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 with a 12.5% match ($47,743.12).

Why it matters: the approved budget increases fund immediate maintenance and personnel costs for county facilities and services; the hazard mitigation grant would fund emergency generators for three operation centers, and the retirement change alters county personnel policy for correctional officers under state law.

Votes at a glance: - Approval of March 11 meeting minutes — motion by Commissioner Anderson, seconded by Commissioner Bright; recorded vote: 3 yes, 0 no; outcome: approved. - Resolution 25-04-001 — budget increase, Blount County Sheriff’s Office, $167,700 to appropriate sheriff training funds for engineering services to design a new firing-range training center — motion by Commissioner Anderson, seconded by Commissioner Bridal; recorded vote: 3 yes, 0 no; outcome: approved. - Resolution 25-04-002 — budget increase, Library, $49,997.90 to appropriate fund balance for replacement of chiller compressors (HVAC) — motion by Commissioner Anderson, seconded by Commissioner Bright; recorded vote: 3 yes, 0 no; outcome: approved. - Resolution 25-04-003 — budget increase, Library, $14,469.27 to appropriate fund balance for increased utility expenses (noted as likely related to a book-return construction project and excessive cold temperatures) — motion by Commissioner Anderson, seconded by Commissioner Bridal; recorded vote: 3 yes, 0 no; outcome: approved. - Resolution 25-04-004 — budget increase, Veterans, $19,545.18 to cover a retirement payout and provide one month of training overlap for a new employee — motion by Commissioner Bridal, seconded by Commissioner Anderson; recorded vote: 3 yes, 0 no; outcome: approved. - Resolution 25-04-005 — budget increase, General Services capital, $32,890 to appropriate capital funds for architectural services for the courthouse plumbing project — motion by Commissioner Anderson, seconded by Commissioner Bright; recorded vote: 3 yes, 0 no; outcome: approved. - Resolution 25-04-006 — Blount County Sheriff’s Office resolution to add correctional officers to the mandatory retirement provisions established pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated section 8-36-205, effective 07/01/2025 — motion by Commissioner Bridal, seconded by Commissioner Anderson; recorded vote: 3 yes, 0 no; outcome: approved. - Grant application — Blount County Sheriff’s Office, Tennessee Highway Safety Office, $185,000 (no local match required; recurring grant) — motion by Commissioner Bridal, seconded by Commissioner Anderson; recorded vote: 3 yes, 0 no; outcome: approved. - Grant application — Emergency Management hazard mitigation grant, $381,945 to fund three trailer-mounted generators for operation centers in Maryville, Blount County and Alcoa; 12.5% local match $47,743.12 — motion by Commissioner Bridal, seconded by Commissioner Anderson; recorded vote: 3 yes, 0 no; outcome: approved.

During the meeting the committee was also presented with the Blount County "penny" evaluation for 2025–26 as an information item; no action was taken on that evaluation. The meeting was brief and recorded few questions or discussion points for the items presented. The emergency management grant application was noted as a reapplication of a request originally brought for consideration in November 2022. The committee adjourned after about seven minutes.