City officials learn support at capital

The Tennessee Municipal League began its annual Legislative Conference Monday in Nashville, with key speakers from the capital city. City leaders from all over the state of Tennessee are gathered at the Capital to be informed and to actually help lobby their legislative officials to pass bills and laws to benefit the cities and communities. The Honorable Governor Phil Bredesen addressed the municipal leaders from a position of experience as he was once the mayor of Nashville and is able to identify with the difficulties that many municipal leaders have in common. Bredesen addressed the concerns of the streamlined sales tax, restoration of state revenues and economic development. According to his budget proposal, state revenues will be returned as promised. Another concern that was mentioned by Bredesen, and also the Honorable Comptroller John Morgan, was the issue of K-4 Kindergarten. Both men feel that it is vital to the future economic success of the State of Tennessee. K-4 Kindergarten is a plan whereby children start kindergarten at four year of age. Morgan’s emphasis was mainly on the future economic development as it directly correlates to the education of Tennessee natives. He pointed out that in 2004, only 57 of every 100 ninth graders finish school when they were scheduled to. That means that we are losing an average of 43 out of 100 kids annually. Some of these kids do go on to get a GED or graduate at a later time. But many don’t, according to Morgan. The Honorable Riley Darnell, Secretary of State filled the city leaders in on the responsibilities of his office. Tennessee is one of only three states that appoints their Secretary of State by General Assembly election. He was quick to point out the advantages of the system, and how it is then “a bridge between the executive and the legislative branch”, so that all may benefit. The municipal leaders attended House and Senate Sessions into the evening, with a reception to which legislators were invited to discuss relevant issues further.