Claiborne County Commission approves package of budget amendments, school grants and ARPA reallocation

TAZEWELL, Tenn. — The Claiborne County Commission on June 16 approved a broad package of budget amendments, school funding adjustments and a $38,000 reallocation of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to a District Seven waterline project.

The commission voted unanimously on a set of county budget realignments (Resolutions 2025‑056, 2025‑057 and 2025‑058) that adjust line items across multiple funds, including the General Fund (Fund 101), Solid Waste (Fund 116) and Highway Fund (Fund 131). The motions were combined and carried by roll-call vote, 21‑0. The attachments to the resolutions list dozens of line‑item moves — examples include additional allocations for sheriff overtime and workhouse food supplies, communication and maintenance increases for county buildings, and $191,223.24 shown as interest earned in Fund 101.

In a separate but related action (Res. 2025‑055), the commission rescinded an earlier $38,000 allocation to the Town of Cumberland Gap and reallocated those ARPA dollars to the Red Hill Circle waterline project in District Seven. Commissioner Eric Jones moved the measure and Commissioner Sherry McCreary seconded; the roll‑call vote was 21‑0.

The board of education submitted five separate budget amendments (Res. 2025‑061 through 2025‑065) that the commission combined and approved by roll call. Among the items: a $26,003.33 state matching payment for the School Nutrition program (Res. 2025‑063) with the 10% training/travel requirement noted in the resolution; $493,611.73 in state grants intended to address learning loss and fund summer transportation (Res. 2025‑064) with line‑item allocations including $288,000 for teacher salaries and smaller amounts for benefits, supplies and transportation costs; and other adjustments recognizing refunds, settlement proceeds and insurance recoveries (Res. 2025‑061 and Res. 2025‑062). The school package was moved by Commissioner David Mundy and seconded by Commissioner Dustin Wilson; the package passed on a combined roll‑call vote.

The commission also approved several small local contributions and appointments by voice vote or roll call earlier in the meeting. Res. 2025‑053 recognized $50 in contributions to the Family Justice Center; Res. 2025‑054 accepted a $500 contribution to the Imagination Library. The commission approved three notary public appointments and, by roll call, confirmed Mayor Joe Brooks’s appointment of Wayne Mills to the Equalization Board (21‑0).

Why it matters: The combined amendments move existing appropriations across county departments to cover expenses already incurred or anticipated through June 30 and insert state grant dollars into the schools’ budget for specific programs. The ARPA reallocation repurposes previously authorized pandemic relief for a local waterline project.

What’s next: The resolutions take effect on passage per their language. Budget attachments and line‑item details are part of the official record in the county clerk’s office.