Sullivan County commissioners spent the meeting debating how to balance the proposed fiscal 2025udget and whether to lower the county
d valorem tax rate, while protecting highway maintenance, a planned county-wide 5% employee pay increase and a $15,000-per-department boost for contracted first-responder payroll.

The discussion, led by Commissioner King and agency staff, centered on three options: reduce the proposed tax rate and draw more from the countyund balance; target department-level reductions (the sheriff
nd highway departments were repeatedly raised as large line items); or preserve the budget committee raft while accepting a modest tax-rate decrease. "I think we could do a budget with a 5¢," Commissioner King said, and he told the commission he would offer a 5¢ amendment for a vote next Thursday.

Why it matters: the countyudget sets property tax rates and pays for core services — public safety, road maintenance and employee pay. Commissioners said they want to lower the proposed rate (discussed in the meeting as roughly 9¢ in the draft) without creating midyear shortfalls. Several speakers urged using fund balance and expected department turnbacks to reduce the levy; others warned about long-term effects if essential services are cut.

Most important facts
- No final vote on the tax levy or appropriations was taken at the meeting; commissioners instructed staff to prepare for a possible amendment and further review next week.
- Commissioner King said he would introduce an amendment next Thursday to set the tax-rate change at 5¢ and asked staff to have numbers available for the public hearing.
- The budget committee
nd staff noted line items the commission could adjust: highway funding (committee inserted $2,000,000 to maintain paving plans after state decreases), an $800,000 set-aside tied to hotel/motel revenue (staff warned projected hotel/motel receipts are about $710,000), and a proposed $15,000 per department allocation to raise pay for contracted first responders in lower-end districts (discussed as a $45,000 total package).

Employee pay and benefits
Commissioners broadly supported keeping a 5% county employee pay increase in the draft budget. "I highly recommend that we keep the county employee raise in the budget," said Commissioner Cowden, adding that employees face rising costs for groceries, utilities and health care. Staff said the county
verage health-insurance premium increases were expected to be modest, and that a 5% pay increase would generally exceed employees' additional out-of-pocket benefit costs.

Highway and other departmental funding
Several commissioners said the highway department is a high priority. Commissioner King described the committee decision to include $2,000,000 for highway work after state funds declined: "The state is not giving the highway the money that they have been. So, they're gonna be short about $2,000,000 this year." Multiple commissioners warned that cutting highway funding now would degrade progress on road repairs and emergency responses.

First-responder program and the five-year plan
Commissioners debated adding $15,000 for each of three lower-end first-responder departments to boost contracted-payroll for people who staff rescue trucks and first-responder units. Supporters said the money is intended for payroll for contracted first responders who are not county employees and that the allocation preserves the countyive-year equalization plan for operating budgets. "When one of those guys can be there and maybe beat the med unit on the scene by 5 minutes ... $15,000 is cheap," said Commissioner Locke (remarks paraphrased to reflect the committee discussion). Opponents urged fiscal caution but many speakers said losing the program now would force far more costly solutions later.

Hotel/motel tax and reserves
Commissioner Slagle questioned an $800,000 allocation tied to hotel/motel revenue; county staff responded that projections for the hotel/motel tax were about $710,000 and that the $800,000 figure was a set-aside tied to a prior resolution. Commissioners noted the hotel/motel assessment is a user fee and not the same as general tax revenue.

Process and next steps
No formal votes were taken on the levy or appropriations during this meeting. Commissioner King said he would introduce a 5¢ amendment for the commission to consider at the next meeting; staff were asked to prepare the numbers for that public hearing. Commissioners repeatedly emphasized they want to avoid midyear borrowing or a tax anticipation note and urged fiscal prudence if the commission trims the proposed rate.

Ending
Commissioners closed the session with instructions to staff to prepare updated budget figures for next week
nd with an agreement that the public hearing next Thursday would include consideration of the 5¢ amendment. The commission did not adopt a final tax rate or appropriations ordinance at this meeting.