Blount County budget committee approves series of budget increases and grant applications

The Blount County Budget Committee approved a slate of budget increases, a retirement provision change and grant applications in a short meeting that recorded unanimous 3-0 votes on each action.

The committee approved five separate budget increases to cover a sheriff training fund contract for design of a firing-range training center ($167,700); two library items (replacement of chiller compressors, $49,997.90; and additional utility costs, $14,469.27); a veterans payout and one month of overlap training for a replacement employee ($19,545.18); and capital funds for architectural services for a courthouse plumbing project ($32,890). The committee also approved a resolution to add correctional officers to mandatory retirement provisions under Tennessee Code Annotated section 8-36-205 effective July 1, 2025, and approved two grant applications: a Tennessee Highway Safety Office grant application for $185,000 with no local match required, and a hazard mitigation grant application for $381,945 to buy three trailer-mounted generators for operation centers in Maryville, Blount County and Alcoa…