ONE FAMILY HEALTHY New STEPS program Healthy ...five grads! Living LIVING! begins Sunday. Page A-7 Page B-1 Page A-12 50¢ Friday/ Saturday July 26-27, 2019 www.perrynewspapers.com More than a dozen times: FWC proposes major Inmate stabbed trout limit cuts again to death at TCI Less than three months Local anglers will have managing the trout fishery, trout over 20 inches among An inmate at Taylor after delaying a decision the opportunity to learn FWC currently separates their five-fish limit. Correctional Institution on a series of proposed more about the proposals the state into four zones, The draft rule under (TCI) who had only been changes to spotted seatrout and provide their input with Taylor County falling consideration at the FWC’s in prison since mid-March regulations, which many during a workshop set for into the Northwest Zone, May meeting would have was attacked and killed by charter captains and tourism Wednesday, July 31, at the where current regulations reduced the Northwest a fellow inmate Monday. officials said would hurt Steinhatchee Community allow for a bag limit of five Zone’s bag limit from Yannick S. Anderson, 34, the Big Bend five to three, reportedly sustained more economy, the while also re- than a dozen stab wounds Florida Fish establishing during the attack, a source and Wildlife a winter close to him said. Conservation recreational The incident occurred at Commission closure approximately 8:40 a.m. at (FWC) is during the TCI’s Main Unit. now seeking month of No arrest has been public input February. reported, and Florida on a new list The trout Department of Corrections Yannick S. Anderson of “potential season has (FDC) officials said they changes” that been open were unable to provide “The Florida Department include many year-round further information at this of Corrections is committed of the same since 2012. time, as the case is an active to providing for the safety proposals, but Local anglers homicide investigation. and well-being of all also feature would have “When the investigative inmates in custody. Inmates additional also been report is complete, it who cause harm to others restrictions. affected by will be made available to are held accountable for In addition a proposed the public,” FDC Press their actions. This includes to reducing statewide Secretary Rob Klepper said. administrative sanctions, the local rule change “The safe and secure placement in restrictive bag limit prohibiting operation of Florida’s housing and criminal from five guides from correctional institutions charges if applicable. This fish to four Trout bag and size limit cuts are once again being proposed. keeping a bag is the Department of is done for the safety of for Taylor limit during a Corrections’ top priority. staff and other inmates.” County, for-hire trip. Every inmate death is The Florida Department the proposals would also Center. The workshop, one trout. Several speakers at thoroughly investigated of Law Enforcement reduce the slot limit, as of four scheduled around The current size limit that meeting requested by law enforcement and (FDLE) is investigating this well as prevent anglers the state, will begin at 6 allows anglers to keep fish the commission consider the department’s Office of incident, with assistance from keeping any fish over p.m. at the center, which is measuring more than 15 splitting the Northwest Inspector General to ensure from the FDC Office of the size limit and charter located at 1013 Riverside inches and less than 20 Zone in two – separating independent oversight and Inspector General. captains from keeping a bag Drive. inches -- although anglers ➟ Please see page 9 absolute accountability at ➟ Please see page 2 limit. When it comes to are allowed to keep one all levels,” he said. Funded by property taxes or a special sales tax? County eyes expanded fire protection Charged with providing Several times over the The answer to that new local one-cent sales tax county commission total of 2.5 cents on top of fire suppression and past year, the Taylor County question may ultimately to help fund expanded fire (66.6%) and the Perry City the six cents imposed by the prevention services for Commission has discussed go before Taylor County services. Council (33.3%). State state. more than 1,200 square how to increase funding voters in the form of a ballot The county already has statutes allow counties to The issue of fire miles, Taylor County Fire- for the department in order referendum during the 2020 a one-cent local surtax in impose a variety of sales protection arose during Rescue (TCFR) has a lot of to allow for expanded fire general election asking place, with the revenues taxes for different purposes, ➟ Please see page 3 territory to cover. protection services. local residents to consider a being split between the but counties are limited to a Perry man charged in Tallahassee hotel arson A Perry man has been arrested and charged with first-degree arson after allegedly igniting a fire that caused numerous evacuations of the Tallahassee hotel he was employed at on Sunday. Ian J. Brown, 25, of Perry, was booked into the Leon County Detention Foley Mill transformation continues Facility on Sunday, July 21, The landscape is changing quickly at the local Georgia-Pacific (GP) Foley Cellulose Mill, as construction continues on a new by investigators with the 100,000 square foot warehouse building. The new warehouse building is one of several enhancements that will transform the Florida Bureau of Fire and Foley Mill into a 100% specialty grade cellulose mill. Arson Investigations. Brown was charged with first-degree arson by investigators who say he admitted to using a cigarette lighter to set fire County enjoys budget surplus to a cardboard box inside a supply closet near the hotel Just one year after the being informed of a surplus 9 a.m. at the Courthouse Oct. 1. are projected to increase lobby at the Town Place Taylor County Commission in the general fund, thanks Annex on Green Street. According to County 5.98%. Suites by Marriott at 1876 went through one of its to increased tax revenues A special meeting is set Finance Director Dannielle If the commission keeps Capital Circle Northeast in most contentious budget from rising property values for Tuesday, July 30, at 5 Welch, taxable values in its property tax millage Tallahassee. cycles in recent memory, and a “pass” (no premium p.m. to set the proposed the county are projected to rates level, this increase in The fire occurred at the path has been much increase) on its employee property tax millage rates. increase 4.81% compared taxable value is projected approximately 11:50 smoother through the first health insurance plan. The commission will then to last year’s projections. to result in an additional a.m. Sunday, according of two budget workshops The commission held hold two public hearings in Meanwhile, in the $469,220 in the county’s to Florida Bureau of Fire this year. two workshops last week September to approve the unincorporated area of the general fund and $77,920 ➟ Discussions began last and have a third planned final budget for the 2019- county (outside the City ➟ Please see page 2 Please see page 2 week with commissioners for Monday, July 29, at 20 fiscal year, which begins of Perry limits), values Index Two sections 130th Year, No. 30 Weather Looking Back ......... A-4 Community ........... A-7 Friday 84˚ Saturday 86˚ Sunday 88˚ Entertainment ........ A-5 Sports ................... A-9 69˚ 70˚ 70˚ Religion .................. A-6 Classifieds .......... A-11 40% 60% 60% A-2 Perry News-Herald July 26-27, 2019 School board will talk ‘19-20 budget Tuesday According to School to increase 4% (due to new get additional students in District Finance Director construction or property order to hire any additional Ashley Valentine, the improvements), the school teachers or we would have Taylor County School district will lose some to amend our board policy District should be able to $70,000 in tax revenues to allow us to fall below that meet the school board’s because the state lowered 8% reserve fund balance goal of an 8% fund balance its “required local effort” limit, and then come up this coming budget year (RLE) millage rate. with a written plan of even while most local Most Taylor County how we would recoup and taxpayers could see a small taxpayers should see a slight recover it by next budget decrease in their school decrease in the school board year,” Valentine said. board portion of their tax portion of their property tax After hearing an bill. bill, as the state lowered the overview from Valentine While expenses are district’s “required local at their Tuesday, July 23 projected to decrease effort” (RLE) property tax meeting, school board 16.44% below the current millage rate -- which the members voted 5-0 budget -- mostly due to the local school board does not in favor of adopting a district no longer receiving control -- from 4.1650 to tentative millage rate and a funds for the construction 3.892 mills. tentative proposed 2019-20 of the new primary school -- Valentine said the district School District budget for Valentine told school board will be doing “some deficit advertising purposes (see members “there is not much spending,” but the tentative page A-5). Taylor County School District Finance Director Ashley Valentine room for adjustments in this budget will allow the school The school board will addressed the Taylor County School Board on Tuesday, presenting a budget.” board to meet its required hold a public hearing on preview of the projected budget for the 2019-20 school year.