next Tuesday, hopefully to map out a plan as to how the three of us can work together in an (more) organized and efficient way. That hasn’t always been the case in the past. I’m looking forward to a good meeting outcome.

· A Honna update…I talked with her earlier today. While she sounded a little worn out, she reported that her most recent surgery on her ankle / foot seems to be doing what it was intended to do. She and her doctor are pleased with her progress after the surgery and a way-too-long hospital stay. Folks, she’s been dealing with this for a long time. I think she’s on the third set of Michelins on that scooter. Honna, our wishes are for your complete recovery and only the best for you!

· Everybody got Gail White’s message last Monday about UT’s Conflict of Interest form. Please DON’T wait until the deadline of January 15 ^th to go online and fill it out. Yep, it’s electronic this year and EVERYBODY gets to fill one out. Thanks in advance for taking care of this VERY SOON.

· On December 22 ^nd , Blount County Chancellor Telford Forgety, Jr. issued a ruling concerning Blount County’s suit against Alcoa and Maryville over liquor-by-the-drink taxes and school funding. The chancellor’s ruling is attached. Very interesting stuff. What does it mean for other pending suits or suits that may be filed in the future? Well, who knows? What should we (MTAS) assume from it in advising cities? Let’s don’t assume anything specifically and be very careful (as we always are) and give all this some time to shake out.

· As he has done every year since I joined MTAS (and probably longer than that), State Comptroller Justin Wilson will convene a meeting on Monday, January 11 ^th in which about 25 entities having some interest in local government (city and county) will go around the table and announce to the gathering what legislation they will be proposing or will have interest in in the upcoming session. Also, the comptroller will announce his office’s legislative initiatives. Obviously, MTAS and CTAS listen as bystanders but the meeting usually provides a few “heads up” things for us to consider. I’m hoping we hear something definite about standard charts of accounts. Lots of rumors continuing to float around about it. Time to clear them up, in my opinion. I’ll let you know if anything interesting / exciting comes out of the meeting. By the way, the comptroller also hosts an “after-action” session about a month after the legislature adjourns. It’s always interesting to compare the themes discussed at the two meetings.

· Earlier this month, Candace Warner, a faculty member at Columbia State Community College and a Tennessee State University doctoral candidate, presented her findings of research she conducted for MTAS about how well prepared (or not) Tennessee cities are to deliver municipal services to their ever-changing diverse citizenries. We’ll be sharing a summary of her work with you soon. My takeaway from the presentation meeting was that we will have some work to do helping cities understand how their populations are diversifying and what that means to delivery of municipal services.

· Some preliminary work has already begun to develop MTAS’s operating plan (budget) for FY2017. We have to present our plan to Herb on March 23 ^rd , which is about a month earlier than what has been the plan in past years. Rick and Dale and I and the program managers will meet in Knoxville on January 15 ^th for budget discussions and I’ll keep you updated on anything significant that arises during the process.

· On the afternoon of January 14 ^th , an open house for UT Knoxville and UT System staffs will be held at the new offices in Knoxville. If you are in east Tennessee or are going to be in the area that day, I hope you’ll join us. Also, during the open house, the newly equipped and furnished MTAS library will be named in honor of Robert Watson. Robert was a long time TML Risk Management Pool legal counsel who passed away in 2014. In his honor, the Pool made a donation to MTAS, the proceeds of which were used to furnish the new library area. Dr. DiPietro will recognize Robert and the Pool’s gift in a short dedication ceremony.



· Lastly, remember a few things…
o Henry Ford once said, “Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you are right”.
o PJ will have a birthday on Saturday, January 2 ^nd . Her 39 ^th , I think.
o Every golf ball has between 300 and 500 dimples. Go ahead. Count ‘em. I dare you.

Happiest New Year to each of you!

Jim Thomas, Executive Director
UT Municipal Technical Advisory Service
(O) 615. 532.4950 (C) 615.972.9219

jim.thomas@tennessee.edu

www.mtas.tennessee.edu