County passes budget
 
 Jeremy Styron News-Herald.net
 
After a public hearing earlier this week and another public comment period during Friday’s budget meeting, Loudon County Commission voted 8-2 to give 4 cents in property tax pennies back to the taxpayers and leave 2.8 cents in the budget for the Loudon County and Lenoir City school districts.

Commission also voted 8-2 to approve the $69.3 million budget for fiscal year 2014-15, which includes a 2-percent salary increase for county employees.

The Budget Committee originally recommended to decrease the tax rate by the full 6.8 pennies. Commissioner Bob Franke made a motion to pass the Budget Committee’s recommendation, which was seconded by Commissioner Don Miller.

Commissioner Harold Duff then made an amendment to the motion to keep the current tax rate at 1.8987 and not extend any tax decreases to the public, which was seconded by Commissioner Sharon Yarbrough.

“This would leave the 4 cents in the educational debt service and the 2.81 cents in the general purpose schools funds,” Duff said. “Under this recommendation the monies would remain with the schools and not be taken away from them.”

Yarbrough said she was disappointed in her perception that members of the Budget Committee did not adequately review materials and information provided from school supporters during the public hearing who spoke against the 2.8-cent reduction in the education general fund.

Franke said Lenoir City Schools, which was allocated about $154,000 from the 2.8 cents in property tax money, would see a total increase in funds this year based on a city-to-county student population ratio change from last year.

“You’re making it sound bad, but actually we’re giving Lenoir City more money than they had last year,” Franke said, noting that the county district still had enough money in reserves to continue projects as part of phase two for school construction projects.

“We’re supposed to be looking out for all citizens,” Franke said.

After Duff’s amendment to the original motion, Commission Chairman Roy Bledsoe made the motion to give the 4 cents back to the taxpayers and leave the 2.8-cent allocation for schools. Bledsoe’s vote passed 8-2, with Duff and Yarbrough dissenting. Duff’s amendment failed 2-8, while the amendment to the original motion passed 8-2.

BACK
8/18/14