Budget Committee Makes Deposit into Hospital Fund
The Jefferson County Budget Committee was in session on Monday, September 14, 2015 in the Historic Jefferson County Courthouse. Following a call to order, officers were elected for the 2015/2016 cycle, with Scarlett returning as Chair, Kesterson as Vice Chair and Gaut as Secretary. All were elected with a Motion from Committee Member Solomon and 2nd from Committee Member Beeler.
Jefferson County Finance Director Potts informed the Committee that enough funds were available from an increase in revenue and decrease in expenditures during the previous fiscal year to eliminate the need to pull hospital funds used to balance the 2015/2016 budget. With two separate Motions from Solomon and 2nd by Committee Member Turner,the Committee approved returning $1,367,864 to the hospital fund. Chairman Scarlett informed the Committee that the possibility exists that the hospital funds used to balance previous budgets could be restored if sales tax comes in strong later in the year and that it could be a point of future consideration.
The Committee approved five budget amendments on the County side that were largely in the form of general housekeeping, with the exception being an equipment need for the Highway Department in the amount of $65,750 for the purchase of two John Deere Tractors with diamond boom mowers, which will be paid out of Highway Department Fund Balance ($33,000 covered by insurance check).
Jefferson County Schools brought two general purpose and one federal purpose budget amendments, that included $139,000 of BEP funds that will be used for differential pay in the form of bonus money for teachers that score a 3 or above on their performance assessment. All three amendments were approved. The schools also brought a request to reassign funds in the Capital fund that were either left over at the end of a project or assigned to a project that was not undertaken (JCHS Baseball lights-$3,856, JCHS Stadium-$27,083, Tennis Courts- $25,000, Security System-$60,000) and move to cover Maury Gym windows @ $80,000, Dandridge Elementary Library carpet @ $10,000 and undesignated @ $25,000 for a total of $115,939. The request was approved 5-4 with Committee Members Seal, Kesterson, Beeler and Baxley voting No.
Jefferson County Sheriff McCoig requested a 3% to 5% pay increase for Sheriff’s Office employees, citing the need to compete with local municipalities that pay higher and the amount of funds rolled back into fund balance from the Sheriff’s Department. Several Committee Members requested that Director of Finance Potts return with a look at an across the board raise for County employees in every department. The successful Motion to defer until more information is available was made by Commissioner Baxley (sitting in for Musick) and 2nd by Turner.
In other business, Finance Director Potts informed the Committee that there was around a $20,000 increase in the premium for Tennessee Risk Management. The Committee will address costs associated with association fees for fee generating offices in the County that are currently absorbed by the County Commission at the next meeting.
