[{"_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",6510589,"mediaKeyId","5365554-92f9bd0d92b8b5259b8c2c2aac2af580","parentId",5365554,"title","Votes at a glance: Budget committee approves sheriff office funding, grants and heritage center support","audioSeconds",49,"startMs",531000,"endMs",580000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5365554-92f9bd0d92b8b5259b8c2c2aac2af580&start=531&end=580","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5365554-92f9bd0d92b8b5259b8c2c2aac2af580/thumbnail_531000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6510589/Blount-County/Tennessee/Votes-at-a-glance-Budget-committee-approves-sheriff-office-funding-grants-and-heritage-center-support","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6510589-490770870ca6462bd92cb97f22a1ce6f/orig.mp4?Expires=1775442236&Signature=lRKgY4bzEF5QvMUgmBX5Bo1oB1jt4NAA34s5KLGRiOeAe5ysRKexBKV5wxyKkkS2T39WLxhSzcOj-VqH0-BXdbfE-rq7CZ6XFdA6qsNlCr8G335-lJ9T4BrzLcOEfnh2MnloIPYcKqI4iPW79vWLieJM4Xi8NE5iRCpp1oQ16~BOa1XGsARQZrcaKKRbkVvA342ZbPKhYrLSrROCaD-yEbgUmGeUu62mA~MtB3SP8IzpYB004o0vo15RZG0qpOzywvpdBNytXJWw9~nwh-rbYU8ROU7VWw1nASqJ14~eSzjqba0McxjhzWaNobdcFNvvwAymzvKnrcwQessBZYbF8Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Blount County","date","2025-07-10T17:00:00Z","article","The Blount County Budget Committee approved multiple budget items and grant applications during its meeting. All recorded roll-call confirmations announced in the meeting were five yes votes and no recorded no or abstentions for each item.

The committee approved the minutes of a prior meeting on a motion by Commissioner Anderson, seconded by Miss Hannah, recorded as five yeses.

The committee then approved Resolution 25-07-001, a one-time budget increase of $230,000 for the Blount County Sheriff's Office to cover already-supported items including canines, automated external defibrillators (AEDs), drones and battery backups for the jail. The motion was made by Commissioner Bridal and seconded by Commissioner Anderson; the Mayor announced five yeses.

Resolution 25-07-002, a budget adjustment of $72,453 to recognize the total expense for a real-time crime position in this year's budget, was approved on a motion by Commissioner Taylor, seconded by Commissioner Anderson. The chair said the increase is currently offset by reimbursements from Maryville City, Alcoa City and 9-1-1 operations. The Mayor announced five yeses.

Resolution 25-07-003 approved a one-time $25,000 increase for contributions to the Heritage Center. The motion was made by Miss Hannum and seconded by Commissioner Bridal; the Mayor announced five yeses.

The committee approved three grant applications from the Blount County Sheriff's Office: a $1,575,000 FY26 School Security Officer grant application to fund 21 school resource officers at $75,000 each (no local match required); a $74,000 FY26 litter grant application (no match required); and a $20,000 FY26 mental health transport grant application (no match required). Motions and seconds for those items were recorded in the meeting; each vote was announced as five yeses.

No votes failed or were tabled during the meeting, and no additional discussion or amendments were recorded in the meeting transcript for these items.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Blount County - Budget Committee on 2025-07-10 5:00 PM - Live stream via https://zoom.us/join Zoom Meeting ID: 842 6719 5237 - Jul 10, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Blount County Budget Committee approved the minutes and a series of resolutions and grant applications, including $230,000 for sheriff's office equipment, a $1,575,000 SRO grant application and other appropriations; all recorded votes were 5-0 in favor.","taxTitle","Blount County, Tennessee","taxId",56690,"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},6510594,"Blount County budget chair announces Fitch upgrade to AAA credit rating",259,84000,343000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5365554-92f9bd0d92b8b5259b8c2c2aac2af580&start=84&end=343","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5365554-92f9bd0d92b8b5259b8c2c2aac2af580/thumbnail_84000.jpg","/articles/6510594/Blount-County/Tennessee/Blount-County-budget-chair-announces-Fitch-upgrade-to-AAA-credit-rating","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6510594-56cde02a5a7a8c824d12ff7735e3e998/orig.mp4?Expires=1775442236&Signature=cG92kEERvm6EQM36PjI8XB4MQzffPlYUOxWQxtU6z6lfsizNzkkBGazivFXE2kHB0CP7~M~TcXoAdbZZgpd1MoBzwGWRbHu1P5yYcGHqrT9-3Oe0EM15q~Djn9mNlOup-xtXDkYTgsrvhowWdQ-~fFMA8NGIJGNRnS1oMPN1ukblIDroOpcVS2tVTnd2z0TbpqRXonJlnbUM7YF2WnrIhc76JbTWQvobPtxoIr0Kt9j9QmIIwhtgi3c-NhmZ5i3wem4Ufdu0wciRH2xI6SqJ8js~5ZBnR2cPI24jtS0cLAyFOSqm-pPpV8AQd0NJIgNx97GKgQBEI25Wzs~McAYkjQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Budget Committee chair announced at a Blount County Budget Committee meeting that Fitch Ratings upgraded Blount County to a AAA credit rating, one of four counties of Tennessee's 95 to receive that designation. The chair credited reduced debt, healthy fund balances and ‘‘a persistent pay-as-you-go philosophy’’ for the improvement.

The announcement came during the committee's regular meeting; the chair said the upgrade reflects long-term financial planning and the county's conservative budgeting. The chair said the county had been rated ‘‘double A minus’’ about 15 years ago and has steadily improved its standing since.

The chair thanked the Blount County Commission, county employees and the finance team by name, saying, ‘‘The taxpayers deserve that, and I'm glad that we're able to provide that for them.’’ The chair named Brian and Randy from the finance team while acknowledging the commission's role in maintaining balanced budgets and growing fund balances.

According to the chair, Fitch cited the county's reduced debt levels, lower liabilities, healthy fund balances and the community's economic strength in its upgrade. The chair framed the rating as a product of ‘‘conservative management of our taxpayer dollars’’ and ongoing teamwork between departments, elected officials and staff.

The announcement did not include a written Fitch report or a date for the upgrade in the meeting record. No formal vote or policy change accompanied the announcement. The meeting proceeded to routine agenda items, including approval of minutes and several budget and grant measures later approved by the committee.","At a Blount County Budget Committee meeting, the committee chair announced that Fitch Ratings upgraded Blount County to a AAA (triple-A) credit rating, citing reduced debt, healthy fund balances and conservative budgeting.","actionData","errors"]

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Votes at a glance: Budget committee approves sheriff office funding, grants and heritage center support

Blount County budget chair announces Fitch upgrade to AAA credit rating