The Anderson County budget committee voted to recommend that the full county commission rescind a previously approved pay increase for the county veterans officer and re-submit the matter through the budget process with a clear funding source.

Committee members picked through how the veterans-office raise appeared on the consent agenda and whether advisory-committee recommendations without identified funding lines create audit and legal risk. The raise under discussion was described in committee materials as a 20% increase equal to $10,400; the motion had been approved earlier in an advisory committee but lacked an appropriation in the veterans office budget code.

Commissioner Palmer moved that the budget committee recommend that full commission rescind the earlier action; the motion was seconded and carried on a recorded show-of-hands (vote recorded as five in favor). Committee members who supported rescission said the intent was to "clean the mess up," not to oppose veterans. Commissioner Palmer said restarting the process would allow the county to attach a funding source and avoid audit findings.

Scott Nation, the county veterans officer, addressed the committee during the discussion and defended the work of his office. Nation said the veterans office has generated substantial revenue for veterans and for the county since his hire, stating that "since March 18th to December 31st, the office has brought in over $6,800,000 to the county" and that he was "on track to bring in $7,400,000 for 2025." Nation said his motivation was service to veterans rather than compensation.

Legal and finance staff warned that approving pay increases without an appropriation risks audit findings, that pay changes typically require a roll-call vote and a funding line, and that an advisory committee recommendation should proceed to budget committee before being implemented.

Ending

The budget committee's recommendation to rescind will be forwarded to full commission. Committee members asked staff to provide comparative salary data for similar positions and to re-package any future pay recommendations with a specified funding source.