Council member withdraws proposed $300,000 budget amendment for legal aid eviction prevention

Council member Parker withdrew an amended budget ordinance she had introduced that would have added $300,000 to fund Legal Aid’s eviction‑prevention program. Parker said she filed the amendment to show how council can propose budget amendments and because she supports additional Legal Aid funding.

City staff and the law department advised that the amendment, as drafted, did not comport with the city charter and would need redrafting to be legally viable. The law department representative told Parker the item could go on the agenda for discussion but, as drafted, could violate the charter if the council attempted to pass it.

Parker said Legal Aid had previously received $600,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds; under recent county and city budget actions, the agency would receive $100,000 from the city budget and $100,000 from Knox County, for a $200,000 total in ongoing local government funding. Parker said Legal Aid had indicated it could operate at that reduced level for the moment, but she withdrew her amendment without a second because she said she lacked sufficient Council support.

Council member Thomas said he shared Parker’s concerns about Legal Aid funding and said staff had told him the agency was on “sound footing” for the immediate term but that council should continue to monitor needs. The motion to withdraw the amendment was seconded and carried; the withdrawn ordinance item was removed from the top of the agenda for further consideration later in the budget process.

The law department said it will post its email guidance publicly, and council members indicated they intend to continue monitoring Legal Aid’s financial position and to consider other opportunities to support eviction prevention services.