Tax Millage Set at State's Ceiling
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Enrollments, Bus routes Lunch menus, Open house info., BAck to School edition School calendar, + Much more Just in time for the TAX FREE WEEKEND: August 1st – 3rd ThE BakER COUNty PREss 85th Year, Vol. 15 | Winner of 17 state awards for journalism including General Excellence in 2013 75¢ JULY 31, 2014 THURSDAY BAKER COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD Tax millage set at state’s ceiling Mere $12K less than 2014 JOEL ADDINGTON MANAGING EDITOR [email protected] The Baker County School Board voted unanimously Monday eve- ning to reduce the school district’s property tax rate, but according to district’s head of finance Marcelle Richardson, they didn’t have much of a choice. She said all the components of the tax rate were either maxed out or set by the state. She said the total 7.245 millage rate, which equals about $7.24 per $1000 of taxable property value, could not be set any higher without prior approval from voters. The tax cut came even as the board voted 5-0 to approve the ten- tative budget for 2014-15 that’s 6.8 percent larger than the current year’s spending plan. Thanks to rising property values district-wide, the lower tax rate is expected to bring in about $12,000 more in revenue and the district will be getting more help from the state and federal governments in terms of education funding. For instance, the district budget anticipates getting an additional $679,900 boost in “special revenue” from the federal level and anoth- er $866,396 in per student funding from the state level, documents PHOTO BY JOEL ADDINGTON presented to the school board by Mrs. Richardson during a 4 pm. budget workshop on July 21 indicate. While Governor Rick Scott has been touting “record” spending lev- els on education on the campaign trail, board member Dean Griffis Kids summer series ends with outdoor games said at a meeting July 28 to adopt the tentative budget and tax rate, The Emily Taber library’s summer children’s program series came to a close the morning of July 29 with a host of outdoor games and prizes on the lawn of the library on McIver Street in Macclenny. Kids, like (from left) Alexander Hamilton, Kairi Hamilton, Izaiah Dugger and Kendall Cone above, competed in tug of war as other children “it’s just not true.” circled a cake walk for a chance to win cupcakes with chocolate or vanilla frosting, or played other games. The six-week program series has blended math, science and He said state funding for the district hit a high back in 2007-08, reading lessons with entertaining activities since mid-June. It’s funded by the New River Library Cooperative, of which the Taber library is a member. See more photos and this year’s funding is lower than at that time. He urged teachers, from the final day on page 8. a group of whom were in the audience, and residents to flood the gov- ernor’s office with calls for more money for local schools. As in recent years, the district’s new proposed $52,402,410 budget for the coming fiscal year, which starts October 1, relies on dwindling Fight ends with a helicopter medivac See page 2 Wields teapot Allowed toddler to to inflict head injury on man wander free in yard JOEL ADDINGTON MANAGING EDITOR Three young sons belong- The officer noted the rear [email protected] ing to a Macclenny woman door where the toddler had ex- were turned over to relatives ited into the yard was partially A Macclenny man was air- following her arrest the morn- ajar, a fact that Ms. Lombardi lifted to the hospital with major ing of July 24 for allowing the laid at the feet of a neighbor head injuries late in the after- youngest one, age 2, to wander child who had spent the previ- noon of July 24 following an al- unattended around the yard of ous night there. tercation with another man on her residence in the Wood- The neighbor who called North CR 23A. lawn trailer park for an police said she saw the A witness with victim Wil- hour. boy leave the trailer liam War- The child for a time through the door and ren, 47, at played in an inflatable briefly sit on a porch the time pool containing little before walking into of the in- water but located just the yard where she cident feet away from an- watched him play in said the other one holding an the first pool. He did fight be- estimated 10 inches of not attempt to get into gan when water. the other one. Randall Tessa Lombardi, 31, At one point, Ms. Barton had to be awakened Brown said she gave Jr., 24, ap- by the two older boys the boy a Popsicle and proached when sheriff’s investi- summoned another the resi- Purchase this photo at www.bakercountypress.com Photo by Joel Addington gator Matt Riegel an- Tessa Lombardi neighbor who iden- dence at Randall Barton Jr. TraumaOne nurses prepare to load Mr. Warren into the waiting helicopter. nounced his presence tified the child as be- 14198 CR shortly after the 10 am call to longing to Ms. Lombardi. She 23A and accused Mr. Warren of said. the buckle striking the victim’s assault with a deadly weapon police from neighbor Carol added that his being in the having sex with his girlfriend, Other witnesses in the area face, police said. without intent to kill and ag- Brown. yard unattended is “a regular according to Deputy Marc said Mr. Barton struck Mr. Mr. Barton soon left the gravated battery. occurrence.” Health’s report. Warren in the head with a met- scene on foot, but was shortly A complaint for aggravat- Court records indicate Ms. The witness advised she al teapot, which was recovered thereafter located and arrested ed battery will also be filed Lombardi was placed on pro- walked to the side of the house, from the scene with blood on it. at a residence on Tom Wilker- with the state attorney’s of- bation in 2007 for possession out of view of the men, until a The men allegedly left the son Road. There he admitted fice against Mr. Warren due to of controlled drugs with intent commotion brought her back address and sat down to talk to beating up Mr. Warren af- statements by Mr. Barton that to sell. She also has a record and she found Mr. Warren lay- before they started fighting ter the man threw a beer can at Mr. Warren chased him with a Shot fired of arrests for offenses ranging once again. Witnesses de- him during a heated argument. knife after the first fight, said ing on the ground, bleeding from domestic battery to petty from his head as Mr. Barton scribed how Mr. Barton was Mr. Barton, who has a Deputy Heath. theft and grand theft, none of stood above him kicking the again on top of Mr. War- lengthy criminal history in- There was no other witness- into car which were prosecuted. victim and cursing, the deputy ren, punching him with a belt cluding convictions for battery, es to the chase, however. wrapped around his fist and faces charges of aggravated on the bakercountypress.com COVERING BAKER COUNTY SINCE 1929 SHOULD THE COUNTY The county’s most professional and extensive source for news, classified, display and real estate listings interstate COMMISSION PRIVATIZE 72% No EMS, PROVIDED IT SAVES 904.259.2400 See page 5 MONEY AND EMPLOYEES % www.bakercountypress.com ARE RETAINED? 22 Yes Visit our website and vote each week in our online poll. [email protected] Page 2 The Baker County Press Thursday, July 31, 2014 The Baker County Press Weather July 31, 2014 Seven Day Forecast Today's High & Low Temperatures Sun/Moon Chart This Week Thursday Fernandina Day Sunrise Sunset Mostly Sunny Callahan Beach First Thursday 6:46 a.m. 8:22 p.m. Last High: 90 Low: 71 Jasper 90 / 71 86 / 75 8/3 Friday 6:47 a.m. 8:22 p.m. 8/17 91 / 69 Saturday 6:48 a.m. 8:21 p.m. Friday Jacksonville Atlantic Sunday 6:48 a.m. 8:20 p.m. Scat'd T-storms 89 / 74 Beach High: 91 Low: 71 Macclenny Full Monday 6:49 a.m. 8:19 p.m. New 90 / 71 86 / 76 Watertown Baldwin 8/10 Tuesday 6:49 a.m. 8:18 p.m. 8/25 Saturday 91 / 69 90 / 72 Wednesday 6:50 a.m. 8:17 p.m. Scat'd T-storms High: 92 Low: 70 St. Mary's River Levels Hunting/Fishing Times Sunday High Springs Starke St. Augustine Now Change Peak Times Scat'd T-storms 91 / 69 90 / 70 87 / 74 Moniac, GA 5.84 ft. -0.16 ft. High: 90 Low: 72 Macclenny 3.84 ft. -0.19 ft. Day AM PM Thu 3:41-5:41 3:11-5:11 Monday Last Week's Local Almanac Weather History Scat'd T-storms Fri 4:25-6:25 3:55-5:55 Day High Low Normals Precip July 31, 1976 - A stationary High: 90 Low: 70 Sat 5:11-7:11 4:41-6:41 Mon, 7/21 90 70 93/72 0.00" Precipitation .................0.09" thunderstorm produced more than Tuesday Tue, 7/22 88 70 93/73 0.00" Normal precipitation ..........1.40" 10 inches of rain that funneled into Sun 5:58-7:58 5:28-7:28 the narrow Thompson River Canyon Mostly Cloudy Wed, 7/23 93 72 93/73 0.01" Departure from normal .......-1.31" Mon 6:50-8:50 6:20-8:20 Average temperature ..........81.6º of northeastern Colorado.