More Money, Better Funding Plan Coming For Centers
Putnam County Commissioners will vote later this month on increased funding for local senior center, then the county will get to work on a more systemized approach to budgeting. Centers in Baxter, Monterey, and Algood have been receiving $15,000 annually, with $40,000 allocated to Cookeville last year. Commissioners grew uncomfortable during the budget process when […]
Putnam Schools To Move Personal Finance Out Of Middle Schools
The Putnam County School System plans to make Personal Finance Class available for high schoolers only to ensure that the subject matter reaches students who need it most. Curriculum Supervisor Bubba Winningham said the class is currently taught in high schools but is also available in the spring semester for eighth graders. He said the […]
Clay To Make Changes In Hopes Of Bettering County Employee Wages
Clay County Commission adopted several resolutions to better employee pay Monday night. The resolutions include an increase in new employees’ starting salaries, a two percent increase for current employees, and a two-cent annual longevity raise. District 1 Commissioner Bryan Coons said that it’s important for county employees to have living wages. “The current situation with […]
Jackson Chamber Meeting With Employers On Changing Workforce Needs
The Jackson County Chamber of Commerce and Upper Cumberland Workforce are trying to get employers in touch with what employees want. A special meeting on the topic will be held Monday at 10:00 AM at the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce Board Room. Executive Director Hope Vargas said times have changed when it comes to motivating […]
Fentress Commission Approves Pay Raise For Deputies, Correctional Officers
The Fentress County Commission approved a pay increase for sheriff’s department employees Monday night. County Executive Jimmy Johnson said the increase is $2 per hour on starting pay. Johnson said the sheriff agreed that it will make a difference in retaining employees. “Well it’s a start, so there you are and he thinks it will […]
Overton Considering Its Options To Fill County Positions
Overton County, like many Upper Cumberland Counties are struggling to find and retain employees. County Executive Ben Danner said there was a time when the benefits included with a county job were viewed highly. However, with the push to raise wages in the private sector even falling flat in some industries, it is difficult to […]
Celina Constructing Three Citizen Boards For Community Feedback
Celina has created new citizen boards to to explore ideas and address issues in three areas of the community: wages, Donaldson Park and citizen volunteer opportunities. Mayor Luke Collins said he started the groups to gauge what residents want to see happen. “Once the committee gets going, that’s not to say more volunteers can jump […]
Inflation Concerns Reach Highest Levels In Recent Memory
It has been many years since inflation concerns have dominated the national conversation about United States Economics. That is according to Dr. Thomas Payne, the Dean of Tennessee Tech’s College of Business. Payne said the concern stems from the Federal Reserve’s aggressiveness coming out of the pandemic. Payne said the amount of money being printed […]
Putnam Labor Survey Participation Low For Local Industries
Responses to the every two-year survey of Putnam County industries have been slow in 2021. Only three of 71 industries participating in the wage and benefits survey have completed it. Stephen Crook is Vice President of Economic Development for The Highlands Economic Partnership. Crook said industries giving their answers might help them answer their own […]
