County to receive $54 million from state

By WILL STEWART Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard

Warren County will receive approximately $54.6 million in state appropriations during the 2004-2005 fiscal year, state legislators representing the county have announced.

The legislators, state Sen. Jerry Cooper, state Rep. Charles Curtiss and state Rep. Judd Matheny, also noted the county will receive a portion of the $9.3 billion in federal funds included in Tennessee’s $24.4 billion budget as adopted earlier this year by the General Assembly.

“I think the county fared well in this budget considering the available resources,” said Cooper. “These figures represent the best estimates at this time and will materialize if state revenues are collected as estimated.”

Overall, the county will receive the most money for education. Of the $21.8 million allocated for education, the lion’s share – $20.5 million – goes to Warren County Schools.

“The legislature provides for the full funding of the Basic Education Program which represents the major portion of school funding,” said Matheny. “The Basic Education Program includes teachers’ salaries, capital outlay, pupil transportation, textbooks, teachers’ sick leave, teachers’ retirement, teachers’ aides, additional instructional material, etc.”

Other education monies allocated will go toward funding Tennessee Technology Center at McMinnville and the TSU Nursery Research Station.

Money for the McMinnville Center of Motlow State Community College was not included in the above-noted figure as the center is funded through Motlow’s main budget of $15 million.

Closely following education in state funding is, at $20.7 million, local health and social services. The largest chunk of this money, $18.69 million, will fund the benefits of local TennCare recipients. The remainder will go toward community mental health and mental retardation programs, children’s services and additional heath services.