[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-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",6211442,"mediaKeyId","3695780-e0a66512500d338fbc13ff05694c84ec","parentId",3695780,"title","Committee flags $952,000 estimated shortfall, proposes capital transfers to rural fire and seeks fleet payoff options","audioSeconds",6265,"startMs",122000,"endMs",6387000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3695780-e0a66512500d338fbc13ff05694c84ec&start=122&end=6387","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3695780-e0a66512500d338fbc13ff05694c84ec/thumbnail_122000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6211442/Coffee-County/Tennessee/Committee-flags-952000-estimated-shortfall-proposes-capital-transfers-to-rural-fire-and-seeks-fleet-payoff-options","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6211442-2bc205b32b4363a91fb6551e5c464f15/orig.mp4?Expires=1771141276&Signature=AzRaw~EN6Muu9FYObe1TjH4Y1F-5~rKNWuL8WPMRG1FpWI~VxjrUkGC~mbJumiROI1A7SIYUr0VMN-F5kh3SKaMZBp3zt3w3iGF8VciMUoK2mFjJEntKDKZLczpmKrgwNEC1b53uoQEmMo4qEZU8~7VCHxeyfIbY7-hizROjq2v3bMZvBWIQ0VSFNbn6g4HyJS6DhMlBCZ3zKAz3befFhR2q6dY2rtbJ8RQDcqyn05yt6d8L6AUhSoz~jy68GThQhVHL4mCbnaz1LeAix21xGDTCGRiv~hiPdZo2ROGGVvJHrwi4fOZiysmI0xeTOPVsNjdDw2IxHVnO14OVxXBzpQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Coffee County, TN","date","2025-06-05T23:55:18Z","article","Finance staff told the Coffee County Budget & Finance Committee the county’s estimated fund balance will decline from roughly $11.0 million on June 30, 2024, to about $10.0 million by June 30, 2025, reflecting an estimated $952,002 shortfall. Staff reported a further projected fund balance of about $8.0 million by June 30, 2026 under baseline assumptions.

Committee members pressed staff on revenue assumptions, recurring grants and one-time receipts that might reduce the shortfall. Finance staff said recurring and one-time grant receipts — including approximately $600,000 referenced for a multi-year family services program and a $100,000 state grant for a new recovery-court department — could reduce the projected gap, but staff also cautioned that many revenue streams are irregular.

In response to budget pressure, the committee approved using capital/rural funds to allocate $250,000 to rural fire departments split across six volunteer departments (about $41,700 each) for equipment and turnout gear. Committee members noted the capital/rural fund has “considerable money in it” and that the state-supplied smoke-detector installation program helps stretch the county’s prevention dollars.

Members also discussed the county’s Enterprise Fleet lease. Sheriff’s office representatives said the lease carries roughly $258,000 in annual interest and that an early buyout could reduce recurring payments; the sheriff indicated the county currently receives about $75,000 per school in SRO-related funding that might be repurposed to pay off the lease. Committee members asked the sheriff and finance staff to produce a precise buyout figure and identify salary-line offsets to show how much cash could be freed.

The committee set follow-up dates and directed staff to return with updated, itemized revenue and expenditure figures. Members discussed options including freezing department base budgets at prior-year levels (except for maintenance and statutory increases) to make room for employee raises and preserve essential services.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","6/5/25 Budget & Finance Committee","oneSentenceSummary","Finance staff reported an estimated $952,002 shortfall for the current fiscal year and projected a lower fund balance through 2026; committee proposed $250,000 capital disbursement to rural fire departments and asked staff and sheriff to quantify an Enterprise Fleet lease buyout to reduce recurring payments.","taxTitle","Coffee County, Tennessee","taxId",70973,"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},6211447,"Budget committee reallocates $670,000 from school allocation and approves 7% pay plan with department-level distribution",131,2813000,2944000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3695780-e0a66512500d338fbc13ff05694c84ec&start=2813&end=2944","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3695780-e0a66512500d338fbc13ff05694c84ec/thumbnail_2813000.jpg","/articles/6211447/Coffee-County/Tennessee/Budget-committee-reallocates-670000-from-school-allocation-and-approves-7-pay-plan-with-department-level-distribution","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6211447-efa9f16048bfdabee71e1f82c3017fb5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771141276&Signature=m03rfDwtDYGt4CxhEicLNAz85rJ8qi8hzMG4R9-jToLOLrKvNMHQRt9qz9tvlAzQKqX2a-i5dl3n7H0t9svY1cPr0YInLUlyQ7KgA8l~nQEAZev9Ho~-gJVUwTbUn-w5WeTIMv4o84ibxUsgRPKzymyC6wSDT4F-HzFeE-KP3JHQ-TtC3bwEkL7ND7aD06rlMZMwNLq8O7fBd0~wFtK7B2TcY83oDmpkrv8rzegncBDAB~UvKeYZe7-GZT44p8WVqNtoCyooHfJT4SGdFjFpOCYymH3JPogwpkhYA48mouOx5bcmgctkZ42zVzFD434j52lN4rs78USeK8eMr26fgQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Coffee County’s Budget and Finance Committee voted to withhold $670,000 previously budgeted for the school system and approved a county employee pay raise plan that budgets a 7% increase and gives department heads a pool to distribute among their employees, subject to limits and a required plan submitted to the mayor’s office.

The committee’s action came after extended discussion about fund balances, projected revenue and expenditure estimates, and competing priorities including rural fire protection, the rescue squad and senior services. The committee approved moving the $670,000 away from the school allocation “versus giving it to the school board,” a motion the committee carried after a second and a recorded abstention by a school employee on the committee.

The Committee also approved a motion to budget a 7% pay increase for county employees. That motion was amended during debate so department heads would receive no more than 7% themselves and would receive a pool of funds to divide among their employees; department plans showing how they will distribute the pool must be submitted to the mayor’s office for the record (the mayor’s office will not perform an individual approval). The committee used a show of hands to adopt the amended 7% plan; one commissioner (identified in debate as “Brown”) voted no. The committee directed staff to prepare numbers showing the fiscal impact if the increase were reduced to 5%, or paid as 5% now and 2% later, and to return those figures at follow-up meetings.

Members debated whether to give department heads a smaller guaranteed percentage and let them allocate remaining funds to lower-paid staff, citing fairness and retention concerns. Committee members repeatedly emphasized that insurance and other benefit cost increases reduce the net effect of any salary increase, and asked staff to model different scenarios.

During debate Sheriff and finance staff offered a proposal to use recurring School Resource Officer (SRO) funding to pay off an outstanding Enterprise Fleet lease early; committee members asked staff to provide a buyout figure and the sheriff to provide the detailed salary-line offsets that would free funds to cover some of the cost increases. The committee asked for that payoff estimate and for updated revenue/expenditure comparisons to be emailed to members before the next Budget & Finance meeting.

The committee’s motions were procedural recommendations to the full commission; members discussed how the same items would likely be revisited in the full commission meeting and asked staff to prepare clear documentation so commissioners can explain the committee’s approach on the floor.","Coffee County Budget & Finance Committee voted to withhold $670,000 originally slated for schools, approved a 7% pay-raise plan for county employees with limits and reporting requirements for department heads, and instructed staff to budget 7% but consider phased payment options.","actionData","errors"]

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Committee flags $952,000 estimated shortfall, proposes capital transfers to rural fire and seeks fleet payoff options

Budget committee reallocates $670,000 from school allocation and approves 7% pay plan with department-level distribution