Published: June 18, 2009 02:39 pm      

County approves continuing budget, several amendments

The Cumberland County Commission approved a resolution for the county to operate on a continuing budget.

The commission passed the continuing budget and tax rate resolution during Monday's monthly meeting. The continuing budget resolution is routinely passed each year in order to keep county offices and services operating.

According to Resolution 0609-8, the amount set in fiscal year 2008-'09 appropriations are continued and the various departments, offices and agencies of the county are authorized to expend funds at the same level as the previous fiscal year.

The property tax rate of $1.24 per each $100 of taxable property for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2008, will remain in effect until a new tax rate is adopted. No local funds can exceed the previous year's budget until a new budget is adopted.

The resolution shall take effect from and after its passage and its provisions in force from July 1, 2009, until the budget and tax rate for the fiscal year 2009-'10 are adopted and approved.

The motion to approve the continuing budget was made by 9th District Commissioner Carmin Lynch and supported by 6th District Commissioner Terry Carter.

A $1.5 million budget amendment for early debt repayment as well as several other amendments were approved during the regular monthly commission meeting Monday.

The total loan repayment comes to $1,540,000 and was structured as such last year when the county refinanced nearly $60 million.

A motion to approve Resolution 0609-5 for the $1.5 million amendment was made by Lynch and was supported by 7th District Commissioner Mike Harvel.

In other areas the following resolutions for budget amendments were approved:

• Resolution 0609-3 — an amendment of $272,504 of flow-through funding for the East Tennessee Human Resource Agency for the county to administer the Local Workforce Investment Area 4 program. The program provides services to increase the employment, job retention, earnings and occupational skills attained by citizens. ETHRA adjusts the programs and funding periodically to provide optimum services.

• Resolution 0609-4 — an amendment of $160,000 of flow through funding from grants for the Cumberland County Railroad Authority to distribute the funds for improvements, rehabilitation and maintenance of the railway servicing Franklin Limestone Industries in Crab Orchard.

• Resolution 0609-6 — an amendment of $50,655 to cover budget overruns in various county departments.

• Resolution 0609-7 — an amendment of $271,572 to have each county department budget reflect the cost of fuel in its own department instead of showing one lump sum appropriation for all county operations.

All budget amendments were approved unanimously.