JACKSBORO, TN (WLAF) – The Campbell County Commission, meeting as the Budget & Finance Committee on Monday, embarked on a cautious spending spree thanks to federal and state grant money and some better than expected revenue figures. Watch the meeting HERE on demand.

In one classic example of give and take, commissioners approved a budget amendment to offset a $120,305 shortfall in state revenue sharing and a $300,000 shortfall in fees for housing state prisoners. The good news is that under a new program where the State of Tennessee now collects the local hotel/motel tax, the revenue from that tax source is expected to increase by $420,000 over projections, offsetting the losses.

Other projected revenue increases ranged from $2,715 in data processing fees in the Register of Deeds office to $13,500 for a Homeland Security Grant, which was then appropriated to purchase a tandem trailer, traffic cones and radio equipment for use during emergencies. The commission then approved an amendment to use a $10,000 state grant through the Victims of Crime Act to pay for remodeling and furnishing a “secure and comfortable area” for crime victims to await court proceedings in the Justice Center.

Some unexpected cost increases included the cost to the county associated with the pick-up, transport and storage of bodies, which had to be increased from $15,000 to $22,000 for the current fiscal year, and an increase of $4,000 in the County Clerk’s budget to cover postage costs for mailing out the new state license plates to those renewing by mail.

The new agreement between the Sanitation Department and the City of Jellico is projected to result in a $25,000 increase in revenue for waste disposal and tire disposal fees while landfill and tire disposal costs to the county are expected to increase by the same amount. Another amendment adjusted the engineering costs associated with the Old Stinking Creek Road bridge project to cover a cost overrun of $1,700, but those funds will be reimbursed from the federal Improve Act covering bridge replacement.

The really good news for commissioners may involve the $3 million capital outlay note that the commission approved last August to provide funding for various road projects and site development at Lonas Young Park. Current sales tax collections are expected to exceed the original budget estimate by $1.1 million, meaning the amount needed to be financed will be paid off two years earlier than projected.

The budget amendment resolution went on to read: “Increased sales tax collections should allow the property tax rate for 2022-23 to remain the same so long as the County Commission does not entertain requests for increased funding  beyond the contemplated pay raise and other unavoidable cost increases. . . “

The final distribution of funds related to that $3 million capital outlay note was being held in abeyance in case the money needed to be used for long-promised waterline projects. Another amendment ended the uncertainty, as it has been verified that federal ARP funds can be used for the waterline expansions. In addition to the $250,000 already appropriated for Lonas Young Park, another $250,000 was marked for building improvements at the county’s Jellico office building and the remaining $2.5 million designated for asphalt/ hot mix for various road projects. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 02/16/2022-6AM)

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