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Blount County commissioners adopt series of fiscal and administrative resolutions, approve tax rate
Summary
On June 19 the Blount County Board of County Commissioners approved multiple budget and administrative resolutions, including a courthouse elevator upgrade, school funding appropriations, the fiscal year 2025–26 tax rate and capital priorities. Most measures passed unanimously or with large majorities.
Blount County commissioners on Thursday adopted a package of budget and administrative resolutions, approving funding moves for county capital projects, school grants and the fiscal year 2025–26 tax rate.
The commission voted in favor of a set of motions and resolutions that included a $510,000 allocation to modernize courthouse elevators; school appropriations totaling several million dollars; the county tax rate for fiscal year 2025–26; and a resolution establishing capital outlay priorities for the coming year. Most measures carried with unanimous or near-unanimous margins.
Why it matters: The approved appropriations and priorities set which projects and programs the county will fund in the coming fiscal year and establish the county's tax rate, both of which affect county finances and services.
Key outcomes
- Resolution 256004 — central services: $510,000 appropriated from general county capital funds to modernize courthouse elevators. Adopted (16 yes). Moved by Commissioner Giles; second by Commissioner McMahan.
- Resolution 25-6-006 — schools: $2,449,384.34 budget increase for schools (detailed allocations not specified in the meeting transcript). Commissioner McMahon moved; Commissioner Davis seconded. Commissioner Reagan abstained; recorded as adopted.
- Resolution 25-6-007 — schools summer program: $1,000,343.29 in Tennessee state grant funds appropriated for the 2025 summer school program. Moved by Commissioner Davis; second by Commissioner Giles. Commissioner Reagan abstained; recorded as adopted (15–0 with abstention recorded during roll call, final count called as 16 yes and 1 abstention in the record).
- Resolution 256001 — fiscal year 2025–26 tax rate resolution. Adopted (17 yes). Moved by Commissioner Giles; second by Commissioner Davis.
- Resolution 25-6-002 — fiscal year 2025–26 appropriation resolution. Adopted (17 yes). Moved by Commissioner McMahan; second by Commissioner Carver.
- Resolution 256003 — fiscal year 2025–26 capital outlay priorities. Adopted (17 yes). Moved by Commissioner McMahon; second by Commissioner Caldwell.
- Resolution 256013 — adoption of the revised Blount County Hazard Mitigation Plan. Adopted (17 yes). Moved by Commissioner Carver; second by Commissioner Caldwell.
- Resolution 256014 — establishment of a Blount County Historical Commission. Adopted (17 yes). Moved by Commissioner McMahon; second by Commissioner Michaels.
Other procedural items
- A zoning public hearing was set for July 10 at 5:30 p.m. to consider an amendment to the Blount County zoning resolution (Section 7.2 OC) to revise the open-space requirement for cluster developments. The motion to set the hearing carried (17 yes).
What commissioners said: Commissioners generally treated the package as routine budget business after brief procedural comments from staff and the budget committee. When questions were raised about fund eligibility and accounting for capital projects, Finance Director Brian Baldwin explained the county had worked with CTAS and the comptroller's office to clarify capital treatment and fund eligibility.
Looking ahead: The allocations approved set the county's fiscal direction for the upcoming year; specific project execution and any follow-up reporting will be managed by county departments and the trustee's office.
Ending: The board adopted the measures by roll call votes during the June 19 meeting; commissioners and staff said additional questions about specific project timing or details could be addressed with the relevant department offices.
