Bradley County mayor proposes budget with 3% pay raise for full-time employees, no tax increase

Mayor Davis presented a proposed Bradley County budget that includes a 3% pay raise for all full-time county employees, requires no tax increase and totals $229,426,400.

Davis said the fourth draft of the budget “has a 3% raise for all county employees, all full time employees” and that the plan “does not have the need for a tax increase.” He told commissioners the package keeps departmental funding at or above this year’s levels except where departments had requested less.

The proposal allocates the largest dollar increases to schools and public safety. Davis said the general purpose school fund increase is $8,946,000, of which $782,000 represents local growth. He listed other top increases as: a $524,000 increase with an additional $215,000 from ARP funds (presentation did not specify program line), a $393,000 increase for the Justice Center plus $100,000 in ARP for facility locks and related needs, a $240,378 increase for the fire department (with about $48,000 in ARP), and a $183,845 increase for emergency medical services. Davis identified schools, law enforcement, the jail and emergency services as the county’s top priorities.

Davis outlined several ARP-funded items and other specifics included in the book before the commission. He said the opioid fund maintains current programs and added a $50,000 line for the district attorney’s drug task force. He said the ARP broadband allocation of about $4,000,000 remains unspent and is currently drawing interest that funds some one-time expenses. Davis said ARP items in the proposal include $100,000 for juvenile facility building improvements (split into sewer and HVAC work), $100,000 toward Justice Center locks, $6,000 for an ADA door at the trustee’s office, $115,000 for sheriff’s department computers, $100,000 for sheriff’s cars, and $18,000 for Cleveland State (described as $8,000 for scholarships and $10,000 for equipment upgrades).

Davis told commissioners the total budget amount in the book is $229,426,400 and said the county plans to reduce debt by roughly $9,700,000 in the coming period. He said growth in revenue provided by the assessor’s office is roughly 2% and will not produce large new revenue because tax rate adjustments offset appraisal increases.

On staffing, Davis said one previously frozen jail position will be restored July 1. He also noted midyear additions or conversions included a medical examiner part-time position, a parks maintenance position, and a training captain in the ambulance budget that is budgeted to start halfway through the year.

Commissioners asked clarifying questions during the presentation. Commissioner Thompson asked for details on growth and revenue estimates; Davis said the growth figure and revenue explanations are in the revenue pages of the budget book and reiterated the approximately 2% growth figure provided by the assessor’s office. Commissioner Slater asked about new positions; Davis confirmed the limited restorations and midyear additions. Davis invited commissioners to raise questions individually or at the finance committee meeting scheduled for Thursday.

The mayor characterized his approach as having made multiple rounds of cuts to protect fund balance while trying to include the 3% raise and said he did not include any department reductions below requested levels except where departments had requested less.