[{"_1":2,"_86":-5,"_87":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6299580,"mediaKeyId","2496715-f2281ae43eca11675b3918edbc1f7309","parentId",2496715,"title","School board member warns city of $500,000–$600,000 shortfall if bonuses extended to nonteaching staff","audioSeconds",1003,"startMs",832000,"endMs",1835000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2496715-f2281ae43eca11675b3918edbc1f7309&start=832&end=1835","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2496715-f2281ae43eca11675b3918edbc1f7309/thumbnail_832000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6299580/Bristol-City/Sullivan-County/Tennessee/School-board-member-warns-city-of-500000600000-shortfall-if-bonuses-extended-to-nonteaching-staff","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6299580-5b8bb9f523f0c7b70dc33eed0b518f1c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771111940&Signature=WkryQwyYGoUo5lpldTbw0RVWiRkzV3LwehTYpzed2Ctj2yswj4cizj6pDQHBkcNZfobA96cbbKlwCZT2VTxK3gevw~oRI1KuJj-4u9bENsMPXrMZtdK7rvWg9iSzUvqtEA7pbWhPGlCU6A6zC4FUcxd4fRuStI9nutuwB-y7hzhHhcQAEQLCkH7aqWO8ekmdYbad4K84znOaLfN1AHfxb4sNePukPmeC~06ZqTe1-YO0imjsumhf5buJn-CG-NAsTYF-ZbEs4LMB-~raJQg2Vjwxuj5CFrFce~4rNLP3OUpvtvnzjchss1aCsyUVDRe76muLOJmsPVVrq7tYbFvqng__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Bristol, TN","date","2025-03-05T10:06:07.253Z","article","Charlie Taylor, a member of the Bristol Tennessee Board of Education, told the City Council on March 4 that the school system is facing budget uncertainty tied to a state proposal to give teachers a $2,000 bonus.

Taylor said the board is concerned about morale if only certified teachers receive the payment and is considering extending a similar bonus to noncertified staff, including custodial, cafeteria and maintenance employees. “It is a serious morale issue to give our teachers a $2,000 bonus, and then leave all of our support staff from maintenance . . . to our cafeteria workers, to our janitorial staff,” Taylor said.

The board estimates the cost to extend the bonus to all staff could be roughly $500,000–$600,000 and said the expense would be unbudgeted for the city school system. Taylor said the board has not yet made a formal request for city funding but asked council to “please keep us in mind as you go through budget season.”

Why it matters: The school board said federal “COVID” era grants that previously helped cover operating costs are expiring, creating structural pressure on next year’s budget. Taylor said the board is awaiting state guidance on how the $2,000 teacher bonus will be delivered and whether the money can be allocated in a way that avoids an immediate city budget hit.

How the board is responding: Taylor said the board is exploring options, including seeking further state guidance and reviewing internal pay scales. He also said the board plans to request collaboration with county commissioners to present facility and budget needs and asked that a city council representative attend school work sessions so the boards can coordinate earlier in the process.

Council reaction and context: Council members and the mayor asked clarifying questions during the Board of Education Liaison Report. Council members emphasized concern that if the city were asked to cover any shortfall, the expense would likely be a one-time tax pressure and would complicate the city budget planning. Council members expressed support for teachers while noting the fiscal implications for the city.

What remains unresolved: Taylor said the school board has not received final state guidance on the bonus mechanism and could not say when guidance would arrive. He also said the board has not issued a formal request to the city and that any request would be brought forward later after further analysis. The precise number of affected employees and the final cost remain “not specified” until more state details are available.

Other school items at the meeting: Taylor reported on a routine, accidental lockdown drill at Viking Academy and said the police and school staff response validated existing training. He also noted youth sports partnerships with the city and upcoming spring-break intersession programming that includes transportation and meals.

Ending: The board asked for continued coordination with the city during budget planning and invited council representation at future work sessions to reduce repeated discussion at regular council meetings.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Bristol Tennessee City Council Meeting - March 4th, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Charlie Taylor, a member of the Bristol Tennessee Board of Education, told the City Council on March 4 that the school system is facing budget uncertainty tied to a state proposal to give teachers a $2,000 bonus.","taxTitle","Bristol City, Sullivan County, Tennessee","taxId",3777,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6299574,"Votes at a glance: Council advances sign ordinance, amends budget, abandons right-of-way and moves meeting times earlier",0,1833000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2496715-f2281ae43eca11675b3918edbc1f7309&start=1833&end=1833","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2496715-f2281ae43eca11675b3918edbc1f7309/thumbnail_1833000.jpg","/articles/6299574/Bristol-City/Sullivan-County/Tennessee/Votes-at-a-glance-Council-advances-sign-ordinance-amends-budget-abandons-right-of-way-and-moves-meeting-times-earlier","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6299574-61cd517fd48d870a2fde5ebbbfb7adca/orig.mp4?Expires=1771111940&Signature=TwBOIiZJs9lW3GwP9HufDXkY99ObF3e2ctCOI8ZiOBoxV74Oi52iX5HPM3vLBxJcFT1HJhJEz8Wdq7fdUPpfo3NC0ROdfl3JEYanMxQSpLavIf9UTTo667Y0TNwlfb8cPd5s5bzINOM~H8o5zs0432zQRnQHxwHLYVj9gFLzdacDyaw1K4pzUVuKN8wKQPT2WDVp5zVFkn7-kga7U6sbxnWTCk3vWSboDvMhViBCHFjgw8ZaCy6DMRm9GbQtSpZnp3k2bDFZywwoc9gvjZ2qaEaInzuGlpvfQg0iQhoF-Ola8~eqy8wD-xQzlOt9vm-lBYzrKXvDilZPXo-e8xQq6g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Bristol, Tennessee City Council took several formal actions at its March 4 meeting, including a budget amendment, zoning and sign-code updates and a change to meeting times.

Key votes at a glance

- Ordinance 25-2 (budget amendment) — approved on second reading. The general fund was revised to $37,307,724 and the capital facilities fund was increased by $2,648,105 (including $2,750,000 intended for the Elsie and King property, funded largely from 2023 bond proceeds). No public speakers addressed the ordinance at the March 4 public hearing.

- Ordinance 25-4 (sign regulations) — approved on first reading (motion carried by roll call). The ordinance would create a new Chapter 13 to update the city's sign regulations, introduce a definition for “nonpermanent” signs, remove event-based sign permits for certain promotional events, prohibit some off-premise signs on residential property, and prohibit certain attention-getting devices such as “Skydancers.” The ordinance includes a public input day on March 18 and, if advanced, a public hearing and second reading in April; an effective date of Oct. 1, 2025, was proposed.

- Ordinance 25-5 (zoning amendment to allow automotive repair in M2) — approved on first reading (motion carried by roll call). The planning commission recommended adding automotive repair and maintenance as a permitted use in the M2 (general industrial) district to accommodate a property owner on Second Street.

- Ordinance 25-3 (abandonment of unopened street near Vance Drive) — approved on second reading. Staff will continue working with the property owners (the Stantons) to finalize a subdivision plat creating four new lots.

- Resolution 25-25 (change of meeting and work-session times) — approved. The resolution moves regular city council meetings from 7 p.m. to 6 p.m. and changes work sessions from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., effective April 1.

- Consent agenda — the council approved the consent agenda with one item removed (the Local Parks and Recreation Fund grant application for the aquatic center was removed because the state requires a parks master plan before application). Approved consent items included purchases for parks mowers, an athletic field groomer, an infield groomer, a one-year commercial lease for city center office space, a snowplow purchase, updates to fire station exhaust removal systems (sole source), and awarding a bid for downtown curb ramp improvements.

Voting details and procedure

Most items passed unanimously by roll call votes. For example, the first-reading action on Ordinance 25-4 and the first-reading action on Ordinance 25-5 each recorded affirmative votes from Hutton, Powers, Acard, Turner and Fire Robin. The budget amendment (Ordinance 25-2) passed on second reading following its public hearing earlier in the meeting.

Context and next steps

The sign ordinance update follows more than two years of work by the planning commission, which met repeatedly and provided a favorable recommendation in October 2024. Planning staff said the draft aims to clarify enforceable standards and give residents and businesses time to adapt before the proposed October 2025 effective date.

The zoning amendment to allow automotive repair reflects an individual property need on Second Street; staff said the planning commission asked staff to examine broader zoning contiguity and map coherence in future work. The budget amendment incorporates building insurance, communications generator costs, salary adjustments and capital funding tied to the Elsie and King property.

Ending

Council adjourned after approving the consent agenda and hearing several council reports and liaison updates.","Bristol, Tennessee City Council on March 4 approved a fiscal-year budget amendment, abandoned an unopened street, advanced two land-use ordinances on first reading, and approved a resolution changing regular meeting times to 6 p.m. The council also approved multiple consent items including equipment purchases; a parks grant application item was","actionData","errors"]

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School board member warns city of $500,000–$600,000 shortfall if bonuses extended to nonteaching staff

Votes at a glance: Council advances sign ordinance, amends budget, abandons right-of-way and moves meeting times earlier