Council to consider budget amendments in special meeting Thursday

The Oak Ridge City Council could consider a dozen budget amendments Thursday evening that were postponed on Monday, a series of proposals that could increase spending in some areas or cut it in others.

Nine of the amendments have been proposed by Oak Ridge City Council member Trina Baughn, and three were recommended by Council member Chuck Hope.

Baughn’s proposals could reduce spending on municipal travel by 20 percent, the Oak Ridge Public Library by roughly $950,000, and Recreation and Parks Department funding by 10 percent, among other things.

Hope’s proposals would add $500,000 funding in the city’s general fund for spending in three areas: economic development, capital maintenance, and to study the relocation of Fire Station No. 2 to Melton Lake Drive.

The special Thursday, May 16, meeting starts at 5 p.m. in the Municipal Building Courtroom, which is at 200 S. Tulane Ave. in Oak Ridge.

Also Thursday, the Anderson County Budget Committee meeting will consider the county budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1. That committee meeting starts at 4 p.m. in Room 312 at the Anderson County Courthouse in Clinton.

The committee will meet in Room 118A if Room 312 is not available.

The Anderson County Courthouse is at 100 N. Main St. in Clinton.

Meanwhile, the Oak Ridge Board of Education budget work session tentatively scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Thursday has been canceled.

The school board will meet again for the public hearing and first reading of the Fiscal Year 2014 budget on Tuesday, May 21, at 6 p.m.