[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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",[32,75,87],{"_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",6219968,"mediaKeyId","3619445-7361c0271188b9058bf3605e43530443","parentId",3619445,"title","Budget panel reduces Marston Parks funding request; approves $150,000 for parks and directs rest to other priorities","audioSeconds",258,"startMs",5090000,"endMs",5348000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3619445-7361c0271188b9058bf3605e43530443&start=5090&end=5348","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3619445-7361c0271188b9058bf3605e43530443/thumbnail_5090000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6219968/Hamblen-County/Tennessee/Budget-panel-reduces-Marston-Parks-funding-request-approves-150000-for-parks-and-directs-rest-to-other-priorities","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6219968-e18e8f688d17f0a6860fca9c08f62013/orig.mp4?Expires=1775291215&Signature=fI3zLUHX4QaAEYOlJ~15L9v4fvlPfAi-6gbePR3zRhxdaAzl0ZceP8kteXM3RKg-jJ0vgeuOvWxQLi4DKHhfq-B7I5iZMXA9LAbeDYLHDDut29NkXmu7uqHMIWoAjvTXrvJhabfxmb9HQwGgXaCfBGmrQdgSedqOAxAqucHXzjV17ur5sl07aWHu8ndAt5hcv7NQ9ibM9g3oMfirVkGmeJ6sK18Z-g4LGjdcm3ad~80X522XhQpWIqvipCRxCfWYps24kNOL8EhLib7ZoQQxiIGXXUPKCLqhcRfeTJbCdFk8wx2Bq-gmk0RDG0~iH0CVjILmTq668pkGP3k1u8D7Hg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Hickman County, TN","date","2025-06-02T10:14:38.047Z","article","The Hamblen County Budget Committee considered new and recurring nonprofit funding requests and amended the proposal for Marston Parks and Recreation. The commission approved $150,000 for the parks authority, reduced from the $300,000 recurring amount the parks had requested.

Marston Parks had requested an additional $200,000 over its established $300,000 annual allocation. After debate about county fiscal constraints and competing needs '1 including funding for school resource officers '1 commissioners moved to fund the parks at $150,000 this year and direct the remainder of previously proposed increases toward public-safety costs.

Commissioner Jamie Carden and others underscored community value of parks and rec programs but said the county must balance general-fund priorities amid an uncertain revenue picture. Commissioner (unnamed) said: \"We just need to be careful, we've got $5,000,000 in a hole,\" a comment used in deliberations to urge restraint.

The motion to reduce the parks request to $150,000 passed by roll call with two abstentions. Commissioners said the parks' board will still operate but will need to increase fee revenue and fundraising; staff noted the parks are moving toward a fee-based model for some programs.

Committee members also confirmed the county's nonprofit funding process requires applicants to provide 501(c)(3) documents and financial statements; staff said those documents are posted on the county website and available as part of the review process.

The commission approved the amended nonprofit funding package in a single roll-call vote after earlier separate votes on a subset of new requests. Members asked staff to supply details on how the parks and other nonprofits track program usage and revenue to inform future funding decisions.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","May 29, 2025 Budget Committee","oneSentenceSummary","Hamblen County commissioners debated a $200,000 supplemental request from Marston Parks and Recreation, ultimately approving $150,000 (half of the $300,000 recurring allocation the board had before) and reallocating the remaining funds toward school resource officer and other priorities.","taxTitle","Hamblen County, Tennessee","taxId",73399,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6219973,"Commissioners agree to fund ambulance purchase with $75,000 from county and balance from opioid funds",444,2904000,3348000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3619445-7361c0271188b9058bf3605e43530443&start=2904&end=3348","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3619445-7361c0271188b9058bf3605e43530443/thumbnail_2904000.jpg","/articles/6219973/Hamblen-County/Tennessee/Commissioners-agree-to-fund-ambulance-purchase-with-75000-from-county-and-balance-from-opioid-funds","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6219973-b084cf6bcad0b5e60cf3dc00e19d88d9/orig.mp4?Expires=1775291215&Signature=KSaZtHdgN4w4xBz13DjqYzvKkWOX3nsC~P1yXxEUXNzrN0fowy~LpZugqfzZc8eW30BGdzyLEZMmJyNyIu5CZfdV5kh911weF2EAHNTC3L8FDrFr2XLyk2T3DUGiZbkHU3Q1-g59yo~m--BTzQqRb6JOkMIMYUFLpoivkkdFtQ4aoefX8I4HzX9PlmLiC0YhHzzDHAgUjedylsGTEruIibxCiMsgM1VCUhVPUppyw0jhtaGHf2q3My-2XtQaP60UcwewKL1UZ2W59ER8LnN1mGTCrzI1nebEheEgSRiVi4kH56GF66R5wV5uqdbNswp-zaB2gzSOdzcRFfhxhy7iLQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Hamblen County Budget Committee agreed to contribute $75,000 from the county general fund toward the purchase of a new ambulance and to seek the balance of the estimated $208,608 purchase price from opioid-abatement funds, after discussion about city participation and possible alternative funding sources.

Commissioners and staff discussed options for funding the $208,608 capital purchase for Emergency Medical Services, including drawing on last year's opioid-abatement allocations and splitting the expense with the city or other grant sources. County administrators noted EMS responds to roughly 12,000 calls annually, about 3,000 of which occur in the county outside the city, and characterized the purchase as a capital need similar to funding given to volunteer fire departments.

Commissioner Bobby Hahn moved to provide $75,000 from the county general fund; Commissioner Kyle Walker seconded. Hahn said the county's past practice of supporting volunteer emergency services made the request appropriate: \"I'm going to make a motion that we provide $75,000.\" Commissioners debated whether the city had been asked to contribute; county staff said they had not received a firm response from municipal leaders.

Following votes to amend how the remaining balance would be covered, the committee recorded a roll-call vote approving the $75,000 from the general fund and directing $133,608 to be paid from opioid-abatement funds to complete the purchase. A commissioner noted this county contribution was intended as a one-time capital payment rather than an ongoing commitment.

The EMS vendor total discussed in the meeting was $208,608. The committee discussed alternative sources and confirmed the commission has authority to allocate opioid-abatement funds. Commissioners asked county staff to supply a breakdown of city vs. county calls to further inform future funding discussions.

Action on the ambulance purchase followed debate over whether the city would contribute and how much capital support the county should provide to shared services. Commissioners stressed the purchase would support county- and city-served areas but emphasized the county's authority to decide allocations from its available funds.","After debate about cost-sharing and city participation, the committee approved $75,000 from the general fund and directed the remainder of a $208,608 ambulance purchase to opioid-abatement funds, resulting in a combined county commitment of $208,608.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6219978,"Hamblen County committee approves 5% COLA for most county employees, separately OKs 10% increase for sheriff's staff",1932,6929000,8861000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3619445-7361c0271188b9058bf3605e43530443&start=6929&end=8861","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3619445-7361c0271188b9058bf3605e43530443/thumbnail_6929000.jpg","/articles/6219978/Hamblen-County/Tennessee/Hamblen-County-committee-approves-5-COLA-for-most-county-employees-separately-OKs-10-increase-for-sheriffs-staff","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6219978-be11969fced0ab8aba6fec4acb3541e9/orig.mp4?Expires=1775291215&Signature=bK9~GtzXKTxaFF8PVU8AkvcpJPNxTgcPEG7RLNNzwX4eeFnEXUp6CWFzhhnk9ZwlWvOy2I0bFWq1IECmv49V66vOOCEg~xeBP4QUROgtX6grwBmVdmig3F~Xn6ek9EaY5pogdT8Xjev4vgJqjPyOgq-rjoFwvD4jaXEKOF21fPoqstV3l3FOUKhgYgzeOwJH~YrAr~Pt79LSGD4RkNmfWTzc5ec~YwXuzUlFQnisKBTu4NWafeBaE4hn6e6XDTh8KuEj9MjqBhCECG8vaMGwiK44otS6VbQImhqDcXm49bPNFhHkvjJUnKAFt75IDH8DEpkVMDBnjxp57tJcm85bhw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Hamblen County Budget Committee voted to give a 5% cost-of-living adjustment to county employees across the board, excluding staff in the sheriff's department, and separately approved a 10% raise for sheriff's department positions.

Committee members said the increases respond to recruitment and retention pressures and new operating costs tied to the county's expanding facilities. County officials repeatedly warned the increases are recurring and will require either spending cuts or new revenue in future years.

Mayor (unnamed), presenting budget options, told commissioners the county could sustain a one-time draw on reserves but that recurring increases require new revenue or cuts: \"You need the revenue or you cut. That's the choices.\" Several commissioners said sheriff's deputies and other front-line staff are competing with private-sector wages and neighboring agencies for employees; Commissioner Rodney Long said, \"If you give the bottom something and don't move that up the ladder, then it creates problems\" for morale and retention.

After discussion the committee voted by roll call to approve a 5% COLA for all county employees except those in the sheriff's department. Later the panel considered the sheriff's request separately; a motion to provide the sheriff's department a 10% increase was made, seconded and approved by roll call. At the time of the vote members framed the sheriff's increase as a targeted retention measure tied to immediate staffing shortages the department faces ahead of the new justice center opening.

Committee discussion repeatedly flagged long-term budget implications. The county finance staff and mayor said the approved raises will increase recurring payroll obligations materially and that fund balance would be drawn down if no revenue increases or offsets are enacted. The mayor summarized the tradeoffs: \"You have two choices. You cut or you find revenue.\" Several commissioners asked staff to return with more detailed scenarios showing fund-balance impacts and options for spreading costs across tax years or targeted adjustments.

The committee also asked staff to provide implementation details and to fast-track the pending salary study so members would have an updated market comparison and options for phased adjustments.

The committee did not adopt any change to the classification or benefits structure during the meeting; commissioners said those items will be considered separately once the salary study and more detailed fiscal scenarios are available.

Looking ahead, the mayor and finance director noted the county will face additional operating costs when the new justice center and other facilities come online; they urged the commission to weigh recurring employee costs against those new facility expenses.

The committee's votes on the COLA and the sheriff's increase were recorded by roll call; commissioners who voted in favor and those who abstained were recorded in the meeting minutes.","The Hamblen County budget committee voted to give a 5% cost-of-living increase to county employees (excluding the sheriff's department) and separately approved a 10% pay increase for sheriff's department positions after a daylong budget review and debate over sustainability and staffing needs.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Budget panel reduces Marston Parks funding request; approves $150,000 for parks and directs rest to other priorities

Commissioners agree to fund ambulance purchase with $75,000 from county and balance from opioid funds

Hamblen County committee approves 5% COLA for most county employees, separately OKs 10% increase for sheriff's staff