County Commission to continue budget discussions July 15

 

CLINTON—The Anderson County Commission voted on Monday to continue considering the county budget proposed by Mayor Terry Frank. A special meeting for budget review will be held July 15, ahead of that month’s regularly scheduled meeting on July 21.

The budget proposal came to the County Commission after the budget committee’s recommendation to increase the minimum fund balance by $500,000, to $4 million.  That measure would require a supermajority of the County Commission—or 11 of the 16 commissioners—to approve any expenditure that would take the so-called rainy-day fund under the $4 million mark.

Frank said the budget is “not an exciting budget,” as there is little change from the last fiscal year, “but it is a budget that allows the people of Anderson County to keep more of what they’ve earned.” She also asserted that the county government would maintain stability and services through the proposed budget, which balances at $25 million and maintains property tax levels.

Also at the meeting, the commissioners decided that no action is currently necessary in regards to legal fees in defense of Anderson County Law Director Jay Yeager as he battles an ouster petition filed by 21 residents in Anderson County Chancery Court. The issue could be revisited later.

Sara Wise is a freelance contributor to Oak Ridge Today.