Members of the county’s Budget Committee are faced with cutting as much as $6 million in expenses from its new budget proposal. Washington County Mayor Joe Grandy has said the committee will have to take some “draconian measures” to balance the county’s budget this year.
County Mayor Joe Grandy said Wednesday that school board members need to submit a balanced budget that does not require any new revenues from the county. School officials approved a budget last week that asks the county for an additional $1,769,87 to help make up a shortfall in funding for education.
EMS Chief Dan Wheeley told the county’s Budget Committee that recouping those costs has been an ongoing issue between EMS and the company contracted to provide health care services at the jail.
Last month, judges sent home more than 100 non-violent inmates who were nearing their release dates to help lower the population in the jail during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Budget Committee approved a resolution to advise Board of Education members, who are working on a new budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, that they should count on the same revenue figures seen in the current fiscal year.
Washington County Highway Superintendent John B. Deakins Jr. told members of the county’s Budget Committee on Thursday he expects sate gas tax collection to drop by 30% in April. As a result, bridge work could be impacted in the new fiscal year that begins July 1.
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Jerry Story, who has served as veterans services officer since 2016, said he is seeing as many as 15 veterans a day. He told committee members that he is having to scheduled appointments at least three weeks in advance.
Although the county is under an emergency declaration, work continues on the new budget. The county’s Budget Committee is scheduled to meet electronically today and Thursday to hear funding requests from courthouse officials.
The $12.5 million agreement received unanimous approval from the county’s Budget Committee on Wednesday. Johnson City commissioners are expected to vote on the matter March 5.
Members of the county’s Budget Committee voted Wednesday to consider a new process of seeking reimbursement for such court-ordered cleanups. Washington County Mayor Joe Grandy said the cost of those cleanups is increasing for the county, and it was time to look at attaching a bill for that work to the property owner’s tax statement.
Unless county officials find a new public use for the Ashe Street Courthouse, its ownership will revert back to the federal government, which will likely sell the property at an auction. Grandy said Thursday that is part of “the dilemma” the county now faces because there has been no new use identified for the former courthouse.
Washington County’s Budget Committee endorsed “in concept” Jonesborough’s plan to build a new K-8 school on Wednesday, and voted to put a still-developing lease-to-own agreement with the town before the full County Commission when it meets Sept. 23.
Washington County Mayor Joe Grandy wants a “do-over” on authorizing $800,000 to prepare athletic fields at the new Boones Creek pre-K-8 school.
Washington County Mayor Joe Grandy said the Budget Committee has dealt with the new budget for more than 90 days. He said committee members are now giving other commissioners “an opportunity to ask questions and prepare for Monday night’s vote.”
Director of Schools Bill Flanary told the committee the county’s Board of Education has voted to take $1.8 million out of its general fund reserves to balance the budget. He said the new proposal includes $1.1 million to cover pay raises for all employees and a 1% mandated step increase for teachers.
