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Cocke County Budget Committee
Members of the Cocke County Budget Committee met again Tuesday evening in their effort to finalize a 2019/20 county budget. The committee agreed to increase the county hotel/motel tax to seven percent, up from the current three percent. The $300,000 collected this year from the tax, is expected to more than double under the hiked rate. The Tennessee General Assembly will be required to modify the current Private Act before the new rate will go into effect. Currently the revenue goes into the county's General Fund but Jennifer Brown of the Partnership questioned whether the increased funding could be used to increase marketing of the community. Currently only $25,000 is earmarked for marketing in the Partnership budget. Brown pointed out that a consultant had previously suggested that stream of revenue to promote the community. She also told the committee that the Partnership currently receives funding at a level that is $80,000 less than the level of funding ten years ago. Committee Chair Forrest Clevenger also suggested the $2 fee collected from each whitewater rafter be used to market and promote that sport. Members also discussed ways to increase the attendance of members at committee meetings. On a motion by Commissioner Terry Dawson, the body agreed to set pay at $450 monthly per commissioner, but with a reduction of $50 for each meeting that is missed. The committee also is looking at implementing a bio-metric employee pay system to better monitor attendance and overtime. Clevenger said under such a system, payroll would be handled electronically. County Attorney Brittany Vick will be asked to research the issue of overtime in the sheriff's department. Chair Clevenger has expressed concern on numerous occasions regarding the overtime level in the department and the fire department. He told his fellow members that the public needs to know when department heads are not adequately monitoring overtime expenditures. Although the current budget has $2.7 million in unspent appropriations, that figure is expected to drop my months' end, when the fiscal year ends. Finance Manager Heather McGaha told the committee that the new budget currently anticipates spending that is $860,000 greater than anticipated revenue.
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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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