Tennessee mails out buyout offers

By THEO EMERY • Staff Writer (Tennessean) • June 17, 2008 State workers will begin checking mailboxes after buyout packets went out Monday to about 12,000 employees, an effort to trim about 2,000 positions and cut $64 million from next year's budget. Cleatrice McTorry, director of pre-release services at the Department of Correction, wasn't sure she would get an offer but said she would consider it if she did, particularly given the tuition assistance in the package. "My initial impression when I saw the buyout plan was very positive," said McTorry, 58. "Other people have felt the same way." The buyouts are part of a broader budget-cutting for the administration, which found itself about $468 million short of what it projected for the next fiscal year, which starts July 1. The administration hopes that more than 2,000 workers, or about 5 percent of the work force, will take the buyouts. If more apply, they will be chosen by seniority. If not enough apply, layoffs could follow. The package includes four months of base salary, $500 for each year of service, six months of subsidized health coverage and an option to pay for an additional 12 months. The packages also include tuition aid up to $10,800 at Tennessee colleges and universities, and a one-time $2,400 payment for those 65 and older. "We feel like we've come up with a really good offer," said state Finance Commissioner Dave Goetz. Zoyle Jones, president of the Tennessee State Employees Association, said his organization will be carefully watching. "As long as the selection process is fair and equitable, then we will be happy if people take it," he said.

Metro program aims to change nonprofit grant process

By MICHAEL CASS • Staff Writer (tennesseam) • May 8, 2008 Nashville nonprofit organizations have about three weeks to apply for $2 million in Metro government grants under a new program Mayor Karl Dean announced today. The "community enhancement grants" will be available to groups working in three areas: domestic violence ($750,000), education/aftercare ($750,000) and community service ($500,000), which the program defines as services "that enhance the lives of Nashvillians and the community in which we live." Dean aides have previously mentioned the American Red Cross and Second Harvest Food Bank as examples of community service agencies. Dean said the city needs a new, less political system for awarding grants to nonprofits. “We have a number of nonprofit agencies that offer vital services to our community, many of which government itself cannot provide and would not otherwise be available. This grant program will ensure that those are the services our resources support and that funding decisions are based on needs and results,” the mayor said in a news release. A panel of reviewers selected by the mayor, the vice mayor and the chair of the Metro Council's Budget and Finance Committee will evaluate applications and make recommendations to the mayor, who will submit a budget amendment for the council's final approval as part of the city's operating budget, Dean spokeswoman Janel Lacy said.Lacy acknowledged that applicants who are turned down by the reviewers could lobby council members for funding in the final budget. She said the program could change in future years "depending on how this year goes." Applications are available today on page 11 of this web site: http://www.nashville.gov/finance/CEF/docs/CEFHandbook.pdf.. They're due at 4:30 p.m. on May 28 and will be reviewed June 10-12. "Pre-application training meetings" are scheduled for May 15 and 16. Times and places for the training sessions weren't announced.

Mayor urges city workers to ride MTA bus

Mayor urges city workers to ride MTA bus Nashville Mayor Karl Dean has put $50,000 in the budget for city employees to ride to and from work on MTA buses. "It helps employees by dealing with the issue of expensive gas, it helps the city with environmental and traffic concerns and just makes us a more commuter friendly city," said Mayor Dean. There are 10,000 city employees, not including schools, and all would be eligible for bus rides. Mayor Dean said he encourages all employees to take advantage because he believes it's good for the city. "This is something I think we should be doing. We should be leading by example. Of all the things in the budget, I am really excited about this and I think it's a step in the right direction," said Dean. The Metro Council has to act on a proposal by the end of June. If it passes, city employees could be riding MTA buses for free as early as this summer.

MTA to hold public hearings on fare, route changes

By MICHAEL CASS • Staff Writer (Tennessean) • April 22, 2008 The Metro Transit Authority will hold four public hearings next month on possible fare increases and route cuts as it faces a difficult budget year starting in July. The authority is considering increases of as much as 25 cents to the $1.35 basic bus fare, it said in a news release today. The basic fare rose from $1.25 to $1.35 in February. MTA also is considering eliminating or changing the following routes: 1 Vine Hill; 2 Belmont; 8 8th Avenue South; 13 Sylvan Park; 16 Madison/Old Hickory; 18 Airport/Elm Hill Pike; 30 McFerrin; 31X Harpeth Valley Express; 37X Tusculum/McMurray Express; 41 Golden Valley, and 45X Oak Hill Express. MTA is facing a $2.9 million budget shortfall in 2008-09, CEO Paul Ballard said last week. It expects to spend about $6 million on diesel fuel, an approximately 50 percent increase from the current fiscal year's roughly $4 million fuel cost. The public hearings will be held May 5 at 6 p.m. in Rochelle Center (Building A), 1020 Southside Court; May 6 at noon and 5:30 p.m. at the Nashville Public Library, 615 Church St., and May 8 at 6 p.m. at Madison Library, 610 Gallatin Pike. People also can fax comments to (615) 862-6208 or e-mail them to mta.publichearings@nashville.gov through May 14, 2008. They also can call (615) 862-5950 or write to MTA at 130 Nestor St., Nashville, TN 37210.