DeKalb County Could Receive $30.6 in State Appropriations

State Senator Mae Beavers (R – Mt. Juliet) announced that during fiscal year 2007-2008 DeKalb County will receive approximately $30.6 million of state appropriations. Also, DeKalb County will receive a portion of the $9.5 billion of federal funds included in Tennessee’s $27.8 billion budget as adopted by the 105th General Assembly.
Senator Beavers listed budgeted state appropriations benefiting DeKalb County in the following general categories: $12.3 million for education (kindergarten through 12th grade and higher education); $2.6 million in state shared tax collections; $10.4 million for health and social services; $2.1 million for justice and public safety; $1.2 million for recreation and resources development; and $1.1 million for state highway projects. The remaining $540,230 is for miscellaneous items.
“The Legislature provided $290 million in new funding to address a significant portion of the amended funding formula called the Basic Education Program. The Basic Education Program formula was redesigned to better address funding for at-risk students, enrollment growth, English language learners, teacher salaries and state contribution levels. The plan will also redesign the way Tennessee allocates money to school systems by replacing the current formula with a new calculation that is simple, fair and transparent. The county’s share of the Basic Education Program is estimated to be $11.6 million in the current fiscal year,” Senator Beavers said.
Senator Beavers further stated that health and social services’ appropriations benefiting DeKalb County residents include: $4.7 million for Human Services’ programs; $131,746 for Community Mental Retardation; $248,200 for Children’s Services; and $9.5 million for Health services, with $9 million of the Health funds for TennCare.
Senator Beavers said, “I think DeKalb County fared well in this budget considering the available resources. These figures represent the best estimates at this time and will materialize if state revenues are collected as estimated.”