[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-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",[32,74,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_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":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6557987,"mediaKeyId","3277881-235db977d5aaa09083cee98c1f5f24ad","parentId",3277881,"title","White County budget committee debates FY26 general fund gap, proposed salary schedule and staffing requests","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",1087000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3277881-235db977d5aaa09083cee98c1f5f24ad&start=1087&end=1087","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3277881-235db977d5aaa09083cee98c1f5f24ad/thumbnail_1087000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6557987/White-County/Tennessee/White-County-budget-committee-debates-FY26-general-fund-gap-proposed-salary-schedule-and-staffing-requests","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6557987-b8811f6dc64181dc575bb85e85af73f8/orig.mp4?Expires=1773151633&Signature=of71uuVGm0zmS7XvBdR4bO8xSSLwtbmm7ZZtZLqx5k0ZB0dIthYxrfmpR06LcStkyC3t39-Hd1uMkofTxsJbkkr2WByDm6yBbrzHVaECYKw1lCp0Yg0btqU0kTxvraes0THSrFn8Th5-wyotnd5-r8zXSNlhLzwTXStUXwGTISH8s62DQRduO~svjW43aVQAuxCqqVvuhPNcwlpQzbKTGV72Lf3Ocnv2um3~PZfKfESqgBQliIFDnMRP46sg0FQR32R2dKyCurCttLXlnYj7dm3JTAo2YDDFaJDFbr16KMBc6EptVR5rUNDWBAOlYy3QjBEmfhgqLA7MD4uC8ecl3g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","White County","date","2025-05-12T00:00:00Z","article","White County Budget Committee held an extended discussion of the fiscal 2026 general fund budget, a countywide salary schedule proposed by finance staff, and several staffing requests. Members did not adopt a final budget but identified priority positions to carry forward for more detailed review.

County staff presented a general‑fund projection showing estimated revenues of about $18.2 million at the certified tax rate used in the packet and projected expenditures of roughly $21.9 million if all requested items are funded — leaving a gap the finance director summarized as: “We are $3,680,000 short,” the finance director said in the meeting record.

The finance director (Chad) presented a draft salary schedule divided into groups and proposed adjustments, explaining the model’s intent to reduce pay compression across similar roles countywide. The draft included a baseline part‑time rate and grouped positions into tiers with different pay ranges and an example scenario that moved many positions to higher groupings. Chad said the combined effect across the general, solid waste and highway funds would be roughly $1.5 million in additional salary and benefits under the proposed scale.

Committee members debated how best to structure raises and retention incentives. Key discussion points included:

- Whether to use a flat percentage increase across the board versus a grouped structure tied to job similarity and experience.
- How to treat public‑safety positions (sheriff’s deputies, EMS) so promotion and longevity don’t create bottlenecks where front‑line staff out-earn supervisors.
- Longevity pay versus tiered pay by years of service; the committee discussed a longevity bonus (the draft included an example of $100 per year of service) and a three‑tier approach (0–5 years, 6–10 years, 10+ years) with suggested differentials.
- Comparisons to neighboring jurisdictions (Sparta, DeKalb, Fentress) for competitive pay lines, particularly for patrol deputies and EMS personnel.

On public‑safety staffing, committee discussion repeatedly returned to the sheriff’s department and EMS. The sheriff’s office requested additional patrol deputies and vehicles; the committee discussed moving patrol deputies and sergeants into higher groups to be competitive with surrounding counties. For EMS, members considered adding four shift positions or making an assistant director full time to reduce overtime and heavy truck utilization; the EMS requests also included vehicle remounts and a new ambulance, which staff said were time‑sensitive procurement items.

Several non‑salary and capital items were also debated. Committee members agreed to carry forward key items for further review (examples that survived to the next round included: EMA director to full time, a full‑time parks and recreation director, additional clerical staff in the county executive’s office, EMS shift positions/assistant director, four patrol deputies, and two central‑maintenance mechanic positions). The committee directed staff to rework some capital requests (e.g., ambulance remount schedule and vehicle upfitting budgets) and to explore alternatives (procurement, shared services, donated equipment) where possible.

On timing and next steps, committee members scheduled follow‑up meetings and asked staff to return with revised scenarios that reduce the gap between projected revenues and expenditures. The committee set additional work sessions (not a final budget vote) and agreed to identify definite cuts and priority keeps before the committee’s final recommendation to the county commission.

No final appropriations or tax‑rate decisions were made at the meeting; the record shows the committee recessed with the work plan to refine salary-group assignments, examine non‑salary cuts, and prepare a budget recommendation to present in the coming weeks.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","County Commission 2025-05-12","oneSentenceSummary","Committee members spent extensive time on a proposed countywide salary schedule and FY26 general fund projections, discussing a $3.68 million shortfall, potential tax-rate implications, staffing priorities (EMS, sheriff, central maintenance) and options for longevity pay and tiered experience increases.","taxTitle","White County, Tennessee","taxId",73494,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6557992,"Budget committee approves three school-related budget amendments, including 21st Century after‑school code correction",150,933000,1083000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3277881-235db977d5aaa09083cee98c1f5f24ad&start=933&end=1083","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3277881-235db977d5aaa09083cee98c1f5f24ad/thumbnail_933000.jpg","/articles/6557992/White-County/Tennessee/Budget-committee-approves-three-school-related-budget-amendments-including-21st-Century-afterschool-code-correction","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6557992-62e600756618d0802034f8f3ff360384/orig.mp4?Expires=1773151633&Signature=lpRvomZEbWGILmhBX5ufheRI26c6lntYA2ZdzYnmJJiEPdU5FSjhiNltsg8oYAWlX1UCGej~54CFb0f84wWbE914arb2eP8dF3Qpf9u4hHUvIv3F5vVHbhVHrNgJVGXn-l9xTY3nRGAlWtRbYs-ulw6VfgzWVFi4RtqtJoz-84bXuRFeaOspC93RMrFspbZxa5ZmrKi6jXOfDYoKpRTL295p7cpyuv0P3FTjJE36m3dlRjoaD831j~6~dN42Qtv4628V5sRhpHyyisDg-LJEV7CFrA-fJQ-AJVZTqVWKex2xQEN4QfTIZNWrxPi14oYqfStCJJX2HIUu835o-iQ4oA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","White County Budget Committee approved three school-related budget amendments after County and school system staff described the changes and said they had already been approved by the school board.

Director Markham, addressing the committee, described the first amendment as a coding correction: “The first amendment that you see before you is the, school federal projects fund 1 42. This is sub fund 4 32. This is the 21st Century, after school program. It's a $5,000 amendment really just correcting, the budgeting code,” he said. The state requested the change from account 499 (other supplies and materials) to account 429 (instructional materials and supplies); the amendment did not change total expenditures.

Director Martin (school system) told the committee the other two amendments were for summer programs already approved by the school board: a $410,090.31 amendment to fund a summer learning program (paying teachers, instructional supplies, benefits, cafeteria personnel, school resource officers and administration) and a $74,379.12 fully state‑funded school transportation grant to run buses during summer school.

Committee members voted to approve the three amendments together. The transcript records the committee chair calling for a voice vote and members saying “aye”; no roll-call tally of individual votes appears in the meeting record.

All three amendments will be forwarded to the county commission for final approval as required by county budget process.

The county finance director noted the amendments had been reviewed at the school board level and asked the committee to approve and forward them.

The committee then moved on to a detailed discussion of the fiscal 2026 general fund budget and a proposed countywide salary schedule.","White County Budget Committee approved three amendments: a $5,000 coding correction for the 21st Century after‑school program and two general-purpose school fund amendments funding summer learning and summer transportation.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_46":92,"_48":93,"_50":94,"_52":95,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":96,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":97,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6557997,"White County budget panel approves $3,711.86 reimbursement to Doyle Fire Department for pump repair",807,105000,912000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3277881-235db977d5aaa09083cee98c1f5f24ad&start=105&end=912","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3277881-235db977d5aaa09083cee98c1f5f24ad/thumbnail_105000.jpg","/articles/6557997/White-County/Tennessee/White-County-budget-panel-approves-371186-reimbursement-to-Doyle-Fire-Department-for-pump-repair","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6557997-bd3e26e8d7dcc25277161347d2324604/orig.mp4?Expires=1773151633&Signature=O1GklQDzWWiD~ZIaTof42499JFUss1pg1m~0nVVza4cmwl~MmWcmTh-oqY5Tvq1Z~AB4OHB1YM2IGt4KAmYr8jZzywfH9mtPwYqHgnEX54P002Oi16Euggnp4mkL86vHUt90efC0BW5u4oAsvgwb483VAEpbm9kx-aeqLoBTHRlxUcvtzWkFaE9s3j6u8yKW8Xo~ou9c4Cq8fkiqx3ew5PBDaVs8EzjhNTe9BQ2LrllOzmYZyUQQ2tZ2PB3ytj0yJlEmVcUzOaWGBeegkh61EKVQu34tAX1NzIJbhRUSI7420GzO~JeXcU6wTgBuwMPzD2apLHF3FXENqqcPSqIcIA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","White County Budget Committee voted to appropriate $3,711.86 to reimburse the City of Doyle Fire Department for a pump repair, the committee chair announced after an amended motion passed.

Chief Jason Sparks of the Doyle Fire Department told the committee the department had two separate repairs “totaling a little or right at $5,000,” and that one repair — the pump repair — left the department asking for reimbursement. “We’re gonna do what’s best for the person that needs help,” Sparks said, describing the department’s countywide response area and explaining that the engine had to be repaired promptly to keep coverage.

Committee members had previously tabled the request to get additional information. Sparks told members the department’s response area covers most of its 14.59 square miles outside the Doyle city limits and that roughly 78% of responses occur outside city limits, with about 9% being mutual aid calls into neighboring counties. He said the pump’s mechanical seal was a wear item and that the department’s mechanic estimated replacement intervals at five to six years; the pump in question was about seven-and-a-half years old.

Finance staff and committee members discussed whether to reimburse 75% of the pump repair only or 75% of the total repairs submitted. The committee initially considered a motion for 75% of the pump repair then amended the motion to cover 75% of the total project. The committee chair then called the vote; after the amendment passed, the committee voted on the amended motion to appropriate $3,711.86 and the motion carried.

Committee members also discussed training, noting the department provides in-house pump and driving training and sometimes breaks larger certification courses across multiple nights. Sparks said his department has previously broken longer classes into weeknight and weekend sessions and is working on a course “that falls in between an intro to pumps class and a PDO class” to be more volunteer-friendly.

The reimbursement appropriation was recorded as a committee action; no roll-call tally of individual yes/no votes was provided in the transcript.

The committee moved on to other agenda items after the vote.","White County Budget Committee approved a one-time appropriation of $3,711.86 to reimburse the City of Doyle Fire Department for a pump repair after hearing the department’s explanation that the engine was needed for countywide responses.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

White County budget committee debates FY26 general fund gap, proposed salary schedule and staffing requests

Budget committee approves three school-related budget amendments, including 21st Century after‑school code correction

White County budget panel approves $3,711.86 reimbursement to Doyle Fire Department for pump repair