City Administrator Tom Short reported that sales tax revenues were down. The report shows that theMarch 2004 1% City general sales tax is down 15.6% from March 2003 revenues, but the year to date total (July 2003 to March 2004) is less than three-tenths of one percent down.

The sales tax spread sheets are broken down into 1% general sales tax; ½% transportation sales tax; ½% Capitol Improvement sales tax, giving a combined total of 2% City sales tax. The report shows that the 2% sales tax total is down .23% year to date.

"We’re hoping there is a glitch somewhere," said Short. "But we haven’t found out yet. We had this problem last September and it was because Wal-Mart was late getting their numbers in."

Short commented that numbers being down are never good, the year to date total so far, is not that bad.

The City’s 2% sales tax accounts for approximately 20% of City revenues.

The City’s fiscal year 2004-2005 begins July 1st.

I’m startin’ to get those checks in the mail again. You know the ones, if ya cash it you’re committed to pay $29.95 for the rest of your life for some service ya don’t really need anyway.

One was for fifteen bucks and I had to at least look at the offer. I got a couple other one for three dollars and sixty-five cents. Guess my business doesn’t mean much to these folks.

On occasion there will be that dollar bill show up. Payment for fillin’ out a survey of some sort. I have to admit there has been a couple a times I didn’t send in the survey, but it’s hard to return a dollar bill. I have felt guilty enough on a few occasions to return the questionnaire, but I can’t guarantee the quality of the answers.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

by

Carthage Printing

THIS IS A HAMMER

By Samantha Mazzotta

New GFCI Outlets Protect Kitchen, Baths

Underwriters Laboratories, which sets safety standards for electrical products in the United States, has upgraded the requirements for GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) receptacles. These outlets, commonly installed in "wet" areas of the house such as the kitchen and bathrooms, shut off power to their respective electrical circuit if a ground fault (such as water entering an appliance or receptacle) is detected. They now must endure harsher conditions — especially outdoor receptacles — and must indicate a problem if they are wired incorrectly.

Since the requirement was issued last year, nearly every U.S. manufacturer of GFCIs has resubmitted their products and gained UL approval, so these devices are available at hardware and home improvement stores. They retail for less than $20.

The majority of GFCI receptacles in homes work just fine; however, replacing them with upgraded outlets will give you an edge in safety. (If you’re not sure what this type of outlet looks like, check the bathroom outlets in your home. A GFCI outlet has two buttons located between the two receptacles to test and reset the circuit.) Do-it-yourselfers with electrical experience can install GFCI receptacles for single locations without too much trouble; others should call a licensed electrician.

With the replacement nearby, shut off power to the outlet at the circuit box. Use your circuit tester religiously. Remove the cover plate and mounting screws and carefully pull out the receptacle without touching any bare wires, then test each connection to make sure electrical power is off.

Disconnect the neutral white wire from the old receptacle and attach it to the white "line" terminal on the GFCI (the terminal will literally have "line" and "white" inscribed next to the terminal). Repeat with the black "hot" wire, attaching to the "hot" "line" terminal on the GFCI. If a grounding wire exists, disconnect it from the old outlet and attach it to the green grounding screw terminal on the new GFCI (the new outlet will function properly without a grounding wire).