Jefferson County Mayor Palmieri Offers Rebuttal

Mayor Alan Palmieri response to Comments by Commissioner David Seal

Comments by Commissioner Seal in red highlights are responded to by Mayor Alan Palmieri in blue

Inflammatory Language
It is one thing to veto legislation.  It is another thing entirely to add personal accusations and inflammatory language to the media release associated with the veto. As American citizens, we all expect the executive branch to veto legislative action from time to time.  The veto process was designed by the founding fathers to create a “separation of powers”. This decentralization of authority is to protect citizens from overreaching power from any one branch of government.

David Seal is exactly correct in this statement the problem however, is not me, the Mayor, who has overstepped his authority. It is the majority of county commissioners. They have continued to abuse their authority by attempting to run and control departments. By state law no individual county commissioner is granted any powers. Their power is granted only as an entire body and they should be dealing with legislative issues not administrative or executive. This commission has completely abused authority they are not even granted under the law.

 We all understand this process.  The problem with the above identified veto is that it was accompanied by a media release from Mayor Palmieri on June 28th that seemed to attack the competency and principles of the Budget Committee, and accused county commission of “passing out money based on personalities and favoritism“.  As a member of the Budget Committee, I am left in question about the basis of such a strange comment. It also leaves me concerned that some citizens may actually believe it.

This is a fact. I have even questioned one county commissioner, who is on the budget committee, and asked him directly why he always supports every request made by the Sheriff and won’t even consider requests I make. His response is and I quote: “well the Sheriff was my little league coach and I guess I have to believe him.” Is that not personalities over issues?

David Seal has spent hours doing nothing but trying to do away with the Chamber of Commerce. He has on numerous occasions given untrue statements regarding the Chamber. Instead of a real assessment of needs and services it all boils down to likes and dislikes of individuals. There is an absolute based on who you are and not on the need or issue that has driven actions by the majority of county commissioners.

The Budget Committee struggled for months to formulate a county budget that it believes will properly serve the citizens of Jefferson County.  In my observation, none of the decisions made by that committee were taken lightly, nor did any money get distributed based on any favoritism or personality.  There was simply no extra money to distribute for such purposesEveryone that attended those long contentious budget meetings (February 16 – May 23) could see this simple fact and watch the process as it unfolded in public.

Everyone who attended any of those meetings could see firsthand how dysfunctional the process is. The over stepping of authority. The failure to listen to department heads and the complete absence of professionalism. Jefferson County operates under the Financial Management Act of 81. It is the responsibility of the Finance Director, Elected Officials, and Department Heads to prepare the budget. Because this commission is all about control and abuse of power they hijacked the process for their own personal desires.

Knox County has half the number of commissioners we have and a $800 million dollar budget and complete their budget process easier and faster than we do and we have almost twice the number of commissioners and only a $100 million dollar budget.  Does that make any sense?

 As I have said before, the inflammatory comments made by the Mayor are counterproductive to the business of operating Jefferson County GovernmentFor the second year in a row, the county budget was balanced by the Budget Committee and passed by full commission with no property tax increase.

State law directs a balanced budget. It’s not an option for the Budget Committee or Commission. Not one time did this Budget Committee or Commission even ask or question the amount of line item revenue sources. Last year they didn’t even realize almost a million dollars would be coming back to our fund balance due to management of individual department heads and their efforts.

No Property Tax Increase
I am proud that County Commission passed a balanced budget for 2016-2017, requiring no tax increase.

This is a totally false statement. This commission doubled the wheel tax. If a commissioner thinks and says they passed a balanced budget without a tax increase and does not even know he voted to increase a tax on all the residents by 100% that is proof enough he is incapable of understanding fiscal matters.

 Numerous citizens in my district have offered praise for this accomplishment.  As of yet, I have received no complaints about the stabilization of the property tax rate.  Several citizens have commented to me that Jefferson County should fund its services based on the revenue in a given fiscal year, and that funding for services should only increase at the rate of normal tax revenue growth, a model that County Commission has been able to follow for the past two years.  If I were the Mayor, I would be proud of this accomplishment.  Apparently, he is not.  In fact, Mayor Palmieri stated that our “Budget Committee” could not “read a financial spreadsheet”, another very unusual statement that seems to question the competency of a thoughtful and capable committee, a committee that just produced another balanced budget for 2016-2017 under very trying circumstances.

Again the good things of the budget came from the Finance Director. State law directs a balanced budget it is not something commission has an option with. It is a fact some members of the budget committee are not familiar with budget spreadsheets and terms or revenue sources. There is nothing wrong with that and it is not meant to be a cut toward those commissioners not familiar with financial issues. The point is they should seek other committees to serve on and allow those with financial knowledge to serve on the budget committee.

This budget committee and county commission, instead of jockeying for power and control, should let the process work and let the Finance Director prepare the budget. Why have a Finance Director if you are not allowing him to do his job?

 

Budget Process
The Jefferson County Budget Committee consists of 10 County Commissioners, about half of the seated members of County Commission.  That committee is charged with recommending a budget to the full commission each year, ideally in time to enact a budget before the fiscal year starts July 1 of any given year. This committee works with the County Finance Director, Budget Committee Chair, and department heads to propose budget changes, debate issues, set priorities, and formulate the overall county budget.

Sorry to say another complete false statement. Action has been taken to cut departments and budgets without even checking into their work load, needs, or operation of departments. Individuals have been cut over the objections of department heads and the Mayor. Department Heads have actually been totally ignored at times even when asked to speak at meetings. I have not seen a single time this budget committee or commission has attempted to work with departments during the budget process with the exception of the ones special treatment is granted.

Once the Budget Committee votes to approve the proposed budget, it is sent to the commission floor for consideration. For the past two years, I have been proud to serve with this diverse and talented group of committee members, all with a wide range of expertise. This range of talent is what it takes to vet county issues and formulate good financial policy.

Open Public Budget Meetings
I would encourage anyone to attend our open budget meetings in the Spring and see first-hand how your tax money is allocated, especially if you doubt a single word of this media release.  

I too wish people would attend meetings so they can see firsthand dysfunction at work in our county. I love Jefferson County. I am deeply grateful for the people who have allowed me to serve them these many years. I am also sincerely sorry to see the complete disregard for decency and well-being of the residents and employees. It is unfortunate there is such environment to operate improperly allowing abuse of power and control run the show.

I am thankful for those dedicated commissioners who seek betterment for our county and are not party to the destructive nature and ego stroking that has the majority control at this time. I have on several occasions expressed the desire to work with commission only to be faced with the continued disregard for the system and lack of cooperation as personalities take precedent over issues.

Source: Submitted by Jefferson County, TN Mayor Alan Palmieri