Correspondent

In a lengthy, but unfinished meeting Commissioner Troy Poore explained that Claiborne County Commissioners who voted against a tax increase were voting to allow the state to close the schools.

Other commissioners scoffed at the idea of school closure, but Poore recalled that the most embarrassing days of his educational career were spent explaining to parents that the Ellen Myers Elementary School "was closed because the county had failed to pass a budget" (back in 1986 or 1987). The state doesn't close the courthouse if a county doesn't have a budget; they close schools to get the peoples attention."

After the first failed vote, Poore chastised the commission by stating that "we've [the county commission] created this problem ourselves with only one tax increase in 16 years. We even rolled taxes back by 47 cents in 1990. But two years ago this county commission voted to fix the sheriff's department salary structure, and we haven't done it yet. And several people who voted against this budget voted for the new justice center. [The new Justice Center will cost between 1.5 to 1.8 million a year to operate.] I think we need to move on and take our lumps and pass a budget that the state comptroller will approve."

The arguments focused around the projected staffing for the new justice center, purchase of three new ambulances, and county employee pay equity. Unfortunately, the numbers still didn't add up. One commissioner questioned whether we would be able to get the quality staff needed to run the new jail if pay levels were below average. Another pointed out that two of the county's aged ambulances had actually been towed to the garage that day after breaking down on the highway. When one nay-saying commissioner suggested that the commission adjourn in hopes that the numbers would clarify, the finance chairman, Commissioner Steve Brogan, bristled and fired back, "The numbers don't lie. We started last year with a budget surplus of about half a million dollars. We ended the year with only $38,000 of that money. And you can't run a county with only $38,000 in the bank!"

The proposed county budget will require a tax increase of 64 cents. This includes operating expenses for the justice center that should open next year, three new ambulances, pay rectification for the sheriff's department, and pay increases (actually position grade level changes) for certain county jobs that were not properly graded. Several votes were taken on proposals to modify the budget in an attempt to make the budget more palatable, but none were successful.

Most commissioners who voted against the proposed budget also voted against specific cuts to the budget. Commissioners voting against the budget were led by Bill Keck and included Brooks, Fugate, Bill Keck, Chester Keck, Estes, Mabe, Cosby, Daughtery, Clark, Graves, and Hatmaker.

Commissioners Essary and Mason were absent from the meeting.

Commissioners voting for the budget were led by Commissioners Brogan and Poore and included Thomas, Honeycutt, Campbell, Peters, and Mundy.

After a break and another futile vote the commission decided to adjourn until Tuesday night. The results of Tuesday's meeting will not be available before press time.

In other business, the commission approved reports by the Three Star Community committee, reappointment of notaries and notary bonds and the appointment of Gary Rowe to the hospital board. The appointment of Patty Brooks was not approved with 13 commissioners taking a pass and not voting to confirm.

The commission also approved the board of education's request for authority to consider a bond swap that could refinance some education debt at a fixed, rather than a variable interest rate. Also approved was the request by County Road Superintendent Mike Sharp for authority to accept low bids for operating materiel at the public bid opening on Thursday morning, Sept. 29th (10:30 a.m.).

Resolution 2005-007 (regarding Stanifer Lane) was tabled due to lack of a sponsor and the commission approved the county executives request for the appointment of two temporary committees.

The commission also approved a resolution that provides a mechanism for the regulation and licensing of adult oriented business establishments and establishes a board to control the licensing of those types of business operations.

The Commission adjourned at 10:05 p.m. and was scheduled to re-convene at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 27th.