Budget committee accepts Highway and School budget proposals, reviews full FY2024–25 county budget

The Sevier County Board of Commissioners’ Budget Committee on June 6 approved proposed budgets for the Highway Department and the School System and reviewed the county’s full proposed fiscal year 2024–2025 budget, which includes cost-of-living adjustments and operating increases across departments. The meeting ran from 5:32 p.m. until 6:51 p.m.

Assistant County Mayor Brooke Huffaker, Mayor Larry Waters and Vice Mayor Bryan McCarter presented the full FY2024–2025 proposal, explaining planned COLA, payroll and operating increases for offices and departments. During the presentation, Sheriff Michael Hodges and Director Rick Valentine summarized their offices’ budget requests; the transcript does not record dollar amounts for those requests.

The committee took three recorded formal votes on departmental proposals. April Tallman presented the Highway Department’s proposed balanced budget and said the department is requesting a 5% cost-of-living adjustment. Commissioner Warren Hurst moved to accept the Highway Department budget “as presented”; Commissioner Kent Woods seconded and the motion passed unanimously (the transcript states the motion passed unanimously but does not provide a vote tally).

School System Superintendent Whit Helton provided an update on the School System’s proposed budget. Commissioner Hurst moved to accept the School System proposal “as presented”; Commissioner Bryan Delius seconded and the motion passed unanimously (vote tally not specified in the transcript).

The committee also reviewed a breakdown of nonprofit funding requests presented by Huffaker; she said a resolution addressing those requests will be placed on the next Budget Committee agenda. Commissioner Woods moved to accept the nonprofit requests presentation; Commissioner Mike Chambers seconded and the motion passed unanimously (vote tally not specified in the transcript).

Mayor Waters and Vice Mayor McCarter provided an update on plans for Sevier County Fire & Rescue to merge with the Wears Valley Volunteer Fire Department; the committee received the update and no formal action is recorded in the transcript.

Votes at a glance

- Highway Department proposed balanced budget — mover: Commissioner Warren Hurst; second: Commissioner Kent Woods; outcome: approved (passed unanimously; tally not specified in transcript). - School System proposed budget — mover: Commissioner Warren Hurst; second: Commissioner Bryan Delius; outcome: approved (passed unanimously; tally not specified in transcript). - Nonprofit funding requests presentation — mover: Commissioner Kent Woods; second: Commissioner Mike Chambers; outcome: accepted for resolution at a future meeting (passed unanimously; tally not specified in transcript).

The committee did not adopt the full FY2024–2025 budget at this meeting; documentation provided at the meeting covered proposed COLA and operating increases and will be considered in subsequent steps of the budget process. The meeting adjourned at 6:51 p.m.