Oak Ridge Today

Anderson commissioners approve no-tax-increase budget

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After weeks of wrangling, a budget standoff between Anderson County officials and the sheriff was quickly resolved Monday as county commissioners voted 13-0 to approve a budget that doesn’t include a tax increase but sets aside money for more jailers.

The goal was to give Anderson County Sheriff Paul White a total of 13 jailers so he can open a new 128-bed minimum security dormitory this summer. After a tax hike last year, county officials didn’t want to raise the property tax rate again this year.

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Anderson County jail budget standoff continues Monday

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Anderson County Commission Budget Meeting

Anderson County commissioners try to resolve a funding standoff with Sheriff Paul White, right, during a Monday night meeting. Also pictured from left are commissioners Johnny Alley, Jerry White, and Rick Meredith.

CLINTON–The sheriff insisted he needs at least 13 jailers to open a new dormitory this summer but the county commission would not raise property taxes again, so a budget standoff remained unresolved after a special meeting Tuesday night.

The Anderson County Budget Committee will wrestle with the budget again during an afternoon meeting next Monday, and the County Commission will hear any new proposals during its regular meeting that evening.

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Anderson County Commission gives sheriff an extra $203,000

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Anderson County Commission

Anderson County commissioners vote to give the Sheriff's Department an extra $200,000 to hire five jailers for a minimum-security dormitory expected to open this month.

CLINTON — Trying to find a compromise, Anderson County officials used more optimistic projections for property and sales tax revenue collections to give the Sheriff’s Department an extra $203,000 in next year’s budget, enough to hire five jailers.

However, Anderson County Sheriff Paul White had requested 15 jailers to staff a 128-bed minimum security dormitory expected to open this month.

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County could resolve $1.8 million impasse over sheriff’s funding tonight

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Myron Iwanski

Iwanski

A $1.8 million impasse over funding for the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department could be resolved tonight.

Anderson County Sheriff Paul White has requested extra money in his budget to buy new cars, cover higher costs, and hire 15 jailers for a minimum security jail dormitory expected to open by June, among other things.

But so far, county officials, including Anderson County Mayor Myron Iwanski, have seemed reluctant to provide the additional funding.

“There’s no way they can do it without a tax increase,” Iwanski said Monday morning. “There’s very little interest in a tax increase.”

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Sheriff’s $2 million request rejected

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Anderson County Budget Committee

Anderson County Sheriff Paul White, left, presents his budget request to Budget Committee and county staff members Tuesday. Also pictured from center are Anderson County commissioners Tim Isbel, Dusty Irwin, Buzz Patrick, Mayor Myron Iwanski, and county budget staff members Connie Aytes and Chris Phillips.

CLINTON — The sheriff wants an extra $2 million in his budget, but the county mayor opposes his request.

For now, it seems the mayor has prevailed.

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