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County budget talks continue
The new Cocke County budget still is not balanced, however the Finance Committee has cancelled a planned Thursday evening meeting to give Finance Manager Anne Bryant-Hurst time to obtain quotes from insurance brokers. The county currently is insured through the state at an annual cost of $1.5 million, but the manager suggested the county look at other plans in an effort to save money. "Could there be a plan that suits better than a 'one size fits all," she asked. Currently there are 211 employees in the General Fund departments. A six percent increase in insurance premiums would result in a cost of about $87,000, equal to 1.5 cents on the tax rate, although no increase has been confirmed for this year. Bryant-Hurst said other possible ways to save include; removal of department specific raises and additional positions, including a fourth school resource officer. The animal shelter and Recreation Department had also requested additional funding. The committee will meet with the representative of a firm which specializes in the collection of bad debts, with an eye to collecting fines and court costs which are delinquent. Bryant-Hurst said the firm works with the courts and is not a standard debt collection agency. She said she doesn't know a total of the monies currently owed to the various courts County Attorney Carter Moore said he will explore the possibilities of such a collection. Last year the highway department had an estimated ending fund balance of $72,000, but ended the year with a higher figure. So CLB Chair Norman Smith suggested some of this year's estimated fund balance of $235,000, could be reduced. "We wouldn't be cutting their budget we would just move some of the ending fund balance over to the General Fund," argued Smith. The committee then voted to move two cents or $117,00 out of the Highway Fund and move it to the General Fund. Bryant-Hurst reminded the committee that it is constrained by the state's maintenance-of-effort requirement which mandates a five-year rolling average funding for the department. "If you violate that, the state will take away your funding dollar-for-dollar," she warned. Smith also said it is important for the taxpayers to know that the county budget has not included borrowed money in the last several years. The county does have a debt, but most of the owed money is for schools, and in recent years school buses have been purchased with capital outlay dollars and not with borrowed money. Bryant-Hurst said the county debt owed today will be paid off by 2028.
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Return to Today's News Stories - Front PageThursday, April 29, 2021
US 411 Project News
Mill Creek Wildfire Update
More Bad News For Smokies' Fans
Wednesday, April 28, 2021
Mill Creek Wildfire doubles in size
Goodbye Smokies?
Keep Cocke County Beautiful
Cocke Co. High School Remote Learning today!
Tuesday, April 27, 2021
The fireflies are coming!
Burnout Operations on MillCreek wildfire today
Gas prices drop
Tennessee keeps all US House seats
Monday, April 26, 2021
Boat accident victim ID'd
Traffic stop yields drug arrest
Cocke County Wildfires
Friday, April 23, 2021
Leaving WNPC
Mathis announces candidacy
Newport drug roundup
Cruise Against Cancer
Jobless numbers
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