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CLB approves new budget
Members of the Cocke County Legislative Body met for two hours in special session Monday evening before agreeing to a 2016/17 budget. The body considered two proposals drawn up by the Finance Committee after months of meetings. Option A provided for an increase in starting salaries for deputies and jail personnel. Sheriff Armando Fontes had argued that he has major turnover in the four departments under his supervision because of the low pay.The plan also called for a four percent raise for General Fund employees as well as the hiring of two new firefighters, a new employee in the Finance Department, a bailiff, a jailer and another landfill employee. The option would leave an anticipated ending fund balance of $101,000 in the General Fund. Option B was similar but without the sheriff's pay plan.It would leave an anticipated ending fund balance of $267,000. In addition, both options would hold the tax rate at $2.58, the same as last year. At the beginning of the meeting Mayor Crystal Ottinger who oversees the Fire Department again called for the elimination of the two new firefighters saying they are not needed. The mayor said she will consider vetoing any budget that includes funding for the firefighters. And then there were a number of votes on the two options. But neither received the required votes. Some commissioners were concerned about the lack of funding for paving county roads. There also were proposals to remove all the new positions in the budget and to drop the pay increase to three percent. All were defeated. Sheriff Fontes had argued that the proposed pay plan is really "a retention plan" that would resolve the issue of $365,000 in deputies back overtime pay. The sheriff also said the top 14 wage earners in his department would get no pay increase under the plan. The sheriff had indicated he likely would file a lawsuit to increase monies for his department if the pay plan was not approved. Mayor Ottinger expressed concern that such a move could result in a property tax hike next year. She said the last such lawsuit resulted in a 46 cent property tax increase. Commissioner Mitch Fine had concerns about the sheriff's request. "Since the budget process has started, all we've heard is lawsuit, lawsuit, lawsuit. It has not been a fun adventure. I don't know how to fix it. I do know alot of citizens are upset that that they are being threatened to be sued. There are alot of citizens who are unhappy." But the sheriff said he has not threatened to sue the commission. "I have said from the very beginning that we have an essential need that has to be met. And if we don't get this essential need, I don't have any other option but to follow what the law says.I have said numerous times, I have no desire to sue but I have got to address this issue with your help." Eventually after a ten minute recess, the body voted 10 to 2 with one absent, to fund the sheriff's request. The body also approved hiring of four new courtroom bailiffs from Litigation Tax funds. But the budget also includes funding for the two new firefighters that the mayor opposes. Mayor Ottinger suggested that possible additional called meeting times for the commission remain available. "In case I do choose to veto this budget. I've not decided yet. Respectfully it is not against a decision anyone has made. Even if I choose not to and this goes through, I still have no intention of hiring anyone for that position.I have no intention of advertising or hiring anybody for that position." The mayor also reported that the Fire Civil Service Board may have been established illegally because it was not created under a Private Act, and she said the status of the board is currently being researched. State law requires a budget receive final approval before the end of August, or the county stands to loose state revenue.
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