Contact:   Representative Susan Lynn

               Phone   615-741-7462

               Date   October 4, 2005

FOR  IMMEDIATE  RELEASE

          NASHVILLE—Representative Susan Lynn, Representative Stratton Bone and Senator Mae Beavers announced that during fiscal year 2005-2006 Wilson County will receive approximately $99,160,200 million of state appropriations.  In addition, Wilson County will receive a portion of the $9.8 billion of federal funds included in Tennessee's $25.8 billion budget as adopted by the 104th General Assembly.

          The lawmakers listed budget appropriations for Wilson County in the following general categories:   $51 million for education (kindergarten through 12th grade and higher education); $8 million in state shared tax collections; $27 million for health and social services; $3.7 for justice and public safety; $5 for recreation and resources development; and $2 for state highway projects.  The remaining $1.3 Million are for miscellaneous items.

          The proposed budget allocates $41 million for the Wilson County School District and $10 million for the Lebanon Special Schools District.

          "The Legislature provides for the full-funding of the Basic Education Program which represents the major portion of school funding.  The Basic Education Program includes teachers' salaries, capital outlay, pupil transportation, textbooks, teachers' sick leave, teachers' retirement, and additional instructional materials," Lynn said.  "The county's share of the Basic Education Program is estimated to be $41 million."

          The health and social services' appropriations benefiting Wilson County residents include $27 for Human Services' programs;

$1.2 for Community Mental Retardation; $1.1 for Children's Services; and $2 for Health services, with $22.5 of the Health funds for TennCare.

          These figures represent the best estimates at this time and will materialize if state revenues are collected as estimated."

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