White County commissioners fail to adopt reduced tax levy after heated budget comments on EMS pay and transparency

White County commissioners voted on a proposed change to the county—s property tax levy during a meeting that included more than a half-hour of public comment focused on emergency services pay, longevity pay and transparency in county staffing and budgets.

Public commentators urged the commission to prioritize raises for emergency medical services and the sheriff—s office and criticized a proposed longevity-pay structure and lack of transparency about a proposed Emergency Management Agency (EMA) director role. Jake Long, who identified himself as working with EMS, told commissioners: "Let your department heads do their jobs," saying funding requests from Director Kerr and Sheriff Page were "practical, necessary, rooted in the needs of the citizens we all serve." Long called a proposed longevity increase "insulting," saying it amounted to "a $50 net after tax increase per year of service for a full time employee. That's bridal. You guys can keep mine."

Crystal Templeton, who said she lives in West Cambro, told the commission she supports law enforcement and EMS raises but criticized the "lack of transparency" in administration and in budgeting. She said she had found numerical discrepancies in budget figures provided to the public and urged commissioners to prioritize "needs" over "wants." Gary Temple, a retired law enforcement officer, said he had "no problem with my taxes going up to pay for essentials," and urged the commission to "take care of your emergency services." Jillian Green told commissioners, "I think you people need to be reminded who you work for. You're working for us," and asked commissioners to heed public-supplied corrections to the budget documents.

On the revenue side, Executive Robinson reported higher-than-expected local option sales-tax receipts for schools. Robinson said staff raised the expected sales-tax revenue by $500,000 during budget preparation and that collections came in about $800,000, creating roughly $300,000 in additional revenue the county could use to reduce the proposed property tax levy by three cents per $100 of assessed value. Robinson said that adjustment would lower the proposed levy from $1.45 to $1.42 per $100 assessed value if the commission approved an amendment.

The commission voted first on an amendment to set the levy at $1.42. A roll call on the amendment produced an 8-3-3 tally (8 yes, 3 no, 3 absent), which the clerk recorded as passing. The commission then voted on the motion on the levy as amended; that roll call produced a 6-5-3 tally (6 yes, 5 no, 3 absent) and the chair announced that the $1.42 levy failed, returning the body to consider the previously proposed $1.45 levy and meaning related appropriations tied to the $1.42 figure could not be funded as amended. Commissioners and staff discussed that some items in the budget are legal "maintenance of effort" obligations and cannot be cut without jeopardizing compliance.

Separately during the meeting the commission approved the consent calendar and later approved a list of individuals (Amanda Gullah, Kim Paul, Austin Hannah, Patricia Kinkade, David Miller, Brenda Petrie, Alexis Shooter, Veil Webb, Margie Western, and Harry Wolford) by motion; the clerk recorded those motions as carried.

Speakers and commissioners repeatedly returned to the tension between funding basic services — especially public safety — and perceived discretionary spending such as dues and memberships or full-time positions for parks and EMA. Several public speakers and a commissioner urged consideration of using existing reserve or landfill revenues differently; others warned that the county cannot spend revenue that does not exist. The group also debated whether to convert some proposed full-time positions to part-time as a way to reduce the levy.

The meeting record shows continuing disagreement among commissioners about the budget committee—s work and next steps. One commissioner said the budget committee had asked all commissioners for input and received little, by contrast with the full commission—s later votes. Another commissioner reminded the body of an August deadline and that if the commission failed to adopt a budget the comptroller would set it. The meeting moved on to other agenda items after the levy votes.

The commission—s failure to adopt the $1.42 levy means the proposed budget still requires action; the county will need to resolve outstanding disagreements or accept the alternative process the comptroller would implement if the commission cannot pass a budget by required deadlines.