Bradley County budgets 3% increase in commissioners' pay line; effective date set for Sept. 1, 2026

The Bradley County Board of Commissioners voted on June 5 to add a 3% increase to the commission pay line in the coming fiscal-year budget; the increase was recorded to be available beginning Sept. 1, 2026, and the motion carried 3–2.

Commissioners said the practice is intended to make funds available for a pay increase that a future commission could adopt; by law, county officials said, the current commission cannot vote itself a raise, so the budget action places money in the line for the next commission. A substitute motion to increase the line by 9% (a larger, immediate allocation) was offered and defeated before commissioners approved the 3% allocation.

The board recorded the 3% adjustment as an increase of $4,909.41 to the commission line (line 191), producing a new line total shown in the packet as $168,556.41; the change was described by staff as reducing the unreserved fund balance on paper but not as an immediate pay raise to sitting commissioners.

Commissioners discussed the mechanics and timing: the budget takes effect July 1, but the pay-line change was set to take effect Sept. 1, 2026, to align with the inauguration or effective date for the next commission. Several commissioners urged staff to confirm with auditors whether including an amount above the current pay level could create an audit finding; staff said they would consult the auditors and, if necessary, remove the line-item increase before final adoption.

The board's vote on the 3% pay-line addition was recorded as 3 in favor, 2 opposed.