The White County Budget Committee believes it will have nine votes to pass a new budget proposal created Monday night, which includes a $1.41 property tax rate.
The new budget swaps longevity pay for general fund employees with a slightly larger pay raise of $4,500. This move paired with the tax rate drop creates a budget deficit some $350,000. That would be covered by reserves. Commissioners debated dropping the rate another penny and increasing the deficit. Commissioner Roger Mason said the extra penny will not have a major impact on most people’s tax bills.
“We’re out of time,” Mason said. “So we can get hung up on $1.40 or $1.41, and talking about $6 to $13 a year, or we can figure it out. But don’t leave, don’t adjourn this meeting until we know what we’re doing.”
The new proposal includes two pennies for the highway department, an ambulance remount, and funding for a full time parks and recreation director. The EMA director position will remain part time in this proposal, but the salary will increase to $25,000.
The deficit was a hangup for several Commissioners, particularly TK Austin. Austin wanted to see more cuts to the budget to help both the tax rate and deficit, but other commissioners pointed out larger deficits have been passed before.
Mason said $13 is the difference in two pennies of property tax rate for a $300,000 home in White County. Despite this, some commissioners were firm at a $1.40 rate. Compromises in the budget ultimately made them come around.
County Executive Denny Wayne Robinson wanted to see a smaller budget in case of an emergency.
“When I see these mayors across the state who have been hit with tornadoes and hit with ice storms and hit with, you know, we had the flood out in east Tennessee, you’re looking at bonds, borrowing money” Robinson said. “We have to pay for everything. You know, we’ll recoup a lot of it back, but it’s going to get us eventually and we’ve got to be prepared for it.”
The budget committee initially passed the $1.41 rate proposal but rescinded it after fearing it would not get enough votes at full court. After a brief recess and more discussion, Commissioners Becky Golden and Chris Brewington said they would flip from no to yes at the full court meeting.
“This is blunt, this right here is,” Brewington said. “Do I think Comptroller needs to come in and clean house? You’re darn right because there’s some crookedness in here. You’re darn right I think it is. But in order for these guys to get their raise, to get their money, I will vote yes on the 18th.”
The Budget Committee narrowly passed the proposal to full court. Commissioners Kyle Goff, Derrick Hutchings, and Robinson voted yes, while Austin and Davis Cranford voted no.
The Committee also ensured they had the needed support from other commissioners who planned to attend the next full court meeting. Eight votes will be needed to pass the budget, and the meeting was adjourned with nine Commissioners expected to vote in favor of it.
