EDOC Projected Expenditures High

The Jefferson County Economic Development Oversight Committee has turned in its funding request from the 2014-2015 fiscal year budget. In documents provided to the Jefferson County Budget Committee, EDOC requested $180,000 in funding from the County, which was level to the funding provided in the current year’s budget. The allocation request estimated operating expenses for the 2014-2015 fiscal year to be $450,000. This estimated expenditure is the same amount that was listed as operating expenses in the 2013-2014 budget year. Requested line item projected expenditures that were used to compute the figures in the 2014-2015 budget request were not available from EDOC. The Secretary/Treasurer of EDOC, Darrell Helton, provided a statement of revenues collected and expenses paid in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2013. Operating expense in that fiscal year ( 2012-2013) were documented to tally $827,737- a portion of which could be attributed to the defunct megasite proposal. Large ticket expenditures were Economic Development Study ($114,320), Professional Fees ($ 32,070), Economic Recruiter ($ 49,313), Specialist ($16,439) Retail Recruiter ($ 16,439), Advertising and Promotions for Tourism ($ 197,899), Tourism Promoter ($ 59,464) and Capitol Campaign ($ 166,785). Additional expenses include three line items for website with a total cost of $27,584 and $48,000 to Strengthen the Chamber of Commerce.

Comparative figures from the current fiscal year and the proposed budgeting year will not be available until after June of 2014, according to Don Cason, Director of the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce. In a letter to the Jefferson County Budget Committee and County Commission, dated March 14, 2014, EDOC requested $180,000 in funding for the 2014-2015 fiscal year. The request was signed by EDOC members Max Fultz ( Bush Brothers) Jay Mosier ( Tn Valley Resources, Inc), Marty Mills ( Jefferson County Commission Chairman), Darrell Helton ( Jefferson County Finance ), Greg Williams ( Appalachian Electric), Mark Potts ( Mayor of Jefferson City), George Gantte ( Mayor of Dandridge) and Rosemary Wigington ( First Tennessee Bank). The Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce is also seeking funding in the amount of $155,000 and expects their operating expenses to tally $558,253. Both the Chamber of Commerce and EDOC share the same facilities and some employee crossover. The total expected expenditures for the combined organizations are $1,008,253 and the combined request for funding during the upcoming fiscal year is $335,000.