TVA money could pay huge benefits

By By Sen. Arthur Orr, Guest Columnist
Morgan County could soon see a substantial windfall of more than a million dollars a year without raising taxes, which is welcome news in these difficult economic times. The question now arises of what to do with this unexpected gift of additional TVA funding – do we spend it immediately for instant gratification and temporary needs or do we bank it and borrow against it for long term improvements that can be utilized to better our area for the next several generations?
Because of the efforts of the Morgan County Legislative Delegation and other Tennessee Valley legislators, Morgan County stands to gain approximately $1.2 million of new TVA funds annually, which will also increase 5 percent each year thereafter. After an absence from North Alabama of some 30 years, this money is being reclaimed from dry counties in South Alabama that were given it by Governor Wallace in the 1970s.
Though my preference for using the money would be to cut taxes or power rates, such actions would require a statewide constitutional amendment or TVA Board action, respectively.
If the money is divided among the schools, city governments and county government on a per capita basis, the larger entities (Decatur, Morgan County and their school systems) would receive at most a couple hundred thousand dollars, which could help temporarily plug budget shortfalls but not enable any entity in the county to make major capital investments.
With budgets exceeding tens of millions of dollars, the impact would be nominal, at best. Admittedly, these are particularly tough times for all organizations – public and private – and any additional funding of any amount would be welcome. However, history shows that once a revenue stream is relied upon in the budget of any entity, particularly a government entity, it is next to impossible to remove.
But the question remains, should we as a county divide the funds with little appreciable impact or should we re-capture the vision similar to the one that built Mallard Fox Creek Industrial Park in Decatur or that is envisioned for the new Morgan Center Business Park between Hartselle and Falkville?
The funding for those projects occurred because our elected leaders across the county banded together and determined that a united investment of TVA funds would serve all of Morgan County better than dividing it among their constituencies. The thousands of jobs that our county enjoys today because of that cooperation are a dividend that will pay lasting rewards.
Considering a bonding capacity of over $20 million, the investment possibilities for this revenue stream are tremendous.
Whatever we decide as a county, we should ensure that our investment is one that will provide tangible long-term benefits to the citizens of this Morgan County. By voicing their opinions to local elected leaders at all levels, citizens can be active participants in this landmark decision, which has the potential to transform the landscape of Morgan County for generations to come.
We must have a community conversation to discern how best to invest for the future of this county.
Divide the funds as usual in light of the reduced revenues for local governments and schools? Improve recreational facilities to attract tourist dollars? Construct a career educational center to prepare our students and bring jobs? The possibilities are limited only by our imagination and ability to dream about ways to improve our community.
I frequently tell people I encounter that “we are all in this together.”
Regardless of your circumstances, job or background, if you live in Morgan County, you do have a stake in the decision. If Morgan County is to grow, prosper and be a thriving place to live, work and visit, we must work together for the greater benefit of the county, with a vision toward the future.
It has been done in the past, and we have an obligation to Morgan countians of tomorrow to do it again today.